Neopets is a fun website for kids that was created in 1997 and launched in November 1999 by an independent web designer and a marketing specialist. Viacom currently owns the website in association with Nickelodeon. The website is aimed at children from age 6 to 16. The foundation of the site is the member’s ability to adopt and take care of a virtual pet. Pets can be cute and cuddly non-threatening animated animals or obscure-looking aliens and monsters.
Neopets features an abundance of advertising which accounts for a lot of the revenue. Other revenue generating practices include a pay-to-play feature that allows players to access all premium features for $7.99 per month; and a well-stocked and branded merchandise store that allows players to buy physical items related to the website. Children can join the website and play for free; however, they are unable to access premium features.
Features
Neopets is set in the fantasy world of Neopia, which has its own time zone, calendar and currency called the Neopoint. Members will soon discover that making money is the main focus of the game, which is why the world has its own stock market. New members of Neopets adopt a virtual pet to begin the game. Users are allowed to adopt and care for multiple pets – however only one pet qualifies the user to accumulate Neopoints. Users take care of their pets by solving puzzles and playing games. Games allow players to earn Neopoints. In order to properly care for their pets, players buy them food, clothing, shelter and household items. If a player doesn’t properly take care of their pet, it doesn’t die – it simply falls ill.
Members are able to interact with their pets; play games; send their pets on missions; or train them to battle other pets. As with most other virtual worlds, members also have the ability to chat about their pets with other members in a social chat room, post messages in a forum and make friends with other owners. Site content is updated almost daily with different games. Users are also allowed to upload submissions to the Neopets online newspaper ‘The Neopian Times’. These submissions are prescreened before they are posted.
What’s Good
Neopets is a fairly innocent-looking website that will appeal mainly to girls age 8 and up who are interested in nurturing and making friends. Most of the pets that players adopt are non-threatening. Most of the facial expressions are kind and friendly. There are absolutely no adult themes in the game or on the website. There is no drinking, smoking, drug use, sex or offensive language. The only violence that can occur happens when pets are engaged in Battledome; but even here there is no blood or gore – only sparring. Neopets offers children the opportunity to care for and nurture a virtual pet. Children will learn the basics of what it takes to be responsible – not only with a pet, but with money.
What’s Bad
Neopets is a very busy website. There is always something moving, blinking, fading, popping or zooming. This is very distracting. Although the advertisements have something to do with this, most of the fault lies with how the website is programmed. All of these boxes and pictures changing every few seconds cause viewers to become indecisive and it’s a bit confusing.
The high level of advertising on Neopets is cause for a lot of concern. It is clear that a marketing expert was in on the design of this website. Hiding a dollar sign behind cutesy images aimed at children is low. Causing children to become massively addicted to consumerism in times when the opposite should be the case shows that the value of money is more important than a social conscious. This doesn’t even take into account the merchandise that children could be swayed into buying on the website’s shopping mall. Parents need to keep a lock on their wallets and purses.
Online Safety
Neopets has done an above-average job of promoting online safety. Although the site collects personal data, it discourages unacceptable behavior and silences those users who have broken the terms and conditions of membership. Moderators known as The Neopets Team (TNT) are active and plentiful on the website, forums and chat. The site requires the parents of children age 13 and over who wish to participate in forums to fax in a signed consent form.
The Summary
Target Demography:
Younger players will like the pets; older players will like playing with financial rewards.
Graphics: B-
Overall well-done; however, website is way too busy.
Educational Value: A-
Players learn about nurturing and money, though high advertising is troubling.
Entertainment Value: A
Constantly changing games and content will keep kids entertained.
Price:
$7.99/month for premium features; otherwise, good value for a free membership.
Visit NeoPets at www.neopets.com.
The above NeoPets review was written by a responsible parent and media professional who believes that child safety on the internet must be observed as a top priority. Contact us if you would like your virtual world reviewed too.
I think there should be a chat(an immapropret one)there should only be 10 aloud in 1 chat.if there are innapropret people there they will be kicked out for a week.
love, Alice
Who know all answers in ww sent on maxivanec@gmail.com ok??
i love your website . it is my favorite website to play games on