Virtual Worlds like Webkinz and Club Penguin are seeing millions of kids visit every month, but few offer anything beyond simple entertainment. With their new virtual world FRANKTOWN ROCKS (franktownrocks.com) set to launch in April, Brainwave Studios intends to change that.
FRANKTOWN ROCKS, the world’s first music-driven virtual world for kids, is aimed at ages 6 to 12 and based in the mythical city of Franktown (based loosely on historic Franklin, TN). It includes music-based games, virtual instruments that kids can play and customize, a recording studio where kids can mix music, a customizable music player, and even real video music lessons.
“This certainly isn’t anything like a classical music education,” explains Rob Solberg, CEO of Brainwave Studios, an accomplished musician himself, “but what we want to do is use this virtual world to expose kids to music and the arts in significant way. To get them excited and inspired, and encourage them to join in the fun of making music.”
Solberg cites the ever-shrinking funding for music education in the public schools as a prime reason why FRANKTOWN ROCKS will offer kids something much more valuable than simply entertainment. “It’s long been established that music education has a strong positive influence on kids in other areas of education including language, math, reasoning, and spatial intelligence,” he explains. “Plus, most of us here (at Brainwave) are musicians, and we’re passionate about passing on our love for music to the kids who visit Franktown Rocks!”
At Franktown Rocks kids can sign up and play for free. They will have access to all the rooms, areas, music, and games on the website. For a low monthly fee kids can gain access to an additional level of content and features, but it is not required in order to enjoy the Franktown experience.
Future plans for FRANKTOWN ROCKS include releasing a Spanish-language version of the website this summer, and adding a “litter system” that rewards kids for throwing away litter in the trash and keeping their city clean.
The values promoted on the FRANKTOWN ROCKS site include:
- Creativity: Empowering and encouraging kids to discover, create, and imagine.
- Music & Art: Learn, play, and love music and the arts.
- Morality: Making good decisions and choosing to do the right thing.
- Education: Learning really can be fun!
- Responsibility: Taking care of yourself, the things you have, and the world around you.
“We’re all Christians on the core team here at Brainwave,” explains Solberg. “We’re driven by our faith and we feel very much called to speak positive values into the lives of kids through the products we create.” In fact, one of the goals of the FRANKTOWN ROCKS virtual world is to begin a relationship with kids that will be extended into original music and an animated series, both formats where Brainwave can speak to kids more directly about issues of morality and character.
There’s a sneak peek of the site online at http://www.franktownrocks.com/
FRANKTOWN ROCKS was created and developed by Brainwave Studios, LLC. Founded in 1996 in Minneapolis, MN, Brainwave is owned by Robert & Debra Solberg. Brainwave relocated to Franklin, TN in 2004 where Rob & Deb serve on the worship team at The People’s Church in Franklin. Prior to FRANKTOWN ROCKS, Brainwave Studios provided professional multimedia production services including web and graphic design, audio production, original music, and interactive production. Their clients included General Mills, 3M, Disney, Harley Davidson, Dateline NBC and many others.
