DESCRIPTION

Younger gamers (and their grown-up friends) join thousands of other players in the living, cartoon world of Toontown Online. In the role of a customized, animated character, players enter a Disney-themed cartoon town, where the biggest threats come from Scrooge McDuck's wily business robots, also known as "Cogs." Turn-based battles with Cogs take place in special areas and buildings, so players can join up and face off against these enemies whenever they think they are ready. Defeating Cogs is one way to earn jellybeans, which are the currency in Toontown. Characters who perform especially heroic acts against the enemy robots, such as clearing an entire Cog-infested sky scraper and returning it to Toontown control, may be immortalized in portraits that remain in the game world for all to see.

Though presented with layers of style and humor for Disney fans of all ages, Toontown Online is aimed at players in a 7- to 12-year-old range. A number of precautions have been taken to ensure a safe online community that all can enjoy. The easiest way to communicate is the game's "Speed Chat" feature, which lets users quickly construct sentences from a selection of common — and kid-friendly — words and phrases. Player character names are subject to approval by a customer service representative. The game introduces several ways to interact and make new friends online, through methods that encourage parental supervision. A "Secret Friends" system allows children to set up online meetings with other players that must be okayed by Mom or Dad. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide