Steve Webkinz here, as we wind down 2017, I thought this would be a good opportunity to look back at the evolution of the Webkinz mobile app!
Several years ago, some select Webkinz arcade games were converted to work as standalone apps on the Apple App Store. Each of those games had to be completely re-written in a new code format (“Objective-C”) because the original version, coded for Adobe Flash Player, was too “memory heavy” to work on mobile devices. And because all of Webkinz.com was written in “Flash”, it wasn’t possible for it to work in mobile app web browsers.
By this time, it was apparent that Flash Player had a limited future, which meant that Webkinz had to change in order to survive. We began investigating Adobe’s mobile coding system called “AIR”, which would allow for an easier conversion of Flash programs.
In 2013, we launched the Webkinz Pet Care app, a companion app to Webkinz World which allowed players to interact with pets on their Webkinz.com account using a mobile device. This initial version was very limited, with the ability to feed and dress your pet outside of the room. It has its own mobile Wheel of Wow and a small arcade with just three converted games which could award KinzCash when it synched up to an account.
The following year, we added bathing, a mobile WShop, and even a new pet room that was able to show the pet and a limited number of room items.
From the beginning, the Webkinz Pet Care app was intended to be the first step in a larger evolution for the game. In 2015, on the 10th anniversary of Webkinz World, we launched “Webkinz X”. It introduced the new concept of the Pet Care Heart, Family Score and milestone prizes, along with Pet Requests.
It also involved moving the new mobile room engine onto web and creating a new Dock. This was a massive undertaking, which required every item on the site to be converted into the new code format. With tens of thousands of items already in existence, third party contractors were brought in to help convert everything. Unfortunately, due to the complexity and scope of the work involved, the process wasn’t as efficient as planned. Many items that were supposed to be fixed either didn’t work properly or weren’t even appearing.
Since then, our team of artists and programmers has continued to fix items while converting and adding more features into the Webkinz mobile app. Most recently, we’ve added a new bath and sink activity, along with a brand new Adoption Center. Our mobile Arcade now also features a large number of games that can be played on the go!
This past year, it was officially announced by Adobe that they would be discontinuing Flash Player for web browsers in 2020. For Webkinz, once that happens, the mobile version of Webkinz will be the only version of the game. For those that still prefer to play on desktop or laptop computers, in 2018 we will be launching a version of the Webkinz mobile app that can be downloaded onto your computer and played without using a web browser.
Over the next two years, we will continue to move features over to the Webkinz mobile app, so that as much of the current game as possible can be enjoyed for years to come. Keep watching Webkinz Newz for all the updates about the continuing evolution of Webkinz!
This has been Steve Webkinz reporting for Webkinz Newz! What would you like me to report on in 2018? Let me know in the comments below.
The lack of concern that Kinzville Academy isn’t already on the app is disheartening.
Wow, this is exciting, and yet, disturbing news. I completely understand about Adobe Flash. I do not like having to use it. When my computer does lock up, it is usually when I am on a page that uses Flash. Webkinz on my computer will lock up from time to time, which is rather annoying. I really love the mobile app on my android phone. What I REALLY love about the mobile app is the absence of all most all Ads. What I am afraid will happen when Webkinz switches to all mobile, will be the amount of annoying Ads that will more than likely appear on the app. On the computer, every single time you go to play an Arcade game, you are forced to watch an Ad. Every single time you move from room to room, you are, once again, forced to watch an Ad! We have Ads that cover the sign-in area when you’re trying to log on to Webkinz! We have Ads on the right of our screens that show videos that have NOTHING to do with Webkinz! It’s so annoying! On the mobile app, as of right now, you can move from room to room and not be bothered with those stupid annoying video ads….even that ad about a Webkinz pet named “Sandy”. Good Grief! I watched it once…that should be enough! I actually get up and walk away from the computer every single time there is an ad. And, yes…I KNOW that ads “help pay for the site”, but…WHY do they have to be shown every single time you move from room to room? Thirty seconds to one minute, may not seem like a long ad to some people, but when you are pressed for time and can’t sit at your computer all day, as you have a normal life and other things to do, that thirty seconds to a minute adds up to a lot of wasted time, while you sit there trying to play a fun game that you have already bought the pets for, for the RIGHT to play the game. I like spending somewhere between 30 minutes to an hour each day playing on Webkinz. The barrage of Ads just encourages me to log out and go do something else. And, by the way, I never buy the products of, or support any of the Ads that are sponsoring Webkinz. However, I will buy a Webkinz Pet as needed to keep my account open. So, all those ads just go to waste on me. I’m hoping that the mobile app will be like the apps that I buy for games on my iPad. Once you buy it, it’s yours to play as long as you wish, with NO ads. We shouldn’t even have to continue to buy pets, just to keep our accounts open. *sigh!* I am so sorry for my rant here. I truly love playing on Webkinz. It’s a stress release for me. I would hate to not be able to play it. So…PLEASE don’t make the mobile app a nightmare with ads! Find a way to keep it Ad free. You have a wonderful thing here! Please don’t ruin it. Forgive me for my rate, but I just needed to get that off my chest. I really do love Webkinz!
I should add that in addition to playing Webkinz on my computer, I play Webkinz mobile on my iPad and occasionally on my phone. The mobile app is really easy to use. I really like it.
WOW Steve thank you so much for this update. I had heard about Flash disappearing but I felt it really didn’t affect me in a big way…. until now!! Thank you for explaining things in simple language that we can all understand. As I was reading my heart fell in to my stomach… but as I continued to read I felt reassured that you and your coworkers at Ganz are going to be doing everything you can to take care of all of us very very loyal Webkinz players, myself since 2006. And yes, like kkofoed said, I am very sure that there are many of us that would be more than willing to help you in any way that we can….. if there is something that we can do to help out. After all who knows how things should work better than those of us that use the program every single day. Steve , thank you again for this update, and please continue to keep us in the loop as things progress. Keeping us informed I think will lessen the apprehension and fear of what is to come!
Ok, I’m flooded with anxiety. However, since so many of you who seem to know the workings of these changes have posted possitive comments, you’ve given me some hope! I’m going to take a few (maybe quite a few) deep breaths and get back to playing Webkinz! I bought a bunch of points at 50% off. First thing to do is to complete my Sugar and Spice room & come up with a name for my Sugar and Spice Puppy. Oh, about naming pets, this doesn’t have anything to do with my comment, but I CAN’T RESIST! I don’t know how many of you saw my comment that a friend of mine helped me rescue another real-life kitten on Dec 22. The little guy was only about 4-5 weeks old & should have still been with his mommy. He was dehydrated, hungry, cold & scared. So, just an update: “Jingle” is thriving and a happy, little, pouncing baby boy! Still SO TINY, but making very good progress. So precious! As far as all of you who post comments here, I love you all! You are my social network! Do you think that after these changes take place we will we still have Webkinz Newz as we know it? I’m so tech-challenged, I don’t know what most of this means, so I’m grateful to Steve, Ganz staff, and ALL Of YOU who help me see things from a clearer perspective. >{^;^}<
puppies4me: that’s wonderful news about the rescued kitten! (And Jingle is a great name!) So happy the little one is thriving. God bless.
That’s great news, puppies4me! It’s so sweet that your friend helped you rescue a kitten, and kudos to you for taking care of him! :) Being a big pet lover, it warms my heart to see such caring people, like you, taking care of the less-fortunate animals out there in need of basic necessities and a loving home! Good luck with Jingle! (Such an adorable name, by the way!) ^-^
Wow, that’s awesome about Jingle!! I love the name you chose for him! I think we will DEFINITELY still have Webkinz Newz after the change, how else is ganz going to effectively advertise for new pets and for the estore? That’s the whole reason the Newz exists! And it works, too, just about every thing I’ve ever bought from them was something I saw first somewhere on Webkinz Newz! I doubt that the changeover is going to be all that traumatic, I’ll bet it’ll be much easier than getting used to Webkinz X was. Happy New Year!!!
Thank you I am a Senior and have no mobile unit to play on I just have my computer.
Will we still be able to chat with friends
I hope we can still go to the treehouse and places like that and also collect gifts form Mrs. Birdy and characters like that and also still have challenges to complete on the app when 2020 roles around. I hope you get the app really close to the internet version!
think about the users that do not own an android phone…or an Iphone
They did! It says in the article, “those that still prefer to play on desktop or laptop computers, in 2018 we will be launching a version of the Webkinz mobile app that can be downloaded onto your computer and played without using a web browser.”
As I posted earlier I am technologically challenged and have no idea what this means. LOL! Will we still be able to play the games and things on the downloaded version? How will it work without a web browser? Will the activities still work or will it simply be that we are taking care of our pets? Sorry but I am SO confused. I pretty much know nothing about computers or how the internet (and video games) work. I just don’t want to lose all my Webkinz!
it is still insane…what if the game will crash and will stop working? (this has happened to me).
I don’t have anything I can play on other than the computer and can’t afford a phone or tablet. Will the downloadable game for the computer still work with internet? Like will we still have the Today’s Activities and challenges and things that are updated? I mean will the downloaded game still be played with internet and how would that work? Could you still play Webkinz without the internet if you have the one that you download to your computer? I don’t understand any of this stuff! Like DragonsLair1976 said, I don’t want to lose my pets ’cause I just started playing Webkinz and I love it!
Thats insane! So basically in 2018 webkinz will no longer exist on the internet?! Thats a huge huge change ): and i am not sure how i feel about it. I dont care for the app and worry my laptop wont be able to load the downloadable version. We wont loose all of our pets and iems and rooms will we???
It said that webkinz.com will no longer be on the internet in 2020.
Where did you get this from? I’m guessing they are LAUNCHING the app in 2018 side-by-side. They will let us know when they close the browser dependent version. I’m thinking that as the functionality of the app improves, more people will be finding themselves playing there. It only makes sense that they pro-actively launch the app so people aren’t floundering when the time comes for them to abandon the old flash format completely.
We won’t lose our stuff as long as you remember your account password so that you can log in. I don’t think that’s what they mean exactly, that they’ll get rid of the online version in 2018. I just think they’re saying that they’ll start having the mobile version downloadable to PC in 2018.
Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help! It may not be possible, but it would be great if we could all come together and help somehow with the transition. I bet a lot of us would be willing to donate our time to help out :D
I agree, show of hands for ‘beta-testers!’
Yes I agree! I would love to be a Beta tester!