VMK has made the news. Options

[sprwoman]

I was looking into ToonTown and kept looking for how much full access cost. Every time I clicked the part that said fees it required logging in and inputting credit card info. I couldn't find anything else on their site. So after over half an hour of looking I wrote them. Here's a copy of what I sent to ToonTowns contact us form:

I'm having trouble finding out the fees involved.
And I'm also wondering if there are any assurances that ToonTown Online will not be closed suddenly like VMK. A lot of time and effort would be involved in making the houses, characters, collecting items, and figuring out game play. Then to not have full access with out paying a monthly fee leaves me with a sour taste in my mouth. I have been reluctant to join anything online with a fee involved. And now that Disney is closing VMK suddenly with out giving players much notice. I am worried that I might get involved with an online site that is also owned by Disney and that it might also be closed suddenly.

Here is their response:

Dear ,

Thank you for your interest in Disney's Toontown Online.

You can review our current pricing and special offers at:

http://play.toontown.com/faq/overview/cost.php

We hope this helps, and look forward to seeing you in Disney's Toontown
Online soon!

Thank You,

Megan
Disney's Toontown Online Member Services

Dose anyone think they answered my questions?

[CaptainHill]

Disney has an automated customer service, which means that the machine thingymabobber is meant to see your text and find the closest thing to what you meant...or so I think at least

[DisneyFreak]

GOOD NEWS!
Our loacal news station has agreed to broadcast the closing of VMk if we tell them what's up. Basically, they want a story. If anyone wants to throw ideas, shoot em and I'll make sure they make it into the story =)

Oh thats great Captain Hill! Just make sure you tell them the basics.

1. Its Disneys fault not VMKs!
2. VMK players are not going along with it.

You know. Good Luck!

~Disney

[CaptainHill]

I got the part about Disney's fault...just now entering the part about petitions and stuffs

[DisneyFreak]

Cool Captain! I am so excited! Our VMK campaign is really sort of working!
I feel like a 3 year old on Christmas!

[kangapal]

Does anyone think they answered my questions?

I think they answered it the way they wanted to answer it. I doubt anyone at toontown knows what is going on over at VMK. Even if they did know something, do you really think they would tell you anything?


To them this is probably what they saw:

I'm having trouble finding out the fees involved.
Blah blah blah, blah, etc, etc.

I really think they only paid attention to the first line.

[tinkrox]

that annoys me! they should read it through, after all, it is their job isn't it?

[CaptainHill]

It is their job...but if they might choose to go automated responses, I guess they're spending their money they make from their job...I don't think what i just said makes any sense at all, so anyone feel free to correct me

[Rubella-Angella]

What I don't get is that they had all these crazy rules on VMK that we could easily get banned for because they were worried for our safety and DISNEY'S REPUTATION OF CHILD-FRIENDLY ENVIORNMENTS. Them closing VMK is ruining its rep even more then you think. 0_o

[Rudolph]

I got the part about Disney's fault...just now entering the part about petitions and stuffs

I would actually stay away from the "fault" and "anger" angle to avoid looking like complainers. Instead, make the valid points. Talk about how it was a safe place to play, how a lot of people have made good friends that they can't contact any other way, and all the time and effort we have put into our characters.

That article Kanga posted in the other thread had some great points in it. Especially how VMK has helped kids with autism and those who are sick and may not be able to play much in real life.

that annoys me! they should read it through, after all, it is their job isn't it?

I'm sure they read it but purposly chose not to answer the part about whether it would close someday like VMK. The truth is, it probably will. I can't really see any online game lasting forever. And from a legal standpoint, I don't think they can really tell you how long it would be open because they probably don't even know. What they can't do is tell you that it will be open for a certain time and then be wrong.

This post has been edited by Rudolph: Apr 15 2008, 12:00 AM

[DisneyFreak]

tinkrox
that annoys me! they should read it through, after all, it is their job isn't it?


I'm sure they read it but purposly chose not to answer the part about whether it would close someday like VMK. The truth is, it probably will. I can't really see any online game lasting forever. And from a legal standpoint, I don't think they can really tell you how long it would be open because they probably don't even know. What they can't do is tell you that it will be open for a certain time and then be wrong.

___________________________________________________________________


I am totally agreeing with you on this Rudolph.

Nothing can last forever and they really never now.




_______________________________________________________________________________________________
QUOTE(CaptainHill @ Apr 14 2008, 07:53 PM)

I got the part about Disney's fault...just now entering the part about petitions and stuffs



I would actually stay away from the "fault" and "anger" angle to avoid looking like complainers. Instead, make the valid points. Talk about how it was a safe place to play, how a lot of people have made good friends that they can't contact any other way, and all the time and effort we have put into our characters.

That artle Kanga in the other thread had some great points in it. Especially how VMK has helped kids with autism and those who are sick and may not be able to play much in real life.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________
___

I also agree with this. VMK really has helped a lot of Kids.

This post has been edited by DisneyFreak: Apr 14 2008, 09:44 PM

[sprwoman]

Well I'm sorry if no one agrees with me. I've been playing VMK since November 2006 and read most if not all of the newsletter at about that time. While waiting for the game to load I regularly scan the newsletter for new information. I was not aware that VMK was a promotion until that was announced in the newsletter along with the news of VMK closing. I don't expect everything to just last forever. But I think it is very rude to suddenly announce that VMK is just going to close (at the time) in a little over a month. We've put a lot of time and effort into building our characters and rooms. Not to mention learning how to play the game, mini games, and how to navigate. Some people spent real money not just on VMK collector cards, or movies for Disney Movie Rewards points to get codes for VMK items, but also for park admission. I got VMK codes from the Pirates of the Caribbean site, and from entering some contest on E-bay, that's part of why I checked out VMK. I put a lot more time and effort into the game than I ever would have if I had any idea that VMK would just close.

About the letter. If I took the time to write them and fill out the Contact Us form, which is more non-customer friendly. Then I think I deserve to have someone read it, and give me a reply. Not just an automated response re-stating what's on the site. That basically says "Our time is much more important than yours, we can't be constantly bothered by your stupid questions. And no we've not even going to read it. Good bye and good day."

[Rudolph]

Well I'm sorry if no one agrees with me. I've been playing VMK since November 2006 and read most if not all of the newsletter at about that time. While waiting for the game to load I regularly scan the newsletter for new information. I was not aware that VMK was a promotion until that was announced in the newsletter along with the news of VMK closing. I don't expect everything to just last forever. But I think it is very rude to suddenly announce that VMK is just going to close (at the time) in a little over a month. We've put a lot of time and effort into building our characters and rooms. Not to mention learning how to play the game, mini games, and how to navigate. Some people spent real money not just on VMK collector cards, or movies for Disney Movie Rewards points to get codes for VMK items, but also for park admission. I got VMK codes from the Pirates of the Caribbean site, and from entering some contest on E-bay, that's part of why I checked out VMK. I put a lot more time and effort into the game than I ever would have if I had any idea that VMK would just close.

About the letter. If I took the time to write them and fill out the Contact Us form, which is more non-customer friendly. Then I think I deserve to have someone read it, and give me a reply. Not just an automated response re-stating what's on the site. That basically says "Our time is much more important than yours, we can't be constantly bothered by your stupid questions. And no we've not even going to read it. Good bye and good day."

I don't think anyone is disagreeing with you. We all worked very hard on our characters and are upset with how this was handled. Ideally they would keep it open and make it better. But if they had to close it, they should have let it die down naturally. If they didn't do much as far as adding new items and hosting events, I think people would have generally gotten bored with the game and not been as upset about it closing. It just makes it difficult to leave now that all the cool stuff came out.

What I was suggesting earlier was to take a mature approach on stating our case. No one will listen to someone who is over emotional and just pointing fingers. We've got to make people understand why VMK is so great. For those who don't play, it is just a game.

And I do think they read to your letter and gave you a personal response. You've got to understand that the people responding are in Customer Service and don't always have all the answers. They certainly can't make promises to you that they have no power over. The best response you could have hoped for out of that was that if the game did end that they would pro-rate your subscribtion cost.