• April 9, 2008

Viacom's Nickelodeon is working on a number of new, branded virtual properties, including a world based on the "SpongeBob SquarePants" show and World of Neopia, an updated home for its Neopets franchise.

The properties will be developed by Nickelodeon Kids and Family Group Virtual Worlds Studios (a division that launched in mid-2007 as NeoStudios), and will build on the success of Nick's existing virtual world sites like Nicktropolis.

According to Steve Youngwood*, executive vice president of Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group, the studio division's goal is to develop new virtual kids' and teen destinations each year, in addition to maintaining the existing properties. For example, the new World of Neopia will offer Neopets members more games, chat features and regions to explore, in addition to an offline, desktop-based experience. Meanwhile, the studio will expand properties like Nicktropolis to kids in the U.K. and add features like a comic book store and a pirate-themed region.

World of Neopia is set to launch in 2009, and the existing worlds will be upgraded on an ongoing basis.

--Tameka Kee *Note: Copy was corrected after publication.