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Handipoints is a website with a chore chart component and an MMORPG virtual world called "HandiLand", which contains a range of online games and activities. It is developed by Handipoints Inc. The purpose of Handipoints is to "Make Fun of Work" and to provide parents with printable customizable chore charts that encourage task completion. Kids check off their chores on their virtual chore chart and are rewarded with "Handipoints" and Bonus Points. The game is significant because it is one of the first virtual worlds that engages children in real world play and responsibilities while marrying those activities to an online experience. Handipoints are used to buy Savings Goals from parents— these 'Goals' are physical items in the real world. Bonus Points are used to purchase virtual items in HandiLand— the virtual world. HandiLand uses cartoon cats as avatars, based on several different breeds. users walk around, chat, play Flash minigames, dress up their cat avatar characters, and decorate their characters' houses.〔http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080228/technology/technology_virtual_toys〕 Decorations and accessories are bought using the Bonus Points mentioned earlier. Handipoints was launched in January 2007 〔http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/27/handipoints-thinks-a-virtual-world-could-make-kids-better-in-the-real-one/#comment-2566796〕 and, after a period of beta testing, was launched officially on . Free memberships are available to the site, but revenue is also raised through paid memberships. Memberships in the Cool Cats Club allow users to dress up their cat avatars— called Cool Cats— and decorate the homes of their cat avatars with furniture. The game is designed for children between the ages of 4 and 12 years old.〔http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9911117-7.html?tag=nefd.only〕 ==History and development== Development for Handipoints began in 2007 when entrepreneur Viva Chu wanted to improve on the virtual world model for kids. He saw websites like Club Penguin and Webkinz as too consumer oriented, and he wanted a real life impact for his virtual world through chore charts. He says: "In our game kids earn points by staying healthy and active in the real world." After some time in beta testing, Handipoints was released in March 2008.〔〔http://www.virtualworldsnews.com/2008/03/handipoints-rec.html〕 In February, 2009, Handipoints introduced the Cool Cats Club, a paid subscription service. Membership in the Cool Cats Club lets users buy clothing and furniture for their cat avatars, But now membership is free. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Handipoints」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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