SuperSecret is a great way for kids to learn how to play in a virtual world. It is a good fit for kids who have outgrown the mega-popular virtual worlds of Club Penguin and Webkinz but aren't ready for the more sophisticated online games of World of Warcraft or even the social networking sites of Facebook and MySpace. We like that all chat is monitored and filtered, and that you can play the first few years of your avatar's life for free to see if you like the game. If you do, to reach the age of 13 and beyond, you will have to purchase a monthly membership of $4.95 (or $19.95 for 6 months).
SuperSecret is an online virtual world aimed at tween and young teen kids, and offers an environment in which they can socialize, play games, and express themselves. Unlike many similar products which focus on fantasy worlds filled with fairies, animals, or magical creatures - the premise of SuperSecret is that it is a tween and teen focused world in which there are no little kids, and no adults. It is a world purely dictated by the actions, interactions and whims of virtual kids aged 10 to 18.
The primary motivating factor behind the experience is "growing up." Regardless of real-world age, all kids playing SuperSecret start the game at the age of 10. By interacting with others, playing games, and performing specific tasks requested by computer-controlled characters in the game, players can earn experience points that allow them to "grow up" and move on to their next in-game birthday. In short, age is used as the "leveling" mechanic in SuperSecret.
Today, SuperSecret is fully publicly launching its social MMO/virtual world for tweens, a game which has been in development for two years and which has been in beta for some time.
It has also announced distribution partnerships with WildTangent and Spil Games, and Gamasutra speaks to president Tony Espinoza to find out more.
The game, which secured $10 million in Opus Capital venture funding last month, is targeted at 9-13 year old players, so-called "tweens", who, in the words of SuperSecret president Tony Espinoza, have graduated from kids' virtual worlds and are looking to move to something more advanced:
