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Mokitown09.16.08 |
Mokitown is created by the German auto maker Daimler. Mokitown was created with the intent of teaching youths traffic safety.
Basics
Publisher: Daimler
Launch Date: 2001
Number of registered accounts: Over 1 million
Target Audience: Children and Young Adults
Cost and subsequent subscription fees: Mokitown is free to play.
General Description: Mokitown is created by the German auto maker Daimler. Mokitown was created with the intent of teaching youths traffic safety. Users are rewarded for travelling through Mokitown safely, stopping and looking both way for cars, slowing down for animals, people, and stop signs, and wearing protective gear when riding bikes and motorcycles. Users are rewarded points for being safe mobile kids, which can be spent on avatar appearance upgrades. Through Mokitown, children can experience potentially dangerous vehicle situations in a safe environment that will foster learning in a fun way.
Technical
Platform: Web browser
2-D, full 3-D, or other: 2D sprite based virtual world
Special hardware required (upgraded video card, sound card, etc): None
Language availability: English and German
Option for authoring (can users create and build?): No.
Design tools available: Not applicable.
Search (does the world offer a way to search users and/or places?): No
Security (is there protection against hacking, identity theft, or theft of IP?): Users are not allowed to create items.
Can the virtual world be accessed through mobile devices: Devices with compatible web browsers can use Mokitown.
Can the virtual space be accessed offline: No.
Is the world persistent? (Does the world continue when the user logs off): Yes, theoretically. However there is no visual passage of time in the world.
Legal & Management
Entry (what personal information is required?): No personal information is required.
Is a free trial account available (if so, what are the account restrictions)? All accounts are free.
Are there age restrictions: No
User Profiles (what do they contain?): There are no user profiles.
Privacy management (protecting personal data, information sharing with other companies): As per company privacy policies, no personal information is shared with other companies.
If a premium membership exists, what benefits are there to upgrading? All accounts are free forever, there are no premium memberships.
Can access be restricted to designated groups? No.
Intellectual Property management (who owns users' creative works?): Users cannot create any objects or items.
Are there in-world moderators: There is one moderator available in Mokitown. He can be reached by e-mail and occasionally in-world. A calendar is available with the moderator’s online dates.
Management of abusive behavior: Users can be suspended or banned indefinitely for inappropriate behavior.
Virtual Space
Avatar description (are they customizable?): To begin Mokitown, avatars are given basic options to customize appearance. Users can choose a hairstyle, face, clothing, hat and skin color. By earning points in Mokitown, users can purchase cosmetic upgrades to appear as they wish.
Is in-world property ownership available? No.
What are the common meeting spaces (and how many do they accommodate)? There are nine areas of Mokitown for users to meet, play, and chat. All areas are popular hangouts, however most of the action is centered around Benedikt the flying robot, who offers safety based trivia with points rewarded for correct answers.
Video or animation capabilities: None.
Are there any restrictions on what users can create in their "owned" space? Users do not have any owned space.
Example of a prominent corporation present in the virtual world: Daimler-Chrysler is the corporation that owns and operates Mokitown.
Socialization/Communication
Does the world include in-world instant messaging? Yes, users can purchase mobile phones in-world and message other users nearby with mobile phones.
Out of world instant messaging? No.
In-game email? Yes.
Blog space? No.
Screenshot or photo albums? No.
Can other users be blocked or ignored? Yes, users can be ignored or blocked if found offensive.
Is there language filtering? Yes, inappropriate language shows up as “*” when said in world.
Economy
Does the virtual world have currency? Users can obtain “points” which they can use to spend on items and clothing. Users can gain points from travelling safely through Mokitown and its driving games. However, users can also lose points by acting unsafely. For example, for crossing a street without pressing the crosswalk button, a user will lose 20 Mokitown Points.
How does the user obtain currency in-world? Users can obtain points by participating in games, answering trivia, and travelling safely through the world.
Can a user convert real world cash to in-world currency? No.
How does the company assist with in-world trade? (Official commerce sites/auction sites/etc): Users cannot trade items in Mokitown.
Does it cost money or currency to upload user created content? Not applicable.
Educational Presence
Prominent educational, government and corporate organizations known to be using this product for educational purposes: Daimler Chrysler created Mokitown specifically to educate children on traffic safety and safe vehicle practices.
Examples of areas in which instruction is currently offered: Traffic safety, science, math, general knowledge
Are there special privileges for instructors? None.
Are there virtual classrooms or meeting areas? No.
Strengths of this product as an educational or learning tool: Mokitown is a place where children can learn the rules of the road without putting themselves in physical danger. Children play games and answer trivia while learning safe practices in driving, biking, and crossing the street. Because users are rewarded points for following safety rules and deducted points for acting unsafely, children learn in a fun environment that it is both beneficial and logical to follow traffic safety rules.
Opportunities for Philanthropy
Prominent educational, government and corporate organizations known to be using this product for philanthopic purposes: None.
Are there zones or areas reserved for promoting real life issues? No.
Do users find the virtual world an appropriate place for philanthropy? No, it is more of an edutainment source.