Virtual parenting poised for growth spurt

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For MSN, games appear to be more than casual. Its parent company, Microsoft, owns the popular Xbox game console. And online, the company offers games like "Uno" and "Sudoku Too" in the United States, making it the fifth most-popular games site, according to Nielsen NetRatings. But it could be looking to expand its presence.

"Games such as 'Eccky,' available in the Netherlands, and others like 'Uno' or 'Sudoku Too' in the United States, deliver on our goals of adding new interactive dimensions to the Windows Live Messenger, and helping our customers stay in touch with the important people in their lives in new and fun ways," according to a Microsoft representative.

For MSN, the Netherlands is an ideal test bed for simulation games on Messenger because a high concentration of people, 5 million, use MSN Messenger, according to Verhart.

Eccky's quick virtual maturity
To play, people must register and fill out a personal profile on the site. Then, the user can search for a mate, if they don't already have one, with whom to rear a virtual child. Once "born," the unique Eccky (which is derived from the Japanese word, ecci, meaning "naughty") has its own profile page and is added to the MSN Messenger contact list of each parent.

The virtual child grows and ages three years for every one day of game play. As an Eccky ages, its vocabulary matures. Within six days, the Eccky turns into an 18-year-old with an individual character and leaves the nest, thus ending the game. Players are rated at the end of the game by the happiness of the child, which is measured by attention and game play. For example, if the parent neglects to command the child to go to the bathroom when it's full, or forgets to feed the Eccky, then the child's happiness rating suffers.

Verhart said "Eccky" is a sophisticated computer program that includes chat-bot technology and a Java application when played on the mobile telephone.

Media Republic, which has 60 employees, was founded in 2002. In the last two years, it developed a popular game for the Sony PlayStation, later selling the division to Sony, Verhart said. Now, the company is primarily focused on developing social entertainment software around IM and text messaging, which then can tie in with advertising.

Earlier this year, Media Republic launched an advertising campaign on "Eccky" in partnership with Doritos. Through the ad campaign, people could get a special code from Doritos to log on to a Web site, where they would "flirt" with other Eccky players or win prizes, according to the company.

Industry executives see this as a natural evolution of simulation games that will only get more advanced thanks to portable PCs and communications technology.

"It's a very natural evolution," said Amy Jo Kim, creative director of ShuffleBrain, a design studio for games and network services. But she offered a word of caution: "Virtual pet games are very addictive--they tap into guilt and a core part of being human."

[Penguinisto]

Yeah, Right.

How about a little realism?

* Make the players get up every four hours, 24/7, for the first six months of play. No excuses - get yer butt outta bed RIGHT NOW and do whatever the computer demands of you, or you'll never go back to sleep.

I'll let all the other parents take it from there (and trust me, it's a helluva long list...)

Oh, and you're not allowed to shut the game off for the next 18 - 24 years.

/P

[Paul Schantz]

Great comment

Absolutely true...had a good laugh at that one!

[troppp]

Exactly

Child abuse and neglect will not be tolerated!Also, they'll pass legislation to come after you for child support if you decide to forfeit. I want to know where to get the cheat codes beforehand.

[troppp]

Exactly

Child abuse and neglect will not be tolerated!Also, they'll pass legislation to come after you for child support if you decide to forfeit. I want to know where to get the cheat codes beforehand.

[troppp]

Also

If your child gets attacked by a computer virus, you are going to get charged out the wazoo in medical bills.

[Below Meigh]

Virtual B_st_rd!

Hey, laugh. A fatherless (and motherless) child!

Great. Now I have to spend virtual money on a virtual education but use my real time in doing so.

And who is coding this parental-simulator?

[momogary]

hi what`s up

[cheseaandhannah]

cool

[kayla888888]

hey ppl