Navigating the Pet Society World: A Guide to Your New Town

You've created your own unique Pet Society character and are enjoying your new room... Now what? Pet Society is a whole world where you can make purchases, play games and meet new people. If you click the globe at the bottom of the screen, you'll see that you can choose from eleven locations. Because the game has such a user-friendly interface, you'll soon be traveling the town like a pro.

The most important location in town is the food store. When you've arrived, you'll see that the groceries are arranged clearly on shelves and in refrigerators. Each one has a clear price located below it. If you'd like to know more about an item, click on it. A larger picture and price tag will appear in a new window. You can choose to purchase the item by pressing the green check mark, or choose the red X to close the window without buying. Once you've purchased an item, it will appear in your treasure chest to be used.

Your pet can keep up with the latest fashions at the clothing store. The first rack, labeled "This Week's Special," allows you to pick up certain items at a discount. You can then check out items that have just arrived. New clothing is often related, such as a hat and outfit that match. The rest of the racks and shelves hold hats, shirts, dresses, skirts, glasses, bracelets and other items. Some of the items are too small to see clearly. Fortunately, you can click them to see a preview and decide whether or not to buy. New purchases are immediately available by clicking the shirt icon in your house.

Another way to update your pet's look is to visit the stylist. It's very familiar... in fact, it's the same interface that you used when you created your PS friend. You can change your pet's features and color. The price of each alteration is listed.

When you visit the DIY and furniture stores, you will notice some overlap in inventory, most notably in shelving. However, they are both distinct shops. The DIY store specializes in bathroom fixtures, wallpaper, flooring, doors, windows and other items that add to the structure of your home. Inside the furniture store, you'll find new seating, tables and other predictable items. Posters, dolls and plants are also available at the furniture store.

The gadget shop is the place to go for electronics. If you purchase a radio for your pet, he can dance. You can also find computers and lighting here. As with other stores, the gadget shop delivers your purchases directly to your treasure chest.

The luxury store sells many kinds of items, from clothing to windows. As the name implies, the items here are more expensive than those at other shops. However, they are also adorable specialty pieces that can give your home a truly unique feel. While you may have to save for a while to afford a luxury item, it can be very gratifying to own.

You may decide to visit the mystery shop. Here, you can purchase items that are randomly selected. Your item may be a new toy or a gift with surprising effects. The clerks at other stores will encourage you to visit this store. However, it is not a requirement.

At the bank, you can find new ways to add coins to your account. Pet Society accepts payments via PayPal and credit cards that translate into coins. There is also a link that connects you to Trial Pay, a way to "earn free coins." In my opinion, these options are unnecessary. There are ways to earn coins without tapping into your finances or accepting trial subscriptions that may not be useful. However, it's good to know that these options are available to you.

Visit the cafe to meet other pets. You can click on the pets sitting in the booths to visit their homes and play with them. These visits increase your Paw Points and happiness. They're also a great way to see how other players have decorated their homes and dressed their avatars.

My favorite part of town is the stadium. I love running races against other pets. Each track is studded with hurdles, speed pads, puddles and banana peels. You can race for Paw Points or for coins. If you're in a gambling mood, you can bet on others' races.

The Pet Society town is an exciting place for your pet to live. Once you see the interesting places that you can enjoy, you can have a much more fulfilling experience with the game.

Sources: Pet Society beta from Playfish, Personal experience.