Where do Webkinz Challenges begin?
Have you ever wondered how Webkinz Challenges are created? We sat down with Michael Webkinz to learn more about his creative process.
In this 6-part series, we’ll break it all down: How are Webkinz Challenges made?
Part 1: “Where Challenges Begin”
What comes first: the theme, the story, or a game mechanic?
“When we first released challenges back in 2011, they were really aimed at introducing new players to the site and we wanted to drive them to certain locations to introduce them to certain game mechanics and new aspects or different areas of the site. I would say, early on, the game mechanics and the tasks came first but more recently as we’ve been releasing these epic 8-step summer challenges and challenges that are only available for a limited time, I would say more the theme and the story would come first and then we would decide on the game mechanics and the prizes at the very end.”
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Michael Webkinz, I have a question. I have played the first two Adventure Park packs, and not received the Grand Prize, The Crystal Treasure Chest and the Celestial S’More Campsite. I do already have those two prizes, as I got them several years ago when playing the Adventure Park. My question is, WHY didn’t I get the Grand Prize for these two challenges? I’ve already read where some players have received the prize they already have, too. IF we are not allowed to get the main prize at the end of the Adventure, why is that not made clear to us? I bought, and have already played, several of the Adventure games. Will I not be able to get those end prizes either? If we play an Adventure game, shouldn’t we GET the “Grand Prize” at the end of the game? Or….is there a glitch within the game system that is keeping the prizes from showing? If so, will it be fixed soon? By the way, I would like to Thank Ganz/Team Webkinz, for fixing the weird furniture swap with the stadium sets and the orange patio furniture. I noticed that in several of my rooms, like my Movie Room and Theatre Room. I’ve been really busy and have not had time to contact CS. I noticed the problem has been fixed, and just wanted to say Thank You, to all the Tech people. :-)
I enjoy the challenges and the prizes. I like challenges that are on the easier side of spinning a few wheels and asking friends for items. The summer challenge is fun because it takes a long time, but it isn’t stressful due to the long completion date.
I really enjoy challenges but I do not like that they are always timed now. I wish you would add more that have no set ending date, that way we are free to just work on and enjoy them on our own time table. I don’t ever like being rushed to complete things and yes I consider a month a rush. I have a lot of things going on in real life, I have to carve out time for webkinz and it is always spent doing what I HAVE to do because of everything being timed on there. I can’t even remember the last time I just sat down and did what I WANT to do on webkinz, it’s been years since I sat down and just spent an hour decorating a room or playing and arcade game because I felt like it. I have even grown to dislike many arcade games that I used to enjoy because they are always the same ones we HAVE to play for some timed event. Please consider the faithful players for all these years who would love to have less timed events going on constantly. Please give us more challenges that can be completed on our own time tables and not just a weekend, a week or a month to do it.
@jsforfr – We are on the same wave length here! I am getting very tired of having too many challenges, both timed and not timed. I’m really tired of not having the time to just RELAXE and PLAY in Webkinz World. I do not like the Tournament Arena, the games that are too difficult to control because of the various internet and computer issues that players are faced with! I am a retired adult, and I don’t have time to do these months long challenges. I can’t imagine a 6 yr old child wanting to play these months long challenges. I suspect that the ones who actually play these challenges are adults. I agree with jsforfr! WE, your faithful players that have been playing on Webkinz for YEARS, not to mention the amount of money we, the parents/grandparents/etc, have spent a TON of money playing on Webkinz. Less challenges, especially these summer months long ones, and more time for just playing/designing/crafting (cookbook items), and maybe being able to purchase, in the WShop, the additional items needed for the cookbook recipes. Maybe have 2 or 3 booths in the Park instead of one booth. Or…how about adding another park? Maybe a farm, where we could go harvest or get (think veggie booth), a new food item each day to try. If we liked it, then we could buy the seeds for 100KC in the WShop. I want to spend more time just playing the game I enjoy, designing my rooms, rearranging my rooms, cleaning out my dock! Which makes me want to ask, what is the amount of KinzCash that will cause a player to get banned for “selling” too many items? If I’ve paid for an item, why can’t I sell it? Just wondering.
alucard, you & jsforfr are spot on. It’s been years that I was just able to get on and play “my way”. It’s just been hurry, hurry, got to get this done, then the next challange needs done. Get one done & 2 more pop up. Yes I do like them, but it would be nice to do them on our time. Please think about slowing things down. Thanks. A 17 year faithful player :)
@charka08 – I just left the Tournament Arena. I have played 4 games of Dogbeard’s Bathtub, and have lost ALL 4 games! I CAN NOT STAND THIS GAME!!!! This is why I really strongly dislike the Tournament games and try to never EVER play them. I don’t mind loosing a Tournament game when I am playing another player. I DO try and help Webkinz players who are trying to win a game that two actual Webkinz Players can play. I can’t stand playing a game with a Host, especially for these Adventure Host games like this one! I don’t have the time to play game after game after game after game, and still can’t win! All 4 times I lost when I had one or two moves that would have allowed me to win and MOVE ON! I KNOW my blood pressure is moving on up right now! Does the Host HAVE to win a game in the Tournament Arena? Why can’t it just be that we HAVE to play the game, win or lose. Then we can move ON and finish the rest of that Adventure, get the big prize, and start the next Adventure. This kind of “IT’S NOT FUN!”, is what I can’t stand about the Tournament Arena being use for Adventure Challenges! I understand my first loss, as I haven’t played in the TA in a long time, but to FAIL 4 TIMES? Nope! Guess I’ll have to see if I can add some ePoints to that account and just pay for the prize! Really didn’t want to do that, but I’m NOT going to play that Dogbeard’s Bathtub again with a Host. I’ll play it with a Webkinz Player, but NOT a computer animated setup. Not Happy! :-(
@charka08 – I sent you a friend request. My UN for that account is farout2. :-)
alucard, I friended you :) I will help w/Dogbeard’s. When we meet up, if you put all your boats top left, mine will be bottom right. That way you can sink my ships :) I can’t see left side of this post, so I hope it comes out OK. Your friend charka08
@jsforfr – I have sent you a friend request. My UN for that account is farout2. :-)
@jsforfr – Sorry, I couldn’t add your name here. If you would like to be friends, would you send me your User Name? :-)
@charka08 – Thank you for friending me! I will be online this evening around 7:00pm (CST). Would love to play a game of Dogbeard’s with you! You are so sweet to help me with this challenge. Thank you so much! :-) farout1, farout2 :-)
@charka08 – I will be on my farout2 account to night at 7pm (CST). See you then! :-)
one of the challenges is a repeat as i now have 2 cloud machines
I was unhappy with the summer challenge this year, but then I started and find they are enjoyable, even if quite long.
I love the challenges. Gives me a lot to do when I’m otherwise kinda bored with the game.
Excited to read the other 5 parts, I appreciate the challenges quite a bit and some awesome prizes come out of it
Challenges are great; I do more in WW because of them! It’s more fun to have a reason to play checkers (blecchh) :)
XD Checkers – good rainy day fun! Next time you need it, challenge me to a game. I will be happy to lose so you can win!
I really enjoyed the Martial Arts challenge last year and this year’s is awesome as well. I have completed every single challenge on my main account, my mom did on hers and my brother did all of his except a couple of Mega challenges he didn’t finish before he mostly quit playing. Love the Deluxe Challenges every month and the prizes are amazing!!