Tamagotchi

A Tamagotchi V1

The Tamagotchi (たまごっち, Tamagotchi^?) is a handheld digital pet, created in Japan by Akihiro Yokoi of WiZ and Aki Maita of Bandai. It was first sold by Bandai in 1996 in Japan. As of 2010, over 76 million Tamagotchis have been sold world-wide.^[1] Most Tamagotchis are housed in a small egg-shaped computer with an interface usually consisting of three buttons, although the number of buttons may vary for different variations.

According to Bandai, the name is a portmanteau combining the Japanese word "たまご" (tamago), which means "egg", and the English word "watch"(ウオッチ uocchi).^[2] Consequently, the name is romanized as "Tamagotch" without the "i" in Japan. But recently in Japan, the romanized name has changed to the American "Tamagotchi" with the i. At the end of most Tamagotchi character's names, excluding some newer characters like Makiko, is 'tchi' or 'っち' in Japanese.

Gameplay

Upon removing the tab of a Tamagotchi unit, an egg will appear on the screen. After setting the Tamagotchi unit's clock, the Tamagotchi will hatch after several seconds, after which the player will be told of its gender and will be given the opportunity to give it a name, which can be 5 to 8 characters in length. From then on, the player is given the task of raising the Tamagotchi to good health throughout its life and attending to its needs, such as feeding it, playing games to make the Tamagotchi happy and keep it at a healthy weight, cleaning up its excrement, punishing or praising the Tamagotchi based on its actions, returning it to proper health with medicine if it gets sick, and shutting off the lights when it goes to bed. If the Tamagotchi is left uncared for, it will soon result in the death of the Tamagotchi. Although there are many versions, only some are still in production. On the original Tamagotchi, the Tamagotchi would die eventually. As time passes, the Tamagotchi will evolve through various stages (Baby, Toddler/Child, Teenager, Adult, and Senior), the results varying based on the gender of the Tamagotchi, its current generation, and on the player's actions. A Tamagotchi that has been cared for well enough will result in a better and a well-mannered Tamagotchi, while excessive poor care will instead result in a Tamagotchi that requires much more attention and often does not behave well. Upon reaching a specific age and friendship level with another Tamagotchi, the player's Tamagotchi will be able to mate with another Tamagotchi of the opposite gender, usually arranged by an elderly Tamagotchi known as "the Matchmaker" or "Mrs. Busybody". Once the two Tamagotchis mate successfully, the female produces two infant Tamagotchis, one which is kept by the father, and the other by the mother. After 24 hours pass, the parent leaves the baby, starting a brand new generation.

Recent Tamagotchis, such as the Connection series, are able to communicate wirelessly with other Tamagotchis to develop friendships, exchange gifts, and compete in several different types of games.

Tamagotchi releases

Main article: List of Tamagotchi releases

As of 2009, there have been over 44 Tamagotchi versions released since their creation in 1996. Several of them are Japanese Tamagotchis. These include the original Tamagotchi, Christmas-themed Tamagotchi Angelgotchi and Oceangotchi (mainly released in Japan), and newer Tamagotchi versions, known as Connection, Connexion or Plus, which can communicate with other Tamagotchi for games and breeding. The most recent version in Japan is Tamagotchi iD L.,^[3] an enhanced version of the Tamagotchi iD. Internationally, TamaTown Tama-Go is the latest model, featuring a grayscale screen and attachable Character Figures.

Tamagotchi video games

Tamagotchi for Game Boy and Game Boy Color which are similar to the original handheld games. Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop, Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop 2, and Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop 3 for Nintendo DS are games where the players can run shops to make money. The players can choose between Mametchi, Memetchi, Kuchipatchi, and in Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop 3, Violetchi, to become a partner, and work together to keep their customers happy. Also on the Nintendo 64, Tamagotchi 64: Minna de Tamagotchi World a Nintendo 64 game released only in Japan in 1997. It is a virtual board game based on the Tamagotchi toy. In December 2006, a new game came out called Tamagotchi: Party On! where you walk around a board, and play games to win coins and become the town mayor. In 2009, Bandai Japan released a Nintendo DS game called "Tamagotchi no Narikiri Channel" This game includes Lovelin. The game is focused on the player as Mametchi for a male player or Lovelitchi for a female player, working for TAMAX-TV, the Tamagotchi World's TV station. In 2010, they made a new game called "Tamagotchi no Narikiri Challenge" This includes the new character, Melodytchi.

Arcade systems

Mario Kart Arcade GP 2

Mametchi, a common Tamagotchi character, appears in Namco Bandai's/Nintendo's Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 as a character, along with Mametchi's pet, Bagubagutchi, as an item.

TamaStation

TamaStation is an arcade machine released in Japan where the owner can get prizes for their Tamagotchi. This machine has several sequels, such as TamaStation 2.

In other media

Film

On June 5, 2007, it was announced by Reuters that an animated Tamagotchi film was to be released in December 2007. The film, Tamagotchi: The Movie, focuses on Mametchi, along with his friends Memetchi and Kuchipatchi. Introduced are Tanpopo, a human girl who Mametchi accidentally transports to the Tamagotchi Planet; and Chamametchi, the younger sister of Mametchi who is born during the film's events. On December 20, 2008, a second film, known as Tamagotchi: Happiest Story in the Universe!, was released into theaters. This film, introducing a new Tamagotchi known as Hapihapitchi, was later released on DVD, on June 26, 2009.^[4] Tamagotchi: The Movie was released on December 15, 2007, and was distributed by Toho Co. The film opened at #3 at the box office on opening weekend.^[5] On May 31, 2008, North American distributor Bandai Entertainment announced they had acquired the rights to the film.^[6] The movie's first English release was a direct-to-DVD version, released on June 3, 2009 in Australia. The UK DVD was released on September 14, 2009 via Manga Entertainment.

Animated series

A Japanese-only anime series called Anime TV de Hakken!! Tamagotchi (アニメ TVで発見!! たまごっち, lit. Found on Anime TV!! Tamagotchi) aired from July 7, 1997 to March 21, 1998 on Fuji TV.

In December 2007, Bandai Japan began airing Saa Ikou! Tamagotchi(さぁイコー！たまごっち) a week before the release of the first film. In December 2008, Bandai America dubbed the series, Let's Go! Tamagotchi, and began streaming it on YouTube in both English and Japanese, with captions for up to 7 other languages.^[7]

In 2009, another TV anime was announced, called Tamagotchi! (たまごっち!). It began in October 2009. The English version of the Tamagotchi TV anime began screening in Australia on channel Go! as of 22 November 2010. The anime has been dubbed in Tagalog in the Philippines. There is also a dub in Taiwan airing on YoYo TV. The release date for the United States is yet to be known.

Animated video

An animated video called, "Now Museum, Now You Don't," Tamagotchi Video Adventures was produced by 7th Level, Inc. in association with Bandai in 1997. Directed by Dan Kuenster, produced by Susan Deming and written by Kuenster, Deming and David Lewman. It runs approximately 42 and a half minutes long. Cosmotchi sends the Tamagotchi to Earth to collect an object that best exemplifies the planet for the Tamagotchi Museum. An original animated music video ("What's a Tamagotchi?") and a how-to-draw Tamagotchi featurette, starring director Kuenster follow the movie.

Music

A song called "Tamagotchi" was produced by the music band Sqeezer in 1997.

In Japan, the band Kigurumi, after gaining new members and becoming a trio, released their single, "Tamagotchi", on November 21, 2007, which was also the theme music for the film.^[8] It was dubbed in English along with the English dub of the movie.

The Eurodance group Daze song entitled "Together Forever" uses many Tamagotchi references.

The Los Angeles based pop duo, LOONER, released their tribute to the toy in May 2009 with the single "I Love My Tamagotchee!"^[9]

There are many songs created for Tamagotchi!, the anime based on Tamagotchi. Some well known ones are:

• Every Lovely (Japanese) / Lovely Day (English)
• Happy Happy Harmony
• Miracle Kitchen

Criticism and controversy

One controversy over Tamagotchi digital pets involved children taking them to school because certain Tamagotchi versions could starve or die in less than half a day from lack of care. Worry over potential ownership disputes, class disruptions, and general distraction from schoolwork has led many schools to ban the product.^[10] (Later versions included a 'pause' feature, plus a newer sound on/off function.) Some parents also express concern because the device constantly calls the user to it with penalties for ignoring its signal, including death, starvation, and sickness, effectively keeping the device in the child's consciousness at all times and interfering with other activities.

On August 3, 2005, South Australian MP Nick Xenophon attempted to ban the Tamagotchi Connection Version 2 (or at least have it classified R18+) due to the "Slot" game featured on it, fearing that it would make kids grow up to become "gambling addicts of tomorrow".^[11]

See also

• Tuttuki Bako - a similar Bandai release
• Fin Fin on Teo the Magic Planet - a similar digital pet game
• Tamagotchi effect - A psychological effect named after the digital pet
• List of Tamagotchi releases
• Digimon

References

1. ^ Bandai (2010-01-31). ""Tamagotchi iD L" March 19th sale!". Bandai. http://www.bandai.co.jp/press/images/3/60294.pdf. Retrieved 2010-02-20. 
2. ^ バンダイ タイムマシンバンダイ マシン (Older archived version)
3. ^ http://tamagotch.channel.or.jp/toy/tamago_id/lovemelo.html
4. ^ Tamagotchi: Happiest Story in the Universe! - tamagotchi.wikia.com
5. ^ Japanese Box Office, December 15-16: Tamagotchi at #3 - Anime News Network
6. ^ Bandai Entertainment Gets Tamagotchi Feature Film - Anime News Network
7. ^ Bandai Streams Tamagotchi in Seven Languages for Free - Anime News Network
8. ^ Kigurumi gains two members - Tokyograph
9. ^ LOONER "I Love My Tamagotchee!" Music Video
10. ^ Honolulu Star-Bulletin Local News
11. ^ Your Vote: XYZ | Refused-Classification.com

External links

• www.tamagotchi.com Official USA Tamagotchi site
• www.tamagotchieurope.com Official European Tamagotchi site
• Net Discovery! Tamagotchi Official Japanese site for 2004–present models
• Net Discovery! Tamagotch Official Japanese site for 1996-1998 models
• tamaeiga.com Official Movie Website
• くちぱっちのモグモグブログだっち Kuchipatchi's blog
• tamatown.com Tamagotchi Town (in English)
• tamagotchieurope.com Tamagotchi Town (in many European languages)