Littlest Pet Shop expands its world -- Guest Blogger Wendy Smolen
Littlest Pet Shop has traditionally been a sweet, safe, amusing brand for little girls. Merchandise for kids four years and older has capitalized on the wide-eyed cuteness factor, with the likes of playgrounds, adoption center play sets, stickers, pets to decorate, and mini-sets. But many of the original LPS players and collectors are becoming tweens, leaving penguins, puppies, and baby bunnies behind. Littlest Pet Shop has now re-focused their enthusiasm with an online world called, (duh), Littlest Pet Shop Online (LPSO.com). Access to the web-based virtual world is free, however, if your child wants to create more than a single pet (of course) and get special features, you’ll need to buy one of the cuddly---and coded--- LPSO Pets. This purchase also gives you a free 30-day trial of the Premium Membership.
I recently played in the LPSO world and, in the spirit of full disclosure, was given a coded pet to continue my journey at home. Overall, the site is kid-friendly and colorful. The kid can name and customize a pet, make friends, chat (there’s restricted and safe modes), shop, go on TV, buy candy or cookies, and read about their adventures in the New Pet Times. There are mildly challenging mini-games, daily activities, and opportunities to decorate and get creative. Simple gestures (like sniffing flowers) earn a few Kibble coins, which can be used to buy items at the virtual stores. But truthfully, it’s going to take an awful lot of sniffs to earn what Premium Members get just for signing on. Like the virtual pets of yesteryear, nurturing and feeding your animals increases their skills and happiness. Once I got over the registration process (a parent thing), the site was easy to navigate and offered lots of quick play patterns, amusing spaces to visit, chat that requires spelling and reading, and a cute on-screen happiness meter. In short, it’s a lot of fun with a little more freedom than younger sites. Kinda like a puppy that’s almost grown up. -- Wendy Smolen
Guest Blogger Wendy Smolen is co-founder of Sandbox Summit®. She has been professionally evaluating toys for over 15 years. Her three children have literally gone from crib to college proving (or dis-proving!) her theories on play.
configuration management on October 24, 2009 at 05:06 AM
I felt your effort of posting such useful links for us. Extremely well done and your choice of language makes them even more interesting. An occasional bit of irony or an elegant twist in the phrase is a welcome relief.