Bin Weevils

> *For the Nickelodeon series, see Bin Weevils (Cartoon).*
>
>

***Bin Weevils*** is an online children's multiplayer game developed by 55 Pixels Ltd, launched in January 2004 as a joint venture between Nickelodeon UK and Prism Entertainment Ltd. Brief animated clips based on characters from the game aired on TV in 2006. In 2007, Bin Weevils was re-launched as an independent website with a redesign and new content.

The Bin Weevils website reached 1.2 million users in September 2012.

## **Gameplay**

Bin Weevils is based on the theme of real creatures, weevils. Players can create, customize and control their own character. The game is set in a bin-like setting where many locations have been specifically designed for this theme (e.g. Kip's Scrapyard, Peel Park, Ink's Orange Peel) with items you would find usually in a bin, such as mould and orange peels. Players have their own "nest" in which they can adjust the colour and design the rooms. Players can choose to upgrade the nest to all 8 rooms using the Mulch currency via a membership and can also choose to decorate their rooms by buying items from the "Shopping Mall" and placing the items in their rooms accordingly. The items can also be sold at one of the locations in the game if the player doesn't want the item anymore for Mulch currency. The nest consists of a private cinema, a plaza (both require membership), a garden, and a nest generator. Depending on how low the nest generator level is, the brighter or darker the nest gets. All players also have a "Bin Card" in their nest, which they can stamp every day to collect rewards including hat coupons, plants, XP and much more.

The main navigation of the game is the Map which players can use to travel to different areas of the game. The map has had many changes in the past due to re-designs. The newest version of the map was designed by Tom Bland. There are several multiplayer games which players can play to earn currency ("Mulch") and experience points ("XP"). There are also a number of educational games, such as the "Daily Brain Strain," which players can visit every day to test their knowledge through a series of math, geography and puzzle questions. Players who participate in the 60 seconds can receive Mulch and XP based on how well they have done. Players can also enter codes to receive rewards.

All users have a garden outside of their nest, in which they can buy plants from the 'Garden Shop' and plant and then harvest for in-game currency ("Mulch") and experience points ("XP"). The user can save the currency or buy more plants and the XP contributes to levelling up towards the next level. There are 80 levels in total but more are often added. In addition, paying players can purchase a virtual pet called a "Bin Pet." The Bin Pet has its own profile and a bed. Players can feed their Bin Pet and make the pet character perform tricks and play mini-games. Non-paying players can also own a virtual pet for 24 hours. This feature is called "Pet-For-A-Day" and was first revealed on January 17, 2017.

Many of the old locations, including Tum's Diner, were designed by Michael Jary.

>
>
>

## **Achievements and awards**

* Children's BAFTA Kids' Vote - Website in 2012
* Children's BAFTA Kids' Vote - Website in 2013
* Children's BAFTA Kids' Vote - Website in 2014
* Children’s BAFTA Kid’s Vote - Nominee 2015