The World Challenge – A Forgotten Art

(Please note that this article is not to explain the mechanics of the World Challenge, but to merely encourage players to give the WC a shot. There are several amazing guides out there that will explain everything you need to know, so I figured that it would be redundant to state these methods myself. Therefore, if you are unfamiliar with the World Challenge, I would suggest reading a guide or two about it before reading this article.)

The WC used to have a greater following than it does today, but because of certain changes to the way that it works, people eventually started to abandon this art in favor of other NP-making methods. The two major changes that caused this to happen in my opinion were the “Random-Piece” rule and the “3-A-Day” rule. When the WC was first released, you were allowed to obtain as many map pieces a day as you wanted, and would only be awarded pieces that you did not already have in your map. Unfortunately changes were made so that, as the rule names aforementioned indicate, all pieces obtained would be random and you would only be allowed to get 3 pieces a day. While these rules caused several people to quit the WC, they did not destroy it. Albeit that the World Challenge may not be as glamorous as it once was, I can assure you all that there are several reasons why it is still an amazing art.

1. It’s short and sweet.

Depending on the game (or games!) you choose, to play, you may be able to secure victory just by playing a game for 20 minutes. Upon winning, you will receive a prize that can range up to 50k, and sometimes more. While the amount may be quite less than 50k, it is still a nice prize, considering that you only played for 20 minutes. Doing this 3 times a day, you can be done with the WC after only spending an hour on it, and then you can move onto your other NP-making methods, such as restocking.

2. You can receive decent prizes when converting maps.

I know that some people are weary when it comes to converting maps, and in all honestly the prize you receive does come down to luck. That being said, there are some great possible prizes to be obtained. One of my best prizes was a Lost Desert Paint Brush, which is currently priced around 1.7 million NP.

3. You can increase your chances of getting some nice trophies.

Contrary to what some might believe, not every gamer is instantly great at a game. Some games take quite a bit of practice to master. Therefore, if you choose the same game (or games) for the WC when entering, you are sure to get better and better at them, giving you a good chance of obtaining a trophy in that game. For example, I usually play Terror Mountain games in the World Challenge, and after practicing some of the games in this category, I was able to obtain a trophy in Ice Cream Machine and Let It Slide, while also getting close to trophy scores in Snowball Fight and Igloo Garage Sale - The Game. In short, obtaining certain trophies becomes much easier.

(When it comes to choosing a game, I suggest picking one that you enjoy. Trust me, the more you enjoy it, the better you will get.)

4. It is something to do.

While this may not sound like the greatest reason to play the WC, it actually has some validity. As I am a major Neopets addict, I can say that there are several times in which I roam around the site aimlessly because none of my friends are currently online or because there isn’t much to do in the real world at the time being. When this occurs, playing the WC becomes a great option. It allows you to keep yourself occupied while earning NP. When it comes down to it, I guess what I am saying here is that playing the WC Is better than doing nothing.

5. It is fun!

Put simply, playing in the World Challenge is fun! After fully understanding the mechanics, it is both simple and enjoyable (after all, you’re only playing games). I have found Neopets games to be one of the more enjoyable features of the site, and also the most addicting. That being said, it is easy to see why the WC is so fun, because all you are really doing is playing games that you enjoy while earning NP in the process. Trust me, if you start participating in the WC, you are likely to get hooked.

While I am sure that there are several other reasons that some people may play in the World Challenge, these are the ones that I believe make it amazing. Again, let me just say for the record that I do not suggest abandoning your other methods of making NP in favor of the WC. In fact, I myself try to restock from time to time, and I know several people who have gotten rich doing so. I do, however, suggest that you do at least give it a try, because when it comes down to it, a lost art is not necessarily a bad one.

(If anyone has any questions or comments about this article or the WC in general, I would be more than happy to hear from you in the future.)