| If you haven't heard of Neopets than I have | | | | coined its money-making model as 'immersive |
| to seriously wonder what planet you come | | | | advertising'. The content of the experience |
| from, you definitely don't hail from Neopia. | | | | is no longer separate from commercialism. |
| is one of the most popular sites on the whole | | | | You've heard of product placement, well this |
| Internet, and what does this mean to you and | | | | is another whole step forward, or backward |
| me? It's a kid's site. Our next generation is | | | | from that older model. I went inside the game |
| finding a home in virtual reality, and they | | | | section of the website (after choosing a |
| love it. Neopets has over 70 million members | | | | species of pet: A Jubjub, then naming it, |
| from Timbuktu to Kalamazoo, and has had a | | | | choosing its color, and rolling to get its |
| total of over 300 billion website page views. | | | | characteristics.) and then had a look at the |
| According to Wired magazine's Dec. 2005 | | | | 160 possible games for me to enjoy. I decided |
| edition, Neopets is the second most 'sticky' | | | | to play the McDonalds Secret Image Game. |
| website on the whole of our planet's World | | | | There's nothing secret about what the |
| Wide Web. Average users are on the site | | | | suit-and-tie guys are trying to pull off |
| around 6 hours a month...with so many members | | | | here. All my favorite Happy Meal characters |
| the mind boggles as to how much time our | | | | were being portrayed in pictures that slowly |
| future generations are spending time with | | | | gained more and more focus. If you could tell |
| their virtual pets. What is a virtual pet | | | | that the Hamburglar was dancing, you scored |
| anyway? Why does every kid on the Earth want | | | | points. In the Wired article author David |
| one? What do you do with them once they're in | | | | Kushner quotes James McNeal a professor in |
| your custody?Things have changed since I was | | | | marketing who said, "It is not until around 8 |
| a youngster and that wasn't too long ago let | | | | years old that they (children) can mentally |
| me tell you. I played video games, rode BMX | | | | defend against a persuasive sales message if |
| bicycles, and even 'toilet papered' the | | | | they wish to.'The balance of the Universe is |
| occasional house or two-usually the girls we | | | | always in play and this is another case where |
| liked (this last activity wasn't as socially | | | | both positive and negative possibilities stem |
| productive as the former). Virtual reality | | | | from a new creation in human culture. Kids |
| hadn't hit the main stage like it has today; | | | | love Neopets. My Jubjub named Dogstarmaster |
| computers themselves in my mind were for | | | | looks pretty cool. I don't know how I am |
| finding out stuff at school. No one knew what | | | | going to get defensive armor for him, nor why |
| the Internet was when I was ten years old | | | | I need it, but I guess that's all part of the |
| back in 1985. Now all the kids are playing | | | | Neopet journey. Let your kids enjoy, learn |
| games and participating in other activities | | | | and make friends with the other animals. Just |
| online in order to gain more points which | | | | be careful, they might end up becoming stock |
| enhance their pet's skills and talents. | | | | brokers...and watch out they don't eat too |
| Sounds weird, doesn't it? It's not weird to | | | | many cheeseburgers. There's no use having a |
| the little humans of the future.Neopia is a | | | | virtual pet that is super healthy and strong, |
| strange world, and I've only just begun to | | | | while the child owner is sick and obese.This |
| scratch the surface. As far as I can tell, | | | | article has an accompanying animation that |
| you can create a virtual shop to sell items, | | | | can be viewed at |
| or go to other's shops and make purchases | | | | |
| using your points (gained through all the | | | | Jesse S. Somer |
| pet's experiences). For example, I went to a | | | | |
| marketplace, clicked my mouse on the music | | | | |
| section and was told that I could buy a | | | | |
| 'Chomby and the Fungus Balls' T-shirt for | | | | Jesse S. Somer and Dogstarmaster plan to |
| only 1,588 neopoints, and that there were | | | | take over Krawk Island. Once we've achieved |
| currently 7 of the product in stock. I guess | | | | domination we will hold a huge concert |
| it's cool to buy your pet neat things...I | | | | starring the legendary Chomby and the Fungus |
| don't know if I understand it but I think | | | | Balls. |
| it's a huge phenomenon...there's even a stock | | | | |
| market called the Neodaq index! Talk about | | | | Jesse S. Somer is a creative writer working |
| getting the children prepared for the future. | | | | at M6.Net: 'The web-hosting company for |
| One has to wonder how all this will affect | | | | humans.' M6.Net is working hard to help |
| society when our kids finally do grow up. | | | | humanity experience the power and freedom to |
| That's another point of contention. Where | | | | develop their own part of the Internet, to |
| there's action, there's usually an adult | | | | share their information and connect with |
| trying to make a buck out of it, and this | | | | anyone, anywhere, anytime. |
| site is definitely no exception.Neopets have | | | | |