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