News article that *doesn't* slam Neopets
Mon Dec 06, 2004 9:54 am
In Sunday's USA Weekend (a Sunday magazine/tab thing that local papers owned by Gannet include), and on usaweekend.com, is this:
You've never had pets like these!
First you could read your newspaper online, then get your groceries. Now it's pets -- scurrying around the Internet, wagging their tails, just waiting to be "adopted."
Plenty of virtual pets, like hamsters (maniform.com/stuff/hamster.htm) and dogs (virtualdog.com), are available for adoption online. But A.I. pets can't be more fun than their real-life counterparts, right?
Not so fast. Enter sites like neopets.com. At first glance, the casual observer might wonder about the appeal of these wide-eyed, brightly colored creatures. But it takes only half an hour at Neopets, registering and playing, to get attached. Web-savvy, game-loving kids are eating it up.
There are more than 48 species in "Neopia," and thousands of activities. You can buy pet food, play some 160 games or invest in the Neodaq.
It's entertaining, easy to navigate and even educational. One of the best things about virtual pets is that they teach kids about things like managing money and being part of a community.
At Power Pets (powerpets.com), registered users can adopt up to four pets from 30 species, travel through New Barkston and earn "power bucks" along the way, or open shops, write stories and rescue "minis" (animals deformed by the evil Padam's experiments). Power Pets has a strong underlying social message about animal testing, and the pets are modeled on the real thing, so this site caters to an older audience.
All this is to say -- Sorry, Spot: Fuzzy as you are, you'd better start learning some new tricks.
-- Jen Weiss
The print version included pictures of a Grundo and (old style) Koi.
You've never had pets like these!
First you could read your newspaper online, then get your groceries. Now it's pets -- scurrying around the Internet, wagging their tails, just waiting to be "adopted."
Plenty of virtual pets, like hamsters (maniform.com/stuff/hamster.htm) and dogs (virtualdog.com), are available for adoption online. But A.I. pets can't be more fun than their real-life counterparts, right?
Not so fast. Enter sites like neopets.com. At first glance, the casual observer might wonder about the appeal of these wide-eyed, brightly colored creatures. But it takes only half an hour at Neopets, registering and playing, to get attached. Web-savvy, game-loving kids are eating it up.
There are more than 48 species in "Neopia," and thousands of activities. You can buy pet food, play some 160 games or invest in the Neodaq.
It's entertaining, easy to navigate and even educational. One of the best things about virtual pets is that they teach kids about things like managing money and being part of a community.
At Power Pets (powerpets.com), registered users can adopt up to four pets from 30 species, travel through New Barkston and earn "power bucks" along the way, or open shops, write stories and rescue "minis" (animals deformed by the evil Padam's experiments). Power Pets has a strong underlying social message about animal testing, and the pets are modeled on the real thing, so this site caters to an older audience.
All this is to say -- Sorry, Spot: Fuzzy as you are, you'd better start learning some new tricks.
-- Jen Weiss
The print version included pictures of a Grundo and (old style) Koi.
Mon Dec 06, 2004 9:58 am
Wow thats great!! Its about time we had an honest article about neo, although I would have prefferred it if it went into a little more detail about the site, but hey good news is good news!!:)
Mon Dec 06, 2004 10:30 am
It's great that a reporter actually researched before they made any assumptions about the website.
Mon Dec 06, 2004 11:22 am
Pretty good, though I don't like the implication that virtual pets are becoming "better" than real live ones. No matter how much time I invest in Neopets, I'll never care about them more than my real dog or kitty (or fish, or hedgehog, or hamster).
But at least it didn't bash Neo, which is always a nice change from most articles.
But at least it didn't bash Neo, which is always a nice change from most articles.
Mon Dec 06, 2004 2:16 pm
Erin wrote:Pretty good, though I don't like the implication that virtual pets are becoming "better" than real live ones. No matter how much time I invest in Neopets, I'll never care about them more than my real dog or kitty (or fish, or hedgehog, or hamster).
But at least it didn't bash Neo, which is always a nice change from most articles.
Hehe, me too! -pats kittie on head-
Mon Dec 06, 2004 5:58 pm
I think virtual pets compete with video games and television more than anythign else in my life. But my Tv is a pet, it follows me into every room! *poking fun at myself*
Sounds like the researcher of that article spent a bit of time playing the sites, and may have become a Neoaddict!
(with the hopes that nobody is offended with tthe term Neoaddict)
Sounds like the researcher of that article spent a bit of time playing the sites, and may have become a Neoaddict!
(with the hopes that nobody is offended with tthe term Neoaddict)
Mon Dec 06, 2004 7:39 pm
Jens wrote:meh... real pets, neopets, nothing can beat nintendogs!
that is so bizarre! thanks, but i'll take my golden retriever over that any day 
Mon Dec 06, 2004 9:24 pm
Was anyone else suprised that Powerpets was mentioned? This meaning that I didn't think they were that popular.
Mon Dec 06, 2004 10:04 pm
It doesn't slam Neopets but it does give PowerPets as a close competitor. I wonder *just wonder* if PowerPets may become dominent because it lets users make *multipule* shops on 1 account. Neopets better start getting ready defend their title as #1 
Mon Dec 06, 2004 10:16 pm
I've never seen an article about Neopets that doesn't include ignorant parents having kittens over "immersive advertising". This was a nice change. ^_^
Mon Dec 06, 2004 10:51 pm
I think for people who are unable to have pets, or if a kid wants to have a pet but doesn't understand what goes into caring for one- a virtual pet is the best way to go. If the kid can't remember to feed their virtual pet, play ith it, etc, it might not be best to let them have a real one.
I still love all of my pets (at parents' house) and my Neopets. =)
I still love all of my pets (at parents' house) and my Neopets. =)
Mon Dec 06, 2004 10:58 pm
I think its also great for people with real pet allergies... tell me, are you allergic to a pixel? No? Great!
Mon Dec 06, 2004 11:09 pm
*claps* Thanks to the person who wrote that article! A breath of fresh air from all the lies and misleading rumors. 
Mon Dec 06, 2004 11:10 pm
Ammer wrote:Was anyone else suprised that Powerpets was mentioned? This meaning that I didn't think they were that popular.
I was surprised too. I actually read the line where I mentioned it twice just to make sure. Honestly, I didn't think many people were into PowerPets. I guess I've been a bit slow on the hip n' hapenning.
Boy do I feel old...and I'm only in high school.
Though it was a nice article. It didn't go into detail too much, but that made you more curious. I'm sure it lurred many players onto the site.