Thu Feb 24, 2005 3:36 am
Online ads contribute 60% of Neopets' annual revenue, which is in the "eight figures," says Doug Dohring
"We're low on money and needed to put on more ads" indeed...
Neopets that are left unfed don't die; they just become withered.
Haha, what a picture that brings to the mind
Thu Feb 24, 2005 4:07 am
It's nice to get a little more information on where their revenue comes from. 60% from advertising, huh? I wonder how much of that 60% is from immersive advertising and how much is from banner ads.
I agree that a movie would be total overkill. That would ruin the site. It's overexposure. We all know it; why can't Dohring see it?
That last paragraph... not cool.
I agree that a movie would be total overkill. That would ruin the site. It's overexposure. We all know it; why can't Dohring see it?
That last paragraph... not cool.
Thu Feb 24, 2005 4:44 am
Cranberry wrote:That last paragraph... not cool.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology - It all seems to make sense now...
Interesting, nonetheless, to know.
Thu Feb 24, 2005 4:56 am
It is pretty interesting. One of my friends did extensive research into Scientologists during grad school. Some of the things they've done to keep their secrets from the public are not pretty (they've ruined people's careers and lives). As for the religion itself... well, it was founded by a science fiction writer. Make of that what you will.
I don't want to derail the thread, so... back on topic. Maybe a bunch of us should write to this Wall Street Journal reporter and let him know what's really going on with advertising at Neopets, and how angered the players are by it all.
I don't want to derail the thread, so... back on topic. Maybe a bunch of us should write to this Wall Street Journal reporter and let him know what's really going on with advertising at Neopets, and how angered the players are by it all.
Thu Feb 24, 2005 5:24 am
Ehh, all I can think about now is the movie and the scientology thing. I can't figure out which is scarier. o.o
hmm... for some reason, the wikipedia page won't load...
But I know the whole story anyway, perhaps even more. Which is why I'm so horribly frightened now. (In Mythology, for our last report, we were allowed to chose our own subject and this guy chose this thing about Hubbard and several of his aquantinces(sp) who started even more bizarre cults of their own. And that's not the half of it. o.o )
Meep. o___o
hmm... for some reason, the wikipedia page won't load...
But I know the whole story anyway, perhaps even more. Which is why I'm so horribly frightened now. (In Mythology, for our last report, we were allowed to chose our own subject and this guy chose this thing about Hubbard and several of his aquantinces(sp) who started even more bizarre cults of their own. And that's not the half of it. o.o )
Meep. o___o
Thu Feb 24, 2005 5:54 am
I just wrote a long letter about our dissatisfaction with the ads to the WSJ reporter. I don't know if he'll even respond, but... eh. It killed some time, and it allowed me to do some research, which is fun.
Thu Feb 24, 2005 5:59 am
(Most Neopets users are under 18, but there is a sizable adult audience.)
Gee, I am hurt. I hate getting nothing more than one sentence--and in parantheses, nonetheless. It makes us adult players seem like we are weirdos (no comments
) or, worse yet, some crazed perverts--which we are not (well, my best guess is that 99.9999999% of us are not). It would have been nice if they had elaborated a bit on the fact that the game is so well thought-out and intriguing that adults play it instead of watching soaps, shopping at malls, playing bingo on zone.com., etc.
Thu Feb 24, 2005 6:47 am
Morningstar wrote:(Most Neopets users are under 18, but there is a sizable adult audience.)
Gee, I am hurt. I hate getting nothing more than one sentence--and in parantheses, nonetheless. It makes us adult players seem like we are weirdos (no comments
?
Out of the TWO people identified in the articles by name, one is a 27 year old Starbucks employee. If they were making us (adults) on neo look weird, why would they mention him specifically?
Thu Feb 24, 2005 9:12 am
hahahaha
"Gordon Davidescu, a 27-year-old who works at a Starbucks in Seattle, has about two million Neopoints accumulated over three years of visiting the site."
I feel sorry for the guy, I made two million this month
"Gordon Davidescu, a 27-year-old who works at a Starbucks in Seattle, has about two million Neopoints accumulated over three years of visiting the site."
I feel sorry for the guy, I made two million this month
Thu Feb 24, 2005 9:28 am
I am subsribed to the WSJ and saw the article earlier I think the article was objectively written and extensive. The article interviewed almost all parties involved and didn't exactly potray a squeaky clean image of TNT but a weighted view.
What comforts me is that with that many major corporations contributing to TNT's income it gives me more confidence that Neopets would have a high free to play chance. If neopets garners more revenue then they can use the income to employ more staff develop better games, thus improving the neopets gaming experience on the whole. Which should be good news to us. Recently the changes in neo have been good on the whole. Eg. weeding out of scammers, autobuyers, spammers, just to name a few which only shows that they are heading in improving player security and enjoyment. Although some of the new changes are not perfect Eg. plot endings, dinner puzzle going AWOL, with the revenue TNT are getting, it only means a longer sustainability in the long run.
Let's hope we the users can appreciate this and support TNT in our own way instead of being too cynical and whiny all the time
I love playing Neopets and i am sure u do too.
What comforts me is that with that many major corporations contributing to TNT's income it gives me more confidence that Neopets would have a high free to play chance. If neopets garners more revenue then they can use the income to employ more staff develop better games, thus improving the neopets gaming experience on the whole. Which should be good news to us. Recently the changes in neo have been good on the whole. Eg. weeding out of scammers, autobuyers, spammers, just to name a few which only shows that they are heading in improving player security and enjoyment. Although some of the new changes are not perfect Eg. plot endings, dinner puzzle going AWOL, with the revenue TNT are getting, it only means a longer sustainability in the long run.
Let's hope we the users can appreciate this and support TNT in our own way instead of being too cynical and whiny all the time
I love playing Neopets and i am sure u do too.
Thu Feb 24, 2005 10:02 am
Well, today I have a lot of things to do (like write my article, read the rest of a 600-odd page book for english, study for a math test and a spanish test, fold leaflets and deliver some) but if I get all that done today I am going to write to WSJ about the crap that they have been told. Immersive Avertising? More like Overwhelming Advertising!
Thu Feb 24, 2005 10:23 am
a movie would be awesome
... especially if i write it
[edited] withered paintbrush coming soon
going to bed now
... especially if i write it
[edited] withered paintbrush coming soon
going to bed now
Thu Feb 24, 2005 10:27 am
borovan90834 wrote:a movie would be awesome
... especially if i write it
Movies are good, but they are the kiss of death for any popular culture item.
Don't make me drag up my old post, about He-Man, Transformers, YuGioh, and Pokemon, Mr. Powell.
And welcome back...I thought you were avoiding us like a bear who accidently swiped a hornet's nest.
We've been grouchy lately, but it always gets better once you're here.
Thu Feb 24, 2005 10:46 am
Interesting article, didn't know that neopets made that much money 
I think a movie would be a bad idea, no offence. Neopets just goes farther and farther with the advertising. I't almost like they put more effort in the advertising than with the site itself. All the advertising made the game less interesting to me, I just do dailies now... I used to be on for about 2 hours a day.
Maybe they could make more money by making certain items also available by paying real money, without giving the user a huge advantage over non-paying members, that would bring in lot's of money....
borovan90834 wrote:a movie would be awesome
... especially if i write it
[edited] withered paintbrush coming soon
going to bed now
I think a movie would be a bad idea, no offence. Neopets just goes farther and farther with the advertising. I't almost like they put more effort in the advertising than with the site itself. All the advertising made the game less interesting to me, I just do dailies now... I used to be on for about 2 hours a day.
Maybe they could make more money by making certain items also available by paying real money, without giving the user a huge advantage over non-paying members, that would bring in lot's of money....
Thu Feb 24, 2005 10:52 am
borovan90834 wrote:a movie would be awesome
... especially if i write it
[edited] withered paintbrush coming soon
going to bed now
Withered paintbrush eh? This I gotta see *waits to see a Withered Lupe*
But like most people say, movies usually rake in lots of money the first time, but after people get sick of the novelty, it just goes downhill, ya know? Like with Pokemon and Harry Potter. But then, Harry Potter wasn't a sinfully successful website, so I dunno.
As long as it doesn't feature any hyperactive squirrels *coughHannahcough* drunk on Grape Juice, I'll be happy.