In our ongoing effort to make Webkinz easier to use, we’ve decided to streamline how KinzChat PLUS is used in Webkinz World.
Starting next Wednesday, March 12, KinzChat PLUS will no longer be available in Kinzville Park, Adventure Park or Coral Cove on Vacation Island. Our numbers showed that KinzChat PLUS was being used very little in these locations. By removing KinzChat PLUS, we can now skip the chat selection and room selection screens, so you’ll be able to get into the parks faster than ever!
The one place where KinzChat PLUS is being used all the time is in the Clubhouse Trading Room. We know that our traders love the freedom that KinzChat PLUS provides when making complex trades or looking for specific items. So on March 12, the Clubhouse KinzChat PLUS section will be switched over to the KinzChat PLUS Trading Area. That’s right, you’ll be automatically taken to the KinzChat PLUS room – no middle steps needed!
These changes make Webkinz easier to play, particularly for new players, and will allow our Chat Room monitors to focus their efforts on the rooms with the most activity.
Watch for these changes to go live next week!
**UPDATE: March 6, 4:15PM (EST)**
Thank you all for your comments regarding this issue.
We’d like to address the question of whether the Trading Room will become too crowded once the Park no longer has KinzChat Plus: please note that if our numbers show that the Trading Room is TOO crowded, we will be adding more rooms (as many as necessary) to ensure there’s enough space for everyone to enjoy the Trading Room.
Also, we want you to know that we’ve heard your comments and opinions on this planned change and will be considering your input as we move forward. We’ve also decided to close comments on this article, as we’re now aware of the major concerns from Webkinz World players.
Thank you for playing.
WHAT? OH COME ON, GANZ!!!!!! THIS IS NOT COOL AT ALL!!!!!
This is very sad. I think most people agree. You shouldn’t go on with this decision. Don’t wreck it, even more than it is. The party room was vanished, which was the beginning of my loss of interest in this site. Now, the only room in the entire clubhouse will be the trading room? Poor move, sorry to admit that. As with what other people said, there will be complications. You guys should leave it as is. Don’t get rid of everthing. The only room I liked from there is the ‘games room’ and even the ‘garden yard’, and if those are gone, pfft, I’m gone. There should just be more upgrades in the park;;; easier way to find friends there/notifications if they are there or the clubhouse and a list of people whom are in the room. But seriously, not this, please do not change this. PLEASE.
DEAR WEBKINZ… THIS IS NOT A GOOD IDEA. EVERY ONE GOES TO THE CLUB HOUSE CHAT PLUS AREAS TO CHAT. SO THIS MAKES NO SINCE NOW EVERY ONE JUST TO TALK WILL BE GOING TO THE TRADING ROM JUST TO TALK. THIS WILL MAKE ALL THE TRADING ROOMS TOTALLY FUN MAKES NO SINCE!
This is really sad to see. I have been on Webkinz since 2007 and have made many friends who I meet with just to chat. I have also spent a lot of $$ on your products. I think you are making a serious mistake, but then, I suspect you really do not care if you lose people.
I actually preferred using the KinzChat Plus in the Kinzville Park and the Adventure Park for precisely the reason they are discontinuing them. There were fewer people in the parks so moving around was faster. The parks will get much more crowded and will move more slowly with this change. I’m not a fan of this change.
Chat plus is what keeps many long time players around. We need the park and game room to continue having chat plus!!! Worst change EVER!!!
Ganz please think about what you’re doing with this. I know there are problems with KinzChat PLUS but I won’t be able to find or see my friends on here anymore. I don’t trade very much either. Please Think about keeping friend finder and making one more room PLUS other then trading. Please people are talking about quitting webkinz and I don’t want them to.
I am 18 years old and have been a member since 2008. I have played Webkinz almost everyday since then. I also got my mom, my sister and extended family and friends into Webkinz. Through Kinzchat plus, I have made many friends and it is the main reason I still go on Webkinz. I do not want to go in the trading room and be bombarded with requests to trade. I also don’t want to take up space in there for people who are there solely for trading. I do not want to use KInz Chat because to be honest, its boring and it doesn’t allow you to talk about anything other than webkinz activities. I can understand “streamlining” webkinz but with some of the new changes to the site, it is more complicated than it was before. Instead of doing this update, I think focusing on bug fixes would be a much better idea. I think I can speak for myself and a large number of other users, I will use Webkinz A LOT less and/or quit completely without KinzChat Plus. It is the best feature on Webkinz. If anything, I’d get rid of regular KinzChat. i have 55+ pets and myself, along with many others, will be extremely disappointed if you remove KinzChat Plus.
Very well expressed.
I really hope this is a misunderstanding…that Kinz chat plus will only be available in the Trading Room. All of the responses above, and my own, indicate this is not what users want…I really hope Ganz listens to their customers and makes Kinz chat plus available in several rooms. It seems like an extreme change with Kinz chat plus currently available in many areas to only being available in the Trading Room. I find some of the changes on Webkinz difficult to understand why they were made since they don’t seem favorable for users. I have to agree the W shop changes were a real disappointment.
Hey ganz, if something isnt broken, don’t try to fix it..