Evil Killer of Spare Time

Popomundo

It's every kid's dream - to grow up to be a rich-and-famous musician. But very few kids have ever become the pop superstars they hoped to be.

Until now.


Welcome to the world of Popomundo.

This is the online reflection of the real world in which everyone is a potential rock god, star record producer, or millionaire media mogul. One of a growing list of browser-based, multi-player games, Popomundo is a little bit like The Sims without the graphic interface. But not really.

Players choose a single character (only one account is permitted per person) and then use that character to start or join a band, write songs, play concerts, and interact with other players. Of course, to get a career going you also have to have a little income to pay for music lessons and equipment, so you also have to get a job... maybe as a clerk in a recording studio, maybe as a bricklayer, maybe as a lawyer.

And what rock career would be complete without the endless string of romances, one-night-stands, and other random snuggles? Yes - there is sexual content to this game. All very circumspect of course. I wouldn't let a 12-year-old play, but I think anyone over 15 or 16 will be perfectly fine in here. Nobody in the game knows your real name, location or contact information unless you choose to share it with them. And the game snuggling is all in good fun if sometimes questionable taste.

Amazingly, this complex and addictive game is free to play - with one catch. To gain access to the best jobs and a few select special functions, you must become a VIP. VIP membership allows you to start a business, work as a CEO, and create special bookmarks, character blogs, and personal notes within the game. The site owners have kept the price of VIP memberships at a very reasonable $9 (US) for 3 months, or $29 (US) for a full year. All payments must currently be made through PayPal, though I think they're working on creating other payment methods.

And lest one protest that it's 'unfair' to charge people to play a free game, it's entirely possible for the average player to play indefinitely, have a gob of fun, and become a virtual Supahstah!! for no charge at all. Besides, I doubt the developers are making any money on Popomundo - the modest fees likely go simply to pay for server space and development costs (they are constantly tweaking and updating the game world).

One word of warning though - Popomundo can be highly addictive. Handle with care. Use extreme caution. Pay a friend to watch for signs that you're becoming a serious Popohead and need a Popointervention. Of course, your friend might join... just to see what the fuss is about. And who's going to keep an eye on him?

Don't say I didn't warn you.