| Neopets Article | Neopets (originally NeoPets) is a virtual pet website launched by Adam Powell and Donna Williams on November 15, 1999.[1] Shortly after it was created, it was bought by Doug Dohring, who founded the Neopets, Inc. and made the website profitable. On 20 June 2005, Viacom bought Neopets, Inc. for $160 million (USD). Neopets consistently ranks as one of the top stickiest sites. Neopets is based around the eponymous virtual pets that inhabit the virtual world of Neopia. Visitors can create an account and take care of up to four virtual pets, buying them food, toys and other accessories using a virtual currency called Neopoints. Neopoints can be earned through playing games, investing in the stock market, trading and winning contests. Users can explore the world of Neopia with their Neopets and interact with each other through the NeoBoards, Neomail, and guilds. In addition to the main site, Neopets also operates a free, simpler version called Neopets Jr. for users under the age of 8 and a pay-to-play version known as Neopets Premium, which offers additional features and benefits for a monthly fee of $7.99. Several issues with the site, such as immersive advertising, gambling-based games, and hacks and glitches have garnered criticism.
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