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