Childhood Dreams Become Reality as Gaming Icon Comes to Life

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Neopets, the virtual universe that defined countless millennial childhoods, is breaking through screens and into reality as it celebrates its 25th anniversary! Fans are invited to dive back into the magical world of Neopia like never before. In honor of 25 years of shared joy, Neopets is launching a vibrant lineup of real-world events, pop-up gatherings, and tasty collaborations, sparking what fans are calling “The Neopian Renaissance.” These festivities offer a unique opportunity for devoted fans – who have kept the spirit of Neopia alive for a quarter-century – to connect face-to-face. It’s an open invitation for both old longtime players and new friends to unite and create new memories together.

(Download Full Media Pack & Detailed List of the Cities Here)

Dominic Law, CEO of Neopets, shared his thoughts on this milestone: “As Neopets marks its 25th anniversary, I can’t help but marvel at my own journey. Once, I was just another kid trading items and staying up late for quests, using Neopets to keep bonds alive with friends across oceans as I moved from Canada to Hong Kong. Today, I’m living a childhood dream, stewarding the very world that shaped my youth. This milestone celebrates more than just a game – it honors millions of friendships forged in Neopia, countless adventures shared, and a community that has made this virtual world feel like home. As we look to the next 25 years, I’m grateful to our passionate fans and partners who keep the magic of Neopets alive.

Virtual to Reality: Neopets Transforms 25-years of Digital Friendships

With fans spread across the globe; we are thrilled to support offline events throughout November. The love and enthusiasm from our community have been truly overwhelming, with close to 300 dedicated fans applying to host gatherings around the globe. These local celebrations have brought Neopets’ magic off the computer and into the real-world, creating a unique opportunity for fans to meet in person, many for the first time ever, bonding over the special place Neopets has in their heart. It’s heartwarming to see people who grew up exploring Neopia together reconnect, reliving cherished childhood memories while making new ones with their lifelong virtual companions. Participants bonded over cosplay contests, trivia challenges, and gaming sessions, crafting unforgettable experiences that elevated shared nostalgia to a whole new level.

These gatherings have become more than just meetups; they’re a phenomenon transcending online friendships from screens to long-lasting connections. They also stand as a testament to the enduring power of Neopets as a virtual companion in people’s lives for 25 years. With over 5,000 attendees across 40 cities, the response has been nothing short of extraordinary, bringing fans together to share stories and unforgettable memories. We have heard many incredibly heartwarming stories, but one that has stood out to us the most have been from our San Jose event host and Community Ambassador, Kay. She shared that Neopets has always been more than just a game; it’s a community that feels like family. Her daily interactions with her guildmates in Omneo have brought laughter, support, and friendships. “They make me laugh, they support me, they are lifelong friends. Many of them I’ve met in real life, but I leapt at the opportunity to get to know my Neopian neighbors better”. This event was also a touching tribute to a family tradition that began when her little sister introduced her to Neopets in 2000, “I’ve been making neofriends ever since”.

The incredible response from our meetups has inspired us to keep the celebrations going, with the next big gathering set for Asia at the Anime Festival Asia (AFA) – the largest anime convention in the region – this November in Singapore. Building on the success of our fan-led events, we’re bringing the celebratory spirit overseas, giving more fans the chance to be part of the magic. At AFA, Neopets will come to life with interactive experiences, exclusive merchandise, and spaces for fans to connect in person, celebrating their shared love for the game in a festive and immersive setting. It’s a chance to celebrate, shop, and meet others who share a love for the game.

From Pixels to Plates: Neopets Takes Over Fan-Favorite F&B brands

For fans who missed out on in-person events, or those craving even more ways to celebrate, Neopets has teamed up with some of the most popular food, and beverage spots to add a dash of Neopia to daily life. Get ready to set Instagram feeds ablaze with cult-favorite food spots to create photo-worthy experiences that are already generating waitlists:

Tsun Scoops (November 17 – December 14) in Garden Grove, CA, will serve limited-edition ice cream flavors inspired by Neopia, alongside Neopets-branded cups, spoons, and collectible merchandise.Yifang Taiwan Fruit Tea (November 25 – December 25) will transform nine California locations into Neopian outposts with themed drinksand exclusive cup sleeves, featuring characters like Kacheek and Aisha.It’s Boba Time (May 2025) in 100 locations across the US will feature Neopets-themed décor and giveaways, making every visit a mini Neopian party with collectible pins and stickers.

These partnerships are designed to be more than a simple treat; they’re a chance for fans to live in the world of Neopets in a whole new way and make every sip, spoonful, or visit a small, delightful toast to the game.

As Neopets celebrates 25 years, this milestone year shows how much love the community has for the brand, and it’s just the beginning. From local fan-led events and global conventions to delicious treats, Neopets is building on its iconic IP to bring the Neopian experience into everyday life. With a renewed focus on being the ultimate virtual companion and a source of joy and nostalgia, Neopets is here to stay, ready to grow and inspire the next generation of fans for years to come.

About Neopets

Founded in 1999, Neopets is the first digital native virtual pet platform that has captured the hearts of over 150 million players worldwide. Under new leadership since July 2023, Neopets has launched a robust revival, bringing back 100+ classic mini-games, introducing new storylines, and expanding into mobile gaming. Through strategic partnerships in collectibles, merchandise, and tabletop gaming, Neopets bridges digital and physical experiences while maintaining its core values of creativity and community. Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, Neopets continues to evolve as an inclusive entertainment brand that connects generations of players through shared adventures in Neopia.

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SOURCE Neopets

The 150 MW / 600 MWh project will support grid reliability and economic development in New Mexico, while moving New Mexico toward its clean energy goals
Win represents Plus Power’s 6th announced market and 3rd large tolling agreement

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Plus Power announced that its 150 MW / 600 MWh Corazon Energy Storage project was awarded a 20-year contract by Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM), subject to regulatory approvals, in response to the utility’s 2026-2028 Generation Resources Request for Proposals. The RFP was issued in 2022 and sought projects that will help serve growing energy demand in New Mexico as it transitions to zero-carbon energy by 2045. PNM filed with the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission for approval of the project on Nov. 22, 2024.

If approved, Corazon Energy Storage, located in Albuquerque, will begin construction in 2026, with an anticipated commercial operation date in late 2027. The facility will enhance grid reliability by storing excess energy and injecting it back into the grid during peak hours in the evening, weather events, and unexpected demand. Plus Power and PNM signed a tolling agreement, by which Plus Power retains ownership of the facility while PNM can charge and dispatch energy according to its needs.

Corazon Energy Storage will help integrate New Mexico wind and solar energy. PNM, the largest utility in New Mexico, has identified battery energy storage as a key component in its plan to make its electric generation 100-percent carbon-free by 2040, five years ahead of the state’s goal. Corazon will interconnect to the grid at Pajarito Substation, which is located centrally to PNM’s system, to store and dispatch energy from renewable resources.

Corazon Energy Storage will also provide much-needed capacity to support PNM’s customer load requirements.

“We are excited to support PNM customers’ energy demand needs while it works to transition to clean, affordable energy. Our project will help to ensure the reliability and sustainability of New Mexico’s electricity system,” said Brandon Keefe, executive chairman and CEO of Plus Power. “We look forward to a long partnership with PNM and the surrounding community.”

With Corazon Energy Storage, Plus Power is expanding its presence in the Southwest and entering its sixth state market. An industry-leading developer, owner, and operator of standalone battery energy storage assets, the company’s portfolio includes 10 GW of projects in 28 states and Canada. It owns seven operating facilities located in Arizona, Texas, and Hawaii, and two facilities under construction in Maine and Massachusetts, that total 1,650 MW / 4,150 MWh.

Plus Power’s 185 MW / 565 MWh Kapolei Energy Storage facility on Oahu, Hawaii is the most advanced grid-scale battery energy storage system in the world and is helping Hawaiian Electric replace the capacity of a retired coal power plant less than a mile away. Its 250 MW / 1,000 MWh Sierra Estrella Energy Storage facility, located in Avondale, AZ, is currently the largest standalone battery in Arizona and its Rodeo Ranch Energy Storage facility, sized up to 300 MW / 600 MWh, is the largest standalone battery in ERCOT.

About Plus Power

The Plus Power team is accelerating the deployment of transmission-connected battery energy storage throughout the United States. Plus Power develops, owns, and operates standalone battery energy storage systems that provide capacity, energy, and ancillary services, enabling the rapid integration of renewable generation resources. Headquartered near Houston, with offices in San Francisco, Chicago, and Miami, Plus Power operates at the nexus of energy, technology, and finance. For more information, visit www.pluspower.com.

Contact:
Polly Shaw
pshaw@pluspower.com
+1-415-577-5763

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SOURCE Plus Power

Celebrating over a decade of thought leadership in open networking, the Open Networking and Edge Summit (ONE Summit) has served tens of thousands of attendees from across 5 continents and 200+ countries, from Enterprise, Cloud and Telecom EcosystemsLF Networking will also host the Cloud Native Telco Day on April 1 as part of KubeCon + CloudNativeCon EuropeThe open networking & edge industry will gather alongside the cloud native ecosystem to shape the future of Domain-specific AI, LLMs, Edge/IoT, Open RAN, Enhanced Connectivity / Access, Enterprise and Multi-Cloud Networking, 5G/6G, Security, and more

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — LF Networking, the facilitator of collaboration and operational excellence across open source networking projects, announced the next Open Networking & Edge Summit event will take place March 31 in London ahead of KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe. The event will be followed by a half-day “Cloud Native Telco Day” event officially co-located with KubeCon + CloudNativeCon. Attendees are encouraged to attend both events at the same venue over two days to get the full experience.

The Open Networking & Edge Summit has been a pivotal event for the open networking and edge industry, bringing together leaders, innovators, and stakeholders from across the globe to drive advancements in open networking and edge computing. Since its inception over 10 years ago, the summit has served as a premier platform to discuss, develop, and showcase transformative technologies that define the future of connectivity and infrastructure. Discussion topics range across the stack, including: Domain-specific AI, LLMs, Edge/IoT, Open RAN, Enhanced Connectivity / Access, Enterprise and Multi-Cloud Networking, 5G/6G, Security, and more.

“Hosting Open Networking & Edge Summit alongside KubeCon + CloudNativeCon creates an unparalleled opportunity for collaboration across the open source ecosystem,” said Arpit Joshipura, general manager, Networking, Edge and IoT at the Linux Foundation. “Bringing together the vibrant open networking community under the same roof as the cloud native community will empower attendees to extend their knowledge and maximize their time while also shaping the next wave of innovation.”

Each year, the Open Networking & Edge Summit continues to be a catalyst for technological innovation and industry growth, shaping the path forward in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Through collaborative sessions, keynote speeches, and hands-on demonstrations, the summit empowers the ecosystem to address key challenges, exchange insights, and accelerate the adoption of open source solutions. This event has been instrumental in fostering a community dedicated to advancing cloud-native networking, edge computing, and IoT, with a focus on real-world applications that enhance performance, reduce costs, and create a more interconnected world.

Registration & CFPs

Registration for Open Networking & Edge Summit will open. Registration for Cloud Native Telco Day is a free add-on to KubeCon + CloudNativeCon registration and includes access to the full event beyond Cloud Native Telco Day. Registration for KubeCon + CloudNativeCon EU is not yet open, but details will be available here shortly.

Open Networking and Edge Summit will be a curated event and agenda details will be available in 2025; meanwhile, the Call for Proposals (CFP) for Cloud Native Telco Day is now open through December 4, 2024.  Developers, architects, engineers and others are encouraged to submit technical topics to be considered for the half-day event.

Sponsorship

Open Networking & Edge Summit is made possible thanks to our generous sponsors. For information on becoming an event sponsor, view the sponsorship prospectus, or email the team for more information.

Sponsorships for Cloud Native Telco Day are available through the CNCF sponsorship team; learn more here.

About the Linux Foundation

The Linux Foundation is the world’s leading home for collaboration on open source software, hardware, standards, and data. Linux Foundation projects are critical to the world’s infrastructure including Linux, Kubernetes, Node.js, ONAP, OpenChain, OpenSSF, PyTorch, RISC-V, SPDX, Zephyr, and more. The Linux Foundation focuses on leveraging best practices and addressing the needs of contributors, users, and solution providers to create sustainable models for open collaboration. For more information, please visit us at linuxfoundation.org.

The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see our trademark usage page: https://www.linuxfoundation.org/trademark-usage. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.

Media Contact
Jill Lovato
The Linux Foundation
jlovato@linuxfoundaiton.org

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SOURCE LF Networking