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Library/Game/Neopets
Grade B21 sourcesHIS-01327

Neopets

Game · 1999 · Notable

54Editable slideCertificate

Neopets grew through player referrals before Viacom bought the pet site for $160 million.

Trailer · Neopets on YouTube
Classic Neopets illustration with the logo
Neopets
25th-anniversary jumbo Neopets plushies
Neopets
The Void Within trailer title card
Neopets on YouTube

Spread Score

How it works
Reach52Contagion50Breadth60VelocityNo data yetLongevityNo data yet54

Numbers

Monthly unique visitors, near 12M; owner via AWN, May 2007
12M
As of May 31, 2007 · Open web · Self-reported · Animation World Network
Seed to milestone
5.6 years
Nov 15 ’99 to Jun 20 ’05
Platforms
4
Started on Open web
Origin
Seeded
Gaming

Mechanics

  • Daily ritualPrimary
  • Platform jump
  • Fandom mobilisation
  • Controversy

How it spread

Trace the origin

Neopets spread through player referrals, then toys and trading cards. Viacom bought it for $160 million, this case's commercial peak anchor. After decline and an NFT boycott, independent owners restored games and reported renewed user growth.

Documented milestone; not a measured attention peak.

Google searchesNov ’98Feb ’00Apr ’01Dec ’02Jan ’05Aug ’06Apr ’10Dec ’15Aug ’21Aug ’23May ’25MilestoneOpen webPressRetailTV
Open webPressRetailTV

12 more events on this chart

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Timeline (15)

  1. November 1999

    Adam Powell and Donna Williams seed · Nov 15 ’99

    Adam Powell and Donna Williams launched Neopets, a website for adopting and caring for virtual pets.[1][2][3]

    Open the first post ↗

  2. January 2000

    Doug Dohring commercial · Jan 2000

    Doug Dohring and his management team bought Neopets after its traffic grew through pet newsgroups.[2]

  3. November 2000

    Neopets commercial · Nov 13 ’00

    Neopets reported 4,026,177 registered accounts after its four-millionth signup over the weekend.[1]

  1. press · Mar 2001

  2. platform jump · Sep 2002

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Why it worked

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Pro opens the playbook, all 13 sourced numbers and 21 sources. Start with a free account.

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Origin
Seeded
Sector
Gaming
Region
GB
Monthly unique visitors, near 12M; owner via AWN, May 2007
12M
As of May 31, 2007 · Open web · Self-reported · Animation World Network
Evidence
Grade B

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How the next thing spread, the week it does.