Question: Do
you know much about or have any info on the Tamagotchi
toys...my son is after one but I'm not sure if they are good bad or
otherwise?
Answer:
Here are some
links
that should help answer your question:
Why Christmas toys aren't child's play:
"The death-match between tweenage stalwart Barbie and sassy upstart Bratz - very much to the advantage of the latter - has been the big story of the toy trade this year.
For the first time in years, the TRA has dropped Barbie from its list of likely Christmas top-sellers.
...the industry has a number of other, more pressing issues on its mind:
Forget fickle tweenagers: the taste-buds everyone wants to tempt belong to pre-schoolers.
Tamagotchi - Toys of Innocence or Instuments of the New World Order?
"The Tamagotchi descended into North America on May 1st, using FAO Schwartz -- the toy store of THE MAN -- as their launch pad. After winning over the rich and powerful, their next step was to flood the stores of the masses -- Toys 'R' Us, Kay-Bee Toys and Wal-Mart. ...
"...these electronic animals have a strange hold over our young, and quite a few adults, for that matter. What mesmerizing quality do they have?
Owning a Tamagotchi is similar to owning a cat or dog -- you have to feed and play with it regularly, clean up after it poops, give it a shot when it's ill. The Tamagotchi have distinct personalities, ranging from happy, long-living creatures to selfish little bastards."
Bandai "virtual pet'' still windfall for toymaker:
"Japanese toy maker Bandai Co Ltd , buoyed by runaway sales of its Tamagotchi 'virtual pet' toy, on Tuesday announced an interim profit nearly four times higher than that of last year.... But question remains over how long the stunning sales of Bandai's Tamagotchi toys will last, as game giant Nintendo Co Ltd's Pocket Monster game software is now rapidly emerging as the newest craze in Japan.
"The sales of the Pocket Monster, or
Pokemon, adopted for Nintendo's Gameboy player totalled 6.94 million
units since its first launch in February last year and Nintendo said it plans to
launch a new series of the software on Friday. Players capture various kinds of
monsters hiding in towns and other places and train them to fight each other....
"In May, Bandai, also known for its Dragon Ball and Power Ranger character toys, caught the stock market by surprise by abruptly calling off a planned merger with Sega Enterprises Ltd , maker of the Sega Saturn 32-bit video game player.
The merger was intended to create a global entertainment giant rivalling Walt Disney Co of the United States."
Tamagotchi Connection:
"A Kid's Review: 'I had many Tomagotchis before when I was little. And I enjoyed them then! Now, to find out they had brought them back, I'm so psyched! I can't wait to get one! I am currently shopping for one. I rated it by the old ones I have!! I love Tomagotchis and defintly recommend them to kids who can't have any real pets because of allergies, rules, or apartments. It teaches them responsibility, and the value of money. Especially when you have to buy batteries!!!"
Tamagotchi "Connects" Fans from Coast-to-Coast at its U.S. Debut:
"The egg-shaped toy simulates the life cycle of a pet, letting kids experience the fun and responsibility of feeding, tending to and caring for their virtual pet. The advanced Tamagotchi Connection features new infrared communication functions. Infrared technology allows Tamagotchi Connection owners to
'connect' with others and play games, give gifts and become friends with other Tamagotchi owners and store a
'friend list' of up to 50 friends. Once an adult, the Tamagotchi can connect with a compatible Tamagotchi friend and have a second-generation Tamagotchi that the owner can care for and nurture into an adult to create more generations to come."
1
Tamagotchi:
"An appealing virtual reality creature. Tamagotchi ("tom-ah-got-chee") was first discovered in Japan. Tamagotchi
hatch from tiny eggs after traveling millions of lightyears
through cyberspace. With proper care and feeding (accomplished by pushing buttons on the egg), Tamagotchi
quickly grow into adorable virtual reality pets in a wide variety or shapes and
personalities....
Although there have been unsubstantiated reports of Tamagotchi sightings over
Hawaii, the main flock is not expected to arrive in the U.S. until this Summer."
2
Tamagotchi connectioncom/
:
Tamagotchi Products - More_Characters:
"Young Mimitchi - Here's a Tamagotchi teen who's a little impatient.... Hinotamatchi
- Another rebellious teen that loves rock n' roll and a wild lifestyle! ...
Kuchipatchi - Who can resist this mild-mannered dreamer? It may be lazy, but is exteremely likeable....
Gozarutchi - This is a very strong Tamagotchi who practices martial arts and excels at throwing knives. Its dream is to become a Ninja!...
Ojitchi - He is in the final stages of Tamagotchi. He is stubborn and refuses to to be defeated by a younger Tamagotchi.
A
brief history of Tamagotchi!!:
"Japanese housewife Aki Maita (b. circa 1966) invented the plastic electro-avian, seeking an easy-to-care-for pet. Since launching the Tamagotchi in November 1996, manufacturer Bandai (previous hit: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) has sold over 5 million units....
"Schoolgirl muggings have occurred; sightings of Tamagotchi-struck
businessmen have been frequent. ...interest in the eggs threatens to overtake the concurrent fad
'Beanie Babies.'
"You don't just play with your Tamagotchi
when you feel like it.... It will let you know when it wants you. It will beep you and cry for you, and its sounds will get louder and louder until you give it attention.'
If you ignore it... the Tamagotchi will misbehave -- acting loudly and
recklessly, not responding to affection and even becoming physically ill....
"'People wear them as necklaces, key chains, bracelets,'
...
"'Artificial life is
a whole new level of human-computer interaction,' Yoshi Matsumodo, vice president of Fujitsu Interactive in San Francisco, has said....
"Those of us who have held dysfunctional love/hate relationships with our computers for a long time have suspected a logical next step: a computer device that loves you -- and hates you -- right back.
Virtual-pet craze, imported in May 1997 to the US from Japan in the infantilized pop-culture tradition of
Hello Kitty.
"The Tamagotchi
(roughly translated, "Lovable Egg") consists of a small ovoid electronic device
with LCD display depicting a bird. ... The average life-span is 10-18 days, but negligence will result in premature virtual
'death' ... signified by loud squawking.
A reset button reincarnates the Tamagotchi.
"'...after travelling millions of light-years through cyberspace' to hatch in its flattened-duck-egg-shaped shell, it immediately starts squeaking and crying for attention from its owner....
"Even though a new Tamagotchi can be hatched with the press of a button when an old one dies, people become quite attached to their digital playmates. An owner can register their tamagotchi, how long the Tamagotchi
lived, and leave a short eulogy....
"How do you know when it is happy?
You can tell when tamagotchi is happy - as the same as when he requires feeding happens, a cross tamagotchi will have blank hearts under happy on its health meter. To cheer it up, you have to play a game by clicking on the bat and ball icon
...Cleaning is a simple chore, not as messy as cleaning up after a baby, a kitten or a pup - no stained carpets, all you have to do is press a flush button and the mess gets shovelled
off the screen."