Neopets
In 7th grade my classmates introduced me to Neopets, a game very similar to Pokemon, but one that really focused on collecting goods and earning more of the Neopian currency, Neopoints. I decided I would try my luck with Neopets once more to see what the site had evolved into. I remember not having access to multiple locations because Neopets had just begun running and the site was looking to create more mini-games and markets. The food shop and the wizards shop were always closed for renovation. Over the past few years the game steadily received growing popularity by creating PS2 games and McDonald happy meal toys. Unfortunately my old account had expired so I had to create a new account. I suppose my old pets were probably in bad shape and wanted the account deleted as opposed to sitting there unhappy in their virtual world.
Remembering my favorite Neopet in 7th grade, I picked up a yellow Shoyru and named it Seraphyr32. The game really takes care of its young players with clear directions as well as suggestions not to create more than one Neopet at the outset. It proves difficult to keep even one pet happy. I immediately noticed the large number of locations available to Neopet owners. The game has improved dramatically since the late nineties with the inclusion of 12 new lands located in the water, the desert, and even outer space. All shops are up and running and restock every few minutes. The battle domes have opened up, allowing interaction between Neopet owners. Unfortunately, I noticed a few problems with the game. The home page advertises multiplayer game play and interaction with other Neopet owners, but at the beginning the options are very limited. An owner starts off with a measly 250 Neopoints and is encouraged to earn Neopoints by playing a variety of games or simply click and refresh the Money Tree. Only then can they have enough Neopoints to purchase 3,000 Neopoint items and weapons to engage in multiplayer battle dome games.
The games section offers many different games, many of which are variations of each other. Without any weapons or skills, the only multiplayer games one can play resemble conventional board games. One example is Kacheekers, which is simply checkers with the Kacheek Neopet on the tokens. However, there is no way of talking to a Kacheeckers opponent, and the only way to communicate is through clicking a button that says “Your move.” The single player mini- games are very similar to past video games such as Galaga and Pong, but they include small changes and the use of Neopet characters. The rest test how fast you can hit the keypads or click the mouse. None of these mini- games involve multiplayer action, but they still possess some of Lazarro’s Four Keys. The games within the land of Neopia are mostly “hard fun” and “easy fun” games that ask for complete attention in order to experience Fiero, the feeling of triumph. Many of the games seem simple and easy, yet once played they present some challenge to the player. Their resemblance to past video games keeps players hooked and attracted. Frustration also comes in the form of purchasing food and items for pets, but there is a sense of satisfaction once an owner purchases a meal. The Money Tree holds various items that other users have donated. One might find strawberry jelly or a bag of Neopoints, but most everything else are “Old Rotten Shoes.” The process to getting started is extremely time- consuming and tedious. Sometimes the games can become a chore, but in the end it is worth it. This is Neopet’s way of using “hard fun.” Once enough points are gathered, a player can buy weapons to equip to their pet. Then he or she can engage in battles with other Neopets and aim to make their own pets stronger.
The Battle Dome in Neopia allows Neopet owners to pit their battles against other pets. The player sends a challenge to a known Neopet and awaits the response. Once accepted, a sword symbol appears in the top left corner of the browser. In battle, a user tells his or her pet to perform an action and it is acted out on the screen. Below that is a box in which you can type a message to the person you battle. This is the Neopian social metaphor and essentially the only way that one can communicate to other players. Seraphyr32 took on a pet named Pugogo, a Neopet that was obviously much stronger and much more experienced. It relentlessly pummeled Seraphyr32 and only allowed my Shoyru one hit. This is the most player to player interaction within the world of Neopets, but it certainly keeps a player attached to the game. Much like Pokemon, the battle dome encourages an owner to search for abilities and weapons to strengthen the Neopet and conquer opponents.
Overall, Neopets is a game that we will see for awhile. Its browser based style makes it easy for young children to play while its mini- games give the older children a variety to choices to stay entertained. Other sidequests within Neopia ask for a user to roam the world in exchange for unique prizes. The game possesses qualities that make a game popular and fun to play. The only place where it fails is having a more interactive and social environment. Neopets has lasted long because it utilizes two of the four keys that induce emotion in players, an aspect that is vital for games to stay popular. It will be interesting to see Neopets develop into a more social game in the future.