The Money Game

"The money-driven aspect of the games, whether involving actual or virtual cash, is becoming a concern for parents and consumer watchdogs as popular game sites like Club Penguin attract millions of new users. The number of unique monthly visitors to Club Penguin more than doubled in the last year, to 4.7 million from 1.9 million, while the traffic on Webkinz.com grew to 6 million visitors from less than 1 million, according to comScore Media Metrix, which tracks online usage. While most online games for kids 12 and under are still free of charge, many now come with a price tag. Consumer groups like Common Sense Media and Consumer Reports WebWatch say games for tweens and children have proliferated noticeably over the last two years and now number in the hundreds. " (Mireya Navarro, The New York Times)

Breaking news! The New York Times discovers that webgames are basically exercises in capitalism, free-market simulators, legalized juvenile labour, and powerful teaching tools. Impressive indeed.

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