In 1996, Bandai launched the tamagotchi (たまごっち) in Japan, the world's first virtual pet. More than 40 million units were sold worldwide, 12 million in the United States and Canada alone.
The toy is very simple, it has a small LCD screen, a sturdy plastic box and a few colorful buttons. The images displayed on the screen were very basic, just dots, but even with such simplicity, it managed to be attractive and fun.
The tamagotchi was created by Yokoi Akihiro, motivated by watching a child on TV trying to pack his pet turtle in his suitcase. So Yokoi thought of making a pet that could go with anyone, anywhere.
And that's how Tamagotchi was born, being launched on November 23, 1996. The following year they came to the United States, in packaging with flashy designs, being very successful. So much so that at its peak, 15 units were sold every minute.
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Features and popularity
The game starts with a small egg, from which a varied virtual animal is born. It is necessary to take care of this animal, performing several different functions such as feeding, playing with it, making it sleep and maintaining its hygiene. If you took good care of it, the animal evolved in size and shape. But if the animal is left aside, it becomes ugly, rebellious and can even die. If this happens, the player must start over with a new egg.
Even the Tamagotchis virtual creatures, which lived inside plastic egg-shaped key chains, they actually became “alive”. Their behavior created the illusion that they were real animals. This famous toy was very popular among children and teenagers. And unlike most games, this one encouraged responsibility and hygienic and nutritional behavior.
Another differentiator was that he was popular with both boys and girls. Also, due to their small size, the wielder could carry them wherever they went, being able to easily compare their animals with their friends. And to be successful the child should be more attentive and responsible than violent.
But some critics pointed out some problems with this toy. Many said that the toy created an unrealistic perception of death and was too distracting for children. This has led many schools in Japan and the United States to set strict rules and even ban the toy.
Changes had to be made for the American public, as the idea of virtual death was considered disturbing. Instead of dying, the next generation Tamagotchi characters passed into another world, growing angel wings and flying away.
Changes in Tamagotchi
The success of the toy was short-lived, ending its peak two years after its launch, in 1998. The fall in sales was relatively quick because of many speculations. The decline in Tamagotchi sales was rapid worldwide. The aforementioned fact that the toy was banned in many schools discouraged parents from buying it for their children.
But even despite several problems in sales and in its functionality, its developers did not stop evolving the toy. They soon made Tamagotchis more interactive and enjoyable, even possessing more intelligence of their own. Making the person not need to pay as much attention as in previous versions.
New interactive functions have been added, such as infrared communication. This allowed the virtual pet to become friends with other Tamagotchi, even exchanging gifts.
The legacy created by the Tamagotchi lives on today in many ways. Opening the door to mobile games, computer software and even interactive children's TV shows. One such example is the Pou app, for Android and iOS, which has more than 10 million downloads on the Play Store alone. Because of this, 20 years after its launch, Bandai in 2017 returned to market the toy.
All this shows that Tamagotchis were not just mere toys, but a new style of perception of “virtual life”. Have you ever had a Tamagotchis? Did you take good care of him or did you let him die several times? Tell us here in the comments and share with your friends.
