The Webkinz Brand Expands with a Social Game on the iPad for Family-Friendly Fun On-The-Go


Families Tap Into Technology To Stay Together for Ultimate Co-Play Experience

TORONTO, Oct. 22, 2012 /CNW/ - Whether playing an online game, or video-chatting across distances, technology has become a catalyst for family time, changing the ways in which we interact. In fact, a recent Webkinz consumer survey revealed that almost half of all parents felt that technology is a great way to connect as a family.* To make it easier for families to connect via social play Ganz, creator of Webkinz World™, today introduced Webkinz Friends™, a free-to-play application for the iPad.

Webkinz Friends fosters an integrated family experience by allowing parents and children to play along-side each other to build their dream Kinzville, the interactive town where all Webkinz pets reside, and to grow a happy Webkinz family. The free-to-play version of the social game, which was introduced to the teen and adult community via Facebook earlier this year, will now offer younger fans the opportunity to join in on Webkinz Friends fun. Parents, siblings and teens can play together across platforms with the unique ability to register their toys in the game and see them come to life and to send prizes from the tablet to Webkinz World.

"With more people living wired lives and technology continuing to play a larger role in everyday activities, it was a natural step for us to introduce Webkinz Friends to the Apple iPad community," said Howard Ganz, president of Ganz and creator of Webkinz. "So whether at home or on the go, the Webkinz Friends iPad app makes it easy for our younger fans and families to play together by utilizing the interactive touchscreen functionality that we've all grown to love."

This social game is all about building the best Kinzville possible.  Adopt Webkinz pets and design their homes with items from the KinzMart. Harvest quirky plants like a Pickleberry Plant or a Sushi Bush and supply your businesses while earning berries to send to any active account on Webkinz.com.  Follow the stories of Ms. Birdy, Arte Fact and the cast of Webkinz characters and raise a happy family in the Kinzville of your Dreams!

The fun does not stop with Webkinz Friends. Now with a similar look to Webkinz Friends, the map of Kinzville has been brought to life in Webkinz World with the inclusion of customizable roads, trees, buildings and decorations. Be sure to look out for your Webkinz pets, because they will be strolling around the new Kinzville.

Webkinz Friends is free to play and does not require the purchase of a Webkinz Pet. To enhance the gaming experience, a Webkinz pet can be registered in both Webkinz Friends and Webkinz World for virtual prizes. Your pet can even join you in Kinzville to enrich the experience. Prizes can easily be sent from the Webkinz Friends game to Webkinz World accounts without disclosing personal identity or information.

Webkinz Friends for iPad also includes:

• Touchscreen functionality that allows users to easily interact with pets and Kinzville activities
• Registration of new Webkinz pets within the game, and ability to receive a fun pet- specific prize and choose between KinzCash and an additional room for their home-- and see their virtual pet walk around Kinzville
• Prizes from Webkinz Friends can be sent from the tablet to the original kids' online site, Webkinz World!

To learn more about Webkinz Friends, please visit http://www.webkinzfriends.com. Webkinz Friends for iPad is available for download at http://bit.ly/T0c5ST and for our teen and adult fans on Facebook here.

* 2012 survey conducted by Opinion Research Corporation (ORC) on behalf of Ganz.

About Webkinz World
The original kids' online world, Webkinz World introduced the concept of web-enabled toys. Webkinz pets come alive online in magical virtual world called Webkinz World. Webkinz pets combine the timeless fun of plush with the interactivity of the Internet. Members adopt pets, play games, go on quests, create rooms and keep their virtual pets happy and healthy. The company's success allowed the Ganz family to create Webkinz Foundation in late 2007, to develop programs and donate funds to programs that benefit children. Over $1,500,000.00 has been donated since 2007. Visit Webkinz on Twitter at https://twitter.com/webkinz and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/Webkinz.

Image with caption: "Build The Kinzville of your dreams (CNW Group/GANZ)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20121022_C8932_PHOTO_EN_19614.jpg

SOURCE: GANZ

Mari Abe 
212-931-6137 
[email protected]