Virtual Family Kingdom Developer Launches as dimension5 Labs

dimension5 Labs announced its launch at the end of last week as a new virtual worlds developer with its own platform. D5's work is best known in Virtual Family Kingdom, which launched in beta mode earlier this year as a homemade replacement for Disney's closing Virtual Magic Kingdom. dimension5 says that it closed off the beta at 100,000 users, but plans to go public in the coming weeks as proof of "not only [having] the technical skill to produce a solid virtual world, but the marketing acumen to make it a public success."  While Virtual Family Kingdom may show off the company's technical prowess, the timing of the beta and the public reaction to Virtual Magic Kingdom's shutdown certainly helped with the marketing.

dimension5 plans to offer advertising in its existing worlds (only VFK is announced) as well as custom Web-based environments on its proprietary platform.

The D5 platform is casting a wide net. It's coded in ActionScript3 and is XMPP-compliant, which dimension5 touts as an advantage for companies looking to add a browser-based, 3D virtual world to current communications efforts, but the system also comes with a backend aimed at COPPA-compliant moderation for kids under 13. 

D5 has a larger background in Web design and direct mail advertising software as well, so it'll be interesting to see what direction its new platform takes the company in.

"We wanted to make sure that  we could safely approach any company looking to build a virtual environment and tell them on no  uncertain terms that we could build what they needed," VP of Marketing Justin Handley said  in a statement. "The only way we could see to do that was to  create one of our own that demonstrated a rich feature set, highly detailed graphic design, and scalable stability into the hundreds of thousands."

Comments

[CynAnne]

As one of the 'lucky few' with the honor of being a "Beta Player", I am completely pleased with the growth process that VFK has undergone. Detailed, richly-colored environments and a happy-to-help staff group have been major factors in why I continue to play, and I believe that VFK will be a major force in online-gaming - kudos to everyone involved in this amazing game..! =)

[Tyke]

I don't think that number can be right. Virtual Family Kingdom has only about 25,000 registered avatars. Unless they're all 'family' accounts shared by four people? ;-D

Seriously, this is quite possibly the worst virtual world I've seen. And I've seen some impressively bad games. It's buggy, slow, and not even remotely fun - as evidenced by the massive bailout from the earlier weeks of 'Beta'. Habbo is eight years old, and yet more advanced. That just ain't right. These guys have a lot of learning to do if they want to be the 'industry leader' they claim to be. I smell hype.

[Unhappy Player]

100,000 users? Not even close!

As a registered beta player (who rarely plays the game anymore) I can tell you that the game is full of bugs, lag, and glitches. When they released their new fairy "enchantment" the glitches included the clothes falling right off the avatars, revealing bodies that were a little too anatomically correct. I'm thinking the "F" in VFK doesn't really stand for "family".

Not to mention the massive amount of players who no longer sign into the game, which leaves the kingdom virtually empty most times, AND the broken promises of VFK development staff. i.e., If people paid $47 (that's real money, folks) they were promised various virtual as well as real items such as virtual horses, real t-shirts, and real DVDs. VFK has not delivered those items in two months. People are angry!

I highly suggest keeping your children away from this game.

[bruno]

I joined this game right off the bat with high hopes after VMK closed. The game stunk but I stuck with it until I was finally fed up over a month ago. Seriously, this game is poorly moderated, slow, buggy, and just NOT fun.

On top of that, I don't believe for a second that they seriously have 100,000 users. Most of the time you only find the same few players in the game. These guys are liars and should not be trusted.

[Bruno]

To further show how big of liars they are, look at this... taken directly from the VFK site:

"The game will be free, just as you have experienced. We will not be accepting advertising, as we believe this is inappropriate when children are involved."

[Miss B]

I find it extremely interesting that when you search the whois for the creation of the the dimension5labs website, you will see it was created after they received the funds from the individuals who purchased the "first" founders package. Ironic, guess bait and switch worked. Test to see if people will buy a half built product with tons of promises behind it. Sounds likes some people might have a good case for class action suit.

[Mr. Jonas]

I heard the name of VFK was being changed to VBOK, for Virtually Bent Over Kingdom. Take the money and run.

[Mr. Jonas]

I heard the name of VFK was being changed to VBOK, for Virtually Bent Over Kingdom. Take the money and run.

[ShadowJr]

I have been looking at VirtualWorldsNews for a year looking for virtual worlds to replace VMK but then VFK came out, so now I try to replace VFK until they bring out Space Age, but it may take a little time.

I personally think VFK should quickly ship all the items to everyone, they say they will bring stuff out on a specific day but it ends up coming out in say, a month or a week or a few days!

VFK is in a "danger stage" where, they might get sued for not shipping out the items to everyone that signed up for the membership, they are in trouble now!

But these words are just coming from a 12 year old...

Also, their membership is at risk, because everyone is signing up with their friends for the memebership, which is a crazy money making thing that is failing. VFK needs to add, a "Cash into Credits" thing!

[sabrina]

well i have been playing vfk since the start - beta 1 member!! i was playing vmk before that. although i loved magic i really love vfk too. the staff are really fun and helpful and the fairy magic and the different worlds in the game are awesome. i think you are all being super nagative - they told us it would take maybe 8 weeks to ship our stuff to us and all of us who are in the game really have fun in there. i want my tshirt and bomerang too and i am waiting. they shut vmk down becose there werent enough players according to the company and it made no money so people like you should stop being so negative or we will loose this game too. go vfk!! ps what are you saying about fairies clothes coming off???????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! are you sure you were playing the right game????!!!!!!!

[Mr. Jonas]

Sabrina, if you took off your rose colored glasses and quit drinking the VFK Kool-aid you might see the posts of when the fairy clothes came out. It was posted on all the boards even the fan forum which was shocking because only "happy stuff" gets posted there.

[CynAnne]

I don't think there's any need to be rude to someone with a different opinion from yours, Mr. Jonas. And those wishing to discuss legal actions like "..lawsuits.." would do well to look up the terms "slander" and "defamation of character" BEFORE posting 'off the cuff' comments.. O_o

[Mr. Jonas]

CynAnne, I think you need to read the comments of Unhappy Player and Sabrina. Then you may understand I was pointing out a fact that there was a post and pictures. She basically defamed him in the comment "are you sure your playing the right game?" I was pointing out a fact and several boards showed those pictures, you know that. ;)

Makes me laugh when you say differing opinions. I notice alot of people have to say "thats just my opinion, just to be safe."

[Mr Chapple]

Mr Jonas, however you choose to expound your vitriol and to whomever you choose to target your churlishly sarcastic witticisms and spiteful remarks, I ask you kindly to refrain from retaliating in so acid a manner to my daughter who is simply a young girl defending a game that she enjoys to play. I thank you for your future consideration.

[Mr. Jonas]

Mr. Chapple, I understand your concern. Please note that if they don't expect to receive a sarcastic comment, then they should not be posting in a sarcastic manner in a public forum where anyone can comment. Thanks and have a great day.

[MouseTyme]

I call it Virtual Fugly Kingdom

Has anyone ever seen an uglier graphic game?

[Freedom]

Yuo guys and girls that say rude things are fed up adults that don't let kids have any fun. Shut up people. It's an amazing game.