GOOBER'S LAB ANONYMOUS

By Dan Miller
May 30, 2007

My name is Dan.... and I am a Goober's Lab-oholic.

Sometimes, in the wee small hours of the morning, my wife will glance over at me in bed, as I cradle the laptop computer, and she can only shake her head as she realizes I'm at it again.... on the internet visiting Goober's Lab.

And here's what makes it even worse.
My wife is struggling with an addition to Tile Towers.
Many times, morning and night, I've quietly walked into our computer room at home, and there sits my wife, sheepishly confessing that, yes, she's -- needlessly -- spending her time playing Tile Towers.
It's tough, but we're doing the best we can.

For those of you "not in the know" (in other words, those who don't have young daughters) Goober's Lab and Tile Towers are part of the arcade of games on the Webkinz World website.

Perhaps the quickest way to educate yourself about Webkinz is to ask any young girl (and I suppose some young boys as well).
When our 8-year old was given a Webkinz stuffed animal, she used a special code provided on the label to access the Webkinz World website.
There she was able to adopt a "virtual version" of her own stuffed animal, which she can interact with online.

I'm told more than a million kids are now members.
It's a truly magical place for youngsters and their stuffed "virtual" pets.
Each pet has various degrees of health, hunger and happiness that the adoptive kids have to take care of.

They can purchase new rooms, furniture, food, clothes, recreation equipment and many other things using "virtual currency" known as Kinzcash.
The Kinzcash is earned through the various games and activities offered on the website.

And that's where Goober's Lab, Tile Towers, my wife and I come in.
Being caring and helpful parents, we assisted McKensie in choosing her website "user name" and password.
Then we figured -- what a nice gift it would be for us to help her earn Kinzcash by occasionally playing the games.

So we've done that..... occasionally..... alright, every day!

I worry that maybe we're helping too much.

But my greater worry is that McKensie will change her password without telling us.

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Comments

[Barb]

Me too! I absolutely love Goober's lab. And I justify it by rationalizing that maybe we need a medieval room and those items are just so expensive... I will admit that "we" now have two Goober's lab trophies... What is it about these games? They are so simple, I guess, that after work and all the daily chores, I find them relaxing.

My second choice is Tile Towers.... maybe these were designed from the beginning to target adults?

Oh well, have an atomicolicious day!

[Beverly]

Here is one more Goober's Lab-ohlic. I am wondering how you can get the Goober's lab trophy which I have not seen it even up to level 10.

[Mary sambellarose]

Well, I will be smiling tonight when I tell my boyfriend that "No, I am not the only adult addicted to Webkinz games." Thank you! I am completely addicted to Skunksweeper (as I can make over 200 Kinzcash each game), and second choice is Tile Towers. I also used to help my daughter till I realized she was pacing the floor waiting for me to finish playing so she could. I felt horrible, and don't get me wrong, I still help her at Quizzy's as she is only 6 and just started learning how to read few words. So I thought I would buy my own Webkinz...WOW we have so much fun together!! We play games like Bathtub Battles and go fish against each other. Her favorite part is that we can visit each other's houses!

[Mary sambellarose]

Well, I will be smiling tonight when I tell my boyfriend that "No, I am not the only adult addicted to Webkinz games." Thank you! I am completely addicted to Skunksweeper (as I can make over 200 Kinzcash each game), and second choice is Tile Towers. I also used to help my daughter till I realized she was pacing the floor waiting for me to finish playing so she could. I felt horrible, and don't get me wrong, I still help her at Quizzy's as she is only 6 and just started learning how to read few words. So I thought I would buy my own Webkinz...WOW we have so much fun together!! We play games like Bathtub Battles and go fish against each other. Her favorite part is that we can visit each other's houses!

[Lisa Connor]

My husband found your website by googling "Goober's Lab." He's addicted. My games of choice are Cash Cow, Home Before Dark and Picnic, and most recently Tile Towers. Thanks so much for making us feel normal!

[Brian]

I have a feeling Webkinz has become an adult site ... :)

I made fun of my wife one night she was earning money and schooling some little kids in connect 4. I said, "nice, beating up on little kids." It is like that scene in the break up with Vince Vaughn when he is playing the kid in Madden Football...

Anyway days after that I am addicted to several games and have realized that there is no way some of these little kids are racking up massive scores at midnight.

I found you googling for goobers lab ... I have no idea how anyone is scoring 54,000 in this game.

Anyone up for some Madden or Guitar Hero? Goober has me beat!

[tracy]

Another addicted parent here. I love Goober's lab, still trying to get that trophy!! I also love Home before dark, operation gumball, and dicekinz. I have my own pet which makes it more fun to play with the kids. :)

[Michelle]

Sorry :) I am the one who scored so hi up I was sitting at the computer my daughter had logged on and then went to the bathroom, I quickly started a game and then my sister in law came in and was watching me and before I realized I had made level nineteen... since then I have tried not to play on her site and now am the proud owner of Sir Ribbit... I so love this site... Thanks for playing Goobers... One more thing it is possible to make a lot more levels when you realize that everymove makes another find the pairs in almost every direction and try to hit the revolving ones and sparkling ones that show up when you have four in a row. Good luck... and I know the time is strange but we messed up on our time it should have been eastern.