Neopets

Neopets is an online virtual pet simulation game. The site was opened to the public on November 15, 1999, by Adam Powell and Donna Williams, and a majority interest was bought by Doug Dohring soon after being created. more...

Currently it is owned by Viacom after a business transaction valued at USD 160 million.

The game allows players, Neopians, to create and take care of one to four of 54 species collectively called Neopets, caring for and feeding them in the worlds of Neopia using Neopoints,(NP), the currency of the game. Neopoints are earned through playing games or won through a diverse array of contests and activities on the site. In addition, there are discussion boards, plots, and various sets of items and other things to collect. Its style contains quirks like an abundance of popular culture references. Beyond the website, there is a diversity of merchandise, such as a video game, Neopets: The Darkest Faerie, and a trading card game, and it has sparked controversies such as those surrounding the existence of gambling-themed games, its extensive use of immersive advertising, and the Scientology beliefs of the CEO, Doug Dohring.

Although the company is based in the United States, its founders are British and the site retains British English spellings (though there are some exceptions). In addition to English, as of June 2005 the site is available translated (with varying degrees of completeness) into ten other languages: Dutch, Portuguese, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Chinese-simplified, Chinese-traditional, Japanese and Korean. Neopets Inc. also operates an Asian branch, which is partially owned by Green Dot Capital, a subsidiary of the investment vehicle of the Government of Singapore, Temasek Holdings.

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