Online entertainment studio Pileated Pictures, developer and operator of Hasbro's Littlest Pet Shop online world, announced a major update to that product, making it accessible in nine different languages globally.

As we reported when the world was initially announced in September 2007, the Littlest Pet Shop world is accessed via codes that come with plush toys. Other enhancements recently made to the product have added more games, activities and community features for the primarily young-girl audience.

Pileated Pictures also announced the addition of an original product to its portfolio with browser-based online world Planet Cazmo, which is aimed at teens and 'tweens and has been operating in stealth mode since December. The company now claims viral enthusiasm has resulted in a significant user base for the game.

Pileated president Michael Levine explains, "Just a couple blog posts on a popular Club Penguin forum generated a wave of viral energy. Within 48 hours there were several thousand Planet Cazmo enthusiasts, "mny of whom went on to publish or participate in one of the dozens of blogs that soon surfaced to talk about the product. In short order, many more users found us through these consumer-created channels. The response has been amazing, and with virtually no promotional effort on our part. We can't wait to see what happens as we move from Beta to the official launch, and deploy our own strategic marketing plan. We're very encouraged."

Version 1.0, the company says, will launch officially during the second quarter of 2008.