| Revision as of 14:19, 25 March 2023 edit99.228.69.150 (talk)No edit summaryTag: Reverted← Previous edit | Revision as of 15:31, 25 March 2023 edit undo99.228.69.150 (talk)No edit summaryTags: Reverted missing file addedNext edit → | ||
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| This is an article for Disney's ''Toontown Online'', NOT the private server TTR (Toontown Rewritten) and Corporate Clash or any other private server. As such, if a private server has NOT received any independent coverage from a reliable source, then it ISN'T eligible for inclusion. | This is an article for Disney's ''Disney Toontown Online'', NOT the private server TTR (Toontown Rewritten) and Corporate Clash or any other private server. As such, if a private server has NOT received any independent coverage from a reliable source, then it ISN'T eligible for inclusion. | ||
| The subject of the article is and always will be ''Toontown Online'', so the majority of information as well as the infobox should be related to it – and not any other unofficial private server. Thank you. | The subject of the article is and always will be ''Disney Toontown Online'', so the majority of information as well as the infobox should be related to it – and not any other unofficial private server. Thank you. | ||
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| {{Italic title}}{{Infobox video game online service | {{Italic title}}{{Infobox video game online service | ||
| |name = Toontown Online | |name = Disney Toontown Online | ||
| |title = ''Toontown Online'' | |title = ''Disney Toontown Online'' | ||
| |image = Toontown-Logo.svg | |image = Toontown-Logo.svg | ||
| |developer = ]<br />]<ref name="schell games">{{Cite web |title=Games developed by Schell Games |url=http://www.schellgames.com/games/toontown/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530153837/https://www.schellgames.com/games/toontown/ |archive-date=2019-05-30 |access-date=2021-01-22 |website=Schell Games}}</ref><br />Frogchildren Studios<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frogchildren Studios Games Artwork |url=http://www.frogchildren.com/w/distt.html |access-date=February 24, 2014}}</ref> | |developer = ]<br />]<ref name="schell games">{{Cite web |title=Games developed by Schell Games |url=http://www.schellgames.com/games/toontown/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530153837/https://www.schellgames.com/games/toontown/ |archive-date=2019-05-30 |access-date=2021-01-22 |website=Schell Games}}</ref><br />Frogchildren Studios<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frogchildren Studios Games Artwork |url=http://www.frogchildren.com/w/distt.html |access-date=February 24, 2014}}</ref> | ||
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| |website = <br />(archived on August 24, 2013) | |website = <br />(archived on August 24, 2013) | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| '''''Toontown Online''''', commonly known as '''''Toontown''''', was a 2003 ] based on a ] ], developed by ] and ], and published by ].<ref name="pressrelease">{{Cite press release |title=Disney's Toontown Online to Launch June 2003 |date=May 5, 2003 |publisher=The Walt Disney Company |location=North Hollywood, CA |url=http://corporate.disney.go.com/wdig/online_releases/2003/2003_0505_wdig.html |access-date=May 30, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041127025937/http://corporate.disney.go.com/wdig/online_releases/2003/2003_0505_wdig.html |archive-date=November 27, 2004 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | '''''Disney Toontown Online''''', commonly known as '''''Toontown''''', was a 2003 ] based on a ] ], developed by ] and ], and published by ].<ref name="pressrelease">{{Cite press release |title=Disney's Disney Toontown Online to Launch June 2003 |date=May 5, 2003 |publisher=The Walt Disney Company |location=North Hollywood, CA |url=http://corporate.disney.go.com/wdig/online_releases/2003/2003_0505_wdig.html |access-date=May 30, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041127025937/http://corporate.disney.go.com/wdig/online_releases/2003/2003_0505_wdig.html |archive-date=November 27, 2004 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | ||
| Players created characters known as Toons and used weapons referred to as Gags—commonly slapstick comedy items, such as a thrown cream pie—to fight and destroy Cogs, robot businessmen who served as the game’s antagonists. | Players created characters known as Toons and used weapons referred to as Gags—commonly slapstick comedy items, such as a thrown cream pie—to fight and destroy Cogs, robot businessmen who served as the game’s antagonists. | ||
| Various servers hosting ''Toontown Online'' were shut down throughout the game’s tenure, with the ] servers and the game itself closing in September 2013. Since the game’s closure, various ] have been created using most of the game’s original assets. The most popular of these, ''Toontown Rewritten'', was created some days after ''Toontown Online''’s closure. | Various servers hosting ''Disney Toontown Online'' were shut down throughout the game’s tenure, with the ] servers and the game itself closing in September 2013. Since the game’s closure, various ] have been created using most of the game’s original assets. The most popular of these, ''Toontown Rewritten'', was created some days after ''Disney Toontown Online''’s closure. | ||
| <!--Please read talk page before editing this section.--> | <!--Please read talk page before editing this section.--> | ||
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| Toons began with basic 'Gags' and a 15-point 'Laff' meter and had a maximum of 137 point Laff meter at the end of the game. Gags, rooted in old cartoon ] humor, were weapons used to destroy the Cogs in Cog battles. Each 'Gag track' had Gags with different properties that could be unlocked by completing 'ToonTasks' and each gag track would get progressively more powerful as Toons used their gags more.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gags |url=http://toontown.go.com/help/players-guide/gags |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105023026/http://toontown.go.com/help/players-guide/gags |archive-date=January 5, 2012 |publisher=Disney}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Toon Tasks |url=http://toontown.go.com/help/players-guide/toon-tasks |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104190758/http://toontown.go.com/help/players-guide/toon-tasks |archive-date=January 4, 2012 |publisher=Disney}}</ref> The Laff meter functioned as a ], representing how much damage Toons could take from the Cogs before going 'sad' – in-game defeat.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Laff Points |url=http://toontown.go.com/help/players-guide/laff-points |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112212720/http://toontown.go.com/help/players-guide/laff-points |archive-date=January 12, 2012 |publisher=Disney}}</ref> Cogs were battled using a timed ] with up to four Toons in a battle. Cogs could be fought on the streets of the game, in 'Cog Buildings' or in their own designated 'Cog HQ', with each Cog HQ having a boss that could only be fought by obtaining a full set of the HQ's Cog disguise. These include the Senior V.P. (Vice President, Sellbot HQ), C.F.O. (Chief Financial Officer, Cashbot HQ) C.J. (Chief Justice, Lawbot HQ), and C.E.O. (Chief Executive Officer, Bossbot HQ).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet the Cogs |url=http://toontown.go.com/help/players-guide/meet-the-cogs |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120101120143/http://toontown.go.com/help/players-guide/meet-the-cogs#cogHQ |archive-date=January 1, 2012 |publisher=Disney}}</ref> | Toons began with basic 'Gags' and a 15-point 'Laff' meter and had a maximum of 137 point Laff meter at the end of the game. Gags, rooted in old cartoon ] humor, were weapons used to destroy the Cogs in Cog battles. Each 'Gag track' had Gags with different properties that could be unlocked by completing 'ToonTasks' and each gag track would get progressively more powerful as Toons used their gags more.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gags |url=http://toontown.go.com/help/players-guide/gags |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105023026/http://toontown.go.com/help/players-guide/gags |archive-date=January 5, 2012 |publisher=Disney}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Toon Tasks |url=http://toontown.go.com/help/players-guide/toon-tasks |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104190758/http://toontown.go.com/help/players-guide/toon-tasks |archive-date=January 4, 2012 |publisher=Disney}}</ref> The Laff meter functioned as a ], representing how much damage Toons could take from the Cogs before going 'sad' – in-game defeat.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Laff Points |url=http://toontown.go.com/help/players-guide/laff-points |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112212720/http://toontown.go.com/help/players-guide/laff-points |archive-date=January 12, 2012 |publisher=Disney}}</ref> Cogs were battled using a timed ] with up to four Toons in a battle. Cogs could be fought on the streets of the game, in 'Cog Buildings' or in their own designated 'Cog HQ', with each Cog HQ having a boss that could only be fought by obtaining a full set of the HQ's Cog disguise. These include the Senior V.P. (Vice President, Sellbot HQ), C.F.O. (Chief Financial Officer, Cashbot HQ) C.J. (Chief Justice, Lawbot HQ), and C.E.O. (Chief Executive Officer, Bossbot HQ).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet the Cogs |url=http://toontown.go.com/help/players-guide/meet-the-cogs |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120101120143/http://toontown.go.com/help/players-guide/meet-the-cogs#cogHQ |archive-date=January 1, 2012 |publisher=Disney}}</ref> | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| === Non-combat activities === | === Non-combat activities === | ||
| Playgrounds were the only areas of Toontown permanently safe from Cogs. In the playgrounds, Toons could regain lost Laff Points, receive or complete ToonTasks unique to each playground, purchase gags, play trolley games, go fishing, kart racing, or golfing. By completing ToonTasks, Toons would grow in strength through additional Laff Points or new Gags. Laff Point increases were also available through fishing, racing, and golfing challenges. There was a playground in each neighborhood of Toontown. Each playground featured one of Disney's classic animated characters as a non-player character. The main playgrounds were Toontown Central, Daisy Gardens, Donald's Dock, Minnie's Melodyland, The Brrrgh, and Donald's Dreamland, along with extra playgrounds such as Goofy Speedway and Chip 'n Dale's Acorn Acres.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Neighbourhoods |url=http://toontown.go.com/help/players-guide/neighborhoods |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105081342/http://toontown.go.com/help/players-guide/neighborhoods |archive-date=January 5, 2012 |publisher=Disney}}</ref> | Playgrounds were the only areas of Toontown permanently safe from Cogs. In the playgrounds, Toons could regain lost Laff Points, receive or complete ToonTasks unique to each playground, purchase gags, play trolley games, go fishing, kart racing, or golfing. By completing ToonTasks, Toons would grow in strength through additional Laff Points or new Gags. Laff Point increases were also available through fishing, racing, and golfing challenges. There was a playground in each neighborhood of Toontown. Each playground featured one of Disney's classic animated characters as a non-player character. The main playgrounds were Toontown Central, Daisy Gardens, Donald's Dock, Minnie's Melodyland, The Brrrgh, and Donald's Dreamland, along with extra playgrounds such as Goofy Speedway and Chip 'n Dale's Acorn Acres.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Neighbourhoods |url=http://toontown.go.com/help/players-guide/neighborhoods |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105081342/http://toontown.go.com/help/players-guide/neighborhoods |archive-date=January 5, 2012 |publisher=Disney}}</ref> | ||
| Every ''Toontown Online'' account came with a player's estate. Each estate consisted of a fishing pond and six houses for each Toon on the player's account. Players could customize their Toon's appearance and home with objects ordered from the in-game catalog ('Clarabelle's Cattlelog') by using jellybeans, the in-game currency. Wardrobes and accessory trunks held clothing and accessories that were not currently being worn by the player's Toon. Other elements of estates included Doodles (pets), gardening, fishing, and the ability to purchase various types of in-game items from Clarabelle's Cattlelog.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Neighborhoods |url=http://toontown.go.com/help/players-guide/estates |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105034729/http://toontown.go.com/help/players-guide/estates |archive-date=January 5, 2012 |publisher=Disney}}</ref> | Every ''Disney Toontown Online'' account came with a player's estate. Each estate consisted of a fishing pond and six houses for each Toon on the player's account. Players could customize their Toon's appearance and home with objects ordered from the in-game catalog ('Clarabelle's Cattlelog') by using jellybeans, the in-game currency. Wardrobes and accessory trunks held clothing and accessories that were not currently being worn by the player's Toon. Other elements of estates included Doodles (pets), gardening, fishing, and the ability to purchase various types of in-game items from Clarabelle's Cattlelog.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Neighborhoods |url=http://toontown.go.com/help/players-guide/estates |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105034729/http://toontown.go.com/help/players-guide/estates |archive-date=January 5, 2012 |publisher=Disney}}</ref> | ||
| === Online safety features === | === Online safety features === | ||
| ''Toontown Online'' was marketed and developed for players of all ages, which is why a chat restriction was placed on the game. Players could only chat using "SpeedChat", a list of pre-approved phrases set by Disney that the player could select. It included general English phrases, in-game strategy phrases, and, occasionally, seasonal phrases. Players could purchase more SpeedChat phrases using, most of the time, 100 jellybeans. "SpeedChat Plus" and "Secret Friends", later renamed to "True Friends", were introduced sometime after the game's release, which had to be enabled using a parental account if the player was under 13 years of age. SpeedChat Plus allowed the player to type their messages against a word filter developed by Disney; if a word was not allowed, it was replaced with an ] of that player's Toon's species. True Friends allowed players to chat with a less restrictive filter with certain friends who have shared a "True Friend code" with each other.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Untold History of Toontown's SpeedChat |url=http://habitatchronicles.com/2007/03/the-untold-history-of-toontowns-speedchat-or-blockchattm-from-disney-finally-arrives/ |access-date=January 22, 2014}}</ref> | ''Disney Toontown Online'' was marketed and developed for players of all ages, which is why a chat restriction was placed on the game. Players could only chat using "SpeedChat", a list of pre-approved phrases set by Disney that the player could select. It included general English phrases, in-game strategy phrases, and, occasionally, seasonal phrases. Players could purchase more SpeedChat phrases using, most of the time, 100 jellybeans. "SpeedChat Plus" and "Secret Friends", later renamed to "True Friends", were introduced sometime after the game's release, which had to be enabled using a parental account if the player was under 13 years of age. SpeedChat Plus allowed the player to type their messages against a word filter developed by Disney; if a word was not allowed, it was replaced with an ] of that player's Toon's species. True Friends allowed players to chat with a less restrictive filter with certain friends who have shared a "True Friend code" with each other.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Untold History of Toontown's SpeedChat |url=http://habitatchronicles.com/2007/03/the-untold-history-of-toontowns-speedchat-or-blockchattm-from-disney-finally-arrives/ |access-date=January 22, 2014}}</ref> | ||
| === Parties === | === Parties === | ||
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| == Distribution == | == Distribution == | ||
| === CD-ROM === | === CD-ROM === | ||
| Platform Publishing, a subsidiary company of ] that publishes games for third-party developers, acquired rights to publish a ] version of ''Toontown Online'' in August 2005 for the ] and their intention to bring the game to online game consoles.<ref name="cdrom">{{Cite press release |title=Disney's Toontown Goes To Retail This Fall |date=August 25, 2005 |publisher=The Walt Disney Company |location=San Diego, CA, and North Hollywood, CA |url=http://corporate.disney.go.com/wdig/online_releases/2005/2005_0825_disney.html |access-date=May 30, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051202171511/http://corporate.disney.go.com/wdig/online_releases/2005/2005_0825_disney.html |archive-date=December 2, 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="rights">{{Cite web |last=Sinclair |first=Brendan |date=August 25, 2005 |title=Toontown headed for consoles |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/toontown-headed-for-consoles/1100-6131990/ |access-date=March 30, 2014}}</ref><ref name="retail">{{Cite web |last=Raiciu |first=Tudor |date=August 26, 2005 |title=Disney's Toontown Goes To Retail This Fall |url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/Disney-s-Toontown-Goes-To-Retail-This-Fall-7010.shtml |access-date=March 30, 2014}}</ref><ref name="platforms">{{Cite web |date=August 25, 2005 |title=Sony Online Entertainment's Platform Publishing Label Bringing Disney's 'Toontown Online' to Retail This Fall |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sony-online-entertainments-platform-publishing-label-bringing-disneys-toontown-online-to-retail-this-fall-55009307.html |access-date=March 30, 2014 |publisher=PR Newswire}}</ref> ''Toontown Online'' became available on CD for the PC on October 3, 2005.<ref name="pcrom">{{Cite web |date=October 3, 2005 |title=Platform Publishing Lets the Toons Out With Disney's Toontown Online |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/platform-publishing-lets-the-toons-out-with-disneys-toontown-online-54869302.html |access-date=March 30, 2014 |publisher=PR Newswire}}</ref> This allowed players to play the game without downloading it onto their storage devices. This version came in a box set with two months of subscription, a poster, a game manual, and an in-game bonus.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marriott |first=Scott Alan |title=Disney's Toontown Online |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=48468 |access-date=March 31, 2014 |publisher=AllGame}}</ref> ''Toontown Online'' chose to create a CD that could be purchased in stores, due to customer insecurity when downloading and buying things online that they could not physically hold.<ref name="gamasutra.com">{{Cite web |last=Goslin |first=Mike |title=Postmortem: Disney Online's Toontown |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/130440/postmortem_disney_onlines_.php?print=1 |access-date=March 9, 2014 |publisher=Gamastura}}</ref> | Platform Publishing, a subsidiary company of ] that publishes games for third-party developers, acquired rights to publish a ] version of ''Disney Toontown Online'' in August 2005 for the ] and their intention to bring the game to online game consoles.<ref name="cdrom">{{Cite press release |title=Disney's Toontown Goes To Retail This Fall |date=August 25, 2005 |publisher=The Walt Disney Company |location=San Diego, CA, and North Hollywood, CA |url=http://corporate.disney.go.com/wdig/online_releases/2005/2005_0825_disney.html |access-date=May 30, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051202171511/http://corporate.disney.go.com/wdig/online_releases/2005/2005_0825_disney.html |archive-date=December 2, 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="rights">{{Cite web |last=Sinclair |first=Brendan |date=August 25, 2005 |title=Toontown headed for consoles |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/toontown-headed-for-consoles/1100-6131990/ |access-date=March 30, 2014}}</ref><ref name="retail">{{Cite web |last=Raiciu |first=Tudor |date=August 26, 2005 |title=Disney's Toontown Goes To Retail This Fall |url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/Disney-s-Toontown-Goes-To-Retail-This-Fall-7010.shtml |access-date=March 30, 2014}}</ref><ref name="platforms">{{Cite web |date=August 25, 2005 |title=Sony Online Entertainment's Platform Publishing Label Bringing Disney's 'Disney Toontown Online' to Retail This Fall |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sony-online-entertainments-platform-publishing-label-bringing-disneys-toontown-online-to-retail-this-fall-55009307.html |access-date=March 30, 2014 |publisher=PR Newswire}}</ref> ''Disney Toontown Online'' became available on CD for the PC on October 3, 2005.<ref name="pcrom">{{Cite web |date=October 3, 2005 |title=Platform Publishing Lets the Toons Out With Disney's Disney Toontown Online |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/platform-publishing-lets-the-toons-out-with-disneys-toontown-online-54869302.html |access-date=March 30, 2014 |publisher=PR Newswire}}</ref> This allowed players to play the game without downloading it onto their storage devices. This version came in a box set with two months of subscription, a poster, a game manual, and an in-game bonus.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marriott |first=Scott Alan |title=Disney's Disney Toontown Online |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=48468 |access-date=March 31, 2014 |publisher=AllGame}}</ref> ''Disney Toontown Online'' chose to create a CD that could be purchased in stores, due to customer insecurity when downloading and buying things online that they could not physically hold.<ref name="gamasutra.com">{{Cite web |last=Goslin |first=Mike |title=Postmortem: Disney Online's Toontown |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/130440/postmortem_disney_onlines_.php?print=1 |access-date=March 9, 2014 |publisher=Gamastura}}</ref> | ||
| == Closure == | == Closure == | ||
| After ten years of operation, ''Toontown Online'' was shut down permanently on September 19, 2013.<ref name="bloomberg.com">{{Cite news |last=Palazzo |first=Anthony |title=Disney to Shutter 10-Year-Old Toontown Multiplayer Game |publisher=Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-21/disney-to-shutter-10-year-old-toontown-multiplayer-game.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=January 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823223048/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-21/disney-to-shutter-10-year-old-toontown-multiplayer-game.html |archive-date=August 23, 2013}}</ref><ref name="closing news">{{Cite web |title=Disney's Toontown Online: About Closing |url=http://toontown.go.com/closing |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130820194414/http://toontown.go.com/closing |archive-date=August 20, 2013 |access-date=March 30, 2014 |publisher=The Walt Disney Company}}</ref> Subsequently, every player was given membership for the remaining time of the game. Seasonal and holiday celebrations and special in-game events took place in the time remaining. Recurring paid memberships were automatically canceled. Memberships could no longer be purchased, and accounts could no longer be created after the fact.<ref name="closing news" /> The website was also updated with a closing FAQ.<ref name="closing faq">{{Cite web |title=Disney's Toontown Online: Closing FAQ |url=http://toontown.go.com/closing-faq |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130910101914/http://toontown.go.com/closing-faq |archive-date=September 10, 2013 |access-date=March 30, 2014 |publisher=The Walt Disney Company}}</ref> | After ten years of operation, ''Disney Toontown Online'' was shut down permanently on September 19, 2013.<ref name="bloomberg.com">{{Cite news |last=Palazzo |first=Anthony |title=Disney to Shutter 10-Year-Old Toontown Multiplayer Game |publisher=Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-21/disney-to-shutter-10-year-old-toontown-multiplayer-game.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=January 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823223048/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-21/disney-to-shutter-10-year-old-toontown-multiplayer-game.html |archive-date=August 23, 2013}}</ref><ref name="closing news">{{Cite web |title=Disney's Disney Toontown Online: About Closing |url=http://toontown.go.com/closing |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130820194414/http://toontown.go.com/closing |archive-date=August 20, 2013 |access-date=March 30, 2014 |publisher=The Walt Disney Company}}</ref> Subsequently, every player was given membership for the remaining time of the game. Seasonal and holiday celebrations and special in-game events took place in the time remaining. Recurring paid memberships were automatically canceled. Memberships could no longer be purchased, and accounts could no longer be created after the fact.<ref name="closing news" /> The website was also updated with a closing FAQ.<ref name="closing faq">{{Cite web |title=Disney's Disney Toontown Online: Closing FAQ |url=http://toontown.go.com/closing-faq |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130910101914/http://toontown.go.com/closing-faq |archive-date=September 10, 2013 |access-date=March 30, 2014 |publisher=The Walt Disney Company}}</ref> | ||
| After the game's closure, ''Toontown''{{'}}s website was updated with a new FAQ to help with billing support and inform users about the game's closure.<ref name="cnn" /> ''Toontown''{{'s}} site, toontown.go.com, now redirects to Disney's main site, ]. | After the game's closure, ''Toontown''{{'}}s website was updated with a new FAQ to help with billing support and inform users about the game's closure.<ref name="cnn" /> ''Toontown''{{'s}} site, toontown.go.com, now redirects to Disney's main site, ]. | ||
| <!-- DO NOT ADD INFORMATION ON OTHER PRIVATE SERVERS IF THERE ISN'T A THIRD PARTY SOURCE TO COVER IT, SEE WP:WEIGHT --> | <!-- DO NOT ADD INFORMATION ON OTHER PRIVATE SERVERS IF THERE ISN'T A THIRD PARTY SOURCE TO COVER IT, SEE WP:WEIGHT --> | ||
| <!-- ALSO NOTE: THE ARTICLE'S MAIN FOCUS IS ON THE ORIGINAL TOONTOWN: PLEASE DO NOT ADD EXCESSIVE DETAIL ABOUT PRIVATE SERVERS --> | <!-- ALSO NOTE: THE ARTICLE'S MAIN FOCUS IS ON THE ORIGINAL TOONTOWN: PLEASE DO NOT ADD EXCESSIVE DETAIL ABOUT PRIVATE SERVERS --> | ||
| In response to the closure, former players have created multiple private servers of ''Toontown Online'' that are free-to-play and not monetized. The most popular server, ''Toontown Rewritten'', is described by its developers as "a fan-made revival of Disney's ''Toontown Online'', created using publicly available downloads and information made freely available to the general public in September 2014. | In response to the closure, former players have created multiple private servers of ''Disney Toontown Online'' that are free-to-play and not monetized. The most popular server, ''Toontown Rewritten'', is described by its developers as "a fan-made revival of Disney's ''Disney Toontown Online'', created using publicly available downloads and information made freely available to the general public in September 2014. | ||
| ], the former Creative Director of the Walt Disney Imagineering Virtual Reality Studio,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jesse Schell {{!}} Entertainment Technology Center |url=http://www.etc.cmu.edu/blog/author/jschell/ |access-date=March 24, 2020 |website=www.etc.cmu.edu}}</ref> hinted that ''Toontown Online'' closed due to becoming unsustainable in its business model (subscription-based downloadable RPG).<ref name="schellivision">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1a9Ue0ouC4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/P1a9Ue0ouC4 |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=OMG!Con 2015 – Jesse Schellivision |date=June 13, 2015 |last=Jesse Schell |access-date=May 15, 2018 |medium=Online video |website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Schell confirmed that Disney wanted to port the game to mobile devices but was waiting for a working business model for self-sustaining, constantly-updating mobile RPGs. Schell also stated that the company has hosted internal meetings discussing the future of the game, taking the popularity of mobile games, and the payment options available on that platform into consideration for planning the next step for the ''Toontown'' license.<ref name="schellivision" /> A solution has yet to be agreed upon, but according to Schell, these internal meetings continued into 2016.<ref name="Schellivision2016">{{Cite web |last=Toontown Rewritten |date=June 13, 2016 |title=OMG!Con 2016: Jesse Schellivision |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGyy8wB5JZ0&t=11m12s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/iGyy8wB5JZ0 |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|access-date=April 4, 2018 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> | ], the former Creative Director of the Walt Disney Imagineering Virtual Reality Studio,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jesse Schell {{!}} Entertainment Technology Center |url=http://www.etc.cmu.edu/blog/author/jschell/ |access-date=March 24, 2020 |website=www.etc.cmu.edu}}</ref> hinted that ''Disney Toontown Online'' closed due to becoming unsustainable in its business model (subscription-based downloadable RPG).<ref name="schellivision">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1a9Ue0ouC4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/P1a9Ue0ouC4 |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=OMG!Con 2015 – Jesse Schellivision |date=June 13, 2015 |last=Jesse Schell |access-date=May 15, 2018 |medium=Online video |website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Schell confirmed that Disney wanted to port the game to mobile devices but was waiting for a working business model for self-sustaining, constantly-updating mobile RPGs. Schell also stated that the company has hosted internal meetings discussing the future of the game, taking the popularity of mobile games, and the payment options available on that platform into consideration for planning the next step for the ''Toontown'' license.<ref name="schellivision" /> A solution has yet to be agreed upon, but according to Schell, these internal meetings continued into 2016.<ref name="Schellivision2016">{{Cite web |last=Toontown Rewritten |date=June 13, 2016 |title=OMG!Con 2016: Jesse Schellivision |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGyy8wB5JZ0&t=11m12s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/iGyy8wB5JZ0 |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|access-date=April 4, 2018 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> | ||
| Seven years after the game's closure on June 2, 2021, an unofficial archive of ''Toontown Online'' titled the "Toontown Preservation Project" was released by ''Toontown Rewritten''. The archive is hosted via ''Toontown Rewritten''<nowiki/>'s ] board and features original design documents and artwork donated by the game's developers, among promotional material such as digital downloads, merchandise, newsletters, trading cards, and websites.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Toontown Preservation Project aims to save the history of Disney's MMO|url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/toontown/preservation-project|access-date=2021-06-03|website=PCGamesN|language=en-GB}}</ref> | Seven years after the game's closure on June 2, 2021, an unofficial archive of ''Disney Toontown Online'' titled the "Toontown Preservation Project" was released by ''Toontown Rewritten''. The archive is hosted via ''Toontown Rewritten''<nowiki/>'s ] board and features original design documents and artwork donated by the game's developers, among promotional material such as digital downloads, merchandise, newsletters, trading cards, and websites.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Toontown Preservation Project aims to save the history of Disney's MMO|url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/toontown/preservation-project|access-date=2021-06-03|website=PCGamesN|language=en-GB}}</ref> | ||
| Another private server for the game called Toontown Corporate Clash came in 2018 which have many QOL changes to make Toontown a more modern game. | Another private server for the game called Toontown Corporate Clash came in 2018 which have many QOL changes to make Toontown a more modern game. | ||
| == ToonFest == | == ToonFest == | ||
| Disney organized two real-life gatherings for ''Toontown'' fans called ToonFest. It included themed activities and games, trivia and costume contests, previews of upcoming features for the game, and developer Q&A panels.<ref name="tf365">{{Cite web |title=Disney 365 – Toon Town Online's ToonFest |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flTmzXzvHmQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/flTmzXzvHmQ |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|access-date=April 7, 2014 |publisher=The Walt Disney Company}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Toontown Online Video – Toontfest |url=http://www.gametrailers.com/videos/fyrwuc/toontown-online-toonfest |access-date=April 7, 2014 |publisher=GameTrailers}}</ref> The first gathering, ToonFest 2006, was held at the ] complex in ].<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Thousands of 'Toons' to Gather at Disney Studios in Burbank for FirstEver 'ToonFest'; Disney Channel Stars Among Attendees at August 26th Fan Event Dedicated to Disney's Toontown Online |date=August 25, 2006 |publisher=Disney Online, a division of the Walt Disney Internet Group |url=http://www.smartbrief.com/news/iab/industryBW-detail.jsp?id=90A8C966-D4F7-434C-8BF7-E4B912A3755B |access-date=August 30, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927220437/http://www.smartbrief.com/news/iab/industryBW-detail.jsp?id=90A8C966-D4F7-434C-8BF7-E4B912A3755B |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="tf">{{Cite web |last=Dobson |first=Jason |date=August 11, 2006 |title=Disney Celebrates Toontown Online With ToonFest |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/101406/Disney_Celebrates_Toontown_Online_With_ToonFest.php |access-date=April 6, 2014 |publisher=Gamasutra}}</ref> The second gathering, ToonFest 2007, was held at ] in ].<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Disney's Toontown Online Hosts ToonFest 2007 |date=August 4, 2007 |publisher=Disney Online, a division of the Walt Disney Internet Group |url=https://www.forbes.com/businesswire/feeds/businesswire/2007/08/04/businesswire20070804005025r1.html |access-date=August 30, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102235018/http://www.forbes.com/businesswire/feeds/businesswire/2007/08/04/businesswire20070804005025r1.html |archive-date=November 2, 2007}}</ref><ref name="tf2007">{{Cite web |title=ToonFest 2007 (Video) |website = ]|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_vWNTs7JOE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/L_vWNTs7JOE |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|access-date=April 7, 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref> | Disney organized two real-life gatherings for ''Toontown'' fans called ToonFest. It included themed activities and games, trivia and costume contests, previews of upcoming features for the game, and developer Q&A panels.<ref name="tf365">{{Cite web |title=Disney 365 – Toon Town Online's ToonFest |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flTmzXzvHmQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/flTmzXzvHmQ |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|access-date=April 7, 2014 |publisher=The Walt Disney Company}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney Toontown Online Video – Toontfest |url=http://www.gametrailers.com/videos/fyrwuc/toontown-online-toonfest |access-date=April 7, 2014 |publisher=GameTrailers}}</ref> The first gathering, ToonFest 2006, was held at the ] complex in ].<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Thousands of 'Toons' to Gather at Disney Studios in Burbank for FirstEver 'ToonFest'; Disney Channel Stars Among Attendees at August 26th Fan Event Dedicated to Disney's Disney Toontown Online |date=August 25, 2006 |publisher=Disney Online, a division of the Walt Disney Internet Group |url=http://www.smartbrief.com/news/iab/industryBW-detail.jsp?id=90A8C966-D4F7-434C-8BF7-E4B912A3755B |access-date=August 30, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927220437/http://www.smartbrief.com/news/iab/industryBW-detail.jsp?id=90A8C966-D4F7-434C-8BF7-E4B912A3755B |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="tf">{{Cite web |last=Dobson |first=Jason |date=August 11, 2006 |title=Disney Celebrates Disney Toontown Online With ToonFest |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/101406/Disney_Celebrates_Toontown_Online_With_ToonFest.php |access-date=April 6, 2014 |publisher=Gamasutra}}</ref> The second gathering, ToonFest 2007, was held at ] in ].<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Disney's Disney Toontown Online Hosts ToonFest 2007 |date=August 4, 2007 |publisher=Disney Online, a division of the Walt Disney Internet Group |url=https://www.forbes.com/businesswire/feeds/businesswire/2007/08/04/businesswire20070804005025r1.html |access-date=August 30, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102235018/http://www.forbes.com/businesswire/feeds/businesswire/2007/08/04/businesswire20070804005025r1.html |archive-date=November 2, 2007}}</ref><ref name="tf2007">{{Cite web |title=ToonFest 2007 (Video) |website = ]|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_vWNTs7JOE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/L_vWNTs7JOE |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|access-date=April 7, 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref> | ||
| == Reception == | == Reception == | ||
| {{Video game reviews | {{Video game reviews | ||
| <!-- Aggregators --> | <!-- Aggregators --> | ||
| | GR = 82%<ref name="gr">{{Cite web |title=Disney's Toontown Online for PC |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/583306-disneys-toontown-online/index.html |access-date=April 6, 2014 |publisher=GameRankings}}</ref> | | GR = 82%<ref name="gr">{{Cite web |title=Disney's Disney Toontown Online for PC |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/583306-disneys-toontown-online/index.html |access-date=April 6, 2014 |publisher=GameRankings}}</ref> | ||
| | MC = 81%<ref name="metacritic">{{Cite web |title=Disney's Toontown Online for PC Review |url=http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/disneys-toontown-online |access-date=April 6, 2014 |publisher=Metacritic}}</ref> | | MC = 81%<ref name="metacritic">{{Cite web |title=Disney's Disney Toontown Online for PC Review |url=http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/disneys-toontown-online |access-date=April 6, 2014 |publisher=Metacritic}}</ref> | ||
| <!-- Reviews --> | <!-- Reviews --> | ||
| | GameZone = 9/10<ref name="gz">{{Cite web |date=June 15, 2003 |title=Disney's Toontown Online PC Review |url=http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/2003/06/15/disney-s-toontown-online-pc-review |access-date=April 6, 2014 |publisher=GameZone}}</ref> | | GameZone = 9/10<ref name="gz">{{Cite web |date=June 15, 2003 |title=Disney's Disney Toontown Online PC Review |url=http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/2003/06/15/disney-s-toontown-online-pc-review |access-date=April 6, 2014 |publisher=GameZone}}</ref> | ||
| | PCGUK = 83%<ref name="gamefaqs">{{Cite web |title=Disney's Toontown Online Critic Reviews for PC |url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/pc/583306-disneys-toontown-online/critic |access-date=October 8, 2015 |publisher=Gamefaqs}}</ref> | | PCGUK = 83%<ref name="gamefaqs">{{Cite web |title=Disney's Disney Toontown Online Critic Reviews for PC |url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/pc/583306-disneys-toontown-online/critic |access-date=October 8, 2015 |publisher=Gamefaqs}}</ref> | ||
| <!-- Custom reviewers --> | <!-- Custom reviewers --> | ||
| | rev2 = Game industry News | | rev2 = Game industry News | ||
| | rev2Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="gin" /> | | rev2Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="gin" /> | ||
| | rev3 = GamerDad | | rev3 = GamerDad | ||
| | rev3Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="gdad">{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Michael |date=November 23, 2005 |title=GamerDad |
| rev3Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="gdad">{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Michael |date=November 23, 2005 |title=GamerDad Disney Toontown Online PC |url=http://www.gamerdad.com/detail.cfm?itemID=2820 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060302091631/http://www.gamerdad.com/detail.cfm?itemID=2820 |archive-date=March 2, 2006 |access-date=April 7, 2014 |publisher=Bub Writing}}</ref> | ||
| | rev4 = '']'' | | rev4 = '']'' | ||
| | rev4Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="PCMag">{{Cite journal |last=Dan Costa |date=October 28, 2003 |title=PC Magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=obIjMkOrQ4QC&pg=PA158 |journal=PC Magazine: The Independent Guide to IBM-Standard Personal Computing |publisher=Ziff Davis, Inc. |pages=158– |issn=0888-8507}}</ref> | | rev4Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="PCMag">{{Cite journal |last=Dan Costa |date=October 28, 2003 |title=PC Magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=obIjMkOrQ4QC&pg=PA158 |journal=PC Magazine: The Independent Guide to IBM-Standard Personal Computing |publisher=Ziff Davis, Inc. |pages=158– |issn=0888-8507}}</ref> | ||
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| | Games | | Games | ||
| | {{won}} | | {{won}} | ||
| | <ref name="gin">{{Cite web |last=Crowe |first=Greg |date=December 29, 2003 |title=Review: Disney's Toontown Online |url=http://www.gameindustry.com/review/item.asp?id=23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313134858/http://www.gameindustry.com/review/item.asp?id=23 |archive-date=March 13, 2014 |access-date=April 6, 2014 |publisher=Game industry News}}</ref> | | <ref name="gin">{{Cite web |last=Crowe |first=Greg |date=December 29, 2003 |title=Review: Disney's Disney Toontown Online |url=http://www.gameindustry.com/review/item.asp?id=23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313134858/http://www.gameindustry.com/review/item.asp?id=23 |archive-date=March 13, 2014 |access-date=April 6, 2014 |publisher=Game industry News}}</ref> | ||
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| |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Oldenburg |first=Don |title=Parents' Choice Silver Honor Disney Toontown Online Review |url=http://www.parents-choice.org/product.cfm?product_id=13147&StepNum=1&award=aw |access-date=March 11, 2014 |publisher=Parents' Choice}}</ref> | |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Oldenburg |first=Don |title=Parents' Choice Silver Honor Disney Disney Toontown Online Review |url=http://www.parents-choice.org/product.cfm?product_id=13147&StepNum=1&award=aw |access-date=March 11, 2014 |publisher=Parents' Choice}}</ref> | ||
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| | Web Marketing Association | | Web Marketing Association | ||
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| |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Toontown Online Team wins 2003 WebAward for Toontown |url=http://www.webaward.org/winner.asp?eid=671#.UyjqJP38_B0 |access-date=March 13, 2014 |publisher=Web Marketing Association}}</ref> | |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney Toontown Online Team wins 2003 WebAward for Toontown |url=http://www.webaward.org/winner.asp?eid=671#.UyjqJP38_B0 |access-date=March 13, 2014 |publisher=Web Marketing Association}}</ref> | ||
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| | {{won}} | | {{won}} | ||
| |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Youth The Webby Awards Galley |url=http://winners.webbyawards.com/2003/web/general-website/youth/disneys-toontown-online |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313065906/http://winners.webbyawards.com/2003/web/general-website/youth/disneys-toontown-online |archive-date=March 13, 2014 |access-date=March 13, 2014 |publisher=The Webby Awards}}</ref><ref name="youth">{{Cite press release |title=Disney's Toontown Online Receives People's Voice Webby Award in Kid's Category |date=June 9, 2003 |publisher=The Walt Disney Company |location=North Hollywood, CA |url=http://corporate.disney.go.com/wdig/online_releases/2003/2003_0609_wdig.html |access-date=May 30, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060509060654/http://corporate.disney.go.com/wdig/online_releases/2003/2003_0609_wdig.html |archive-date=May 9, 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Youth The Webby Awards Galley |url=http://winners.webbyawards.com/2003/web/general-website/youth/disneys-toontown-online |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313065906/http://winners.webbyawards.com/2003/web/general-website/youth/disneys-toontown-online |archive-date=March 13, 2014 |access-date=March 13, 2014 |publisher=The Webby Awards}}</ref><ref name="youth">{{Cite press release |title=Disney's Disney Toontown Online Receives People's Voice Webby Award in Kid's Category |date=June 9, 2003 |publisher=The Walt Disney Company |location=North Hollywood, CA |url=http://corporate.disney.go.com/wdig/online_releases/2003/2003_0609_wdig.html |access-date=May 30, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060509060654/http://corporate.disney.go.com/wdig/online_releases/2003/2003_0609_wdig.html |archive-date=May 9, 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | ||
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| |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney's Toontown Online wins 2004 WebAward for Disney's Toontown Online |url=http://www.webaward.org/winner.asp?eid=2499#.UyoR8_38_B0 |access-date=March 13, 2014 |publisher=Web Marketing Association}}</ref> | |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney's Disney Toontown Online wins 2004 WebAward for Disney's Disney Toontown Online |url=http://www.webaward.org/winner.asp?eid=2499#.UyoR8_38_B0 |access-date=March 13, 2014 |publisher=Web Marketing Association}}</ref> | ||
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| |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney's Toontown Online wins 2005 WebAward for Disney's Toontown Online |url=http://www.webaward.org/winner.asp?eid=3801#.UyoSUP38_B0 |access-date=March 13, 2014 |publisher=Web Marketing Association}}</ref> | |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney's Disney Toontown Online wins 2005 WebAward for Disney's Disney Toontown Online |url=http://www.webaward.org/winner.asp?eid=3801#.UyoSUP38_B0 |access-date=March 13, 2014 |publisher=Web Marketing Association}}</ref> | ||
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| |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney Online, Premium Products wins 2006 WebAward for Disney's Toontown Online |url=http://www.webaward.org/winner.asp?eid=5724#.Uyjo6P38_B1 |access-date=March 18, 2014 |publisher=Web Marketing Association}}</ref> | |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney Online, Premium Products wins 2006 WebAward for Disney's Disney Toontown Online |url=http://www.webaward.org/winner.asp?eid=5724#.Uyjo6P38_B1 |access-date=March 18, 2014 |publisher=Web Marketing Association}}</ref> | ||
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| | <ref>{{Cite web |title=Walt Disney Internet Group wins 2007 WebAward for Disney's Toontown Online |url=http://www.webaward.org/winner.asp?eid=9248#.UyoSif38_B0 |access-date=March 13, 2014 |publisher=Web Marketing Association}}</ref> | | <ref>{{Cite web |title=Walt Disney Internet Group wins 2007 WebAward for Disney's Disney Toontown Online |url=http://www.webaward.org/winner.asp?eid=9248#.UyoSif38_B0 |access-date=March 13, 2014 |publisher=Web Marketing Association}}</ref> | ||
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| | <ref>{{Cite web |title=Parent Tested Parent Approved Disney Toontown Online |url=http://ptpa.com/product/disneys-toontown-online/ |access-date=March 13, 2014 |publisher=Parent Tested Parent Approved}}</ref> | | <ref>{{Cite web |title=Parent Tested Parent Approved Disney Disney Toontown Online |url=http://ptpa.com/product/disneys-toontown-online/ |access-date=March 13, 2014 |publisher=Parent Tested Parent Approved}}</ref> | ||
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| <!-- Adding tons of defunct links is against Misplaced Pages's guidelines --> | <!-- Adding tons of defunct links is against Misplaced Pages's guidelines --> | ||
| * {{moby game|id=/toontown-online/|name=''Toontown Online''}} | * {{moby game|id=/toontown-online/|name=''Disney Toontown Online''}} | ||
| ] | ] | ||
Revision as of 15:31, 25 March 2023
2003 Disney video game
 | |
| Developer | Disney's Virtual Reality Studio Schell Games Frogchildren Studios |
|---|---|
| Type | Massively multiplayer online role-playing game |
| Launch date | August 2001 – January 16, 2002 (Beta 1) September 10, 2002 – October 21, 2002 (Beta 2) October 21, 2002 – June 2, 2003 (Sneak Preview) June 2, 2003 (2003-06-02) (Official Launch) |
| Discontinued | September 19, 2013 (2013-09-19) |
| Platform(s) | Macintosh operating systems and Microsoft Windows |
| Website | toontown.go.com (archived on August 24, 2013) |
Disney Toontown Online, commonly known as Toontown, was a 2003 massively multiplayer online role-playing game based on a cartoon animal world, developed by Disney's Virtual Reality Studio and Schell Games, and published by The Walt Disney Company.
Players created characters known as Toons and used weapons referred to as Gags—commonly slapstick comedy items, such as a thrown cream pie—to fight and destroy Cogs, robot businessmen who served as the game’s antagonists.
Various servers hosting Disney Toontown Online were shut down throughout the game’s tenure, with the US servers and the game itself closing in September 2013. Since the game’s closure, various fan servers have been created using most of the game’s original assets. The most popular of these, Toontown Rewritten, was created some days after Disney Toontown Online’s closure.
Gameplay
Toons
Players could create characters called "Toons". Players were able to customize their Toons in various shapes, colors, clothes, and sizes, as well as their species, with choices consisting of cats, dogs, ducks, mice, pigs, rabbits, bears, horses, and monkeys.
Combat
"Cogs" were the antagonists in-game, stylized to be corporate robots that wanted to take over the town to propagate business culture. Cogs came in four types: brown-clad Bossbots, blue-clad Lawbots, green-clad Cashbots, and maroon-clad Sellbots, each with increasing levels throughout the game that increased their health and damage.
Toons began with basic 'Gags' and a 15-point 'Laff' meter and had a maximum of 137 point Laff meter at the end of the game. Gags, rooted in old cartoon slapstick humor, were weapons used to destroy the Cogs in Cog battles. Each 'Gag track' had Gags with different properties that could be unlocked by completing 'ToonTasks' and each gag track would get progressively more powerful as Toons used their gags more. The Laff meter functioned as a health meter, representing how much damage Toons could take from the Cogs before going 'sad' – in-game defeat. Cogs were battled using a timed turn-based combat system with up to four Toons in a battle. Cogs could be fought on the streets of the game, in 'Cog Buildings' or in their own designated 'Cog HQ', with each Cog HQ having a boss that could only be fought by obtaining a full set of the HQ's Cog disguise. These include the Senior V.P. (Vice President, Sellbot HQ), C.F.O. (Chief Financial Officer, Cashbot HQ) C.J. (Chief Justice, Lawbot HQ), and C.E.O. (Chief Executive Officer, Bossbot HQ).
Non-combat activities
Playgrounds were the only areas of Toontown permanently safe from Cogs. In the playgrounds, Toons could regain lost Laff Points, receive or complete ToonTasks unique to each playground, purchase gags, play trolley games, go fishing, kart racing, or golfing. By completing ToonTasks, Toons would grow in strength through additional Laff Points or new Gags. Laff Point increases were also available through fishing, racing, and golfing challenges. There was a playground in each neighborhood of Toontown. Each playground featured one of Disney's classic animated characters as a non-player character. The main playgrounds were Toontown Central, Daisy Gardens, Donald's Dock, Minnie's Melodyland, The Brrrgh, and Donald's Dreamland, along with extra playgrounds such as Goofy Speedway and Chip 'n Dale's Acorn Acres.
Every Disney Toontown Online account came with a player's estate. Each estate consisted of a fishing pond and six houses for each Toon on the player's account. Players could customize their Toon's appearance and home with objects ordered from the in-game catalog ('Clarabelle's Cattlelog') by using jellybeans, the in-game currency. Wardrobes and accessory trunks held clothing and accessories that were not currently being worn by the player's Toon. Other elements of estates included Doodles (pets), gardening, fishing, and the ability to purchase various types of in-game items from Clarabelle's Cattlelog.
Online safety features
Disney Toontown Online was marketed and developed for players of all ages, which is why a chat restriction was placed on the game. Players could only chat using "SpeedChat", a list of pre-approved phrases set by Disney that the player could select. It included general English phrases, in-game strategy phrases, and, occasionally, seasonal phrases. Players could purchase more SpeedChat phrases using, most of the time, 100 jellybeans. "SpeedChat Plus" and "Secret Friends", later renamed to "True Friends", were introduced sometime after the game's release, which had to be enabled using a parental account if the player was under 13 years of age. SpeedChat Plus allowed the player to type their messages against a word filter developed by Disney; if a word was not allowed, it was replaced with an onomatopoeia of that player's Toon's species. True Friends allowed players to chat with a less restrictive filter with certain friends who have shared a "True Friend code" with each other.
Parties
Parties were hostable, plannable, and customizable events by Toons. Toons would use their stored jellybeans in their bank to customize and add content to their parties, such as fireworks, minigames (Tug-O-War, etc.), trampolines, party cannons, etc. To plan a party, Toons would go to a Toon Party Planner. Toons could also customize their invitations to these parties.
Distribution
CD-ROM
Platform Publishing, a subsidiary company of Sony Online Entertainment that publishes games for third-party developers, acquired rights to publish a CD version of Disney Toontown Online in August 2005 for the PC and their intention to bring the game to online game consoles. Disney Toontown Online became available on CD for the PC on October 3, 2005. This allowed players to play the game without downloading it onto their storage devices. This version came in a box set with two months of subscription, a poster, a game manual, and an in-game bonus. Disney Toontown Online chose to create a CD that could be purchased in stores, due to customer insecurity when downloading and buying things online that they could not physically hold.
Closure
After ten years of operation, Disney Toontown Online was shut down permanently on September 19, 2013. Subsequently, every player was given membership for the remaining time of the game. Seasonal and holiday celebrations and special in-game events took place in the time remaining. Recurring paid memberships were automatically canceled. Memberships could no longer be purchased, and accounts could no longer be created after the fact. The website was also updated with a closing FAQ.
After the game's closure, Toontown's website was updated with a new FAQ to help with billing support and inform users about the game's closure. Toontown's site, toontown.go.com, now redirects to Disney's main site, disney.com. In response to the closure, former players have created multiple private servers of Disney Toontown Online that are free-to-play and not monetized. The most popular server, Toontown Rewritten, is described by its developers as "a fan-made revival of Disney's Disney Toontown Online, created using publicly available downloads and information made freely available to the general public in September 2014.
Jesse Schell, the former Creative Director of the Walt Disney Imagineering Virtual Reality Studio, hinted that Disney Toontown Online closed due to becoming unsustainable in its business model (subscription-based downloadable RPG). Schell confirmed that Disney wanted to port the game to mobile devices but was waiting for a working business model for self-sustaining, constantly-updating mobile RPGs. Schell also stated that the company has hosted internal meetings discussing the future of the game, taking the popularity of mobile games, and the payment options available on that platform into consideration for planning the next step for the Toontown license. A solution has yet to be agreed upon, but according to Schell, these internal meetings continued into 2016.
Seven years after the game's closure on June 2, 2021, an unofficial archive of Disney Toontown Online titled the "Toontown Preservation Project" was released by Toontown Rewritten. The archive is hosted via Toontown Rewritten's Notion board and features original design documents and artwork donated by the game's developers, among promotional material such as digital downloads, merchandise, newsletters, trading cards, and websites.
Another private server for the game called Toontown Corporate Clash came in 2018 which have many QOL changes to make Toontown a more modern game.
ToonFest
Disney organized two real-life gatherings for Toontown fans called ToonFest. It included themed activities and games, trivia and costume contests, previews of upcoming features for the game, and developer Q&A panels. The first gathering, ToonFest 2006, was held at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. The second gathering, ToonFest 2007, was held at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
Reception
Reception| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| GameRankings | 82% |
| Metacritic | 81% |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| GameZone | 9/10 |
| PC Gamer (UK) | 83% |
| Game industry News |   |
| GamerDad | |
| PC Magazine |  |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Association | Award | Category | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences | Annual Interactive Achievement Award PC Massively Multiplayer/Persistent World Game of the Year Award |
Games | Nominated | |
| Computer Gaming World | MMORPG Game of the Year | Online Games | Won | ||
| Game industry News | Family Game of the Year | Games | Won | ||
| Parents' Choice Foundation | Silver Honor | Online Video Games | Won | ||
| Web Marketing Association | WebAward Outstanding Website | Game Site | Won | ||
| The Webby Awards | Webby Award | Games | Nominated | ||
| Webby Award People's Voice | Youth | Won | |||
| 2004 | Web Marketing Association | WebAward Outstanding Website | Game Site | Won | |
| 2005 | Web Marketing Association | WebAward Outstanding Website | Game Site | Won | |
| The Webby Awards | Webby Award | Games | Nominated | ||
| "Webby Worthy Selection" | Games | Won | |||
| WiredKids | Safe Gaming Award | Computer Games | Won | ||
| 2006 | Web Marketing Association | WebAward Game Site Standard of Excellence | Game Site | Won | |
| The Webby Awards | Webby Award | Games | Nominated | ||
| 2007 | |||||
| Web Marketing Association | WebAward Outstanding Website | Game Site | Won | ||
| 2009 | Parent Tested Parent Approved | Seal of Approval | Website | Won |
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External links
Categories:- 2003 video games
- Disney video games
- Inactive massively multiplayer online games
- Inactive multiplayer online games
- MacOS games
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- Products and services discontinued in 2013
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