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NeopetsNeopets (formerly known as NeoPets) is a popular online virtual pet simulation game. The creators of the site are Adam Powell and Donna Williams, but the company was bought by Doug Dohring soon after being created. Neopets started out as a site for bored college students but quickly grew into a children's site, and is currently one of the most popular mainstream sites ever. Users ("Neopians") have to care for their Neopets by feeding and playing with them. Users can also play games to earn Neopoints, (NP), Neopian currency that can be used to purchase items that interact with their Neopets.
Account basics
After creating an account, Neopians can have up to 4 different pets. There are 47 different Neopet species, with most being fictionalized versions of real animals. For example, the Nimmo is a stylized frog, the Blumaroo is kangaroo-like, and the Chia is gopher-like. There are also Neopets versions of popular fantasy creatures, such as dragons. Users can customize their pets by selecting gender, color, (choice of red, blue, yellow, or green) and name (provided another user hasn't already chosen the name).
Neopets grow older, and must be fed and played with from day to day to stay happy. There are many stages of hunger, starting from "bloated" to "dying". Neopets will never die, or starve to death. So, if your neopet's hunger status says "dying", it is okay. They can also read books and battle each other Pokémon-style. Neglecting your Neopet will result in their unhappiness, and they will be unwilling to follow commands, but Neopets never die. Neopians can give their pets a different colour past the basic choices, such as purple and grey, if they purchase a Paintbrush.
Neopians gain the Neopoints to care for their pets and purchase items by playing games. Many of the games are interactive Flash or Shockwave games similar to older games -- "Meerca Chase" is very similar to Snake while "Korbat's Lab" is like Arkanoid. There are also numerous PHP games, such as "NeoQuest" and "Pyramids." Items are then purchased in either main shops, which are automatically restocked by the game, or in user-owned shops.
Environment
The entire game takes place on the fictional planet of Neopia. The main world is Neopia Central, a city where the main stores are based out of. There are also different themed worlds: "Tyrannia" (prehistoric), "Faerieland" (faries), "Mystery Island" (Polynesian), "Haunted Forest" (Halloween), "Krawk Island" (pirates), "Lost Desert" (Egyptian), "Terror Mountain" (winter/Christmas), "Jelly World" (jelly), "Virtupets Space Station" (UFO), "Kreludor" (moon), and "Meridell" (medieval). There are also mini worlds and sub-worlds. Each of these worlds has unique shops, games, and activities pertaining to its theme.
These worlds are generally introduced through in-game plots. For example, a former world, "Maraqua" (underwater), was destroyed by the Krawk Island pirates, which lead to the "discovery" of Krawk Island.
Interaction
Once a Neopian becomes comfortable with the basics, they can begin spending their Neopoints on items beyond caring for their pets.
Every Neopian can have a shop, "Neodeck," and "Neohome." Players can buy items from other players' shops or sell them in their own shop. Items to sell in stores can be bought from the official stores or from other players, "found" through a random event, won in an auction, or traded for. Neodecks hold virtual trading cards. Neohomes can be bought for a certain number of Neopoints for each room. Furniture can be placed in the Neohomes, and extensions (lights, insurance, etc.) can be bought.
Any Neopian can join or create a "guild," essentially a club for users. These usually have a theme, such as the "Faerie Guild" or the "Nimmo Lovers Guild." There are message boards inside of the guilds, only accessible to members of that guild.
Part of the reason why Neopets is so popular is that it is continually changing: new items, games, plots, etc. are introduced every day. The ability to amass large amounts of Neopoints and rare items is a challenge for competitive people.
As of May 2004 Neopia is inhabited by over 77 million users, and over 114 million pets. Updated statistics may be found on the Neopets 'World' Page.
Neopets has branched out, and in addition to the website, it now also produces a range of merchandise, such as plushies, stickers and hand-held video games. In September 2003 Neopets released a trading card game produced by Wizards of the Coast.
See also
Fansites and fanpages
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Neopets Trading Card Game
Official TCG site from Wizards of the Coast. Contains quick play and instruction rules, strategy guide, rules of play, and product information.
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=neopets
NeoNewsNow - Trading Card Game
Contains playmat and full rules, exact starter set contents, FAQ, term glossary, checklist, and card database.
http://www.neonewsnow.com/index.php?section=tcg&page=
Neopets Invade Gen Con
Explains contents of packaged sets and approximate pricing.
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=company/pr/20030724a
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