Launched in 1999 by British developers, the site let users care for cartoon pets, chat and play games. But after Viacom bought it, for $160m (£122m) in 2005, the site failed to keep up with the ...

Dozens of games emerged, including Webkinz, where real stuffed animals morphed into digital pets; Toontown, Disney's cartoon universe; Moshi Monsters, where 80 million players worldwide raised pet ...