Disney Pulled the Plug on This Game in 2013. A Group of Teens Kept It Alive

today, Toontown Rewrite There are over 2 million registered users with an average of 50,000 monthly users and 10,000 daily users. Ziolkowski, now 26 and a professional game designer, is still part of the team of volunteers who maintain the game and Toontown The community is alive and growing.

A Disney spokeswoman declined to comment.

D Toontown Rewrite The team knows they operate in murky waters. Without a licensing deal from Disney, 11 years of hard work by Disney lawyers could come to an end at any moment. This is why they have taken extensive steps to try to alleviate any concerns Mouse House may have, including establishing a non-profit organization to oversee the game; The game is made for free to play; advanced advertising revenue; removing NPCs of Disney characters such as Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Donald Duck; and implementing a strong content moderation system to protect young players.

“We’re trying not to mess with their brand,” says creative media lead Elizabeth Ready. TTR. “We try not to poke the bear.”

These volunteers aren’t just donating their time. Toons of the world, non-profit behind Toontown RewriteFunded entirely through volunteer donations. Cost for server alone TTR That was about $17,000 in 2023, according to tax filings. Toons of the World’s remaining costs—which total about $22,000—go toward hosting private fan conventions and running an online museum dedicated to preserving the history of the original MMO.

“Games and communities die whenever they’re closed,” said Maya Cohen, an art director TTR who were part of the initial revival efforts. “While I don’t know for sure, I like to imagine that when the people at Disney look at us, it warms their hearts to see the impact their project has had on the players and how they’ve kept it alive. So long.”

“Don’t Let Corporations Crush You”

Toontown Online Considered the first massively multiplayer online game designed for families. The brainchild of game designer Jesse Shell, it first launched in 2003 and was inspired by Toontown. K Roger Rabbit Frame and Duckburg, the fictional town of Donald, Daisy and Uncle Scrooge created by artist Carl Burks.

In the game, players (customizable, cartoon creatures called “Toons”) encounter a world of Toontown occupied by business robots, who lurk on the streets and occupy stores with their ugly, sadistic corporate offices. To fight back, the Toons work together to complete tasks and use silly gags like cream pies and seltzer bottles to defeat the villains and reclaim their town.