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WHAT I LIKE ABOUT MONDOS
(Last Updated: 13 August 2004)
There’s rather a lot I like about Mondos, actually, so without further ado, here’s my list of Mondo likes:
Perhaps what I like most about Mondos is their educational value. History was one of my favourite subjects at school, so I really enjoy this aspect of Mondos. You can learn a great deal about all sorts of historical events and personages. I for one have found Mondos quite enlightening at times. The educational aspect is also what made Yowies a winner, at least early on. Many people know a lot more about the Animal Kingdom thanks to Yowies, and I’ve heard true stories of people who have recognised certain real animals in their backyard because they found out about them through Yowies. Similarly, I believe Mondos have increased awareness of events and people of the past to some extent.
Another winner in the Mondo concept is – or rather, used to be – the Mondo Web site. The original design of this was very clever, and gave you real incentive to keep collecting. Of course, as with any collectable, the satisfaction of adding to or completing a set is paramount. But in addition to that satisfaction, you could also learn more about your characters as you collected more cards. More cards in turn gave you access to more information, which of course increased the education you were already getting. If you achieved the collector’s dream of getting the entire set, you were said to be “100% Mondo” and could call yourself a “Mondo Master”. More than that, you could win some very nice prizes if you became 100% Mondo quickly enough.
The whole interactive aspect was wonderful and quite ingenious. However, it may be that the cost of running the Web site and the prizes given away (some, like the world trips, must have cost a considerable amount) contributed to Mars losing interest in marketing a second series of Mondos. They could still have sold them without the interactive aspect and made a success out of them, though.
I like the figurines and cards too. In particular, their small size makes them nice and easy to store, which is essential when you already collect at least half a dozen other things! The figurines are colourful and nicely detailed – real little works of art in fact – while the cards have plenty to hold the interest, with excellent artwork (reproduction of real paintings) and fascinating tidbits of information.
The boxes in which the first series was sold were nice and easy to open (once you could get the wrapping off!). And because they were identical, you could throw them away to save space, or use them to store your Mondos!
Well, that’s what I like about Mondos. But I want to know what you like about them, if you have a collection. So send me an e-mail and let me know what aspects of Mondo you think are the bee’s knees. I’ve also got two or three spare boxes, so if you’re at all interested in these, once again, e-mail me and I’ll send you one!
Intro to Mondos Where To Find Mondos in NZ
What I Don’t Like About Mondos
Mondo Exhibit Rooms Museum Shop
Links to Other Mondo Sites Links to My Other Sites
Museum Mailbag NZ Mondo Collectors Contacts List
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