NC Pet Styles (also known as Alt Styles, NC UCs, or Nostalgic Neopets) are species-specific NC items that can change a pet's look. These items are inspired by the original unconverted pets (UCs), of which they replaced on January 22nd, 2024; any remaining classic UCs were automatically applied with a colour-appropriate Nostalgic Neopet item to prevent them from accidentally converting.
How Pet Styles Work[]
- Main article: Styling Studio#Transforming your Pet
Pets can be transformed with NC Pet Styles via the Styling Studio, where all of Umbra's available styles can be viewed. Some styles (such as Coconut, Mallow, MSP, and Usuki) are always available (though this will give the user a 1-in-4 or 5 chance of getting their desired style when using regular Styling Studio Supplies), while others will cycle in and out after a set amount of time, so it is advisable to check New Features consistently to see what's currently available and what's coming soon.[1]
Restrictions[]
Much like classic UCs, pets wearing NC Pet Styles cannot show any emotions besides happiness and can only wear items such as trinkets, backgrounds, music, and foreground items. Unlike classic UCs, of which, when displayed in Quick Ref, had a button next to their image that said "#Name must be converted to be fully customisable," NC UCs can have their styles taken off (and also on again) via the Styling Chamber. If they get transferred or abandoned, their NC Pet Style will also be removed and returned to the Chamber, where it can either be re-applied to another pet, transferred via Gift Boxes, or returned to the user's inventory.
History[]
Historically, the term "unconverted (UC)" refers to grandfathered Neopets that retained their old art (such as Darigan, Plushie, and Royal) after the site's art overhaul of April 2007, in which most of the newly converted pets took on uniform positions regardless of colour or species in the wake of customisation without their owners' consent. (However, Baby, Maraquan, and to an extent, Mutant pets mostly kept true to their classic art and personalities by having whatever pose was normal for their colour/species combination.) Because of this, UCs were highly valued (much like Draiks or Krawks), with rich/old players being their most common owners. Adding to this value was the fact that UCs could not change their color and/or species without getting converted themselves.
A full list of classic UCs can be found here.
Glitched UC controversy[]
In 2021, there was an exploit that allowed users to create new UCs. TNT have since solved the issue by deleting or converting the generated UCs, as well as freezing users who had taken advantage of the exploit, as well as hinting at the return of UCs.[2]
NC Pet Style debut[]
In early 2024, Neopets announced that UCs would be making a comeback to the NC Mall in the form of NC Pet Styles on January 23rd of that year, even teasing at new, unreleased UCs on their social media pages (here and here).
With the release of the NC Pet Styles-related FAQ on January 22nd, it was revealed that UCs were officially no more.[3] Additionally, any pets that were created prior to April 2007, "UC or not," received a commemorative Old Pet Trophy for their lookups.[4]
Pound Shutdown[]
To help prepare for the launch, from January 18th-26th, all features of the Neopian Pound (adopting, abandoning and transferring pets) were disabled to ensure that no pets got lost in transit during the great UC transition.[5]
Trivia[]
- NC Pet Styles may also be inspired by a request made by a Neopets user called aznnerdgrl on a Neopian Times editorial:
Throughout the years, I've been a loyal Neopian. Although it has been some time since my last log-on, the changes have devastated me greatly. Each painted Neopet was original and had their own touch. Unfortunately, I have noticed that Neopets converted have many of the Neopets so that they can wear [clothes], and as a result have lost their personalities. Therefore, I have come up with a solution that will solve everything. It will not only be economically beneficial to Neopets, but also to its users. Neopets should have an option where their users pay NC to revert their converted Neopets into the original Neopets. I can name several Neopets that would benefit from this: the faerie Pteri, faerie Draik, Darigan Ixi, and all of the plushie Neopets. I assert that I am not speaking on my behalf, but for the greater good of the Neopet community.[6]
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ When will _________ be added to the Styling Studio? https://support.neopets.com/hc/en-us/articles/23405386532109-When-will-be-added-to-the-Styling-Studio
- ↑ About the Glitched UCs https://www.jellyneo.net/?comments=13722
- ↑ UC Neocash Style FAQs Released https://www.jellyneo.net/?comments=14598
- ↑ The NC Pet Style AMA https://www.jellyneo.net/?go=monthly_amas&id=2024_january
- ↑ The Pound shutdown https://portal.neopets.com/news/jan24-ncpetstyles
- ↑ UC editorial https://www.neopets.com/ntimes/index.phtml?section=editorial&week=579