Tamagotchi

Tamagotchi

Tamagotchi is a word coming from the Japanese "tamago" for egg and "chi" meaning friend. It is a name given to an electronic device created for entertainment. It was developed in the early 1990s in Japan by two people from Bandai and quickly became a popular toy throughout the world in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Tamagotchi is a handheld, pocket-sized digital device that is meant to be a pet friend to its owner. It has a simulation game inside in which a small creature resembling an animal, object, character, or a human is grown and taken care of by its owner. The creature develops at a different speed depending on the care that the player provides to it.

When activating the device, an egg appears on the screen. The egg hatches after setting the time clock of the device. A small pet appears. It will require care, and depending on how much the owner cares for it, the results will be different. The growing character has a hunger meter, discipline meter, bracelet meter, and health meter. Age and weight of the creature are also provided. For example, when the pet is hungry it needs to be fed. Satisfying the pet's needs for game, play, care, and sleep is left to the player.

Tamagotchi Friends is a version of the Tamagotchi franchise, released in 2013. Besides the virtual character, this special series has toy sets and character figures. The layout of the display is similar to the classical four-shades black and white display and has the same sound effects. The backgrounds also change on different dates.

Different versions of the Tamagotchi franchise have different features. Some have more options, can raise more pets, and have different backgrounds, and different games that can be played with the interactive character. The displays of the devices also differ. Most of them, like the original ones released in the first years, are black and white, but there are some versions that have a colorful display.

The exterior of the device consists of a plastic case in which the electronic device is encased. A hole for a keychain is made in the plastic case, and most versions have a keychain when purchased. The case is of variating color, and a single version might have a couple of different colors to choose from. It is rounded, with shapes that might resemble an egg, a heart, or a particular character. Three or more small rubber buttons are there to help you navigate through the game.