A Beginning Guide to Pet Society

Pet Society is a popular and fun game that can be accessed through MySpace and Facebook. I enjoy logging into my MySpace account and letting my character out to play. If you've decided to play, you may be wondering how to get started and navigate the Pet Society world.

The first step in playing is character creation. Pet Society (PS) avatars are cute animals that are created from templates. You can mix and match features to make a unique pet. The interface is very straightforward, if a bit limited.

Once your pet is assembled and named, you'll find yourself in your own PS home. Every beginning home is the same: one very simple room with light walls, a light flooring, one door and one window. As you progress, you will have the opportunity to buy new wallpaper, flooring, doors and windows to personalize your space. Your pet will also have a basic chair, television, jump rope, ball and frisbee.

Accessing your items is easy. Locate the treasure chest at the bottom left corner of the screen and click it. Your items will appear at the bottom. You can click and drag any item into your room. If an item is gray, it is already in the room. However, you can still click and drag to bring the item to that location. You can also rearrange your furniture and other items while the chest is open. Arrow buttons on the right and left allow you to scroll across the room.

Your pet has three indicators along the right side of the screen, showing his health, happiness and cleanliness. If your pet's health is declining, he needs to be fed. Food is purchased at the store and will appear in your chest. Feed your pet by clicking on the food item and dragging it into the room. Clean your pet using soap. A bar is provided at the beginning of the game. Click on the soap to pick it up and scrub your pet while holding the mouse button down. An unhappy pet can be consoled by petting - clicking on him and rubbing him with the mouse button held down - or by playing with toys.

You will notice that caring for your pet adds to your Paw Points and coins. You can keep track of both by watching the counters at the top of the screen. Coins are used to purchase items at the stores. Paw Points indicate your pet's level of experience. As your levels increase, you will be rewarded with coins and new items.

Note the other icons near your treasure chest. Clicking on the door will allow you to go outside and explore the town. The shirt icon is similar to the treasure chest, but will show your clothing options. Your pet will already have a shirt and baseball cap. You can dress him by dragging the clothing onto him. Learn how to earn trophies by clicking on the icon next to your chest. The globe connects you directly to the stores in the town. The final button allows you to set your pet's status, which will be visible to your friends.

You can expect to have loads of fun with your Pet Society friend. Unlike other games, you are not required to work on a timeline. You can be as outgoing or as docile as you'd like. And while your pet requires attention, he will still be waiting if you leave him for vacation. As you learn to navigate the PS world, you'll find new and exciting ways to brighten your pet's life.

Sources: Pet Society beta by Playfish, Personal experience.