Newsletter 7 May 2007
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Yavn Speaks!
Community Reminder
From 13 MarchRemember, it's against the VMK Values to create or open ANY type of 'relationship' room (rooms that include words like 'meet,' 'pick,' 'get,' 'find,' 'have,' 'taken,' etc.) in VMK. You'll be warned and possibly banned for opening any type of room that promotes this activity.
For more information or a reminder of what's acceptable in VMK refer to the VMK Values page.
Pirates 101
Raise your flag and prepare to set sail, tis time to learn the ways of the pirate.
Ahoy mateys! Ye comes seeking adventure and salty old pirates, aye? Then you've come to the proper place – it's Pirates month in VMK!
Talk like a Pirate
Not only do pirates have a mind of their own, they have their own language too! Now you can tell your own pirate tales (in pirate speak, of course) with this handy guide!
Arrgh!: An exclamation of disappointment or anger. Ex: "Arrgh! You dropped that cannonball on me little pinky toe!
Avast, Ahoy: Used as a greeting, how pirates say hello. Ex: "Avast matey! Have you seen the peg leg I lost in Tortuga?"
Shiver me timbers!: Surprise or astonishment. (Shivers were what pirates called small splinters of wood &ndash' so if a ship was being blown apart, a pirate captain might yell something like, "Shiver me timbers! He's got us cornered!") Ex: "Shiver me timbers! All the treasure be gone like the wind!"
Mate, Matey: Pirate for pal or friend. Ex: "Ahoy, matey! Charlie found the compass in the apple barrel! Now we can plot a course home!"
Pieces of Eight: These Spanish silver coins were used as currency by pirates. They got the name 'Pieces of Eight' because occasionally pirates would take one of these coins and divide or cut into eight smaller pieces. Ex: "I traded a pig for these shiny Pieces of Eight."
The Jolly Roger
The flag of Captain Jack Rackham – flown during the golden age of piracy.
When a pirate's path crosses another ship it's time to raise the black flag – the skull and crossbones that is – the flag signals the pirate's intent to board a ship. It's meant to strike fear in the hearts of weak and weary sailors and some ships will surrender at the very sight of it!
Look here each and every week for more pirate info!
Event Info
Pirate Fun Days Every Thursday
Pirates Quest May 25–27th
NEW! Room Makeovers Every Tuesday and Thursday
Check the Community Calendar for more events, details and event times.
Pirate Fun Days
Every ThursdayArrgh! We know how much you scallywags love VMK's Pirates of the Caribbean game - so we decided to give you a special treat! This month only, if you play either Pirates of the Caribbean game (Capture the Flag or Ship Battle) and are on the winning team – your winning game credits (not your individual score) will be doubled! Play every Thursday and good luck matey!
Pirates Quest
May 25–27thCelebrate Pirate Month in-game with a Pirate Quest fit for any Captain! Aye, thar be trivia from both Pirates of the Caribbean movies, plus additional pirate trivia. Think you know a parrot from a peg-leg? Arrgh, then test yer wits - and for your efforts, thar be a fine prize given to the ones that complete the Quest!
Room Makeovers
Each week we select two lucky VMK'ers at random for a Room Makeover, then we turn our talented team of Room Designers loose to review each room and put thier design skills to work! We post the results here, including BEFORE and AFTER pics - plus tips you can use to make your own rooms better!
Submit your room for a Makeover using Contact Us.
Winners this week: ginakim and mattyz
Let's take a look at this week's rooms - and here's HOST_Lily to do just that:
HOST_Lily
When I first met ginakim in her baseball room, she was thinking of what to do to her room - aside from just placing benches for her friends to sit on. I started by asking how her day was - it was pretty good I guess, since she replied that she just got out of the pool! Well, besides from being a little jealous, that got me thinking... how could I put a pool in VMK?
I started with a few different ideas but decided that water right on the room floor didn't look quite right - so we tried putting water pieces on ice blocks - and that looked much better. More like a deep water-filled pool! Then we placed benches around the walls for seating and a nice pool edge. Ginakim also mentioned she likes cooking over a open fire, so we made a nice area that was perfect for a virtual cook out.
Finally, the back wall looked a bit plain, so I though 'how about adding an outdoor movie screen?' But I w2anted to give this the appearance of an old-school drive-in! So I added some 'mobile' seating by creating a car out of Heart Chairs and Herbie Couch pieces – now this is an official VMK play room!
BEFORE... a plain old sandlot.
AFTER. Now this is a playfield! A relaxing pool, a cook out, a place to watch our pal Capt. Jack Sparrow run from the natives...
I know ginakim will be inviting all her friends into the pool for a game of Madame Leota beach ball toss - so be sure to visit and take a swim!
And now another Room Makeover by HOST_Lily!
Avast ye scallywags! For our Pirate Month, mattyz had a good start on a pirate port - a place where his friends could have fun and discuss their daily plundering - however, I knew this room could be much better.
When making over a room, we start by looking at what's already there - like those Green Alice Rugs (now those will make great looking water) so we wanted to keep those in the room. Over that we placed a layer of Crates, so the Green Rugs look darker and deeper than when they're on the sand by themselves.
A cannon wall also help create the appearance of a port – and this would keep tables and chairs dry for guests in the dining area. I also included a swim-up bar for those ordering their fish and chips on the go. Putting items in trees can often create an image of importance – so I palced a Captain's Office on a few Palm Tree Posts for an official looking 'Captain's Quarters.'
BEFORE. A port in need...
AFTER. Ahoy! Now this looks like a dock fit for a salty sailor!
Be sure to stop by mattyz's pirate room to play a song on the piano, dance, or mingle with fellow pirates. I challenge all ye fellow pirates to make a more welcoming port!
Thanks to both of these players for letting me make over thier rooms!
- HOST_Lily
Top 5 FAQs
This week's Top 5 Frequently Asked Questions
For more answers to other Frequently Asked Questions, please visit the VMK FAQs.
1. I clicked on a piece of furniture in my Guest Room and I noticed a new button called 'Item Info' - what does it do?
By clicking the 'ITEM INFO' button you can display additional information about the item such as item name and status of the item, like if it's tradeable.
2. I've heard guests can now move my furniture? Is this true? And what items can be moved by my guests?
Guest can ONLY move furniture if you allow them to do so by setting the option on the item. They can't take or remove anything from your room, or take any item and put it in their own inventory. Only furniture and posters that are placed in a room can be moved by guests – and then ONLY if the Room Owner has allowed that item to be moved.
By default, furniture and posters can't be moved by guests, the Room Owner must select which items he/she wishes to be moved by Guests before they can move them. (To do this make sure the box beside the words, LET GUEST MOVE THIS ITEM is checked in the 'Item Info' window.)
3. My Trading Window looks different now - what did VMK change?
To address some trading concerns, we added new features to make trading easier. Now when you click on an item, information about the item is displayed on the right hand of the window. The information displayed includes the item name, the type of item it is (Furniture, Magic Pin, Single-Use Magic Pin, Clothing, etc.), who owns the items, whether or not it's tradeable, and the magic word you need to active the item (if a Magic Pin is highlighted).
In the Trading Window you can now view additional information about the other player's item. Simply, select the item and you'll receive information about it. (Now you'll know that Dancing Inferno really has as many stars as they claim by clicking on the pin in the offer window!)
4. How do I get the Fantasyland dark ride track pieces and furniture?
We're currently working on a release schedule for dark ride track pieces and select number of furniture pieces from both rides. Check the VMK Newsletter to stay up-to-date with new item releases.
5. I've sent in a problem using Contact Us but no one has replied - why haven't I heard from anyone?
We respond to every email we get within 24 hours - but some email providers (like AOL.com, Hotmail.com, msn.com, Comcast.net, Cox.net, rr.net and Earthlink) block our responses.
If you use any of the email providers listed above, or haven't gotten a response from us, this is the reason.
Some email providers have Spam Filters that automatically block email from an unknown source and you have to tell the program (the email application) to allow email from that source. To get email from VMK, go into the preferences for your mailbox and allow mail from: [email protected]. (Please note, this email address DOES NOT receive email except via the Contact Us form.)
You also have the option to submit an alternate email address in the 'Contact Us' tool (this option is under the Send Details box) if your provider won't take our replies. We suggest setting up another email account, like yahoo.com to get our replies.
Yeti's Tips & Tricks
You've got questions, Yeti has answers.
How many friends can you have on your friends list? How do you register with VMK? The Gator Waiter's not taking your order?!? Hold on there!
I've got the answers you're seeking, plus tips on getting higher scores on the Jungle Cruise! Prepare to enter the Yeti's icy cave of tips and tricks!
Greetings! It is I, the abominable snowman - but you can call me Yeti. Did you enjoy your spring break? You must have - VMK was overflowing with players – thanks for stopping by! To get the most out of your game try some of these handy tips and tricks on for size!
Dear Mr. Yeti, how many friends can I have on my friends list?
Hey, speaking of friends, we're all friends here - so please, call me Yeti. Hmmm, let's take a look at the Yeti's friends list, yep, just as I thought, 150, that's the maximum amount of friends you can have (currently) on your friends list.
Do I have to use my real birthday when I register for VMK?
Afraid to tell the Yeti how old you are? Trust me, I can keep a secret, but you really should use your real birthday when you register for VMK or any other Disney sites and here's why:
- If you ever want to use our Contact Us tool you will need this information.
- If you ever change your email or account info, it's easier to remember your real birthday!
- Finally, don't worry, VMK (and for that matter, the Walt Disney Company) will never send you unsolicited email (also know as Spam) or sell or give your information to anyone - so it's totally safe to use your real birthday when signing up.
Contact Us can be useful, just in case you ever forget your registration info.
How do I find out what the secret word is so the Gator Waiter will serve me?
It's tough to get the busy Gator to serve you, what you need is a secret word (or words) to get his attention - there are lots of places you can find them - in fact, have you checked in with these VMK characters for clues?
Esmeralda the Fortune Teller knows all. Visit her and see if she will share her secrets!
Occasionally Jake & Haley may hold a clue to the secret word(s) – so be sure to check out their chat on the VMK webpages!
Sometimes the secret word may be even be found right here, in Yeti's Tips & Tricks or the Yavn Speaks sections of the Newsletter!
Jungle Cruising for High Scores
So when is the last time you took a lazy river boat ride for some high scores on the Jungle Cruise? Well, before you take your next trip, check out these 'Yeti Certified Tricks & Tips' for high scores!
1. Take it easy! Don't use the right arrow key on your keyboard to advance your boat. Using this key depletes your gas and takes you quicker to the next scene – while that's OK when your in a hurry, you may miss some animals and some big points!
A perfectly composed photo = big points!
2. It's much better to slowly float through the scene and use the left arrow key to stay in the area until no more animals appear. Snapping pictures of more animals = more points!
3. Center each shot and wait until the last possible moment then – SNAP – take your picture. The more centered your photo, the more likely you will get a 'flawless' score.
4. Get a co-pilot! Have a friend or your parent steer the boat and concentrate on getting the gas cans and rolls of film - while you can 'focus' on getting the best pictures. Get it? Focus - on the pictures! Ha! That joke never gets old.
Before you know it you'll be an ace explorer and your player name will be in the Jungle Cruise High Scores!
Well that's all for this week, good luck adventurers!
Push's Trash Trivia
Top Players
What makes a Guest Room award-worthy?
Guest or Game Rooms that stand out show originality in concept and design. It could be a use of conventional furniture in unconventional ways, the use of a theme or color, or humor.
ImMorganthePirate wins top honors this week in the Best Guest Room category.
Game rooms that get the nod offer a new game idea or a new twist on an old favorite. In all rooms we look for room owners who welcome everyone with a smile and show a willingness to answer questions about their room.
Check out this week's Best Guest Rooms and Best Game Rooms.
Best Guest Rooms
| Most pirates have a ship, but this pirate has a castle! ImMorganthePirate has created Pirate's Castle. There is a lot to enjoy in this room – including a ride and funny pictures on the wall. Check it out! |
Best Game Rooms
| Help the cards paint the roses red in StitchFanIAm's Painting The Roses Red Game. Better hurry and finish before The Queen of Hearts sees you aren't finished! |
Best Player Quests
| Have you ever wanted to design your own car? Then check out GeologyGirl's Quest – Design Your Own Car Quest. This Quest could help you become a great car designer! |
Players who have been previously recognized for their design talents will receive the VIP award.
VMK Cards
AWESOME NEW REWARDS!
Get the Mickey Mouse Television by correctly completing 3 or more Quest at Disneyland or Walt Disney World – then redeem the code in-game for this cool virtual prize!
Check out the VMK Rewards Card Checklist and make sure you have all the VMK bling! What cards do you have in your collection?
Scam Alert
Beware of "free" rooms.
There are some players that advertise their rooms as "free," but when you enter them, they force you to pay up or get booted from the room. Beware of these types of rooms and report players who engage in this activity.
Scamming of any kind will get you BANNED!
It's great to have a popular room in VMK, but it's not OK to get players into your room by scamming them.Saying you have an item that you don't have in order to get players to come into your room is considered a scam and will get you BANNED! Also trading with players and booting them from your room before you finish a trade fairly can also get you banned.
DO NOT loan out your items
Even if you think you can really trust another player in VMK, it's not a good idea to loan people your items – since some people won't give them back!
If someone asks you if they can borrow one of your items – just say no. If you decide to trade an item and it isn't given back, we can't help you recover it, because you knowingly entered into the trade. Remember, you're responsible for your character's actions in the game – no matter what.
Safety Corner
Adult subjects are NEVER appropriate in VMK!
Adult subjects are not allowed in VMK. An example of an adult subject is playing as a baby/mommy/daddy character. If you need a reminder of what is and isn't acceptable, read over the VMK Values.
Mentioning illegal activity in VMK will get you BANNED.
Mentioning any sort of illegal activity, such as breaking the law, stealing, or threatening physical harm is against VMK Values and will get you BANNED.
Please review the VMK Values if you are unsure of what is and isn't allowed.
Follow the VMK Rules for reporting someone!
Please make sure to follow the VMK Rules when reporting someone. Someone cutting in line or asking you to be their friend is not grounds for reporting. Use the Call for Help system wisely.
VMK Staff need to spend their time helping people are who are seriously in need of assistance. However, if a player keeps doing something to annoy other players (repeating words to fill up the screen, blocking, etc) please use Contact Us on the website to report your issue – don't forget to include the details (the harasser's name and when the event took place) when writing in.
Quests
In-Park Quests!
PLAY THE DISNEY ANIMATION QUEST!
Play the latest VMK In-Park Quest now at The Magic Kingdom® and Disneyland® - put your knowledge of Disney animated films to the test!
Going to Disneyland® Park or Magic Kingdom® Park? Play the in-Park Quests! Learn more here.
<strong>High School Musical Quest</strong>! Watch the movie, visit the Parks and answer all the questions to win cool stuff!
Get the <strong>Thrill Seekers Quest</strong> for the Walt Disney World® Resort here!
Contact Us Tips
Problems? Contact Us!
When you use Contact Us to ask a question or report an issue, please be aware of the following:
If you use AOL or EarthLink for e-mail, you won't receive our response, as AOL e-mail filters block our replies. Please provide an alternative e-mail in the Contact Us form where it asks for your e-mail address.
Some Spam Filters will automatically block e-mail from an unknown source unless you tell the program to allow it: To get email from VMK, allow mail from [email protected]. (Please note this email address does not receive e-mail except via the Contact Us form.)