I do think any organization that actively builds a community has some responsibility to manage the dismantling of that community if it should be necessary. Disney has a perfect opportunity here to have strategically communicated with this community, helping them transition into one of the new Disney world perhaps or providing some way to somehow archive some of the personal artifacts – not the least of which are the avatars, assets and personal environments which users have spent untold hours building – maybe that would be simply a digital VMK memory scrapbook – something that communicated Disney was tuned into the angst of the community being disbanded. However, I do think it is enormously – enormously – unfortunate that Disney has provided such little support for this hugely engaged community in the closing.

is ending VMK? Do you agree that the site should end or do you think Disney should keep it going?Īlso, because VMK was originally conceived as a 50th anniversary promotion, there was likely no long-term strategy in place beyond an early “experiment” in these kinds of multi-user environments.ĭisney’s decision to close VMK was a business decision – so it is difficult for me to assign a “should” factor to it. I’m more of a casual user, but an avid observer of the activities and behaviors of virtual world users of all kinds – in VMK and elsewhere. I’m a not what I consider a very active or “regular” user of VMK. Here are her responses to the Register’s questions.ĭo you play Virtual Magic Kingdom ? If so, describe your experiences.

She is an Orange-based consultant at MarCom:Interactive who advises corporations about virtual worlds.

We invited Linda Zimmer to explain why fans are so upset about the ending of VMK and to suggest what should be next for Disney’s virtual worlds. In a statement, Disney officials said the site’s performance exceeded expectations, but the time had come to shut it down. The free social gaming site, also called VMK, lets players choose and style avatars, chat with other players and play games.

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