Dave Dizney
<font color=blue>Super-Duper organized Ultimate Di
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2004
Well, here is what I've found out from my limited sources. They reflect mostly opinion, but from some who know better than I.
From what I've understood, the decision to close VMK was reached back in the summer/late fall and included the closure of the VMK shops at the parks. There was some objection which resulted in the last quarters barrage of additions to the game. This decision occurred during a time of "turnover" at Disney Internet - which makes me wonder if the Yavn of today is also the Yavn of a few months ago (just a question I've been wondering about for the last few days). My sources say this was a decision based on the bottom line - and the plan was that money was to be thrown at the new Pirates game (which was about to go golden around the same time as the park shops began to close). From what I understand, there has been a lot of internal battles over this, including a plan to launch a pay VMK site, but at this point the decision is to close VMK down for good. In all probability, the top brass at Disney was informed about this decision, but at arms length as far as the decision-making of VMKs future was concerned.
I also have another secondary conclusion based on my background work with the media: The news companies (local and national) care little about the closure of an online video game. At best, this is a HI (human interest) story, but a weak one at that. CNN or Fox is too busy covering the presidential race, the death of an Al-Qaeda leader, and the economy to work in this story which would have connectivity to so few. Let's face it - VMK is important to us, but not the masses.
The only exception that comes to mind is the online Disney news sites. Im wondering if any high profile non-Disney Disney site will do an investigative story on this? Where is Jim Hill or Al Lutz on this story? Sometimes their stories can get a rise out of Disney corporate. Id suggest we approach them to lift up our cause.
Finally, to me, theres another potential answer to our need to proactively vent. Since the media doesn't care about VMKs demise, possibly the decision-makers do. Bob Iger and John Lasseter I believe could be persuaded to care about this place where the die-hard fans and imprintable children reside in an on-going advertisement for Disney Parks and Disney media. So far, I've found them both to be open and concerned about those things that will link people to the brand, and, if there is a potential financial gain (such as a pay VMK site), they just might be swayed. I would encourage that if there be any letter-writing, that the communications go directly to the corporate heads who actually have some say-so in what happens and have initially demonstrated that they care what Disney fanatics think. I would keep the communications short, pointed, and sweet (a spoon-full of sugar...).
Remember, the head leads the body. I'd suggest we go to the top. Just my 2 cents.
From what I've understood, the decision to close VMK was reached back in the summer/late fall and included the closure of the VMK shops at the parks. There was some objection which resulted in the last quarters barrage of additions to the game. This decision occurred during a time of "turnover" at Disney Internet - which makes me wonder if the Yavn of today is also the Yavn of a few months ago (just a question I've been wondering about for the last few days). My sources say this was a decision based on the bottom line - and the plan was that money was to be thrown at the new Pirates game (which was about to go golden around the same time as the park shops began to close). From what I understand, there has been a lot of internal battles over this, including a plan to launch a pay VMK site, but at this point the decision is to close VMK down for good. In all probability, the top brass at Disney was informed about this decision, but at arms length as far as the decision-making of VMKs future was concerned.
I also have another secondary conclusion based on my background work with the media: The news companies (local and national) care little about the closure of an online video game. At best, this is a HI (human interest) story, but a weak one at that. CNN or Fox is too busy covering the presidential race, the death of an Al-Qaeda leader, and the economy to work in this story which would have connectivity to so few. Let's face it - VMK is important to us, but not the masses.
The only exception that comes to mind is the online Disney news sites. Im wondering if any high profile non-Disney Disney site will do an investigative story on this? Where is Jim Hill or Al Lutz on this story? Sometimes their stories can get a rise out of Disney corporate. Id suggest we approach them to lift up our cause.
Finally, to me, theres another potential answer to our need to proactively vent. Since the media doesn't care about VMKs demise, possibly the decision-makers do. Bob Iger and John Lasseter I believe could be persuaded to care about this place where the die-hard fans and imprintable children reside in an on-going advertisement for Disney Parks and Disney media. So far, I've found them both to be open and concerned about those things that will link people to the brand, and, if there is a potential financial gain (such as a pay VMK site), they just might be swayed. I would encourage that if there be any letter-writing, that the communications go directly to the corporate heads who actually have some say-so in what happens and have initially demonstrated that they care what Disney fanatics think. I would keep the communications short, pointed, and sweet (a spoon-full of sugar...).
Remember, the head leads the body. I'd suggest we go to the top. Just my 2 cents.
