Let's face it. Whyville is full of empty rooms. Unused space, just waiting to become popular, or face defeat and be used for another sponsor's activity. These are Whyville's empty canvases
The first blank canvas I visited was the Chinese Checkers room, population: 0. Like most of the other game rooms, Chinese Checkers is unused. It is merely 25 rooms of pointlessness. At least I found a Kabillion box there.
But wait! You say. There are some people who play Chinese Checkers, otherwise how would there be a top players list? Good question. At the time I write this article, kitanna is the top player of Chinese Checkers. But kitanna has only played 11 games. That's not a lot for a top score. in fact, most of the top players, have not gone on Whyville since 2004! Some, 2003! Just goes to show how popular Checkers is...
Next on my tour is the Girl Game Co. Its only occupants are a few baby avatars, and a girl pretending to be their mother. Not too exciting. Hopefully, when an activity is added, we'll see some more excitement. I'm not truly sure what will draw people to Girl Game Co. The majority of video game junkies are guys, and I don't think they're quite willing to go to Girl Game Co. After all, boys still have to realize we're not that different. Except for the fact that we don't even play half as many video games as they do. As backup to girls being bad at video games, I asked my friend seashelli, who I know in real life.
I found her sitting on my couch, playing PacMan.
katluvr11: How often do you play video games?
Seashelli: Uh, about, once or twice a month.
katluvr11: And how long do you play those for?
Seashelli: Um, maybe an hour or two
Compare this to my friend, william (a new Whyvillian, who I also know)
katluvr11: How often do you play video games?
WiIIiam: Like every other day
katluvr11: And how long do you play those for?
WiIIiam: Dunno. Maybe 3 hours. Sometimes until I beat the game.
After talking to my friends, I wander to the taxi. Empty except for a whispering couple, I am left to ponder its use. Why do we need the taxi. No one uses it. Think about it. When's the last time you walked around Myville? Probably never. It's nearly impossible to get a plot, and you get no benefit from having one. Last time I went to my friend JackJack's house, we couldn't see each other. Rae and I were alone. Even though we were in the same room. Myville and the Taxi could be used for a much better purpose.
What exactly makes a chat room crowded? What feature attracts so many Whyvillians? I decided to ask a beachgoer.
katluvr11: What makes you come to the beach, rather than another chat room?
MassieLuv: Umm well I used to have a lot of friends at the beach.
katluvr11: Have you ever been to one of the following rooms: Girl Game Co., Myville, or Chinese Checkers?
MassieLuv: Yep all of them.
katluvr11: Why not go there?
MassieLuv: Because there's more people at beach. And more people that talk to me.
katluvr11: Why do you think that more people come here?
MassieLuv: I don't know.
Personally, I think that going to a beach is a more attractive idea than Myville, which is basically a neighborhood. Don't you? If my mom had said today, well Ollie, would you rather go to the beach, or take a walk around the neighborhood. I would choose the beach. Wouldn't you?
Another long forgotten room is the AF Rec Room. Home to Kalah, it's one of the first sponsors Whyville had. But alas, it is long forgotten. Here's where the boringness theory fails - the inside is pretty cool! But for some reason, it stays empty. Too bad.
Last on my trip are the Warp Wagon rooms. Have you ever gone there, other than when you play a game? Exactly my point. It might be because the Warp Wagon gives your computer trouble. It does for mine. I had a hard time just getting to Paris. That's my lame excuse. Or maybe it's the actual room. Paris should be amazing! A romantic getaway. But Whyville's Paris is gray with a plethora of lost animals, all wondering how they ended up in France.
Off to visit a more crowded chat room,
katluvr11
