Nicktropolis Hits 4M Virtual Users

Nickelodeon reported reaching 4 million registered unique users for its virtual kids' community, Nicktropolis.

The Web site serves as a destination for kids to play games, watch videos, explore Nick-branded and original environments and interact with other Nicktropolitans in real-time via personalized 3-D rooms.

“We are extremely pleased that Nicktropolis has added on an average of about 1 million registered users per month and believe that the additions of two new environments -- particularly The Naked Brothers Band, which will allow users to interact with one of the hottest ‘tween properties on TV -- will enhance the user experience even more,” said Jason Root, vice president of Nick.com.

Since launching in January, Nicktropolis has received 14 million visits and almost 500 million page views, as well as a total of 108 million game plays. Omniture SiteCatalyst reported that the average time spent per week per visitor in May was 43.4 minutes.

“With the powerful combination of Nicktropolis and the original youth virtual world, Neopets, MTV Networks Kids and Family provides two truly compelling 2-D virtual worlds for kids,” said Steve Youngwood, executive VP of digital media for MTVN Kids and Family Group. “Our goal is to give them spaces to do what they are doing the most on the Internet: gaming, video, socialization and personalization, all in a safe way.”

This month, Nicktropolis will launch two new virtual zones: one based on tween Nick television hit The Naked Brothers Band, and the other an outer-space-themed zone allowing kids to navigate and “fly” on a space ship from downtown Nicktropolis into the Space Center.

The site also recently added a new Aquarium area featuring separate subenvironments like Lost Ships, Undersea Volcanos and The Castle Ruins, along with the option for kids to create, care for and play with their own pet fish.