"Welcome to Winster, where friends help
friends win FREE prizes. Try my games now!"
- Winnie Winster, Founder and Host
friends win FREE prizes. Try my games now!"
- Winnie Winster, Founder and Host
Press Center
Media Contact: Kim Hong,
| December 2011 | What is Social Media? (SeniorNet) You hear about social media just about everywhere you go - there's no escaping it! And, believe it or not, it's not just for kids anymore. Golden Girl Betty White re-launched her career using Facebook, Jerry Mathers, aka "The Beaver," is tweeting about how to live a longer and healthier life (even with diabetes), and an elderly couple's "Webcam 101" video goes viral on YouTube, making them instant Internet sensations. If your kids aren't around to help you learn the ropes, there are plenty of organizations, like SeniorNet, and communities dedicated to providing older adults with computer education and social media classes. It's just a hop, skip and click away! |
| November 10, 2011 | Online Gaming Community Geared for Older Adults (Barrier Free Living) Looking for a pleasant way to spend leisure time on the Internet? Maybe you should try Winster.com, a social gaming community that’s especially geared for middle-aged or older adults. Unlike most online games, Winster.com’s games are designed for players to help each other to cooperate rather than compete with each other. Aside from fostering a friendly community of players, Winster.com also rewards players with small prizes, such as Wal-Mart and Amazon gift certificates. There are a slew of games featured in Winster.com, including slot games, Poker, and puzzles. By playing with each other, participants can create strategies to win the game?and along the way form social ties, strengthen their memory and mental muscles. |
| November 3, 2011 | Winster.com: A Virtual Playground for Older Adults (San Francisco Chronicle) Winster.com recently conducted a survey to its gaming community of baby boomers and seniors, and discovered some atypical gaming behavior and lifestyle trends, which help to explain the immense growth of social media usage among 50–plus adults. With three million registered players, Winster.com is the “Club Penguin” for older adults (average player is 50 years old). The social game website offers a variety of free, multi-player casual games that encourages collaboration, instead of competition, strengthening social networks while promoting positive social interaction. The survey received over 8,000 responses from Winster players. |
| September 23, 2011 | Need a Break? Try Free Online Game Site Winster.com (Survive the Cost of Living) Everyone needs a break sometimes, when I felt stressed I tried one of the online games that was free to play and I found that not only did it reduce that jumpy feeling, but I was having fun. The game site I found was Winster.com. |
| August 24, 2011 | The Web is worth the walk: Berthough woman stays connected by trekking four miles each way to use library computers (Reporter Herald) The story that grandparents tell about walking several miles uphill both ways to get to school takes on a new twist for Berthoud grandmother Adina Berger. Berger, 45, walks four miles one way to get to the Berthoud Public Library most days that it is open — Monday through Saturday.Her reasons are twofold: to get exercise and to socialize with her family and friends through Facebook, email and online game sites, such as Winster.com. |
| August 9, 2011 | Can Older Social Gamers Win it for Winster? (Patch.com) Can Older Social Gamers Win it for Winster? Does it pay to be nice? Winster.com, a San Mateo-based social gaming website that encourages players to help each other win and build strong social relationships, is betting on it. Winster's customers are a group that is least likely to come to mind when we talk online games: they are mostly older women, many of them socially isolated or incapacitated and looking for friends to hang out with. “For some people it's very casual but for others it's a lifeline to a community of supportive people who help get them through difficult challenges and times,” says Jerry Kaplan, CEO of Winster.com, a San Mateo start-up that offers non-competitive games where you help others win and make friends. |
| August 9, 2011 | Eileen Williams chats with Michelle Kaplan about why Winster is attracting baby boomers from all over (Feisty Side of Fifty Radio) Are you feeling lucky? Would you like to test your game-playing skills with other boomers in a fun and feisty way? Do you want to expand your social network from the comfort of your own home? If so, you’ll want to be sure to catch what Winnie Winster (aka Michelle Kaplan) has to say. Learn all about the explosion of gaming that's the new way boomer women share a social outlet rather than a competitive one. Tune in and learn why you should check out Winster.com! |
| July 30, 2011 | Michelle Kaplan Opens Our Eyes to the World of Social Gaming for Boomers! (2BoomerBabes Radio Hour/WSCL 89.5FM and WSDL 90.7FM) It's no surprise that social gaming has become a massive trend for those post boomer Gen X and Gen Y’ers. But, believe it or not, The Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project revealed that social networking sites nearly doubled in usage among people ages 50 and older since last year, and has grown 100% among people ages 65 and older. And, 46% of social gamers are at least 50 years old and dominated by boomer women! One of the pros in this gaming business, eMarketer, believes that revenues in the U.S. social gaming industry will exceed $1 billion this year alone! Joining us is Michelle Kaplan, a social media expert and the co-founder of Winster.com, a social gaming community geared toward the socially minded baby boomer rather than the competitive one. |
| July 15, 2011 | Mommy Profile: Michelle Kaplan, Mom of Four and Co-founder of Winster.com (The Mommy Guides) Michelle Kaplan speaks with The Mommy Guides and shares her inspiration behind the friendliest social gaming site, Winster.com and offers a few parenting tips. |
| June 30, 2011 | Play Games at Winster and Win Amazon Gift Cards (Associated Content) My experience playing games at Winster I have been playing games at Winster for a few years and have seen it grow and change to meet with the times, the economy, and the needs of its members. You can play games for free and win prizes like Amazon Gift Cards. The games are fun, easy to play, and very social in nature. Players help one another and benefit from sharing by getting more points for themselves and the other players. Click here to see Games Available at Winster |
| June 17, 2011 | Social Networking Sites Growing in Popularity Among Older Users (KSBY-TV News) Social networking use has grown dramatically across all age groups including with older users. The latest report by the Pew Internet and American Life Project shows, social networking use among Americans age 50 and up nearly doubled last year from 22 percent to 42 percent. Monica Quintero spoke with 88-year-old woman from Paso Robles, Brooke Mayo, who has made special online friends through an online networking and game site called Winster. |
| May 21, 2011 | Gaming site helps reunite mother, daughter (Newark Advocate) Melinda Jones always liked playing board games with her daughter, Tanya Lingafelter, because it brought the pair closer together. But in 2003, a large fight caused a rift between the two women leading Jones, of Glenford, and Lingafelter, of Hollywood, Calif., to stop talking for about seven years. With more than 2,000 miles separating her from her daughter, Jones worried she would never be able to salvage their relationship. Since board games were out of the question, she invited Lingafelter to play games with her on the social game site Winster.com. |
| May 10, 2011 | Dr. Erica Goodstone Interview with Michelle Kaplan (BlogTalkRadio) Relationship therapist and host of Healthy Baby Boomers Network, Dr. Erica Goodstone, interviews online gaming expert, Michelle Kaplan, about baby boomers' rising interest in social gaming. |
| May 8, 2011 | Games for Good: Positive Form of Online Gaming (KSBW-TV) KSBW-TV action-news reporter Stephanie Chuang spoke with a man who said, “Winster games helped to save his life.” Doctors diagnosed Dennis Ah Yo with Colon Cancer in December of 2008. Life proved to be much more difficult, beyond the physical hardships, emotionally he felt left behind. |
| May 6, 2011 | Players make friends at Winster gaming site (The Poughkeepsie Journal) Enter Winster, a social networking website that combines traditional, well-loved games such as bingo, poker, Sudoku and even slot machines, with an opportunity to play alongside other people, who over time, just might become friends. “Social media sites can be a powerful ally for an older adult,” said Lawrence T. Force, professor of psychology and director of the Center on Aging and Policy at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh. |
| May 2011 | The Changing Face of Social Media (Lovin' Life After 50) Janet Bruning laughs when asked if she's a newbie to online social networks. “Oh, I've been into computers since there were personal computers,” says Bruning, 69, a retired accountant. “I had a Commodore 64, and I learned to program on that. As soon as there was email, I had email. I was using Multiplan and WordStar, back in the DOS days.” Call her an O.G. — Original Geek. Bruning finds it funny that seniors are almost always portrayed in the media as technologically inept Luddites, unable to find Facebook on the Internet because they don't know whether to type one word or two. Given that Bruning's generation were actucally the first adopters of the PC and the Internet — not to mention color TV and cordless phone — it shouldn't be surprising that at least some of them have maintained their passion for techy innovations. |
| April 19, 2011 | The New “Social Gamers” (Healthy Baby Boomers Network) Today’s blog features a guest article written by Michelle Kaplan, co-founder of Winster.com, a social gaming site geared toward older adults who enjoy playing online games, making meaningful friendships and winning real prizes. Winster.com offers companionship, positive social interaction. |
| April 16, 2011 | Anita Finley Radio Interview with Michelle Kaplan about Winster, Social Gaming and Virtual Friendships (WSBR 740AM) WSBR Radio host, Anita Finely, interviews co-founder of social gaming site Winster, Michelle Kaplan, about how the concept for the social gaming site developed. Michelle shares real stories from players who overcame personal challenges or health problems thanks to the friendships and emotional support provided by the social gaming community. Part 1: What is Winster? Part 2: The Power of Virtual Friendships Part 3: What's Next for Winster? |
| April 5, 2011 | Winster.com: A Social Gaming Site for Female Baby Boomers and Seniors (Sexy Social Media) There are 3 important demographic trends happening in the United States. First, the baby boomer generation is about to retire and exit the workforce, which will increase its available free time for leisure. Second, aging Americans are taking a deep interest in ways to overcome health and mobility barriers that prevent them from socializing with others. Third, aging Americans want to socialize in non-competitive environments. They literally just want to chill out and relax. Winster is a social gaming site that is addressing these 3 demographic trends. |
| April 1, 2011 | Baby Boomers Get Connected with Social Media (Idaconcpts) As social media networks have been assimilated by younger generations, it was only a matter of time until older generations would catch up. From the table above, it can be clearly seen that there is little room for growth for social media in the Millenial and Generation X age groups. However, there is a lot of room for penetration in the Baby Boomer and Mature demographics. What causes the adoption of social media networks by older generations? Here are 2 potential causes. Click here for full article |
| March 2011 | Seniors: The New “Social Gamers” (Prime Life Circuit, page 16) Social media sites have been a long time favorite among the younger generations, but now senior citizens are taking a deep interest and companies are starting to take notice on the demand and coming up with sites specifically to address their social needs. |
| March 2011 | The Power of Virtual Friendships and More (Boomer Times and Senior Life) Just recently I came across a very fun and exciting website that can be the answer for people who like to play games, win prizes and make new friends in a safe environment without ever leaving their computers? Winster.com. We could describe it as a unique version of Facebook, however, it appeals largely to the over 50 population who oftentimes have different desires and needs. |
| March 3, 2011 | All Mommies Like to Play Online Games, Right? (One Bored Mommy Blogspot) Online games can be habit forming! Admit it, you’ve played Bejeweled before, right? What about Solitaire? Poker maybe? Perhaps you have a lust for the slots? I was introduced to a lady on Twitter (@Winnie_Winster) who actually owns a site that is made for women just like us! It's not only a gaming site, but it's a community...where you can work together with your ONLINE FRIENDS to reach goals and win stuff! AWESOME, right? |
| March 3, 2011 | GDC 2011: Game Developers Focus on New Baby Boomer Casual Gamers
(GamerLive.TV) One of the driving themes at GDC 2011 is the growth of casual games beyond the traditional gaming audience. Today, nearly half (46 percent) of social gamers are at least 50 years old and dominated by women, according to recent social gaming research from casual game developer Popcap Games. |
| February 16, 2011 | CEO Roundtable: How do you Innovate?
(Business News Daily) Jerry Kaplan, CEO, Winster, Inc.: In business, as in nature, the pressure to innovate comes from competition. But innovative thinking is a double-edged sword. Chasing the latest, greatest idea can lead to chaos in an organization. Employees need to have confidence in your business direction, and approach Monday morning without fear that they will be redeployed toward some new and unfamiliar priorities. This is why some of the most creative and prolific innovators are the worst managers. |
| February 9, 2011 | Winster.com: A Happy Place (Discussion Exchange) A happy place would be peace in the world don’t you think? The number one question always has been why can’t there be peace in the world, why can’t we all just get along, well that as been a question for me and I have always been on the search trying to figure out why the world can’t get along and how can the world get along, then just recently when I came across this website it hit me, but before I go on I have to point out that you have to go check out this site to know what I am talking about because what I am going to tell you will make you scratch your heads and some may even say, “Yeah right.” Ok, here goes... |
| January 23, 2011 | Online Friends Provide Emotional Support (Boomer Nation Radio, Part 3) Can online friends provide emotional support? Can these virtual friendships transform into meaningful offline relationships? Michelle Kaplan, Co-founder of Winster.com, shares some touching, heartfelt stories with Talk Radio Show Host, Terri Benincasa, about how the online community at Winster has provided emotional support for one other (virtual friends) during the most critical times. These virtual friendships have exceeded everyone’s expectations. |
| January 16, 2011 | Social Gaming Etiquette (Boomer Nation Radio, Part 2) The social gaming industry is growing like wildfire, which is why it's probably a good idea to understand some basic online etiquette before engaging in a new online community. Michelle Kaplan, Co-founder of Winster.com, shares some important social gaming etiquette tips with WGUL Talk Radio Show Host, Terri Benincasa. What are some of the Do's and Don'ts of online gaming? Click on the link above to listen to the show and find out if you are in-the-know or don't have a clue. |
| January 9, 2011 | Why are Social Games a Terrific Site for Boomers? (Boomer Nation Radio, Part 1) WGUL Talk Radio Show Host, Terri Benincasa, invites expert guest, Michelle Kaplan, Co-founder of Winster.com, a unique social gaming community where people collaborate, develop trust and build meaningful relationships, to talk about why social gaming is an ideal site for Baby Boomers. |
| January 1, 2011 | Seniors: The New “Social Gamers” (Elder Update - page 20) Seniors are paving the way for the next generation of social gaming sites. Many enjoy playing multi-player games in real time, making new friends and winning prizes on sites like Winster.com. Social media sites including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have been a long-time favorite among the younger generations, but now seniors are taking a deep interest. Companies are starting to take notice of the demand and are coming up with niche sites specifically to address seniors' social needs. |
| December 28, 2010 | Social Networking Site Winster Attracts Older Users (AARP) A Silicon Valley social network threw Dennis Ah Yo, a San Jose, Calif. man, an emotional lifesaver during his fight with colon cancer, but it wasn't Facebook or Twitter. Ah Yo’s connection to the outside world was a social gaming site called Winster, whose membership is four-fifths female and the same proportion older than 45. |
| December 23, 2010 | Increasing Number of Boomers Playing Around on the Internet -- and it's OK (Examiner.com) If Silicon Valley is any indication, baby boomers have found a social networking site of their own. Not yet on par with Facebook, MySpace and similar social network sites, Winster has become a Boomer favorite and now sees over 2 million unique visitors to its site monthly. One of the unique design elements of the web site is its use of games to attract users. The games are designed to establish trust and positive interactions among the players who must cooperate with each other in order to win prizes. Prizes are awarded based upon the number of points earned by playing games. Players can help each other by trading tokens allowing both parties to score points faster. |
December 23, 2010 | Caregiver Learns - Take Care of Myself First (The Caregiver's Voice) My name is Judi and I am a caregiver for my 90-year-old mother who has Alzheimer?s and my 96-year-old father who is bedridden and unable to walk.* Both of my parents are incontinent and spend most of their days in a wheelchair or in bed. I am a retired Special Education teacher and have worked with physically and mentally handicapped children; however, taking care of parents is a much harder job. |
| December 23, 2010 | Social Networking Site Winster Attracts Older Users (San Jose Mercury News) When Dennis Ah Yo began fighting colon cancer two years ago, the emotional isolation of being homebound was as tough as the physical hardships of chemotherapy. A Silicon Valley social network threw the San Jose man an emotional lifesaver during that tough time, but it wasn’t Facebook or Twitter. Ah Yo’s connection to the outside world was a San Mateo-based social gaming site called Winster, whose membership is four-fifths female and the same proportion older than 45. “I could find somebody and just talk, and while we were playing the game, not be lonely anymore,” Ah Yo said. “I found that filling up a void for me.” |
| November 22, 2010 | More than one-third of people online are boomers (CBS National News) Not only are Baby Boomers the fastest growing group of social media users, they are also taking up an ever-increasing share of overall Internet usage. Boomers’ increased Internet usage is driven as much by technological developments as it is by practical needs. The Pew Project found that more than 65 percent of all Boomer Internet users had broadband in their homes in 2008, up from less than 5 percent in 2000. Boomers’ desire to stay active and vibrant has also given rise to a number of successful Internet ventures that offer brain training, so to speak. Since its 2007 launch, more than 2 million unique visitors have played games on Winster, an online social gaming site geared toward those middle-aged or older, reports the Los Angeles Times. |
| November 16, 2010 | Social gaming site Winster targets baby boomers (LA Times) Many youngsters meet new acquaintances, maybe even friends, regularly on Facebook, Twitter and a whole slew of other social-networking sites. But for baby boomers who grew up in the pre-Internet age, connecting digitally can be a strange and uncomfortable proposition. For them, there is Winster.com, an online social gaming site geared toward those middle-aged or older. |
| November 8, 2010 | Closer to freedom (Record Herald) The obstacles in Jessica Drake’s life piled up faster than she could deal with them. Her depression led to weight gain. Her weight gain led to health problems. Through small steps - eating salads, avoiding fast food, drinking Slim Fast - Drake fought her way down from 700 pounds to 475. The weight loss caused Drake to develop an apron of excess skin that made it difficult for her to live a normal life. Drake still had few friends she could confide in about her problems. Then, at random, she found an online gaming site called Winster.com. At first, the site was a simple way to enjoy her downtime at home. Quickly, though, it became something more. |
| November 7, 2010 | Winster - A new gaming site for women (Girls in Tech) Social games have gained rampant popularity among the female population within the past year. In fact, the recent 2010 Social Games Research revealed that an average American gamer is a 43-year-old woman. The link between close friendships and greater mental acuity is one indicator that people live healthier, more fulfilling lives when they have positive social interactions with others. |
| October 20, 2010 | Use of social media doubles among seniors (Charlotte Sun) Adults over age 50 may have been slow to embrace social media websites, but they're making up for it now. The popularity of social media sites and their acceptance by a wider audience have given rise to gaming websites that also provide a social connection, such as Winster.com. Michelle Kaplan co-created Winster to provide a positive online experience. Click here for full article |
| October 2010 | Seniors blossom in the golden age of social networking (The Goodlife) Life's a “twitter” for many older Americans who use social networking Web sites to stay connected to family and friends. Michelle Kaplan, founder of Winster.com, a social gaming site, says there is a need for sites geared toward more mature adults. |
| October 4, 2010 | Online gamble paid off in love (The Lowell Sun) This’ll be the story they’ll be able to tell their future grandchildren someday. Before they met, fell in love and tied the knot, Brian Robinson and Vicki Jordan — who both live in the same neighborhood in Wilmington just a half-mile away from each other — were two hardened skeptics when it came to finding love online. Click here for full article |
| September 3, 2008 | Press Release: Love Sparks Fly on Winster: New Social Gaming Community Fosters Romance Thousands of men and women are interacting and playing everyday at Winster.com, an online gaming community where players cooperate, rather than compete, to win prizes. Winster's cooperative, community-focused approach helps people live happier, healthier and more socially active lives. And now, it's even helping people find love! |
| July 23, 2008 | Press Release: Housewife Invents New Internet Game Sometimes mothers make the best inventions. If you play games over the Internet, you have lots of company. Like many women, Michelle Kaplan plays games on her home computer to relax after a long day. But somehow, the typical games she found online just didn't seem right to her. Most of them pitted players against each other to win points, status or prizes. |
| July 16, 2008 | Winnie Speaks! Interview with Michelle Kaplan on “View from the Bay” (Channel 7 ABC San Francisco)
Previous generations of women had knitting and bridge clubs, but now much of our social networking takes place on the computer. Michelle Kaplan, co-founder of Winster.com, introduces us to a new online social networking and gaming site geared toward women. |
| June 25, 2008 | Press Release: Social Gaming Site Helps Women and Seniors Engage for Better Health
Social gaming site helps women and seniors engage for better health. Gaming community creates new connections, stronger human interactions and happier, healthier lives. |
| May 10, 2008 | Winster - Where friends help friends <~Explaining a fun new site (Gather) I am just writting this to tell you my friends (and only friends, I am not posting this to any groups) about the new site I can't seem to get enough of! Some of you may already be members in which case I'd love to hear your thoughts or send you a friend request! Anyway here it goes — Winster! This is a fun great site, sort of like Netwinner only I think a lot more fun and winnable. |
| May 2, 2008 | Game Website Review: Winster.com (Associated Content) It is now commonplace for people to go onto the internet with the purpose of playing games. There are several sites available to us that cater to this very pastime, offering both free and downloadable versions of games. Recently, I stumbled on a site that was a little different — Winster.com. |
| February 12, 2008 | The future of video games
Shrewd entrepreneurs are already taking this to a new level, offering so-called “casual games” specifically targeted at an older, female audience. Winster.com, for instance, is focused on creating cooperative, social games that particularly appeal to this demographic. |
| September 02, 2007 | Winster Social Gaming Concept |
| June 17, 2007 | Babies, boomers join Web's social circle (USA Today)
Terese Hartjoy, 46, a tattoo artist and grandmother in the isolated desert country of Lucerne Valley, California, was drawn to Winster in February (shortly after it launched) because it was aimed at her age group and because of its concept that women prefer to work together rather than compete. |
| May 2, 2007 | More seniors take up “surfing” (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
Jerry Kaplan, developer of Winster.com, a social networking Web site that caters to people who play online games, said the needs and expectations of older Internet users differ from their younger counterparts. |
| March 16, 2007 | Is this the age of the online avatar? (USA Today)
“We want our site to be real,” says Jerry Kaplan, who runs Winster.com, where “mainly older women” meet and network. Some exchange photos, he writes in an e-mail. But this isn’t about fantasy lives, avatars, or other masks. |
| February 14, 2007 | Online Dating: Can Social Networks Cut In? (Internetnews.com)
Jerry Kaplan, the former CEO of Egghead and founder of Winster.com, a free social network site where singles can meet and play games with other singles, claims social network sites are more inviting to people because they are not focused only on dating. |
| February 9, 2007 | Winster! A New Game Site! |
| February 6, 2007 | Game start-up says anthropology is its guide (News.com) What were the females in your family tree doing? Probably chewing on a mastodon hide together or helping each other sort acorns. That, in part, is the theory behind Winster an online gaming start-up created by Jerry Kaplan. The site is developing games targeted at middle aged women. The games are based around the concept of reciprocal altruism. That is, rather than try to kill each other — the main purpose of several shoot-em-up games targeted at teen boys — the participants try to help each other solve puzzles or gain points. In a puzzle game, for instance, the players can swap pieces. Winster is also working on a cooperative form of poker. |
