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