Remember Tamagotchi? Everyone's favorite virtual pet returns in November
Everyone's favorite virtual pet (to murder) from the '90s is back.
Bandai Namco revived Tamagotchi earlier this year as a Japan-only thing, but now it's coming to the U.S. on Nov. 5.
The experience has been simplified somewhat and the device itself has slimmed down considerably, but the gist is still the same: care for your digital friend.
When you fire up your Tamagotchi for the first time, one of six chirping faux-pets immediately hatches and you're off. Their basic care is all on you: feed them when they're hungry, turn the lights off (i.e. power down) when it's time to sleep, offer comfort when they're sick, and -- everyone's favorite -- clean up after they poop.
The egg-shaped device is roughly half the size of its 1990s predecessor, sporting a square digital screen with three buttons underneath it. The process of caring for your not-actually-a-pet has been simplified -- there's no playing games with it, and the icons at the top and bottom of the screen have been removed -- but that simplification makes sense in the fast-paced world of 2017.
It's easier to care for your little Tamagotchi, which chirps infrequently and can now be sated with a few brief button presses. I have vague memories of angry high school teachers pausing class to scold students for getting too wrapped up in their fake animal care. That won't be an issue anymore.
Just like the Japan release, the U.S. Tamagotchi will come in six different shells. Your choice of shell doesn't affect which virtual critter hatches, however. All six of the original Tamagotchi creatures are back with this re-release, and you end up with one at random any time you hatch a new egg.
There's really not a whole lot more to say here. Tamagotchi was never meant to be a complicated device, and Bandai's revival makes it even easier. If you had one of these little critters back in the '90s, this new take is freshly streamlined and perfect for tickling your nostalgia nerve without taking over your life (again).
Look for them in stores starting Nov. 5, and definitely don't pay more than $14.99 for one (that's the suggested retail price).
Topics Gaming
Adam Rosenberg is a Senior Games Reporter for Mashable, where he plays all the games. Every single one. From AAA blockbusters to indie darlings to mobile favorites and browser-based oddities, he consumes as much as he can, whenever he can.Adam brings more than a decade of experience working in the space to the Mashable Games team. He previously headed up all games coverage at Digital Trends, and prior to that was a long-time, full-time freelancer, writing for a diverse lineup of outlets that includes Rolling Stone, MTV, G4, Joystiq, IGN, Official Xbox Magazine, EGM, 1UP, UGO and others.Born and raised in the beautiful suburbs of New York, Adam has spent his life in and around the city. He's a New York University graduate with a double major in Journalism and Cinema Studios. He's also a certified audio engineer. Currently, Adam resides in Crown Heights with his dog and his partner's two cats. He's a lover of fine food, adorable animals, video games, all things geeky and shiny gadgets.
