What is Leveling?

All food, nameplates and most items give you experience (exp) points when used or eaten. The amount of exp points is roughly determined by the level of the food or item. For example, most level 5 foods will give you somewhere between 50 and 60 exp points, but level 11 foods will give you between 110 and 120 exp points. Clothing, nameplates and most items work the same way, but only the first time it is used. If you equip your pet with a level 9 shirt or nameplate, you can expect to gain between 90-100. If you set out a tree that is level 20, your exp gain will be between 200-210. This does vary sometimes, as items that are more expensive have been noted to give more exp.

There are cost-free ways to gain exp as well. Petting your pet and any visiting pets (but you would do that anyway, right?!), sending IKUs (Level 2) and sending your pets to visit other desktops (Level 3). All these gain +5 each time.

What is Leveling?

There is also water and pet food already in your inventory, so place it out and let your pet start eating! That food should get you to Level 2, and the shells you have, plus what you earn from your pets eating and you leveling up, will get you enough food to help you level up again--and the process will repeat.

Once you have reached level 6 (and you will be surprised how quickly that happens), you will receive a daily fortune cookie, from Ho Lee Chow. Inside you might find shells, or another fortune cookie, or you might find a food higher than your current level. If the latter happens, just set it aside and save it for later. The same thing may happen if your pet finds a treasure chest while visiting another user's desktop. Again, just set aside for later and remember. . .the higher the level, the more exp points you will get for it!

The First Levels Went So Fast, But. . .

You can tell which of the items in your inventory still have exp, as they will be called "new". Any item bought in the regular GoPets stores will be new. Unfortunately, you cannot tell when purchasing an item from a user store if it is new or used. If you are buying something from another user, specifically for exp points, it would be best to ask if it is new or used before you buy.

How Far Do the Levels Go?

What is Leveling?

Each item or food has a level number, and can only be used by a pet whose owner has that level or higher. For example, Coconut is Level 7. Anyone can buy it, but you can only place it on your desktop for your pets to eat if you are at least at Level 7.

How Does Leveling Work?

There is also water and pet food already in your inventory, so place it out and let your pet start eating! That food should get you to Level 2, and the shells you have, plus what you earn from your pets eating and you leveling up, will get you enough food to help you level up again--and the process will repeat.

A fourth place to look for this information is in the "Gaining Levels" section of the GoPedia (a most valuable tool for all GoLover^?!), under the sections "How to Gain Experience with Food" and "How to Gain Experience with Items".

The First Levels Went So Fast, But. . .

To see which items and food can be used at which level is easily done. Go to the Shopping page and in the search box, choose "Search by Level" and then choose the level you wish to search.

New and Used

You can tell which of the items in your inventory still have exp, as they will be called "new". Any item bought in the regular GoPets stores will be new. Unfortunately, you can not tell when purchasing an item from a user store if it is new or used. If you are buying something from another user, specifically for exp points, it would be best to ask if it is new or used before you buy.

Some Final Words About Leveling

Oh, and welcome to GoPets!

What is Leveling?

There are cost-free ways to gain exp as well. Playing the piano for your pet (you will find it in your inventory), petting your pet and any visiting pets (but you'd do that anyway, right?!), sending IKUs (Level 2) and sending your pets to visit other desktops (Level 3). All these gain +5 each time, except the piano, which gives +10.

What is Leveling?

Each item or food has a level number, and can only be used by a pet whose owner has that level or higher. For example, Coconut is Level 7. Anyone can buy it, but you can only place it on your desktop for your pets to eat if you are at least at Level 7.

Though at first it seems restrictive, you'll soon find it's not. By leveling up, you won’t be so overwhelmed by all the food choices and shopping options, or the game as a whole. Leveling is a wonderful thing!

All users start out at Level 1, with 50 green shells, which (if you follow the instructions on the leveling help) is plenty enough to get you started.

There is also water and pet food already in your inventory, so place it out and let your pet start eating! That food should get you to Level 2, and the shells you have, plus what you earn from your pets eating and you leveling up, will get you enough food to help you level up again--and the process will repeat.

Eating is the main way you will level. The more your pet eats, the more exp points you will get! And, not only when YOUR pet eats. . . Any visiting pet that eats or drinks will gain you exp points as well. It pays to be generous on GoPets!

There are cost-free ways to gain exp as well. Playing the piano for your pet (you will find it in your inventory), petting your pet and any visiting pets (but you'd do that anyway, right?!), sending IKUs (Level 2) and sending your pets to visit other desktops (Level 3). All these gain +5 each time, except the piano, which gives +10.

Once you have reached level 6 (and you'll be surprised how quickly that happens), you'll receive a daily fortune cookie, from Ho Lee Chow. Inside you might find shells, or another fortune cookie, or you might find a food higher than your current level. If the latter happens, just set it aside and save it for later. The same thing may happen if your pet finds a treasure chest while visiting another users desktop. Again, just set aside for later and remember. . .the higher the level, the more exp points you'll get for it!

Yes, it's true, each level gets longer. You can see how many exp points you need to finish a level by holding your cursor over your experience bar.

.Levels 25-30 take a really long time, but by then it doesn't matter so much. Your pet can wear most all the clothing and nameplates, eat most all the food and have most all the items by then. There are only a few items that can not be used until these late levels.

To see which items and food can be used at which level is easily done. Go to the Shopping page and in the search box, choose "Search by Level" and then choose the level you wish to search.

Be patient! This might take a few minutes. Once it's pulled up, you'll be able to see all the items that you can buy at a certain level.

You can tell which of the items in your inventory still have exp, as they will be called "new". Any item bought in the regular GoPets stores will be new. Unfortunately, you can not tell when purchasing an item from a user store if it is new or used. If you are buying something from another user, specifically for exp points, it would be best to ask if it is new or used before you buy.

Don't look on leveling as a punishment for being new. Look on leveling as a great way to learn the ins and outs of GoPets in a non-overwhelming, helpful, fun environment--with the satisfaction of completed levels and bonus shells.

Leveling was designed to help you learn about GoPets in an easy and friendly manner, taking the “WHAT DO I DO NOW” feeling out of the game, introducing you to the features, shopping and overall fun in small doses and hopefully answering some of the questions you have before you have to ask them! In addition, leveling gives you the added bonus of earning extra shells at the end of each level so that you will have enough to feed your pet (and hopefully buy him or her some little extras ) as you are leveling.

Once you have reached level 6 (and you'll be surprised how quickly that happens), you'll receive a daily fortune cookie, from Ho Lee Chow. Inside you might find shells, or another fortune cookie, or you might find a food higher than your current level. If the latter happens, just set it aside and save it for later. The same thing may happen if your pet finds a treasure chest while visiting another users desktop. Again, just set aside for later and remember. . .the higher the level, the more exp points you'll get for it!

Oh, and welcome to GoPets!