My sister has been playing Build-A-Bearville for months now- off and on. I have checked it out a few times. It seems like a very cool and fun place for kids and possibly other ages to play if they wish. I would consider it more like Club Penguin rather than VMK- just because of the more kiddy-friendly feel of the game overall.
You can visit these locations:
- Bear University
- Pawforming Arts Center
- Furbulous Fashion District
- Pawsitively Green Center
- Sunshine Shores
- Skate Park
- Town Squares
- Sportsplex
- Neighborhood
- Paw Park
- Friendship Forest
--- These are basic rooms located on the Map, which split to other rooms ---
There are multiple games to play and you can play by yourself or against someone else. These earns you money just like you did in VMK and other online games. With these you can buy clothes, new hair, and even furnitiure for your house, which even includes a personal bedroom for your Build-a-Bear pet (if you have one).
You do have a friends list, which lists your current friends, ignore list, and a list of those people that are in the same room as you ('Nearby') that may or may not be really your friends. You can talk openly or 'whisper' to a specific person in game- as well as send messages to friends. You also have a PDA, which holds messages, game news, badges, high scores, quests, and general options.
You also have 'Moves' or actions that include: Wave, Dance, and Waiting.
There is also a Inventory for you to hold your things.
Overall it's a pretty decent games for kids and you do not need to have purchased a Build-A-Bear to play- although having one in your backpack seems to be the 'cool' thing in the game.