Shining Stars®

Overview

Internationally known toy manufacturer Russ® Bernie and Company, Inc., in collaboration with the International Star Registry®, created the Shining Stars® toys and interactive Website. The program combines the purchase of a plush toy -- a Shining Star Friend – with sign-on information that lets children travel online through the virtual cosmos to record his or her name with a star.

The Experience

The Star Worlds interactive, multi-user Flash® site lets users log in, accumulate and spend glow points to buy and build their space, and participate in safe and secure live chats with other users. Participants can also send e-cards; play customized, interactive games with others throughout the cosmos; and explore a world of exciting activities. Through a partnership with the Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation, Shining Stars registered users can donate their glow points to help ill children and their families. Because Shining Stars is a highly populated site with a large user base, more than 5.5 billion glow points have been donated to the organization.

In 2007, Russ Bernie and Company, Inc., licensed Electrotank's® popular ElectroServer™ platform to support the Shining Stars interactive world; initial game design and development was handled by a third party. But when the third-party developed site began experiencing performance issues due to design flaws, Russ Bernie and Company, Inc., sought the Flash game development expertise of the Electrotank team. Electrotank worked with the company to examine their strategic market plans and re-coded the Website's front-end, determining and repairing initial performance and game design issues. Following its front-end redesign, the Shining Stars Website's functionality received a major boost, and could support features such as drop down menus, eye-catching art and graphics, multiple rooms and multimedia Flash video capabilities.