New Boyz The World is a Facebook game which allows players to walk around in world created by the popular new hip-hop group New Boyz.
Getting started and controlling your character is very simple. With a couple of clicks to allow Facebook permissions, you’ll be able to enter New Boyz The World. After a few simple customization steps for your character, you’ll be placed into a city scene where you can roam around, interact with others and check out New Boyz themed items and extras.
Each area in the world was named by the hip hop duo, either after one of their songs or after a place or phrase that means something to them. In general, the game makers tried to give the game a “backstage access” and VIP type feel for players.
The main point of New Boyz The World is to walk around and fulfill missions given to you by one of the New Boyz characters, but you’ll also be able to interact with friends via chatting or even creating private viewings of exclusive New Boyz video and content. For example, on the game’s launch day in early May, players of the game were the first to see their new video featuring Chris Brown. To access it, they enter a “private instance” viewing room, but can also invite any of their online friends to join them there.
As with other online games of this type, parents need to be careful about who their teens and tweens are interacting with. Making friends is relatively simple, and can be performed in just a couple of clicks.
There also is a section where players can earn more loot by playing puzzle-type minigames, loosely based on the NewBoyz. These games include a Bejeweled-like three-in-a-row puzzler and a piggy bank smashing game.
NewBoyz the World doesn’t do anything groundbreaking or new, except feature the NewBoyz. If your kids or tweens are fans of the group, they’ll probably want to get connected there, especially given that they have the chance to interact with NewBoyz Ben-J and Legacy from time to time. Just make sure they’re up to speed on the latest online safety tips for games like this where they have the opportunity to interact with strangers. For the rest of the world who has never heard of the NewBoyz, this game’s probably not worth checking out.
INFORMATION FROM COMPANY FACT SHEET
Additional New Boyz: The WORLD Features:
• Customizable Threads ?
From fitted jeans and baggy tees to caps and kicks, customize your fully-animated character with hundreds of clothing combinations that unlock as you level up.
• Meet the Boyz ?
Meet and interact with Ben-J and Legacy as they send you on quests to complete while you hang with other New Boyz fans. Plus join Ben-J and Legacy for live events as they jump online and chat with fans.
• Insider Access ?
Get exclusive information and access to new music and videos before anyone else.
• Free for All ?
Play for free as long as you want with premium items available for purchase.
New Boyz: The WORLD, the official online world for the hip hop duo that boasts one of the fastest growing online followings with two million Facebook fans, will mark the first musician-based massively-multiplayer online world ever launched. Available beginning May 2 through the New Boyz Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/NewBoyz, New Boyz: The WORLD allows fans to enter an authentic world entirely dedicated to the group. New Boyz fans will be able to create an avatar reflecting the New Boyz style while personalizing it with virtual clothing and merchandise.
At New Boyz: The WORLD, fans can also teach their avatar the Jerk Dance moves created by the New Boyz, get official limited-edition virtual goods, play exclusive New Boyz-themed games, hang out and socialize with other fans, enjoy in-world virtual concerts and participate in exclusive online events featuring the New Boyz.
According to a recent study by Forbes, the global market for virtual goods in 2010 was estimated at $10 billion. According to Frank N. Magid Associates, online world game players boast the second-highest concentration of digital goods buyers.
In addition to the New Boyz's popularity on Facebook, the duo has a rapidly-growing Twitter following and has released a series of viral digital music videos that have received tens of millions of views.
Funtactix will also create custom-built avatar-based online worlds for additional WMG artists, creating a first-of-its-kind backstage pass for fans to enter the official world of their favorite musicians. The experiences are built for fans with ongoing artist involvement, creating a new channel for delivering a complete experience that extends beyond the music: unlocking the artists? visual style, dance moves, fashion, and delivering it directly to the fans through visually-stunning online worlds and digital goods.