- title "NeoPass for DTI"

= image_tag 'about/neopass-header.png',
	alt: "Header image of three Neopets wearing NeoPass badges on lanyards",
	width: 800, height: 232

:markdown
	Hi, everyone! We've got big news coming up: we're partnering with Neopets to
	add "Login with NeoPass" and some other integrations to bring our sites a
	bit closer together! Here's what to expect and why.
	_(Posted: March 13, 2024)_

	## Login with NeoPass

	Over time, Neopets is planning to send more users our way, and we want them
	to have a smooth experience when they get here!

	**So, new users will be able to click "Login with NeoPass" and use their
	existing Neopets account**, instead of creating a new DTI username and
	password. Existing DTI users can also link accounts if they want, too!

	We're also keeping in mind that a _lot_ of the pain points in using DTI right
	now have to do with transferring stuff between Neopets and DTI. It's possible
	that this could set us up for other smoother experiences in the future, too!

	## Links to NC Mall

	We're also planning to add **a few links from DTI to the NC Mall**, which
	we'll do our best to make thoughtful and unobtrusive. There's two main
	reasons for this!

	First off, when Neopets sends users our way, we don't want them to get
	confused and stuck here. Existing DTI users know their way around NC, but new
	users probably won't, so we'll add a couple hints for how to get their
	designs onto Neopets.com.

	The second reason is: we believe Dress to Impress is a critical part of the
	Neopets economy, and we want TNT to be able to see that, too. We'll include
	**a lil referral code in the link** so TNT can know which shoppers came from
	DTI, and can evaluate accordingly. (We expect this to be important for us
	long-term!)

	## Why now?

	Dress to Impress has always been a **very small-staff volunteer project**, and
	it's been clear to everyone over the past few years that we're struggling to
	balance DTI with the rest of our lives 😖 Work and life and family have their
	own needs, and they've been increasing!

	And so… there are reasons we're being careful talking about details right
	now, but the gist is: we're hoping that partnering with TNT will not only
	help us fill gaps in the customization user experience, but can also be part
	of **a more sustainable future for Dress to Impress long-term**. I hope we
	can tell you more about it soon!

	I know full well, and I'm sure you do too, that partnerships between
	companies and fan projects can be complicated. I promise I'm doing my best to
	represent you all, focusing on securing what's right for the community, and
	keeping in mind the importance of autonomy! We'll keep DTI independent, only
	do things we believe genuinely serve everyone, and keep a critical eye as we
	go.

	So, yeah! It's NeoPass time! We'll be working on this in the coming months,
	and I'll let you know more along the way. If you have questions or thoughts,
	please email me at <matchu@openneo.net>, and I'll do my best to listen and
	help!

	Thanks as always, everyone. We'll talk more soon! 💖  
	_—Matchu_