50 Facts About Tamagotchi

The Birth of Tamagotchi

Tamagotchi, the beloved digital pet, has a rich history that dates back to the mid-90s. Let's explore its origins and early days.

1. Invention and Creators: Tamagotchi was invented by Aki Maita and Akihiro Yokoi in 1996. They both won the 1997 Ig Nobel Prize for economics, dubbed the "father and mother of Tamagotchi" for diverting millions of person-hours of work into the husbandry of virtual pets.

2. Name Origin: The name "Tamagotchi" is a fusion of two Japanese words: "Tomago" (egg) and "tomodachi" (friend). This name reflects the toy's egg-shaped design and its role as a digital companion.

3. Initial Concept: The first Tamagotchis were designed to be worn like a wristwatch, hence the portmanteau name. The egg shape was chosen because reptiles like snakes were popular pets at that time.

Design and Evolution

The design of Tamagotchi has evolved significantly since its inception. Here are some key points about its design journey.

4. Design Evolution: The characters in Tamagotchi were first drawn in heta-uma, a popular style found in teen magazines, and then converted to pixel art. The initial design featured colorful creatures with simple designs based on animals, objects, or people.

5. First Release: Tamagotchi was released in Japan in November 1996 by Bandai. It quickly became a hit, selling 4 million units in its first four months on the market.

6. Global Popularity: By June 1997, 10 million Tamagotchis had been shipped worldwide. By 2017, a staggering 82 million units had been sold, making it one of the most popular toys of the 1990s.

Marketing and Audience

Tamagotchi's marketing strategy played a crucial role in its success. Let's look at how it was marketed and who it appealed to.

7. Marketing Strategy: Bandai initially marketed Tamagotchis exclusively to teenage girls. However, the toy's popularity soon transcended age and gender boundaries, appealing to a wide range of consumers.

8. Masculine Counterpart: To cater to a broader audience, Bandai created a masculine counterpart to Tamagotchi, the Digital Monster, which spawned the Digimon franchise.

9. Variations and Clones: Over time, numerous variations and clones of Tamagotchi emerged, featuring different graphic designs and gameplay mechanics. Some models, like TamagoChu, required little to no care from the player.

Cultural Impact

Tamagotchi has left a lasting mark on popular culture. Here are some ways it has influenced music, media, and more.

10. Sound Immortalization: The sound of the original Tamagotchi has been immortalized in a virtual museum dedicated to preserving digital sounds from the past. The Museum of Endangered Sounds features the iconic sounds of dial-up modems and floppy disk drives, among others.

11. Impact on Children: Tamagotchis were not just toys; they were often treated like real pets. Children had to feed, play with, and clean up after their digital pets, which made the experience both fun and educational.

12. Educational Value: The toy taught children about responsibility and the consequences of neglecting a pet. It also introduced basic concepts of time management and care for a living creature.

Media and Entertainment

Tamagotchi's influence extended into various forms of media, including TV shows, music, and more.

13. Cultural Phenomenon: Tamagotchi became a cultural phenomenon, with its own animated video series, Tamagotchi Video Adventures, produced by 7th Level, Inc. in association with Bandai in 1997.

14. Music and Media: Tamagotchi inspired numerous songs and music videos. Bands like Momus, Sqeezer, Kigurumi, and Eraserheads created songs about the toy, while Eurodance groups like Daze and LOONER also referenced it in their music.

15. Anime Series: The anime series Tamagotchi! featured numerous original songs performed by Japanese voice actress Kei Shindō as the pop idol character Lovelitchi.

Emotional and Educational Impact

The emotional and educational impact of Tamagotchi on its users cannot be overstated.

16. Polish Rapper Duo: The Polish rapper duo Taconafide (Taco Hemingway and Quebonafide) released a song called Tamagotchi in 2018, which reached the number one position on many Polish charts.

17. Reception and Impact: Despite its popularity, Tamagotchis were not well-received by teachers. They were often banned in schools because they were too distracting and could cause emotional distress among students.

18. Pet Cemetery: In some countries, including the UK and Japan, there are real cemeteries for virtual pets. People would send their dead Tamagotchis to these cemeteries, where they were buried with honors.

19. Virtual Pet Burials: Terry Squires, a pet cemetery owner in southern England, reported performing burials for dead Tamagotchis from various countries. The burials were conducted with flowers and mourners in attendance.

20. Emotional Attachment: The death of a virtual pet was often very upsetting for children. There were rumors of mass suicides due to the death of an electronic animal, but these were largely exaggerated and not supported by evidence.

Educational Value

Tamagotchis were more than just a toy; they were a learning tool for many children.

21. Educational Impact: Despite the emotional attachment, Tamagotchis played a significant role in teaching children about responsibility and the consequences of neglecting a pet. This educational value cannot be overstated.

22. Variety of Models: Over the years, numerous models of Tamagotchi were released, each with its unique features and gameplay mechanics. Some models, like the Tamagotchi Plus/Connection, featured new graphic designs and gameplay elements.

23. Second Wave of Tamagotchis: In 2004, a second wave of Tamagotchi toys emerged, featuring a different graphic design by artist JINCO and elaborated gameplay mechanics. However, the story behind the games remained the same: raising an alien species from an egg to adulthood.

24. Care and Evolution: The creatures in Tamagotchi go through several stages of growth and evolve differently depending on the care provided by the player. Better care results in a smarter, happier adult creature that requires less attention.

The Concept of Digital Pets

The idea of digital pets was revolutionary at the time. Here's how it all began.

25. Digital Pets: The original Tamagotchi toy featured only one pet—an alien who lives in an egg that protects him from the Earth's atmosphere. This concept was revolutionary and captured the hearts of many children.

26. Electronic Pet Concept: The idea of an electronic pet belongs to a Japanese woman who worked for Bandai. She shared her idea with Akihiro Yokoi, and together they developed the first batch of electronic eggs in 1996.

27. Ig Nobel Prize: Aki Maita and Akihiro Yokoi received the Ig Nobel Prize for dubious achievements in economics for diverting millions of person-hours into the care of virtual pets.

Societal Impact

Tamagotchis had a significant impact on society, influencing various aspects of life and culture.

28. Impact on Society: Tamagotchis had a significant impact on society, not just as a toy but also as a cultural phenomenon. It influenced music, media, and even educational practices.

29. Educational Games: Several early games featuring Tamagotchi gameplay were released on various gaming platforms. Party-style games, simulation games like the Corner Shop series, and role-playing games for the Nintendo DS were among them.

30. Animated Video Series: The animated video series Tamagotchi Video Adventures was produced by 7th Level, Inc. in association with Bandai in 1997. It follows the adventures of Cosmotchi as it sends the Tamagotchi to Earth to collect an object that best exemplifies the planet for the Tamagotchi Museum.

31. Original Animated Music Video: An original animated music video titled "What's a Tamagotchi?" and a how-to-draw Tamagotchi featurette starring director Dan Kuenster were also produced as part of the series.

Music Tributes

Tamagotchi has inspired numerous music tributes over the years. Here are some notable examples.

32. Music Tributes: Tamagotchi inspired numerous music tributes. Bands like LOONER released a single called "I Love My Tamagotchee!" in May 2009, while the Filipino band Eraserheads made a song called "Tamagotchi Baby".

33. German Band Tribute: The German band "Die Ärzte" also made a song called "Tamagotchi," showcasing the toy's widespread cultural influence.

34. French Singer Tribute: The French singer Lorie made a song called "La TamaDance" in 2014 for the TamaDance contest, further solidifying Tamagotchi's place in music history.

35. Polish Rapper Duo Tribute: The Polish rapper duo Taconafide released their song Tamagotchi in 2018, which reached the number one position on many Polish charts, demonstrating the toy's enduring popularity.

Educational Value Revisited

Despite some criticisms, Tamagotchis had a positive educational impact on children.

36. Educational Value Revisited: While Tamagotchis were often criticized for being too distracting or emotionally distressing, they also taught children valuable lessons about responsibility and the consequences of neglecting a pet.

37. Virtual Pet Burial Grounds: In southern England, a pet cemetery owner reported performing burials for dead Tamagotchis from various countries. This practice highlights the emotional attachment people had towards their digital pets.

38. Sound Preservation: The sound of the original Tamagotchi has been preserved in a virtual museum dedicated to preserving digital sounds from the past. This ensures that the iconic sounds of the toy remain immortalized for future generations.

Continued Evolution

Tamagotchi has continued to evolve over the years, introducing new models and features.

39. Educational Impact Continued: Despite the emotional attachment, Tamagotchis played a significant role in teaching children about responsibility and the consequences of neglecting a pet. This educational value cannot be overstated, as it introduced basic concepts of time management and care for a living creature.

40. Variety of Models Continued: Over the years, numerous models of Tamagotchi were released, each with its unique features and gameplay mechanics. Some models, like the Tamagotchi Plus/Connection, featured new graphic designs and gameplay elements that elaborated upon the first generations.

41. Second Wave of Tamagotchis Continued: In 2004, a second wave of Tamagotchi toys emerged, featuring a different graphic design by artist JINCO and elaborated gameplay mechanics. However, the story behind the games remained the same: raising an alien species from an egg to adulthood.

42. Care and Evolution Continued: The creatures in Tamagotchi go through several stages of growth and evolve differently depending on the care provided by the player. Better care results in a smarter, happier adult creature that requires less attention.

Digital Pets Continued

The concept of digital pets has continued to captivate audiences. Here's more about their journey.

43. Digital Pets Continued: The original Tamagotchi toy featured only one pet—an alien who lives in an egg that protects him from the Earth's atmosphere. This concept was revolutionary and captured the hearts of many children.

44. Electronic Pet Concept Continued: The idea of an electronic pet belongs to a Japanese woman who worked for Bandai. She shared her idea with Akihiro Yokoi, and together they developed the first batch of electronic eggs in 1996.

45. Ig Nobel Prize Continued: Aki Maita and Akihiro Yokoi received the Ig Nobel Prize for dubious achievements in economics for diverting millions of person-hours into the care of virtual pets.

Societal Impact Continued

Tamagotchis have had a lasting impact on society, influencing various aspects of life and culture.

46. Impact on Society Continued: Tamagotchis had a significant impact on society, not just as a toy but also as a cultural phenomenon. It influenced music, media, and even educational practices.

47. Educational Games Continued: Several early games featuring Tamagotchi gameplay were released on various gaming platforms. Party-style games, simulation games like the Corner Shop series, and role-playing games for the Nintendo DS were among them.

48. Animated Video Series Continued: The animated video series Tamagotchi Video Adventures was produced by 7th Level, Inc. in association with Bandai in 1997. It follows the adventures of Cosmotchi as it sends the Tamagotchi to Earth to collect an object that best exemplifies the planet for the Tamagotchi Museum.

49. Original Animated Music Video Continued: An original animated music video titled "What's a Tamagotchi?" and a how-to-draw Tamagotchi featurette starring director Dan Kuenster were also produced as part of the series.

Legacy and Impact

Tamagotchis have left a lasting legacy in the world of toys and technology. They have inspired numerous adaptations, including anime series and music tributes, cementing their place in pop culture history.

50. Legacy and Impact: Tamagotchis have left a lasting legacy in the world of toys and technology. They have inspired numerous adaptations, including anime series and music tributes, cementing their place in pop culture history.

Tamagotchi's Enduring Legacy

Tamagotchis have left a lasting mark on the world of toys and technology. From their 1996 debut, these digital pets quickly became a global sensation, selling millions of units and teaching kids about responsibility. The toy's unique blend of fun and education made it a hit across age groups and genders. Tamagotchis even inspired music, anime, and various spin-offs, cementing their place in pop culture.

Despite facing bans in schools for being too distracting, the educational value of Tamagotchis can't be ignored. They taught time management, care, and the consequences of neglect. The emotional attachment people felt for their virtual pets led to real cemeteries for Tamagotchis in some countries.

With numerous models and adaptations over the years, Tamagotchis continue to captivate new generations. Their legacy lives on, reminding us of the simple joys and lessons from a digital pet.