Disney Pulled the Plug on This Game in 2013. A Group of Teens Kept It Alive

today, toontown rewrite There are more than 2 million registered users, with an average monthly user of 50,000 and an average of 10,000 daily users. Ziolkowski, now 26, is a professional game designer and still part of a team of volunteers who maintain the game. cartoon town The community is vibrant and growing.

A Disney spokesman declined to comment.

this toontown rewrite The team knew they were operating in murky waters. Without Disney’s licensing agreement, Disney’s lawyers could terminate their 11 years of hard work at any time. That’s why they’ve taken extensive steps to try to circumvent any concerns from the Mouse House, including creating a nonprofit to oversee the game; making the game free; giving up ad revenue; removing Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and NPCs for Disney characters such as Donald Duck; and implement a strong content moderation system to protect young players.

“We try not to intrude on their brand,” said Elizabeth Reedy, head of creative media. total temperature. “We try not to poke the bear.”

These volunteers don’t just donate their time, either. Toons of the World, the nonprofit organization behind toontown rewritefunded entirely by volunteer donations. Server cost only total temperature By 2023, that amount will be nearly $17,000, according to tax filings. Toons of the World’s remaining expenses total about $22,000, which is used to host live fan conventions and run an online museum dedicated to preserving the history of the original MMO.

“As long as games and communities close, they die,” said Maya Cohen, an art director. total temperature He was part of the early revival efforts. “While I’m not sure, I like to imagine that when people at Disney look at us and maybe see the impact their project has had on players and how they’ve kept it alive for so long, they feel warm.”

“Don’t let the company torture you”

cartoon city online It is largely considered the first massively multiplayer online game designed for families. The brainchild of game designer Jesse Schell, it was first launched in 2003 and was inspired by Toontown who framed roger rabbit Duckburg, home of fictional Uncle Donald, Daisy and Scrooge created by artist Carl Barks.

In the game, players (customizable cartoon animals called “Toons”) face the world of Toontown overrun by business robots, which lurk on the streets and take over stores and their ugly, sad company offices. To fight back, the cartoons work together to complete the mission and use silly jokes like cream pies and soda bottles to defeat the bad guys and take back their town.