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