School’s out, and you find yourself patiently waiting for your family computer’s slow Internet Explorer to load. The year is sometime in the mid-2000s, and your destination is none other than the beloved Neopets.com.
Ever since its launch in 1999, Neopets has provided a virtual home for millions of internet users. It offered the opportunity to take care of virtual pets, play games, and spend virtual currency. For many kids growing up in the ’90s and 2000s, Neopets was their first introduction to online gaming. However, its heyday was nearly two decades ago, with a reported 25 million users worldwide in 2005. Over time, the number of active users has dwindled, and unresolved glitches have plagued the remaining fan base. The discontinuation of Flash in 2020, on which many of the site’s features relied, created further challenges. Even a brief venture into cryptocurrency couldn’t save the site.
But now, Neopets is unveiling bold plans for its relaunch. The company aims to bring Neopets back to its glory days following a change in ownership and a $4 million investment earlier this year. In their blog post, the company states, “We want to bring Neopets back to its glory days.” The relaunch includes a new homepage set to go live on Thursday, along with new games and storylines starting on Tuesday.
So, how does Neopets work? Users can choose from a variety of dewy-eyed, mythic Neopets to adopt as their own. They can explore the vibrant 2-D world of Neopia through their pets’ eyes and engage in mini puzzles along the way. Users can also personalize their Neohome with a 2000s aesthetic and ensure their pets are well-nourished with slices from an infinite omelet. Neopets can even adopt their own pets, known as Petpets. The possibilities are endless.
Over the years, Neopets has changed hands multiple times, and unfortunately, the number of active users has decreased to 100,000 per day in 2020 when Flash ceased to function. This financial loss has prevented the developers from improving and fixing the site’s issues. However, the new leadership is committed to a Neopian renaissance. They plan to focus on reviving the popular minigames, which previously relied on Flash. The team has also nixed plans to integrate cryptocurrency or NFTs into the game. In addition to these changes, users can look forward to a new mobile game called “World of Neopets,” described as a social life-simulation game that allows players to live their ideal Neopian life from a Neopet’s perspective.
The Neopets team expressed their excitement for the future, stating, “This magical community deserves to thrive, not just survive.” They mentioned hiring new developers and artists to address the site’s issues, promising meaningful changes and a Neopian renaissance. Neopets enthusiasts like Joseph Miller, a 25-year-old student, remain cautiously optimistic but believe that critical features requested by the community must be addressed without a drastic overhaul of the site.
Miller fondly refers to Neopets as the original social media platform, being one of the first platforms to cater to a younger audience, complete with an online community forum. He appreciates the welcoming and genuine community on Neopets, which he finds lacking on many social media sites today. Miller cherishes the nostalgia and familiarity of the site, considering the longstanding users as a small township.
Alexandra Kane, another active Neopets user, is beyond excited about the relaunch. Adopting her first Neopet in middle school using a library computer, she has since cared for around 20 virtual pets. Kane believes that Neopets not only serves as a game site with virtual pets but also as a time capsule of the early 2000s and early internet culture. She sees it as a snapshot of her youth and the world at that time, and believes people still enjoy the nostalgia and lore that was created back in the day.
In summary, Neopets is making a comeback with a relaunch aimed at recapturing its past glory. With new leadership, fresh funding, and a commitment to addressing site issues, Neopets aims to create a vibrant community and revive beloved features of the game. Users can’t wait to dive back into the nostalgia and create their ideal Neopian lives once again.
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