Neopets Inflation

To the much appreciated Neopets Staff,

I realize this is an interesting length to go to, to get your attention, but I feel that for all members of this wonderful site, it is definately worth more than a glance.

This is an important issue facing Neopia, and by this I mean more than just the fictional world created by the Neopets team. I mean in a real way, with the site- much of the fun is being taken out of it, by rediculous levels of inflation. Less than three years ago, a "paint brush" could be traded for, purchased, or otherwise aquired for less than 10,000 "neopoints". The most valuable or rare ones could be found for less than 50,000 "neopoints".

The idea that perhaps there are simply less paintbrushes for more members, or that new members should work "just as hard" as older members for items, is not a very good try at an explaination. Working for 5,000 "neopoints" (as one member said she got her old paintbrush at, years ago) is very, very different than working for 2,000,000 "neopoints" (which is what some paintbrushes are going for these days, as of July 28th, 2004). And as to my knowledge, items (such as paintbrushes and other rare items, as well as normal items) have been proportionately added as more and more members join.

Coming around to my point; the inflation in "Neopia", the Neopets website, has become rediculous. It has gone through several rooves, to levels that would surely even impress the German government circa 1920. My point with this petition is this: I believe that the Neopets staff needs to step in, and set a roof on prices for items. Having a mock economy is very well and good, but it's getting seriously out of hand.

You may feel that I am taking this game a bit too seriously... but honesty, this is for the enjoyment of everyone, not just myself. Even much more difficult and complex games have had to step in to set prices- for example, the staff of SquareEnix has had to step in with their Final Fantasy XI Online game. In this world, characters may set their own prices in an auction house for items. What they found, unfortunately, was that when left to their own devices, older members priced items higher and higher, until nobody but other older members could even dream of purchasing them. The staff stepped in, set reasonable prices for items, and reasonable amounts of differing between highs and lows were allowed, but not to the insane levels of inflation previously experienced.

I believe that such action is desperately needed for Neopets, for the enjoyment of all players.

Not all members are adults or teenagers who can focus unendlingly on games, wagers, and selling, to gain neopoints. The children need to have some fun too. And at this rate, they cannot afford almost anything.

Please, Neopets Staff, I urge you to step in and help with the pricing, inflation issues, and related problems inherent in an ungoverned economy. I do not ask for "fixed" prices- merely a reasonable margin for the economy to fluctuate within.

This is my request, as an appreciateive and aware member of the Neopets Community.