naalaro Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 Why do we like neopets is a topic i saw recently and i though of giving my 2 cents about it, however, i felt i would like to engage the discussion of others here, for i think this question extremely meaningful, especially to us players. Think of this as my active "tribute" to that thread. Although i risk sounding a little too analytical: I believe neopets to be a game thats fun as it practices what i would call a cumulative reward system-that is, it allows for new players to get used to the game world, rewards them accordingly based on skill and daring resourcefulness in playing the game. It is a ssytem that is both fun and acessibel for new players,a nd keeps them hooked on the higher the cumulation increases in respect to their skill. Combine this, with the idea of a revolving world, with plots, news in real time, events, and interactions with real humans. It is a game where your actions and skill in using these actions come together in a unique fashion that is your own: what you do, how you do it, why you do it. These are all personalized styles of play in a game world that has restrictions, but is always adding in new content, constantly changing what you want, how you do things, by adding in more resource and more variations. This ability to change a palyer's goals, affect the player to think on how he wants to do something new, is a process very much like our real world lives, where our goals and schedules are always being interrupted by the infinitum of new information and variation of the world...even if most of the time we live through is of a comfortable, recognizable schedule...again very much like our time on neopets. TNT seems to make sure that there is a fine line drawn between new content, and "personal schedule", its a pretty nifty idea. The whole idea of a fantasy world much like our own, where we can physically escape to and live our online lives together with our neopet, also hits at the personal level...add in the idea of battling, customization, having the best 'chances' for your pet to stand out-develops a mental, if imaginary bond, not just to the pet, but to the overall game. I am particularly impressed with the game design of the pet factor. This is a game which, although simillar to MMORPGs, creates a living bond where citizen from another world is given under your care. Sure you could say its like an "avatar" like in MMORPGS, but the game never stops to tell you how that these arent YOUR avatars, they are people, who live their own lives while you are away, and come to be with you when you come back in to the gameworld. At the same time...like a parent, it is up to your skill and resource to improve your "social standing" through your pet...by proudly displaying them in beauty competitions and custom competitions, or competing them in the battledome where a reflection of stats and weapon quality reflects on your social status, the same as the artisitc quality and monetary quality of your customization does. Its like a parent showing off to another parent...look at how great my son is, its only because i love him so much, i would do my best for him, and only I can DO THAT because i am a great PLAYER of this game. Similar to how you advertise yourself by showing of your weapons and strength in World of Warcraft, but this time, indirectly, through someone else. Its a passive, yet powerfully addictive "avatar" system, developing your love for the game as well as love for your pet... it must had been, and still is, very original However, i do feel that this idea can be improved 10 times, more even, if TNT would allow it. I personally can come up with so many add ons, like having your pet take a more active role in what they SAY and what they DO. Its not enough for players to be reminded of their Pets being people through articles and events that take place *offscreen, but TNT should focus on how to promote that idea when players are actively *onscreen with their pet. The repetitive on screen "dialogue" your pets say to you from time to time is a poor substitute for what current age programing and technology can do. Seriously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deepti M. Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 No offense, but I think you're being too critical. Neopets is a website that you go to for fun. You should enjoy it, not try to find problems with it. I understand that you're trying to....make the site a little better technology wise. However, you are not the owner of neopets. I understand what you're saying, but then again I don't understand. I personally love neopets. Sure, it has it's faults. But since neopets is a free site, I can live with it. If I'm paying for it, maybe I'd be more...fed up with these tiny problems, but we're not. Sure, some people have premium, but it's not needed. It's optional. If you have premium, some of those little problems will be solved. If you're really finding an issue with this stuff, just e-mail the neopets team...although I'm not sure that they will change the site so that they can go toward your wants. I like how you do like neopets though. It seems that you enjoy the site, but if you were a little less critical, maybe you could enjoy the site even more. Once again, I'm sorry if I'm sounding too harsh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hrtbrk Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 I'm sure all of that 'add-on' business has been discussed but these things take time and money as we all know. With a website as large as Neopets, there's always going to be glitches and errors. Nothing is perfect and the most successful things in the world are always going to try and improve. A spot where I think they've tried, but have failed with pet interaction, is PetPet Park. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naalaro Posted June 25, 2009 Author Share Posted June 25, 2009 No offense, but I think you're being too critical. Neopets is a website that you go to for fun. You should enjoy it, not try to find problems with it. I understand that you're trying to....make the site a little better technology wise. However, you are not the owner of neopets. I understand what you're saying, but then again I don't understand. I personally love neopets. Sure, it has it's faults. But since neopets is a free site, I can live with it. If I'm paying for it, maybe I'd be more...fed up with these tiny problems, but we're not. Sure, some people have premium, but it's not needed. It's optional. If you have premium, some of those little problems will be solved. If you're really finding an issue with this stuff, just e-mail the neopets team...although I'm not sure that they will change the site so that they can go toward your wants. I like how you do like neopets though. It seems that you enjoy the site, but if you were a little less critical, maybe you could enjoy the site even more. Once again, I'm sorry if I'm sounding too harsh. I love neopets. The reason why i analyze and be critical is that i do that to all games i play. I am a student studying the crative industries, and aspire to be a game designer and creative artist. Of all the games i have played, i consider neopets among the "masterpieces" of the internet age, more so than recent games like world of warcraft etc. I know to some people, being critical to something you love seems counter intuitive, not to me, and im sure, not to the creative realms. The more i lvoe something, the more i get critical of it because everything can be continuously improved. I know this is not my site, it is not my legacy, but just as people can wish, i can analyse and critique. One day perhaps, i may just get the chance to work for TNT *starry eyes* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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