Neopets is not just another "browser pet". It combines the basics of online virtual pets -- feeding, entertaining, clothing and educating your pet -- with a role-playing aspect, allowing you to trade items with others, open up a shop selling items, etc. As well, it is still in development, and many new features are being added. When I first joined Neopets, you really couldn't do much with your pets other than play with them and buy them items. Since then, however, they've developed many ways for you to train your pet and give it neat Pokemon-esque abilities, and plans for an arena in which you can battle your Neopets are in development. The staff at Neopets encourage users/players to submit their ideas for new features and new Neopets, so this game is perfect for creative types.

Platform and History

NeoPets requires Internet Explorer 3.0 or higher, or Netscape 3.0 or higher.

Neopets uses both Java and Flash, so it may not work with all browsers.

Gameplay and Level of Interactivity

As mentioned above, you need to buy your Neopets items such as food, clothing, books, videos, etc... the list is endless, as new features and things-that-your-pet-absolutely-needs are constantly being developed. (Hey, just like in real life! hurrah for capitalism!)

The cost of the items depends on the rarity of the items... if you buy them from an Official Store, you may be able to barter yourself a discount. (They used to have HORRIBLE racist stereotypes as the "shopkeepers", but since then they've replaced those images with cute little Neopet-shopkeepers.) However, if you tick off a store owner, they may not let you buy anything at all.

If you buy them from another player's shop, you have to pay the player however much they're asking for. Some unscrupulous players overcharge on their stock, so it's a good idea to use the Shopping Wizard to find the best prices for what you're looking for... especially if you're on the lookout for the ability-granting Spell Fairies (you can either buy them from shops, or win them in the Scorchy Slots game.)

All of this is very costly in NeoPoints, the local currency. You get a few NeoPoints per day for being a member, but it's hardly enough to buy all the stuff that your pet needs. The folks at Neopets have been kind enough to give players a multitude of ways to earn NeoPoints... you can make a significant contribution to the game by suggesting new functions, you can design a new Neopet or a new section of the Neopet World Map, you can submit your creative works to the weekly magazine "The Neopian Times", and of course you can set up your very own shop. Many of the gambling games in the Games section will give you a chance to earn NeoPoints, as well as entertain your pet... however, if you're not careful you can end up quite a bit in debt!

Extra Stuff

Neopets encourages players to build a community of their own. Each pet gets its own customizable website, and you also get a little instant-message/e-mail account where you can communicate with other logged-in players. The addition of Guilds also allows you to make new friends or allies in your quest to make your NeoPet the toughest, smartest, most magical of all!

Recently, a Hotel has also been added, which I assume allows you to essentially put pets in Deep Freeze... but at a cost.

On the humanitarian side of things, the Soup Faerie in the Shops area gives you an endless supply of soup for free, provided that you have little or no money. You can also find donated items or money under the Money Tree... however, some of these donations are from the evil spirits who will periodically steal NeoPoints and items from your own inventory. You have been warned.

Overall Rating

Neopets is an intense game... the good news is that it's difficult to get bored, as there are a variety of games that you can play on the website. On the other hand, if you're not very good at games (like me) it's easy to lose all your NeoPoints and end up in the red. Neopets requires a certain amount of commitment; if you can't log in for several days, you may find your pets starving or dying. Unlike BLIPZ, this is a high-maintenance, high- interactivity virtual pet.

Another negative aspect is that some of the main menus are now spiffier-looking, but are Flash- animated. This allows neat little information-things to pop up as you move your mouse over certain hotspots; it also slows down everything if your computer or internet connection isn't exactly the best.

Neopets has the potential to be a fun virtual pet and online community. The amount of free services that Neopets gives is nothing short of amazing, and is probably well-suited to beginning webmasters who want an easy-to-edit template. There is a minor problem of corruption among the storekeepers (note: NOBODY should have to pay over 600 NeoPoints for a packet of N&Ns.), but hopefully the Guild system will take care of those trouble-makers. I give Neopets a rating for B+ for Very Good, or about 8 stars out of 10.

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