Gigapets, Tamagotchi, Digital Doggie, Nano(pets)–kids are crazy for the creatures caged in tiny electronic screens that eat, sleep, complain and require discipline. At first glance, these pulsing plastic pets are less trouble than the paw and claw variety, but look deeper. Anyone who has “babysat” for one of these demanding digital demons knows they can be petulant and annoying, and they never purr or lick your hand.
Now come cyberpets for the PC. These critters are more “evolved” than their hand-held counterparts but just as exasperating.
Take “Tamagotchi” (Bandai Digital, Win95, $19.95, Kids/Adults), for example. Now you can feed, discipline and clean up after your cyberpet on the PC, but you also can hear it complain, monitor its growth on a screen saver, play games with it and even print out pictures of the little darling. It still will “die” if you neglect it, but there’s a cyber babysitting service that will watch over your pride and joy for up to 72 hours if you want some time off. (star) (star)
“Fin Fin” (Fujitsu, Win95, $29.95, Kids/Adults) is a bird/dolphin of a different feather/blow hole. This fantastic, graceful creature lives in the virtual world of the planet TEO and is far more complex than other computer pets. Fin Fin’s graphics are lush and limitless and he acts so realistically that it’s easy to become immersed in his world.
This game employs A-Life technology, which allows Fin Fin to respond to your voice and actions through a microphone (provided). He’ll probably be skittish as a new puppy at first, but as he “learns” to trust you, he will communicate with you, play, dance and act just like the family pet.(star) (star) (star) (star)
“Digital Doggie Duo” (Fujitsu, Win95, $19.95, Kids/Adults) is double the fun–the package consists of the “K-9 Cyber Companion” CD-ROM and a pocket K-9 hand-held pet, so you’ll never have a free moment. The CD-ROM game requires that you “train” your doggie to sit, bark and come when called, though he’s about as hard-headed as a pit bull. He grows each time he successfully obeys and he gets his training certificate when he chalks up enough bones on the growth chart. (star) (star)
The hand-held digital doggie is similar to the PC version, but he’s a little more difficult to maintain than the hand-held Tamagotchi.
Speaking of pets, the “All Dogs Go to Heaven Activity Center” (MGM/UA Family Entertainment, hybrid,$24.95, Kids/Adults) features all the canine characters from the movies (Charlie, Itchy, Carface), but here you get to play with them, too. One of the games, Dog Hockey has its roots in air hockey, but here your mouse is your paddle and you’re playing against a dog. Another is Canine Cards, a Crazy-Eights type of game that is monitored by a chihuahua. You can listen to music while you play and you get a medal if you win, but Carface won’t try to drown you.
