6 Observations of a Returning Neopian

     The news is out; Neopia is returning to its former glory! Flash games are back. Events are back. World-wide plots are back!

     And with it, many Neopians who had once been spending time away from the world are back.

     With the return of so many of the things that hooked my attention as a child, it’s not surprising that it has hooked my attention once again. But that does not mean that everything is as it always was. No, these past few months, even as settling back into this place has felt as comfortable as putting on an old favourite sweater, I have still discovered many differences. For those who are new, those who never left, and even others like me who are coming back and just want to compare experiences, I thought I would point out a few things that had most struck me since returning.

     1. Vandagyres are ADORABLE

     Apparently, for a variety of reasons, there’s only been one new pet species since I last played. That’s understandable, the site got huge, and customisation is complicated, and there are so very many species of Neopets already. But still, I was a little bummed that there weren’t more new pets to check out when I came back.

     And then I actually saw them.

     Me: “OOOoooOOOooOHH it’s TOOOOO CUUUUTE!”

     Seriously, how are they so precious? Who said their eyes could be so big? Who said their feathers could be so fluffy? TNT! Make a rule! This shouldn’t be allowed! They’re too darling! My heart can’t handle it!

     No, but seriously, I love so many Neopian species, and they all fit so many different niches. But if there could only be one new pet species over the many long years of my absence, I’m glad it was such a sweet one.

     2. Some prices have come way down

     Petpets used to be expensive, right? I’m not misremembering that? I definitely remember being pretty proud that all four of my pets had Petpets, even though they were relatively cheap Petpets like Abominable* Snowballs and Mallards and Spyders. It was still a big deal! And I definitely remember my Tanizard for my Purple Xweetok being a Big Goal. I saved for months for her to have a precious Purple Petpet that matched her, and now that species is only worth a few thousand Neopoints.

     I’m not mad about it or anything. I think it’s great that it’s so much easier for our precious pets to have little buddies of their own these days. I’m just surprised. And questioning if there really has been a huge shift in a whole section of the Neopian economy, or if I’m just misremembering because 10,000 Neopoints used to be a lot.

     (*Child me was proud to have one of these especially because it meant I finally, consistently, remembered how to spell Abominable.)

      3. Some prices shot way up

     Why. Is Semolina. SIX THOUSAND NEOPOINTS NOW???

     And don’t even get me started on Yellow Growths!

     Who did this? Those are junk items! They’ve always been junk items! How dare they be worth something now!

     Dr. Landelbrot, you have a lot to answer for!!!

      4. Some didn’t go anywhere at all

     I’m a virtual hoarder by nature. NeoQuest stresses me out because there aren’t really any reusable self healing options in the early levels. That means I really need to use the healing potions found through battle – and I can’t use one of my healing potions! What if I need 30 weak healing potions in the final battle??? Truly, it’s a blessing that the Safety Deposit Box doesn’t have a limit. I love my virtual junk!

     But I’ll admit, as a child, I did also think some of the things I hoarded would make me rich someday. I looked around at Snowbunnies being ridiculously expensive, and thought for sure every other Advent Calendar item would one day be worth a lot too! Surely this Organ and Snicklebeast would be treasures one day! I distinctly remember collecting every Altador Cup Keyring for some reason.

     Alas. A Snicklebeast is still only worth ~40k, as of writing. Organs and Altador Cup Keyrings are worth even less. Even the Christmas Paint Brush didn’t recover its value over the years (though, to be fair that one is due to re-releases. Paint Brushes are fairly good at holding value over time). Kid me did NOT have good instincts about collector’s items or investments, but that’s okay.

     At least the Snicklebeast is as cute as I remember.

      5. There’s a lot more I’m able to do now

     Now, this one may seem obvious, as this is literally true for any Neopian as they get older. Turn thirteen, and you’re finally able to talk and trade directly with other Neopians! Not me, though – I had parental permission, I was allowed on the boards (and to unwittingly repost silly old Trading Post Spam Messages) when I was eleven, thank you very much. That’s not what has changed for me.

     No, what I mean in this case, is that there’s so much less that I find intimidating now! Whole activities on the site that I avoided because I was afraid of the consequences. Not so anymore!

     Jhudora’s Bluff? I don’t care that she’s a Dark Faerie! I’m still going to do her quests! Nyah.

     Turmaculus? Try and eat my Petpet. I dare you! No really, I dare you. I need the avatar, and I can afford to buy my Pet a new companion now.

     Pound a Pet? Well, okay, I’m still too scared to do this one. I love them too much, and they’re so sad to go in there! I couldn’t! I’m just going to have to keep finding lovely new homes for my lab pets each and every time. They deserve it.

     6. Joy

     I’ve only been back in Neopia for a few months now, and I am having so much fun. I’ve missed so many of the old games (and am excited that more still might be fixed one day!) and it’s been so great to play them. People have been amazing welcoming me back to the community, helping me learn the new ropes and cheering on my new accomplishments. People have lent me items to get avatars I never would have gotten as a kid, when everyone demanded exact collateral. I got a Fountain Faerie quest for the first time in my life thanks to the new (to me) Faerie Quest Cookie item. I own multiple painted pets, all customised elaborately, something that was unfathomable to me as a kid.

     My best friend of twenty years is likewise having the time of her life. She has a Draik now. A DRAIK. A beautiful, Marble Draik, and a Faerie Peophin, and more Neopoints than either of us could have imagined as kids. As we keep saying to each other, “Nine-year-old me is SCREAMING right now!”

     I know we’re not the only ones, either.

     The Advent Calendar this past year was a parade of the unbelievable every day. People adored the precious new Petpetpet Pebble. They screamed in excitement that the Candychan Stamp was released, and another stamp album (and avatar) was within reach. They cheered if they were lucky enough to get a Seasonal Attack Pea – the rest of us cheered for them. And they – and I – cried happy tears to see Neopets and families just like us in the Advent Calendar comics.

     The week NC UCs were released, all I saw over and over again was people posting that they had finally gotten their dreamie, after years and years. So many proud parents, showing off the customisations they’d come up with for their babies’ shiny new looks. I’m seeing it again, with the release of Baby colours. I’m sure I’ll see even more excitement when more NC UCs for other colours come about.

     And don’t even get me started on the Neopies, or the weekly prizes, or many other ways dreams are becoming available to Neopians every day now, or the upcoming events to unlock even more. I cannot wait to see where the coming year goes.

     TNT, thank you.

     And Neopia? Thank you for welcoming me back.