Check out the Unseen Original 3D Art!
Back in 2003, in our earliest days of development, Webkinz World looked very different.
Initially, Webkinz was brought to life with rendered 3D designs. Our pets and characters were planned to be rendered 3D as well, but we quickly realized that this direction wasn’t working.
For example, take a look at this rendering of the original bedroom:
Early versions of the bedroom didn’t offer many customization options, and items were just added like stickers. Our early testers made it clear that they wanted more control over their home.
Plus, check out this rendering of the original Adoption Center:
These early designs lacked the warmth we wanted and were large files that took too long to display. The lack of Ms. Birdy made the center seem empty and lifeless.
In the end, our team scrapped months of work and made massive changes in order to transform Webkinz into the colorful and dynamic world of play that you can still enjoy today.
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Neat! I love stylized and fun they are! I really love the decor system Classic finally landed and expanded on!
But what for a beautiful design! What artists U are! Respect!!!
I have actually played a game built on the model that you have shown here. The items were static, they had to be placed where they belonged (like a sticker book) It was fun to play because every time you built up enough cash you could buy the aspect and it rewarded you with additional in game prizes, trading cards and more in-game currency. There were 4 rooms that you had to build within a set amount of time. It was fun, but it wasn’t unique and everyone’s rooms were identical, prizes were identical and nothing but the trading cards were tradable. It was ok when it was introduced but the traget audience lost interest every quickly because there was no room for individual perspective. From my viewpoint, that might be a great building activity that would be like a challnege more than an actual game. I am glad you took the direction you did.
Wow, all that work and then back to the drawing board! So glad your designers realized there was a better way. Giving us the choice to make it our way has been so much fun.
That’s really cool to know! These are some really nice pieces of furniture, maybe you could add them in Next for some kind of coming full circle! :)
This is so cool! It’s crazy to think what webkinz would be like now if the game designers had gone in that direction
Very cool! Thanks for sharing :D
No, I do not like the ” plastic ” look of then; though I really dislike the ” uncanny valley ” look of the NEXT version now. I think the look of Classic version is just right. The pets are softer, somehow, and convey realism more. I do LOVE the original adoption center, however. The skylight rocks and I’m a fan of the library look. Faintly resembles Bilbo’s / Frodo’s hobbit “hole”. Thanks for the nostalgic peek.
I totally agree! Classic is the best style and Next almost looks scary lol
this is so cool!
Love seeing stuff like this <3 So happy we finally have a 3d Webkinz world, also I always loved the style classic got from the transition of 3d to 2d it makes many items so unique.