ToonTown Online Game Review for Parents

Many children ask their parents to play ToonTown online. As parents, we are well aware that we need to protect our children online and may be leery of letting of letting our kids play online games. This is a very basic review of ToonTown. I created this to be a guide for safety conscious parents, like myself, who children want to start playing ToonTown.

What is ToonTown?
ToonTown is an online game that allows you to play with others from all over the world. ToonTown is a MMORPG (Massively multiplayer online role-playing game).

Can my child play ToonTown for free?
Your child can play ToonTown for free. A free account offers limited access to the game. It is probably a good idea to have your child start out with a free ToonTown account before you decided if you want to pay for a full membership.

A full ToonTown membership costs $9.95 a month. You can save money by subscribing to an annual ($79) or semi-annual ($49) package. You can pay for the ToonTown membership either by credit card or by purchasing a ToonTown card. You can buy ToonTown cards at Best Buy, Target, or Rite-Aid.

Is ToonTown safe for my child to play?
Disney has made playing ToonTown very safe for children. Also, You won't need to worry about the game putting spyware on your computer or getting a virus.

Can my child chat with other players on ToonTown?
Yes, your child can chat with other players, but you, the parent, decided on what type of chat is allowed on your child's account.

Every player on ToonTown has the SpeedChat function. SpeedChat is a list of predefined words you can communicate with another player. Your child cannot say anything personal with the basic SpeedChat.

If you want to give your child the ability to "talk" to other players beyond the basic SpeedChat you can allow SpeedChat Plus. SpeedChat Plus allows players to type their own messages to other players. They can only use pre-approved words. The system is able to block players from giving out personal information such as a phone number. The use of profanity is not allowed. If a player tries to use profanity by misspelling a words or using internet slang, they can be banned from playing ToonTown, either for several days or permanently. Disney has employees who monitor chat activities.

If your child has a friend that also plays ToonTown you can allow Open Chat with True Friends. Open Chat with true friends allows players to openly communicate without the list of pre-approved words. It is important to note, profanity is still not allowed. In order to become "true friends" with someone you are given a code that can be exchanged outside of the game, such as in school or over the phone.

What is the point of playing ToonTown?
In ToonTown you defeat Cogs (robots) by using gags. You can throw a pie at the cogs or squirt them with a hose.

When Toons are not busy defeating Cogs they can ride the trolley to play games with other Toons, go fishing, race a car, play miniature golf, or host their own Toon party.

Parents wishing to learn more about ToonTown can visit Disney's ToonTown website, here.

Are there cheats in ToonTown?
Unlike some other games, there are no cheats in ToonTown. In ToonTown you have to work for everything you get. Cheating would defeat the purpose of playing ToonTown. There may be smarter more efficient ways to earn jellybeans in the game, say fishing instead of trolley games, but there are no cheats.

FYI, ToonTown works on Mac's and PC's.

Sources:
toontown.go.com/parents