Tamagotchi

The Tamagotchi (たまごっち Tamagotchi) is a handheld virtual pet created by Aki Maita and sold by Bandai. The name combines the Japanese word for egg ("tamago") and the syllable "chi" which denotes affection, and is also a pun on both "wotchi" (ウォッチ; borrowed from English "watch", as in the time piece) and "tomodachi" (Japanese for friend.) Also, because "tamago" is Japanese for egg, and "tomodachi" is Japanese for friend, Tamagotchi could be taken to mean egg-friend.

In Japanese and most other languages it is pronounced with a long "o" sound — ta-ma-goh-chee — although in the United States it is typically pronounced "ta-ma-GAH-chee".

tenshitchi no tamagotch (Tamagotchi Angel)

• Released in August 1997 with three different colors. This was later released in America as "Tamagotchi Angel."
• Featured a motion-sensor, used to scare away bats that tried to steal your Angelgotch's snack and call it back when it went on a walk. Discipline replaced by "praise" for this pet only.
• The Japanse version has a secret character called Sabotenshi (Cactus Angel) but the U.S. edition replaces Sabotenshi with Kitsutenshi (Smiling Angel). also avalible are secret charicter twin tamagotchis. twins are not avalible on other tamagotchi.

mori no tamagotch (Tamagotchi Garden)

• Released in February 1998 with four different colors. It was scheduled for release in America as "Tamagotchi Garden" but it was canceled.
• This Tamagotchi premiered the "predator" function also used in Umi No Tamagotch. Occasionally, a predator (one is a foot and one is a frog from ocean) would attack, and you have to use the voice and touch-sensitive functions by shouting and tapping at the screen to scare away the predator. If its attack succeeded, the Tamagotchi could be made sick or even killed.
• Another notable function of the Mori No Tamagotch is its teenager phase: It is replaced by a cocoon, which stays for 24 hours, during which time you had to control a temperature dial. If the environment was mostly hot, the Mori No would change into the "warmer" creature for that quality of care, and vice versa for cold.
• there are two types of eggs that can be chosen to hatch in this tamagotchi. one is easier and one is harder.

Umi no Tamagotch (Tamagotchi Ocean)

• Released in March of 1998 in Japan with four different colors.
• Released in the United States in 1998 with four colors as "Tamagotchi Ocean"
• This is known as one of the hardest Tamagotchi to raise, needing near-constant attention.
• Included a "water quality" meter in the status screen. Flushing the screen could make the screen cleaner, but if all four skulls on the meter were filled, the water would become black and it had to be flushed to see the Tamagotchi again. This was a secondary use for the cleaning function which is not used in any other Tamagotchi.

Mesutchi and Osutchi

• Released in December of 1997 in Japan only.
• Featured interlocking mating using the same concept that Digimon premiered to have Tamagotchis give birth.
• Both Mesutchi and Osutchi featured 31 characters each. Five different generations of Tamagotchi were available, but only one had a growth chart that was affected by caretaking skills. The other four were linear.
• If one was to become lazy on his or her care for their Mesutchi/Osutchi, the Tamagotchi would become an unmateable creature.
• If the player fed the Tamagotchi too much food and it got to be 99 pounds, it would turn into a "Debutchi" which took up the whole screen. The player would then have to help lower the weight of the Tamagotchi before anything else could be done.

Tamaotch

This was named after Japanese actress Tamao Nakamura and released in April 1998.

Devilgotchi

• Released in September of 1998 in four colors.

Similar to the Angelgotchi, but used characters that were evil, basically the opposite of Angelgotchi.

• Care was almost exactly the same as Angelgotchi, but the characters in Devilgotchi went out to do evil deeds, unlike the Angelgotchi characters, which went out to do good deeds.
• Used a touch screen and a voice sensitive unit, similar to Umi no Tamagotchi.

Yasashii Tamagotchi

• Released in October of 1998 in three colors.
• "Easy Tamagotchi," has slightly different evolutions than the first set of Tamagotchi toys. Also features a larger case.
• In the place of icons, backlit buttons were used, and the number of buttons at the bottom of the case were reduced to two.

Santaclautchi

• Santa Claus and Christmas-themed Tamagotchi.

The Santaclautchi character did not evolve, but could be changed by receiving different items. If bad care was taken, Santaclautchi would return to his house and a Kuchipatchi wearing a cape would have to return him to the screen.

Genjintchi

• Caveman Tamagotchi.

Mothra Tamagotchi

• Winged beast Mothra Tamagotchi.

Tamagotchi Plus

• Released only in Japan on March 20, 2004.
• Includes characters from the original Tamagotchi as well as several characters new to the Tamagotchi series.
• Implements an infrared port to connect to other Tamagotchi to "make friends," play games and exchange presents with other Tamagotchi V1's(Tamagotchi Plus, Connexion, and Connection) and higher, and also breed and create a new generation of Tamagotchi.
• Can also connect to deka (huge) Tamagotchi in Japanese retail stores and restaurants for an exclusive "friend."

Tamagotchi Connexion

The English-language version of the Tamagotchi Plus released in Oceania, Asia, and Europe. Essentially the same as the Connection, with slight changes in the wording of menu screens (such as 'style' instead of 'gender').

Tamagotchi Connection

The English-language version of the Tamagotchi Plus released in North America on August 15, 2004.

• Also called "V1(version 1)."
• Changes the language from Tamagotchi Connexion to conform to the U.S. variation of English (e.g. 'gender' instead of 'style')
• Allows players to connect via infared to other players systems and become friends, get married, and even have kids.
• There are six stages of life: egg, infant, child, teenager, adult and senior(New to Connection). The egg stage doesn't last very long, only 1 minute,infant: 1 hour, Child: 24 hours, Teen: 2-3 days, Adult: 20 days, Senior: 3-5 days.

Keitai Kaitsuu Tamagotchi Plus (K-Plus)

• Connects to Japanese mobile phones.
• Connects to original Tamagotchi Plus and Deka Tamagotchi.
• Ten digit passwords unlock foods from each region of Japan and items for each character.
• Features old characters as well as new characters not in the original Tamagotchi Plus.

Hanerutchi

• Features characters from the Japanese show "haneru no tobira"
• Debuted in two colors with identical designs (white with green or red stripe and back)
• Limited-edition metallic white with blue stripe was also released.

Chibi tamagotchi (Tamagotchi Mini)

A miniature Tamagotchi 80% of the size of the original toy which has limited features and is promoted as a fashion accessory.

• In Japan, the three colors available are identical to three of the six colors of the original Tamagotchi (pink, light blue, and white). The keychain attachment is a small ball-chain loop.
• In America, debuted with four colors (black with flames, light blue, pink, purple, and light blue) and several months later followed with four more colors (yellow with dots, purple with dots, a darker blue, and yellow with stripes). The keychain attachment is a short link-chain with a lanyard clasp at the end.
• The following characters are available on this Tamagotchi: marutchi, mametchi, masukutchi, kuchipatchi, ginjirotchi, nyorotchi, oyajitchi, and rakki unchi-kun (lucky poop, Japan-only)
• On the Japanese version, it shows a grave with a little ghost when it dies. In America, it shows the Tamagotchi Planet.

Tamagotchi Connection Version 2

(Also called Version 2, Vr. 2, Ver. 2, or V2) Version two of the Tamagotchi Connection (cousin to Japanese Tamagotchi Plus) was released on June 21, 2005 in the U.S. with new features.

• Newer Characters and ones taken from older tamagotchis like mesu/osu.
• New games such as Jump, Bump, Heading, Slot.
• Shopping (points earned in the games are used to buy items from a shop which is re-stocked three times a day. Maximum points is 9999.)
• Shop restocks at 3:00 A.M., 3:00 P.M., and 7:00 P.M.
• Connect (using IR capability) with options such as GAME or PRESENT, and the options to connect to either Version1 or Version2 Tamagotchi.
• Five codes are available on the V2 that unlock special items. These codes would be entered by entering the shop, pressing "A" until the shopkeeper looks surprised, and pressing the corresponding buttons in a limited time. The first use of each of these codes results in a free item; after that, the code gives the player the option to buy the item. They are as follows:
• CBAACABC, Costume [2500]
• ACBCABAC, Hair Gel
• BCBACABA, Love Potion [3000]
• BACBCACB, Steak and [800]
• ABBACBCC, Cake [800]

• The ability to pause by holding the A and B buttons. Hitting the A and B buttons together again removes the pause.
• The ability to make up to 50 friends, and raise multiple generations of Tamagotchi up to 99. it is still capable of breeding but the generation number doesnt go up after that.

Tamagotchi Plus Akai Series

• Released July 23, 2005 in Japan.
• Mono-color red LCD.
• New red-theme characters including a tomato, daruma, tengu, heart, and cherry.
• New red-theme foods including pizza, wine, peaches, and red rice.
• Same games as the Keitai and Hanerutchi Tamagotchi with different graphics.
• Connects with Japanese mobile phones, Keitai Tamagotchi, and Hanerutchi.

Ouchi no deka tamagotchi

Ouchi (home) version of the deka (huge) Tamagotchi.

• Released July 2005 in Japan.
• Features a stand for tabletop display.
• You can play games and unlock Gotchi points that you can transfer to your Keitai or Akai, or you can spend it on gifts for your Deka character. Items you buy alter the little room it lives in.
• Special green-colored edition sold at Japanese Toys-R-Us stores available paired with an akai series Tamagotchi or alone.

Chou Jinsei Enjoi Tamagotchi Plus (AKA. EnTama)

• Released November 2005 in Japan.
• A small strand of beads is attached rather than a keychain or mini-strap.
• Interacts with the Japanese Tamagotchi website and WAP page via 14-digit passcodes.
• Features include: school, jobs, and cooking.

This Tamagotchi has many new features scince the Keitai. This, as mentioned can link to the internet address: http://e-tamago.com/pc/flash/tamago.html. From there, you can enter Tamagotchi Town and take part in many activities and play many games. You can even shop and buy things your your EnTama.

This Tamagotchi also features three groups: Intellegence, Kindness and Style.

Three new games too, Catch clothes, Hammer and "SNAP".

Tamagotchi Connection Version 3

(Also known as Version 3, V3, Ver. 3, VR3, or Tama V3)

The third incarnation of the Tamagotchi Connection series released at the end of January 2006. Like the Version 2, it borrows similar features from the latest version of the Japanese toy, but greatly simplifies them.

• Debuted with 6 new colors: Green with Tropical Flowers, Blue with Waves, Translucent Yellow, Artic Camouflage, "Ice Cream," and Silver with Black Buttons.
• Adds 20+ new characters, many from osutchi and mesutchi, now bringing the total number of Tamagotchi Connection characters to 52.
• Offers connnection to "Tamatown"[[1]] which, similar to the Japanese counterpart, generates codes which you can input in the toy and receive souvinears, which are items that you can look at, but not much else. Passwords also give shop items and food, which costs Points.
• 6 new games:
  • Get, a game where one must collect falling music notes into a bag, and dodge the falling messes(read: Tamagotchi poop), in order to get a score of 100.
  • Bump, which is essentially the same as the Connection Version 2 game, where your Tamagotchi becomes an almost sumo-like wrestler.
  • Flag, a kind of "follow the leader" game, in which a flag appears on-screen, and one must press the corresponding button(s). However, there are imitation flags that will end the game if pressed.
  • Heading, which is the same as the V2 version's heading, where the player must hit a falling ball back into the air.
  • Memory, in which a sequence of arrows is played, and one must follow that sequence.
  • Sprint, which is essentially a button-mashing game where one must press any button continuously to help the Tamagotchi win.
• The ability to connect to any Tamagotchi in the Connection series (V1, V2, V3)

Tamagotchi Spin-offs

GameBoy

Three Tamagotchi games for the Nintendo GameBoy portable game system were released in Japan. The first one, also released in the United States, corresponds to the first two generations of the original Tamagotchi and had similar gameplay. The second game featured characters from the mori and umi (forest and ocean) Tamagotchi. The final game released was based on osutchi and mesutchi, and featured a unique cartridge with a user-replaceable battery and independent peizo buzzer that would alert players to turn on their GameBoy system and care for their virtual pet.

Nintendo DS

Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop is not a virtual pet game, however it has characters from Tamagotchi and ties in with the "TamaTown" concept presented in the chou jinsei enjoi series in Japan and the Version 3 series in the United States and Europe.

Digimon

• Digimon are made by Bandai, similar to Tamagotchi.
• Digimon had different generations, like Tamagotchi. There were five in all, and each progressing generation had different characters and different evolutions(stages in life), but nonetheless each generation had almost the same functions.
• After the initial five generations, Bandai released a line of Virtual Pets(V-Pets) called Pendulums which introduced a feature called Jogress, a feature akin to the Pokemon Pikachu pedometer/games, which tracked the amount of steps taken in order to advance to the next stage, and a new evolution level: Ultimate, which comes after Champion.
• Three versions of the Pendulums were released, and a new "mini" version is set to release soon.
• This Tamagotchi premiered the feature of interconnecting Tamagotchi which could communicate data to each other. In this case, the connecting was called "Dock 'n Rock" and was used for Digimon to fight each other.