Turning kids into time travelers with ClubTimeMachine
Club Time Machine is an online virtual world for kids aged 6 to 12, in which they can chat with other children, play games and learn about history.
Kids’ Stuff
Avatars
personalize an avatar with hat color, clothes, shoes, etc, though all the avatars have the same general shape.
Hooverboards
Then they paint a hooverboard, (think rocket) to shoot from time to time.
Pick the Period
Some available time period options to visit are the Ice Age, Industrial Revolution, Roman Empire, The Middle Ages, present time and what they call the Ecology period which is 2050 and beyond.
Games, ‘Hotel Rooms’ & Stuff to Buy
Once in the time they want, kids can play games, interact with other kids, chat and earn credits that allow them to ‘purchase’ rockets to take them to other times or more stuff to decorate their ‘hotel room’ where they stay in between time traveling.
If you’ve got a child interested in history, or a child you want to be interested in history, it’s a fun and seemingly safe way to introduce the Internet.
Very cool parent tools
They do have a “control room” which allows you to monitor e-mail messages, chats and with whom your child is playing. If you don’t like what’s being said, or who the other child is, you can block them from being with each other and from communicating.
The Cost of Traveling
With a twist on the virtual world that many manufacturers and websites are trying to use to capture the pre-teen, tween web user, Club Time Machine takes kids back (or forward) in time. The service which bypasses the usual retail purchase of an item, be it a star or stuffed animal, Club Time Machine cuts right to the chase, and charges a monthly fee. Plans are available for one month ($5.95), six month and twelve months.
Review from the junior set
For the kids it seems like fun, the graphics are colorful and interesting, I’m not sure the 10-12 year olds would enjoy it, but my two sons, 6 and 9 both found it fun for awhile. (Though I’m not sure it was enough fun to warrant purchasing a pass; you can try it out for free for a limited time.) Neither boy knew that they were learning something, though they did mention a few things about each world in future conversations.
On a special note–of interest to Hispanic moms
Sorpresa Targeting Hispanic Kids With Club Time Machine
Hispanic television network channel Sorpresa, a Juniper Content company, has secured exclusive Spanish-language distribution rights and non-exclusive English rights to virtual world Club Time Machine, hoping to attract Hispanic youth online.
Developed by Netherlands-based vWorld Corporation, Club Time Machine is a 2.5D virtual world in which kids create “Hoover” avatars that can travel between time periods on rocket-powered “Hooverboards” to play games, experience adventures, collect souvenirs, earn gold to buy energy for their rockets, and chat with other Hoovers.
Club Time Machine will be available for a $5.95 monthly subscription, with options for a $29.50 six-month package and a $56.50 twelve-month package.
Said: Juniper Content chairman and Sorpresa CEO Stuart Rekant: “There are 23 million Hispanics online growing to 30 million over the next 4 years with 1 in 4 Hispanics under the age of 14. Online virtual worlds, the equivalent of social networking to kids and young teens, have received great acceptance in the general market. Virtual world participation is projected to grow 300% - to 20 million users by 2011 - and being a first mover in the Hispanic youth arena gives Sorpresa! a distinct advantage as well as an additional source of revenue beyond affiliate fees and ad sales.”–From Worlds in Motion
Quick Facts
Ages 6-12
Customizable avatars
Fee plans are available, monthly, 6-month and annual; free trial available.
How many ‘Clicks’ does this world get?
We like this site and give it 8 1/2 Clicks! What do you think? Send your views and votes to OneClickMoms.
Today’s Reviewer is Deb Golumbek
Deb Golumbek is a full-time mother of two very active boys in elementary school. She is a freelance writer and editor and is a former parenting magazine managing editor. She has published numerous articles geared towards children’s health, educational issues, Internet safety and family fun. She has a background in teaching elementary school-aged children and considers the Internet a great tool that children need lots of supervision to use safely! She lives in Bel Air Maryland with her husband and children.
Coming Up
It’s pets, pets, and more pets…virtually speaking of course and we start off the week of these adorable creatures for your kids to love and care for with BellaSara for girls who love horses!
Leave a Comment