GoPets Surpasses 300,000 Global Users

Korean-headquartered virtual pet online community GoPets has surpassed 300,000 users worldwide. In addition, the online community site has entered into a long-term, exclusive marketing and operations agreement with Singapore video game distributor Replay Interactive. GoPets is a direct competitor with NeoPets, a child-friendly site that allows users to invent and care for virtual pets, which was purchased in 2005 by Viacom division MTV Networks for $160 million. "We are very pleased to have reached the 300,000 user milestone so quickly," said Erik Bethke, CEO of GoPets. "Furthermore, we are ecstatic to be partnering with a company as strong as Replay Interactive in the Singapore market. This completes GoPets licensing in South East Asia, as we look forward to continued rapid expansion." GoPets, which was founded by veteran game developer Bethke, former founder of Taldren (Star Trek: Starfleet Command ), and features users in over 75 countries interacting with each other as they create virtual 3D animated pets that are housed on the desktops of members. The community has continued to gain popularity, despite only offering two different types of pets – dogs and cats – compared to NeoPets' more than 50 different available species. Users of GoPets can have their pets interact with other users globally, further promoting the interactive nature of the GoPets community.