Nicktropolis (www.nicktropolis.com)
© 2007 Nickelodeon Kids and Family Group
Nicktropolis is a free, MMO (Massive Multiplayer Online Game) that first launched on January 30, 2007. It is easy to sign up and create an avatar, with a format like Club Penguin, except the areas are related to Nick-themed shows or special events, like the Kid's Choice Awards. New content includes a comic book store, a pirate ship-themed area, and an area inspired from The Mighty B show. In addition, a regionalized version of Nicktropolis will also launch in the U.K. in April. Your avatar can be either a boy or girl, and you can select skin/hair/clothing colors. You can then create your own room with items that are purchased with Nick Points. There are two forms of chat— constructed (menu chat) that players can form sentences and phrases using preselected messages, and free-filtered chat that is also moderated. The latter requires registering with your parent's email. While there are currently no ads inside Nicktropolis itself, the site is thick with Nick and Viacom-related media, including Air Benders and SpongeBob, and children are exposed to an assortment of banner ads as they sign up.
Internet Site
Teaches: logic, typing, socialization, chat