WeeWorld
WeeWorld is a teen-orientated social network, best known for their customized avatars, “WeeMees”. WeeWorld has evolved into an eclectic mix of community, casual games, and virtual goods. Steve Young, creative director, spoke to a small group in Edinburgh. Steve discussed the motivations and behaviour of WeeWorld’s users, and explored the challenges of working with 2D WeeMees, particularly as they move into WeeWorld’s new virtual (synchronous) world.
Users
WeeWorld’s core market are teenagers, mostly in North America. Average age 16 (minimum 13, although younger users may simply lie about their age). 60% are female. The dominant market segment was characterised as “spoilt rich kids” – typically those with their own computers. Of the 23 million registered users, about a million visit the WeeWorld site each month, and 80,000 login each day.
Usage differs from other teen social networks, such as Gaia Online: Only 6% of logged-in users visit the site’s forums, while 80% alter their WeeMee. Teen worlds are evidently not generic.
WeeMees (from the Glaswegian, “little me”) can be placed within personalised 2D rooms (in the style of “cardboard theatre”), used as characters within casual games, or rendered as avatars in a new virtual world called, simply enough, “World”. WeeMees are also used on third party websites and services, including messenger services, such as AIM or Live. Initial ideas for WeeMees had resulted in a lot of avatars simply being copied. APIs now provide some control over how WeeMees are reused.
Users’ main aim is “to gather as many friends as possible”. And to chat in a variant of the English language that even JeffK would find almost unintelligible: $iNG-UL?
Virtual Goods
WeeMees can be customized for free: Body, clothes and accessories. However users can also buy “Points”, which can be spent on specific items.
Points can be purchased via PayPal transactions or pre-paid cards, which are sold in US stores. Kids tend to regard these mechanisms like free credit cards: They are not seen as real money.
People pay for “uniqueness”. However, items need not be complex: The most popular item sold is a simple Alice band.
The most fascinating revelation was that the introduction of the new synchronous (virtual) world doubled the sales of virtual goods. This “World” is not even out of beta testing yet. “World” places WeeMees in the same interactive space as one another. This contrasts to the other areas of the site, where WeeMees are not competing for space. I think that implies the more an avatar needs to stand out from the crowd, the more virtual “Bling” is worth to that avatar’s owner.
WeeWorld is keen to avoid its Points being traded as a virtual currency. Money can only be converted into Points, not back again.
Design
The key to WeeWorld’s success is “immersion”. The key to its revenue is “engagement”. These concepts guide development.
Although WeeMees are cartoon-like (in the style associated with South Park), customizations still need to reflect what people would wear in “real life”. For example, T-shirts branding needs to be subtle – a small logo on part of the garment.
The goal for user-generated content (customizations of WeeMees and rooms) is to make it hard for the user to create something that looks bad. For example, MySpace customisations can (and in my opinion, sadly often do) look terrible.
WeeWorld has adjusted to match conservative US culture. The cannabis plants created in early experiments are long gone. There are no alcoholic drinks. Negotiations with Walmart even forced WeeWorld to disable the customization of boob (brest) size.
The development of “World” posed an interest problem: How should WeeMees move? All the artwork and customizations had been designed for static display, without movement animations. The World uses embedded Flash objects to display information to users, so the amount of data transferred about other users’ movements needs to be minimal.
The solution was to make WeeMees hop. Users can also select a trajectory and fire their WeeMees in a particular direction. Navigating World’s 2D platform-ed environment is quite cereal, but strangely fun!
Development
Social networks are becoming more like virtual worlds, while virtual worlds are becoming more like social networks. WeeWorld is trying to steer a path down the middle. Like all the businesses involved, they are still “feeling their way”, finding out what works.
Development time-scales for WeeWorld (and similar products) are very short. Steve was somewhat frustrated that development of the “World” had taken a whole quarter (3 months). The contrast to video-game style virtual worlds is stark: Those typically take 3 years to construct.
WeeWorld use a Scrum/agile development process (which suits the constantly evolving product). Casual games (a commonly requested feature) are often out-sourced to other developers.
The ability to develop content quickly makes it very easy for good ideas to be copied by competitors. For example, Zwinky might seem remarkably similar…
58 comments on "WeeWorld"
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On July 11th, 2008 at 5:31 pm Gerald Williams wrote:
The ability to quickly copy ideas – especially in the internet space means that a company has to compete not only in terms of its products, but also in the processes it uses to quickly generate products. If SCRUM is practiced across the software delivery chain, then the organisation will quickly see what is constraining effective delivery – end to end. Making the end to end processes more efficient is a competitive advantage that is far more difficult to copy – and that is one reason why SCRUM, if practiced end to end, throughout the organisation is such a powerful framework.
On August 7th, 2008 at 2:20 am angel wrote:
dear tim why do we have to pay can we just enter our email adresses!?!
p.s i have weemee
On August 7th, 2008 at 2:20 am angel wrote:
i love weeworld i go to it every week!
On August 15th, 2008 at 7:25 pm SHANACIE wrote:
DEAR TIM WHY DO WE HAVE TO PAY FOR POINTS SOME OF OUR PARENTS WONT GIVE US MONEY!
ITS UNFAIR!
OH AND THE STUFF THAT YOU HAVE TO GO ON AIM TO SOME OF OUR PARENTS WONT LET US HAVE AN AIM EITHER!
PLEASE TIM MAKE SOME CHANGES!
On August 15th, 2008 at 9:40 pm lexi0456 wrote:
When r the pre-paid card comming to pittsburgh pennsylvania cause i really need points and i keep doing the surveys and nothing happens!?
On August 17th, 2008 at 2:58 pm Tim Howgego wrote:
Sorry. I am not responsible for WeeWorld. I cannot make them change anything!
(No need to SHOUT, Shanacie.)
On August 20th, 2008 at 5:00 pm Baliey wrote:
Weeworld is a pretty fun website
I go on it and i bought points and it so worth it.you can trutst them with your credit card # and i think the pre-paid cards would be good!
On September 13th, 2008 at 1:03 pm Brooklyn wrote:
I reallllllllllly want points and i just joined weeworld and im only 7 and my mommy and daddy wont let me get points will you get some 4 me cause yous said that they wer so grat so i want ot expirence that 2 can you plz give me pointzz
On October 3rd, 2008 at 9:00 pm alessandra wrote:
if our parents wont give us $$ 4 weeworld….(sobs)my parents wont give me no points or an aim just plz,plz make changes!its not fair adults 2 b like this so plz!,plz! just make changes!put everything 4 free!plz plz plz plz……plz!
On October 3rd, 2008 at 9:02 pm alessandra wrote:
oh and mail me i need ur answer its ur web. u created it so u should get on it each day send me mail back and tell me the CHANGES that u did i will b expecting u.ok?MAKE SOME CHANGES!!!
On October 19th, 2008 at 9:34 pm DezLopez13 wrote:
how do ya get points 4 wee world on AIM?!
On November 12th, 2008 at 4:11 pm Shez wrote:
dear tim i dont like the way we have to wait to get our points if we do a offer and it still take your money away from you
On December 22nd, 2008 at 6:55 pm slimy fish wrote:
M3H N@M3 !S SKiiN3YJ3ANz
On January 9th, 2009 at 12:15 pm Bookmarks about Cartoon wrote:
[...] – bookmarked by 3 members originally found by eiramenna on 2008-12-28 WeeWorld http://timhowgego.com/weeworld.html – bookmarked by 3 members originally found by BlueCockatoo on [...]
On January 15th, 2009 at 6:20 pm waaup wrote:
hey i am nina and i have bought points many times….and i think if u get points at least 4 times u should get a free thing, thats really cute! OR A FREE 200 POINTS! cause srry tim but thats not a lot cause a really crapy shirt is 250 bucks. or at least think of us as still kids and cut the crap and lower how much stuff is. cause really if u think if this dose not change that me and all mi friends will keep buyin points?? no o and btw just to let u no about 1,000 ppl are geting together and not buyin points til u lower it. there geting more to. and i am all for join if this dosent stop. or we will all just quiet and never look back.
On January 15th, 2009 at 6:26 pm scared like hell wrote:
o and could u like get hackin programs blocked?? everyone is geting hacked bi this one person and he says i will be next…..he leaves a cryin face on every0ne he hackes…..and makes them nude i no ewwwwww. please help save me if u member mi dad??? u propley dont u never met him. only some of those ppll did. but any way mi name is kisskiss911. please i buy so much of ur stuff!! like yeah so please help before the killer takes away me….and all mi friends to. me and mi friends talked about it and it looks like after me its them, i want him stoped u hear me??
On January 28th, 2009 at 5:58 pm skittlelover12 wrote:
How do you know so much about weeworld??
On January 30th, 2009 at 10:35 pm Girl with a question wrote:
how do you give another weemeee gold points or grreen like transfer points fromone accoutnt o another without actually buying points firthe person with thta account?
On January 31st, 2009 at 10:33 pm smecxiass wrote:
tim do u even ever go on here any more wat the hell u are really mean go and like crap ur self meany!
On February 11th, 2009 at 12:41 am Tim Howgego wrote:
I am still here. Almost. But I cannot answer questions or make any changes. Sorry.
On March 9th, 2009 at 4:12 pm fredfan18 wrote:
hey be my freind on weeworld my name is fredfan18 later
On March 12th, 2009 at 2:02 am Want2beefrree wrote:
i really think you shpuld make some changes, like tell weeworld that everything should be free.I am getting some goldz point but i dont think those will last.
On March 21st, 2009 at 12:11 am IDC wrote:
I WANT POITS MY MOM THINKS THEY R GONNA STEEL HER PIN NUMBER I WANT THINGS 2 BE FREE
On March 25th, 2009 at 3:50 pm joanna wrote:
i do to get a member at weeworld
On March 27th, 2009 at 12:46 am trox119 wrote:
hey i have a weemee its trox119…
I hope you can answer this question:
Are you still running weeworld?
Becuase i heard chain mail going around about some Mike guy…
if you have a weemee answer on my page- trox119
On March 31st, 2009 at 8:55 pm Ashley wrote:
Dear tim
My weeworld PopPinky and kyleisdacool would like to be featured how do we get featured??
p.s WHY DOWE HAVE TO PAY FOR POINTS!!!!
On April 7th, 2009 at 5:08 pm jagoda wrote:
Dear tim,
Why do we have to pay for points? Its just really unfair! My parents don’t give me any money!!!
Pleas Tim, make some changes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On April 7th, 2009 at 11:09 pm itzzxlaciiexp wrote:
hey tim i have a weeworld and i tend to go on it alot!! my family doesnt have alot of money… my account is itzzxlaciiexp i was wondering if you could get me points on weeworld.?
thanks.!!
lacie :)
On April 9th, 2009 at 9:54 pm Lyssa wrote:
Hey Tim I have a wee and my parents wont let me buy point and all my friends think its stupid we even have to pay for points. I was hopeing either u could get me some points or dont even have to pay for the points they would be free :)
Thank Lyssa
On April 17th, 2009 at 1:37 am I WANT FREE POINTS wrote:
Hey TIM i realli want free points on wee world my name is mackenzie903 and i ahve been a realli good and paitent person but i think that the more i wait that the prices will get lower WELL I AM WRONG the more i wait the prices get higher!!
MAKE CHANGEZ OR I WILL QUIT WEE WORLD I HAVE ALMOST 200 FRIENDZ ON WEE WORLD AND I WILL GET THEM TO QUITE TO DO U WANT THAT??
I DONT THINK SOO!!SO EIGTHER LOWER PRICES OR MAKE THINGS FREE OR I WILL QUIT!!!!!!!!!!=[
On May 4th, 2009 at 12:02 am Quiincey wrote:
H3y THIIRR TIIMMY!!! <3
this is youu girl Quincey here.. :}
i need to ask you this…
why do we pay? i mean its really cool that we have gold and green points and all that.. but, its a big pain in the *** to ask your parents for money… or take the servays.. what i think is every mounth you should send out at least 2,000 or 1,000 or even 800 GOld or green points out.. Please make this possible.. thanks yo girl~~~ Quincey. . xxxxxxxx
On May 6th, 2009 at 4:52 pm taylor wrote:
hey! how does another weemee give some of its points to their friends?
On May 9th, 2009 at 9:33 am blacklyd123 wrote:
The new thing is that to change your thought bubble you get 1,000 points..but some stuff are just 1,000points and to spend them all?!?!..please..i keep searghing on google for a weeworld moneymaker but there is no one!!!!…plzz..or give us points or do everything FREE!!…im so bored with no points there!!Plzz changess…
–blacklyd123
On May 9th, 2009 at 9:34 am blacklyd123 wrote:
oh and..money cant get buyed by money..
On May 17th, 2009 at 12:49 pm bobcat45 wrote:
dear tim is there a way to donate points to anouther weemee and how many points do you get off of a pre paid card from a store that cost $50.00plz reply plz
On May 24th, 2009 at 5:11 pm MiSzRiana wrote:
ello :)…. I just wanted to no WHY do we have to pay for EVERTHING? before a lot of things were free and no everything you have to pay for…My mom and/or dad wont let me get any money to buy gold/green poitns and ppl are sayn its not fair and it isnt fair…and another question…. how come when you take a survey, u dnt get any money and u were supposed too?
- MiSzRiana
On May 24th, 2009 at 6:27 pm Kelli wrote:
i jk… i absoultuley luv wee world but if u can,…. plz make the prices for some of the clothes cheaper….. super srry if u took that adam thing personal… i was kidding
On May 28th, 2009 at 8:54 pm Madison wrote:
hi tim, i was wondering, who is the owner of weeworld? and do you really get 1000 points after ten levels?
On June 2nd, 2009 at 10:51 am gracieegrace101 wrote:
urr my user name on wee world is gracieegrace101
On June 3rd, 2009 at 3:51 pm BabyIkkles wrote:
I love weeworld, I go on it every day!
I really would like gold points, my old ‘twinny’ actually came on my account and bought me 2500 points and I still have 710 points left and 230 green points I’ve earnt myself. My mother won’t buy me any more, even though for 2500 points it’s $5 and we’re english so it would be something like £3.50, she still won’t buy me any! Ah well, I guess that’s the way the cookie crumbles.
Does anyone like Sims and is getting the Sims 3 on Friday? (2 days) I AM!!!
On June 8th, 2009 at 2:42 pm reengrl wrote:
hi TIM plz i get realy frustrated to get weepoints n my parents dont hav a lot of money to give i dont want to b a bother but could u plz tryn snd sum points or make changes.;3 thnk u
On June 8th, 2009 at 2:43 pm reengrl wrote:
my username iz reengrl
;3
On June 8th, 2009 at 3:08 pm maxell wrote:
i want to get featured on weeworld and i dont no how
On June 9th, 2009 at 3:19 am mackenzie wrote:
how do i get free points for wee world
On June 9th, 2009 at 3:59 am GigiGaga wrote:
I dont get it. Everything is so dang exspensive!! My parents wont buy me points cuz they think its a waist of money. I starting to not like weeworld anymore.:-[
On June 11th, 2009 at 9:40 pm anonymous wrote:
y0u shud really make everythinq FREE on weeworld..dats not fair how we qet to siqn up for free..but then we have to pay for points..WEEWORlD SUCKS.!
On June 11th, 2009 at 10:07 pm tiffany wrote:
hi i am 14 yrs old and i need green points 4 free
On June 15th, 2009 at 9:02 am anon wrote:
WOW….
Tim you must hv a headache by now with all of these tweens whining and shouting with their caps lock on. lol
“IT’S FOOL OF HUMOR MY FRIEND!!!!!!~~~~”
yeah.
On June 20th, 2009 at 1:25 am lorraine wrote:
i want gold points
On June 20th, 2009 at 3:51 am Flexchick wrote:
There right it is not fair.This is CRAZY having to pay for stuff but we got to sign up for free i am not trying to b mean but it needs to br FIXED.Emailme back so u can tell me if ur going to make changes and if so FAST.
On June 26th, 2009 at 3:40 am SOME GIRL wrote:
DEAR TIM WHY DO WE HAVE 2 PAY FOR IT IF UR OT THE OWNER TELL THE WHY ARE U TAKING OUR MONEY OUR PARENTS WONT LET US U GUYS JUST WANT MONEY AND DONT NOT CARE ITS NOT KOOL TELL THEM WHY CANT WE JUST LIKE U KNOW ENTER OUR EMAILS AND IT PROBLY DOESNT COST MONEY FOR THE SITE i didnt mean 2 type in big letter cuz im not a mean person but plz talk 2 them
On June 29th, 2009 at 2:08 pm joanna wrote:
i think that its stupid that we have to pay to get stuff on weeworld.
its a waste of moeny. when you complet on offer or take a survey you don’t even get any gold points back. i have completed like 20 for over 100 700 gold points and i haven’t gotten any yet. they are riping us off!
On June 29th, 2009 at 11:45 pm secret person wrote:
tim why do we have to pay for some stuff that u get for free u just do something to make alot of apear on your weemee your a hipocrit
On June 30th, 2009 at 9:08 am imsohot10 wrote:
can u get mii pointzz
On June 30th, 2009 at 10:39 am kizzfan123 wrote:
HEY TIM I REALLY ENJOY UR WEBSITE AND SO DO MY FRIENDS….AND WE WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THE FUN THAT U HAVE BROUTH TO OUR YOUNG LIVES.BUT THE ONLY THING IS THAT IT IS SO HARD TO GET POINTS AND I WAS WONDERING HOW ( TO GET POINTS) SO IF U COULD JUST PLEASE TELL ME UR SECRET IT WOULD B VERY NICE OF U AND/OR CAN U GET ME POINTS??????
On June 30th, 2009 at 12:38 pm MissRandom wrote:
Excuse me,
I am ADDICTED TO WEEWORLD. I get onn it EVERYDAY. The only problem I have is that it’s so HARD 2 get points!!!!! I mean, when you add a friend, it’s 1 green point. & for gold points, you have to PAY. You shouldn’t hav 2 hav green for free. gold should be free too. If you know the person who created WeeWorld, could you please tell him to change to website to make it a better way 2 get points? and make the gold FREE? & when you do things, to give you more points. & make things WAY CHEAPER! That’s another issue I have. I can BARELY afford anything because everything is so expensive. I mean, a bow is 1,000 GOLD. & Some of the items are all gold, which means the price tag is all gold. That just stinks because not everyone on WeeWorld has gold points. So, if you DO know the person that created WeeWorld, could you please, if possible, tell him about these issues? Thanks! (:
On June 30th, 2009 at 1:09 pm Ashreen wrote:
Tim,
Some of my friends on weeworld have told me that it is possible to give away green & gold points. Is this true & if so how can you do it?
Thank you very much,
Ashreen
On June 30th, 2009 at 4:00 pm Isaiah wrote:
Dear tim,
Can you please lower the prices of weeworld clothes.Or make a Trophie mission when you get 200 gold and 200 level boosters,but not to hard.
Thank you,
Isaiah