Interesting Twist in the Wind on VMK...

[jjramsey]

At this link was a story about the closing of VMK. It is very interesting, that the following is mentioned (especially wild is the first sentence):

Industry executives who have talked to Disney said the company wants to relocate the loyal users of Virtual Magic Kingdom to its other online worlds before they grow bored with the theme-park game. Others speculated that Disney wasn't interested in nurturing a cyber-world that wasn't invented in Burbank. The Virtual Magic Kingdom was built, developed and maintained by Sulake Corp., best known as the creator of the two-dimensional Habbo Hotel.


From an interview with people from other 'online' companies:

Jason: VMK had to shut itself off due to unexpected success. Scrabulous is great. A couple of guys in India introduced something that ignited a lot of interest in casual gaming and it has a business model.

[JPL]

If the game peaked at a million users without much effort and advertising imagine where it could be with a little investment

It seems they speak alot about scale but VMK never had the server resources to achieve any scale. With 4000 people online and any type of event taking place we experienced severe lag. I'm sure this lag caused many people to leave the game especially newer players.

[chrisb26]

Industry executives who have talked to Disney said the company wants to relocate the loyal users of Virtual Magic Kingdom to its other online worlds before they grow bored with the theme-park game.

This is very interesting and I wonder if it is some what true. But I can tell you this if this was their intention then it pretty much backfired on them because all of the players at VMK are now at VFK and although some may be at other Disney On-Line games I know not all of them are.

If the game peaked at a million users without much effort and advertising imagine where it could be with a little investment

It seems they speak alot about scale but VMK never had the server resources to achieve any scale. With 4000 people online and any type of event taking place we experienced severe lag. I'm sure this lag caused many people to leave the game especially newer players.

I think this is very true the game had alot of people without any real advertising. I do agree that some things probably drove away players which is why the game saw a decline in numbers. I do have to agree that the server space seemed to always be an issue as long as I played the game.

[Chescat]

I got this from a good friend from VMK and she wanted me to pass this along. This is so cool. At least it gives us our fix. If you hit guest rooms, it even shows that. Go to the exits and it goes to the next rooms. Even has music.

http://vmkarchives.oxyhost.com/vmk.htm


To see the halloween and christmas versions go here:

http://vmkarchives.oxyhost.com/

When you get in the holiday room, click your normal exits and it takes you to the next room.

This is so cool!

[TinkRocks]

I got this from a good friend from VMK and she wanted me to pass this along. This is so cool. At least it gives us our fix. If you hit guest rooms, it even shows that. Go to the exits and it goes to the next rooms. Even has music.

http://vmkarchives.oxyhost.com/vmk.htm


To see the halloween and christmas versions go here:

http://vmkarchives.oxyhost.com/

When you get in the holiday room, click your normal exits and it takes you to the next room.

This is so cool!

You have no idea how much I miss VMK, as I'm sure y'all do too.

I think I'm gonna go create a green circle that I can move about, so whenever I miss VMK, I can throw the green circle somewhere and walk to it!

[TinkRocks]

I got this from a good friend from VMK and she wanted me to pass this along. This is so cool. At least it gives us our fix. If you hit guest rooms, it even shows that. Go to the exits and it goes to the next rooms. Even has music.

http://vmkarchives.oxyhost.com/vmk.htm


To see the halloween and christmas versions go here:

http://vmkarchives.oxyhost.com/

When you get in the holiday room, click your normal exits and it takes you to the next room.

This is so cool!

You have no idea how much I miss VMK, as I'm sure y'all do too.

I think I'm gonna go create a green circle that I can move about, so whenever I miss VMK, I can throw the green circle somewhere and walk to it!

[ElenitaB]

It seems they speak alot about scale but VMK never had the server resources to achieve any scale. With 4000 people online and any type of event taking place we experienced severe lag. I'm sure this lag caused many people to leave the game especially newer players.

Like you say, this was a game that never did advertise much... but Disney's lack of bandwidth and server capacity also seriously affects certain PAID events that do earn the company lots and lots of money.

I'm thinking in particular of two "events" that were seriously hampered by their lack of server space/band width/etc.: the booking of this year's repositioning cruises when their computer systems crawled along, hampering both online guests and DCL's phone CMs. It was a madhouse with phone waits of up to 6 hours for people and travel agents trying to get reservations.

The next DCL computer snafu was the evening when the window opened up for folks on the May repositioning cruise, to book their Palo meals, kid's club reservations and excursions. I've read reports of people waiting on line from midnight to 6:00 am trying to make those reservations.

Not good.

[RenDuran]

I got this from a good friend from VMK and she wanted me to pass this along. This is so cool. At least it gives us our fix. If you hit guest rooms, it even shows that. Go to the exits and it goes to the next rooms. Even has music.

http://vmkarchives.oxyhost.com/vmk.htm


To see the halloween and christmas versions go here:

http://vmkarchives.oxyhost.com/

When you get in the holiday room, click your normal exits and it takes you to the next room.

This is so cool!

This is really neat! I wish that I had done more screen shots of the game, so this is a great way to reminisce!

[chrisb26]

That thing is pretty neat he did a great job with it. However it does kind of stink looking at the game that way and not being able to actually play

But its still neat! Thanks Cat!

[Blue Genie]

I know this may sound silly but can someone give me this sound to the Princess Aurora castle suite please. I don't know how to get it.

[JPL]

Genie I should have all the VMK music and sounds soon I will make you a CD when I do

[mickeytinkerbellprincess]

That is so cool, Cat! Thanks for sharing At least I can jam to VMK music once in a while :P