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