How many pets should be available when you launch a new virtual pet site?

[Baw$e]

How many pets should users be able to select on a new virtual pet site?

I think new pet sites should start with a minimum up 4-8 pets with multiple colors available for each pet.

 

[lens]

I agree with having a decent starting selection, but 4-8 pets sounds good. Perhaps 6 pets with 3-4 colors each would be a better starting point.

 

[Baw$e]

I agree with having a decent starting selection, but 4-8 pets sounds good. Perhaps 6 pets with 3-4 colors each would be a better starting point.

I think 3-4 colors each is a good basis for each pet, and 4-8 pets sounds about right. Maybe with a few new pets shortly after the game is launched.

 

[Alicia]

It's a good way to start with a maximum of 5 to 10 pets and each colours can be up to 5 or 6 for a starting point.

 

[cpvr]

I’d say it all boils down to what type of pet site you’re planning to build. If you’re going for a more traditional pet site—something in the realm of Neopets, Subeta, Marapets, or Powerpets, then starting with 10 to 30 pets is a solid range.


However, if your site will feature exploration mechanics and pet customization, you’ll probably want a wider variety of pets available at launch to give players more options and replayability.



Especially if users will be exploring areas and capturing pets, variety becomes even more important. These days, some users may expect more than just 5–10 basic options; a larger roster of pet species tends to attract more interest and allows players to connect with something that fits their style.


So overall, I’d say aiming for 10 to 20 pets at launch is a smart, balanced starting point.

 

[EpiglottalAxolotl]

Mine started with five species. "Colors" as a concept isn't infinitely generalizable to all sites, although each of mine had at least seven distinct forms that they could grow into, with one having thirteen. I have plenty more planned, though, and I added a sixth species as part of my April Fools event this year.