If my subtle (or not so subtle) role-playing game references in the past did not indicate my geeky past, let be more clear. I was pushed and prodded into both of Disney’s MMO games, Toontown and Pirates Online by my son; now I play more than he does.

I’m not in the target demographic; far from it. Both games have drawn adult players who, for whatever reason, enjoy these games more than well-known competitors like the biggest MMORPG, World of Warcraft. Forums for both Pirates and Toontown prove this with members identifying themselves as grownups.

To someone who grew up with the casual, hilarious violence of Bugs Bunny, the Three Stooges, Tom & Jerry, Wile E. Coyote and the Roadrunner, these games represent a return to the past, especially Toontown, with its pie-throwing, safe-dropping antics.

Ars Technica has a lengthy discussion with the people behind Disney’s MMOs posted. Some of that discussion centers on child safety in the MMO world.

Disney’s approach on Toontown and Pirates utilizes preprogrammed chat phrases, Speedchat, for conversing with others. Pirates is a little looser on chatting, as players can type in chat along with using the existing phrases.

Mike Goslin, vice president of Disney Online’s VR Studio, said in the report Disney uses “a sophisticated hybrid approach” with people and technology policing the chat. If you have ever wondered why Pirates won’t allow numbers in chat, it’s to try and prevent someone from giving out a phone number.

The whole point of the games focuses on bringing in kids. They can drive substantial spending by their families; witness the theme parks Disney operates, or the Hannah Montana concerts that spurred astonishing ticket prices on reseller sites.

Don’t think of them as MMOs, but as persistent reinforcement of the Disney brand. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m 8,000 gold away from buying my pirate a war sloop. I’ve got piracy to commit on the open seas. Arrr!

Disney Playing With Online Ads, Downloads

As someone who has made several trips to Disney’s theme parks, I’m one of many people who can attest to the company’s dedication to prying money from people’s wallets while entertaining them. Disney doesn’t do anything if they don’t see a clear path to a payday.

The latest announcement of Disney teaming with Microsoft to offer movie rentals on demand isn’t too surprising. Disney has been standing cheerfully with Apple’s Steve Jobs both before and after buying his Pixar movie studios, and Disney content abounds on iTunes, so they aren’t strangers to the downloadable concept.

Disney’s new deal places an on-demand option on the Xbox Live Marketplace for Xbox 360 gamers. Disney movies and ABC television choices, in standard and high-definition formats, have become available. Microsoft and Disney disclosed this at the E3 Media & Business Summit.

This makes the Xbox 360 a little more family-friendly, as the gaming console has never been known as being oriented toward the younger market. The option to bring in a Disney movie on the Xbox 360 might make it more acceptable to parents who would probably not choose to buy one otherwise.

It is an important partnership due to Disney’s famed control over its content, especially the animated features. Disney isn’t going to risk losing money on them no matter how long ago the movies were released.

That brings us to Toontown, Disney’s multiplayer online game with some 17.5 million characters running around its colorful streets (many people create more than one toon, and can have up to six per account). Mediaweek disclosed Disney would shift the game from a subscription model to ad-supported sometime this fall.

Some players have been trying out the ad-supported version in beta since May. Disney charges a $9.95 per month subscription, with people willingly paying for it.

At first glance it’s tempting to compare the shift to AOL’s change from subscription to advertising as a revenue model. AOL had been hemorrhaging subscribers and needed to make a dramatic change. Disney isn’t under that same pressure.

The potential earnings for Toontown under an ad model must be really impressive. Saying that Disney doesn’t like to give things away is like suggesting your fingertips may redden slightly upon touching the surface of the Sun.

Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games are all the rage in games right now. It’s becoming a multibillion-dollar-a-year industry and Disney obviously saw the figures from China from last year. At this point, pretty much all the games are aimed at teenagers or older. But the multimedia monster called Disney has gotten something a little more family oriented, Disney’s ToonTown Online. Disney got with Sony software publishing division and now they’re bringing it to stores.

The game should hit stores in the fall and is the first MMORPG aimed at a family experience. The price is more than reasonable at $19.99 that covers a two month subscription to the game service. Sony’s software publisher Platform Publishing also said this game will eventually be available for game consoles (yep, could quite well see them on the PS3 in hi-def).

“Platform Publishing is working with Disney Online to make Toontown available in the places where families usually shop,” said John Needham, chief financial officer and senior vice president of business development, Sony Online Entertainment.

“Toontown is a breakthrough game that has introduced MMOs to the online family audience. Now we will be introducing the game to a whole new audience who may not have downloaded it in the past. Additionally, we will begin working with Disney on the potential to create Toontown versions for online-enabled game consoles.”

“This is a great opportunity for us to partner with Sony Online Entertainment, a leader in the retail MMO space,” stated Steve Parkis, vice president of premium products, Disney Online. “We feel that our trusted brand and unique game offering that appeals to the entire family is a natural fit for the retail marketplace. And as the connected console marketplace develops, we want to be among the first MMO family titles made available.”

Players in the game create their own Toons and interact with other Toons to save the world from the Cogs, called “humorless, business robots” who steal the colorful happy world of Toontown and turn it inot a dark, colorless metropolis of “corporate monotony.”

Users can already go to Disney’s site and play around with the game. There’s a three-day trial version folks can play with. According to the press release, feedback says that many people are playing the game with their families. The game is aimed for ages 8-12. The subscription fee is $9.95. The game is rated E for Everyone.

John Stith is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business.