Pandada – A virtual world for children
Pandada is an online social networking game that was released in 2008. It is currently a live site that is aimed at children ages 6-14. The site was originally tested in beta mode for free until the program resolved its programming issues and issues. . The site is a cute and innocuous children’s website with cuddly non-threatening red panda bears and small forest animals, much like children’s stuffed animals or animated animals on a preschool children’s television show. Members choose a red panda as their avatar and move around the site chatting with other avatars.
There are several levels of membership. Kids can test the website with a free membership; however, this limits the activity they can have in the virtual world. Paid memberships start at $5.95 per month with discounts for 6 and 12 month memberships. A paid membership allows players to enjoy all the features in the world. The site also has a currency for members to get free memberships called Panda Gold. Members can earn this currency by completing surveys, watching videos, or completing offers. Panda Gold can also be exchanged for the main currency of the site, simply called “coins”. The website is the base of the game. There is no file download to operate the game. The website is only available in English.
Characteristic
New members of Pandada choose an avatar in the form of a red panda bear to be their online personality. They choose a home for their panda and can modify it to suit their personality. The main goal of the world is for players to earn “coins” to pay for their panda’s life in the virtual world. Players buy food, clothing, shelter, and household items from their avatars. Coins unlock these features and also open up opportunities for players to interact with other players. Members can chat about their pandas with other members in a chat room and become friends with other players. The mascot of the website is called Henry. He is the panda bear who acts as the host and the face of Pandada.
What is good
Pandada is a rather innocent website that will mainly appeal to boys and girls well below the age of ten who are interested in friendship with other children. The pandas are designed to appeal to young children and do not appear threatening. The facial expressions are friendly and pleasant. The company that produced the website succeeded in designing an innocent looking atmosphere for children. There are no adult themes in the virtual world or on the website. No violence, drinking, smoking, drug use, sex, or offensive language.
The main focus of Pandada that will earn the respect of parents is children’s ability to grasp and manage financial concepts. Players must be responsible with their coins in order to take care of their panda. The purchase of goods can be interpreted as something negative by reinforcing excessive spending and commercialism; however, parents can be proactive in teaching their children the value of money and how to spend it wisely. This is a light, soft and harmless virtual world.
What is bad
The age range that Pandada is looking for seems to be a bit out of touch with the charts. The character designs may be fine for kids after kindergarten, but kids over the age of nine will find them juvenile. The website is very static with little movement. It would be a huge improvement if the animal’s movements could be choreographed better. Users have encountered issues with the chat pages being mildly offensive. Inappropriate language may be posted unless detected and removed by a moderator.
Beyond being responsible with money, there is very little educational value attached to this virtual world. Average design and standard approach to virtual world creation can leave parents scratching their heads as to exactly what they are paying for. This company needs to update their website graphics and not try to overshoot their demographic.
online security
The website has done a good job of promoting online safety. Personal information is never displayed online. There are two chat modes: safe chat (the child clicks on a predetermined chat message) and standard filtered chat (the child types their own message which is moderated). Parents can easily access company safety information. Pandada encourages parents to monitor their children’s online experience and have an open discussion with them about online safety.