The one question I ask most often about the internet is the following: why do people make such great stuff and then give it away for free?
The website Poptropica is a perfect example. Poptropica is a virtual online world in which children take part in adventures that require creativity, persistence, logic, and coordination to solve. If you have kids aged 6 to 12, it is definitely worth taking a look.
Not only is it fun for kids, but it is fun for adults too (at least this adult), and it is a great learning tool.
The unfortunate downside of the website is that addiction is a probable outcome. The last time I saw my son Nicholas so lost to the world was right before the intervention that culminated in us sending him to Club Penguin Anonymous.
I have been contributing to his downward spiral this time. Yesterday I was lying in bed half-awake, when I suddenly came up with a hypothesis as to how to beat Sir Rebral, who had confounded Nick for days on Poptropica. I woke Nick up to tell him. Happily, my conjecture proved correct.
The thing that I simply cannot understand about Poptropica is why it exists. Webkinz and Club Penguin both have revenue-generating business models. Poptropica is simply free — no subscription fees, no ads, no nothing that generates any money. On the Poptrica F.A.Q., it says that it was created by Family Education Network, a division of Pearson. That seems like a group of folks who might like to get paid for their hard work. So can anyone explain to me why Poptropica exists?
Just today, my daughter Amanda became the first kid in the family to finish all the available adventures. Her sense of triumph was powerful, but short-lived. Just seconds after putting the final jewel into the statue of Nabooti, she turned to me forlorn and asked, “Now that I finished Poptropica, what am I going to do?”
I didn’t have a good answer for her.
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Maybe the question is why are you taking it for free?
this is kind of a weird post- it goes on explaining why poptropica exists, but then at the end asks why it exists- the iterative irony would be to ask why this blog exists- sure, the naive cynic would answer money makes the world go round, but there’s plenty o blogs that serve their function irregardless of monetary transaction
I think they make money in the educational market, publishing market, or plan to hit those markets hard in the next couple of years…
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS92683+09-Sep-2008+PRN20080909
I have a locally-focused web site that gets approximately 500 unique visitors a day. I have often been asked why I don’t have ads or other revenue-generating mechanisms on the site and my response is that I do the web site as my version of community service.
Also, that copyright notice with “Pearson Education” is nice branding. Those people using Poptropica who later hear any reference to Pearson Education will (I’m sure Pearson hopes) remember a good experience with the site and think of them favorably.
And even Sears is getting into the act:
http://www.virtualworldsnews.com/2008/07/sears-heads-acr.html
“– FunBrain.com/Poptropica.com – Developed a custom Sears game for Funbrain.com and a Sears building within Poptropica.com, a virtual world.”
Of all the b-m businesses- this is the last I would have though of doing this.
It’s that same horrible feeling when you finish a great book and realize, oh my, I’ve got nothing to do anymore.
though it feels like I’m channelling my mother from all those years ago… she could always go outside and play.
Building a brand name is expensive by any account, and generally involves giving away something for free – for example product samples.
It’s probable that the Poptropica brand gets put to use in the near future to generate revenues. Having an existing relationship (and seemingly a genuinely positive one) with parents and children can do nothing but good for the creators.
Also, the developer FableVision is a non-profit organisation so perhaps they’re not desparate to monetize; just the success of Poptropica might lead to more funding for them.
Anyway, the company press release is here:
http://www.prweb.com/releases/FableVision/Poptropica/prweb1290664.htm
We thank the web for providing all answers.