If you were born in the last millennium, you’ve probably heard about Tamagotchis – and maybe even owned one in your childhood. And guess what? This retro toy from the 90’s made a major comeback, here’s why we’re so hyped about it and here's where you can buy it!
The Tamagotchi, invented in 1996 in Japan, was a small virtual pet that sold over 80 million units in very little time
The Popular Japanese Game
The Tamagotchi, invented in 1996 in Japan, was a small virtual pet that sold over 80 million units in very little time. Whoever decided to become a Tamagotchi parent needed to feed it, bath it and take complete care of its every need until it became a fully formed adult.
The Tamagotchi's development depended very much on its owner, the more it was taken care of the happier and cleverer it was. And if that's not enough, this cute little gift's creator was awarded a Nobel prize for it in 1997.
The popularity of this classic game dates back to the 90’s before the mobile games took off. Tamagotchis was one of the pioneers in the virtual gaming sector and it basically looked like a simple egg-like contraption with a small screen wherein the popular virtual pet ruled supreme.
It was the cutest little toy with three small buttons on the bottom and a keychain attached to the top. This retro toy was way ahead of the technology from its time, and used a pixel mechanism to show the Tamagotchi (the virtual pet) against a grey background. The screen didn’t have a back light so it was impossible to play the game in the dark.
You could find this small toy in literally every color you ever dreamed of, and at one point the Tamagotchis became so popular that they started emerging in different shapes and designs to please to the masses. But at the heart of it, the game was really about the virtual creatures that lived inside the screen, and their life story is pretty fascinating.
Tamagotchis looked like a simple egg-like contraption with a small screen wherein the popular virtual pet ruled supreme
The Life of a Tamagotchi
The game begins with a baby Tamagotchi hatching from an egg, and once the creature comes to life, the player must nurture it through different evolutionary stages from childhood to a fully-grown adult.
But the way a Tamagotchi is treated has a huge impact on what it will look like after it evolves. There are basically 11 different types of Tamagotchis in the virtual game and if you neglect your virtual pet, it will grow up to be less happy. Much like a real pet, your Tamagotchi’s look will depend solely on the level of care and effort you put into its upbringing.
To make sure that your virtual pet grows up to become a healthy, happy adult Tamagotchi, you must feed it well and care for it the way you would a real pet. Your Tamagotchi will take its full form if you feed it bread, whereas giving it candy will make it sick and overweight.
Besides taking care of its diet, you must also play with your pet through various guessing games. In one, you guess which side your Tamagotchi will face, and in another you try to guess which number on the screen it will pick. Disciplining is another factor that plays an important role in what form your Tamagotchi will take when it grows up. You can either scold your Tamagotchi if it’s being fussy for no reason or give a reward if it behaves well.
If they do get sick because of your negligence, you can nurse them back to health with medicine and good food
Taking Care of Its Health
Bedtime is also important for your Tamagotchi’s growth. You must remember to turn off the lights when your pet’s about to sleep and keep an eye on its bathroom habits. It’s important to flush away the poop as soon as your Tamagotchi uses the toilet, because not doing so will only make them unwell.
If they do get sick because of your negligence, you can nurse them back to health with medicine and good food. Feeding them too often or giving poor quality nutrition will eventually make them sick. But they may also fall ill when they’re old and about to die.
Being consistently negligent and making mistakes while caring for your Tamagotchi can kill it, and once they die, you must start the game all over again and grow a new Tamagotchi. The hardest part about this virtual pet is that it always needs your attention and there is no pause button in the game. This means that kids who go to school must attend to their Tamagotchis even when they’re in class – and that’s never a good thing!
