A snow-clad virtual world for children in India

‘Club Penguin’ is a virtual world for kids designed by Disney. It is a snow-clad world where Penguins live. Kids here live a penguin’s life. And they can play games, learn art and craft and interact with kids from all across the world.

Kids from over 190 countries are enjoying the safe virtual zone and now it is becoming increasingly popular in India as well.

While ‘Club Penguin’ is free for all, it also has special subscription in which some extra features are especially available only for the members. And this comes at the price of Rs 199 per month. Robb Beesron, Head of Disney Online Studios, Asia Pacific announced the same today. He says, “We go where Club Penguin gets popular and so we are here. Now people in India no longer need to pay for the subscription to the Club in foreign currency and can pay for the same in INR.” This world was created by three fathers in a small town in Canada, in 2005 for their kids to have fun and also learn different things.

What is unique about this virtual world is that it is completely ad-free and protected. Rob explains, “Parents all across the globe complain about the number of hours kids spend on the computer. And hence this online Club can be linked with the parents mail account. And parents can monitor exactly what the kids are doing while logged on to ‘Club Penguin’. And they can also decide, when, and for how long do they want their kids to use the application.

There is also an opportunity for kids to chat with other children from across the world but even the chat is restricted. And usage of inappropriate spellings and language is strictly not allowed. There is an online library as well and kids can read many different stories here. They can also make their own stories. They have to mail their stories and if it’s selected, they will be uploaded on the website. Each and every mail written by the kids is read and responded by a human being.

There is lot more in this virtual world like earning virtual money and shopping for new clothes and decorating their own igloos. And there is also a mechanism through which children can donate their money to real charities.