If you lived between the late 1990s and early 2000s, you probably know the Tamagotchi, a virtual pet that has become a real fever among young people around the world, including Brazil. According to official brand data, more than 91 million units were sold globally, not to mention the sales of pirate versions.
He arrived in Brazil between 1997 and 1998 and, shortly thereafter, was already part of the daily life of children across the country. Beyond the original versions, Several imitations were sold in Brazilian commerce – Some of these pirate versions even offered more features than the original digital pet.
The success was so great that they were launched versions inspired by famous entertainment franchises, such as Toy Story, from Disney. No wonder the brand continues to launch new updated models for fans; For example, one of the latest has a wristwatch shape.
What is a tamagotchi?
Tamagotchi is a small device that fits in the palm, an electronic toy that allows the user to take care of a virtual pet. It has a colorful carcass, some buttons for the interactions and an LCD screen where the pet is displayed.
O is a toy of the Japanese Bandai brandalso known for video games hits. The first model was launched in 1996, but the company continues to produce new versions to this day; According to the official website, the most recent model was launched in 2023.
The name of the device is related to its characteristic egg format: The word “tamago” means “egg” in Japanese. Already “Uotchi” comes from “Watch”, which means clock in English. The junction of these words originated the name “Tamagotchi”, since the initial idea was that the device had the shape of a clock.
How to play an tamagotchi
All gameplay revolves around taking care of a virtual pet that “is born” as soon as you start playing. The device works in real time, and You control functions such as food, hygiene, games and.
You need to feed it at the right time, clean the dirt when the warning appears, play to keep you happy and put it to sleep. All of this can be monitored in Tamagotchi itself, which shows the bichinho’s health.
If it gets sick, you need to give medicine. The goal is to keep it always happy, resulting in a healthy adult pet. However, if you do not receive the necessary care, it may end up dying.
Origin of Tamagotchi
In an interview with New York Times, Tamagotchi’s toy and creator executive, Akihiro Yokoi, said he had the idea of the device after watching an advertisement where a boy says he could not take care of his pet turtle during the holidays.
It was then that he reflected: if children cannot always take their pets everywhere, It would be possible to bring a virtual pet. At the time, Yokoi was president of the company Wiz Co., responsible for developing toy projects for other companies.
After having the idea, he contacted Bandai marketing collaborator, who approved the concept and introduced him to the executives of the Japanese company. Initially, the toy was thought to be a wristwatch with the pet but eventually turned into a type of keychain.
Since its release in the United States in 1997, Tamagotchi has quickly been successful among children. Some toy stores reported that their inventories have been exhausted a few hours after the start of sales. A few years later, he was already one of the most popular electronic toys in the world, including Brazil.
Product marketing was mainly directed to girls, but Tamagotchi also became very popular with boys. Despite maintaining its popularity for over a decade, the arrival of others has reduced the success of the bandai’s pet.
Rakuraku Dinokun: Camelô Tamagotchi
Following Tamagotchi’s success around the world, several Asian companies started to launch imitations. In Brazil, the original version was very expensive and the import was not simple at the time, which made it difficult to find it in stores.
Therefore, many Brazilians They opted for cheaper versions, such as Rakuraku dinokun. This version of virtual pet was one of the most popular models in the country, as it was easily found in stores and street vendors.
Dinokun was very similar to the original Tamagotchi, but had no egg shape. As soon as the battery protection was removed, the pet “was born” and you could wear five buttons to take care of it. Even Dinokun has gained pirate versions, which also became popular.
There are still tamagotchis still?
The Tamagotchi brand continues to sell virtual pets to children And it has launched dozens of different models over the years. No wonder a collector market emerged in search of rare versions launched in the past.
In addition, it is still possible to find several imitations in online stores, which offer the same functions as the original device, but do not carry the brand of Bandai.
