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The original Tamagotchi making a comeback on a wave of 90s nostalgia


The original Tamagotchi is making a comeback, cashing in on a wave of 90s nostalgia that’s already seen the Nintendo NES and SNES resurrected.

The wildly popular egg-shaped toy first launched in the US 21 years ago following its 1996 release in Japan, allowing users to hatch and raise their own digital characters.

Retailing at $19.99, the toy – which will be available to re-order from 30 September – is coming in eight new colours and eight vintage styles. 

While Tamagotchi’s pixelated design may be a far cry from the complex games available today, the firm expects the nostalgia factor will be a major luring point for those who once owned the toy as a child. 

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The original Tamagotchi is making a comeback, cashing in on a wave of 90s nostalgia that's already seen the Nintendo NES and SNES resurrected

The original Tamagotchi is making a comeback, cashing in on a wave of 90s nostalgia that's already seen the Nintendo NES and SNES resurrected

The original Tamagotchi is making a comeback, cashing in on a wave of 90s nostalgia that’s already seen the Nintendo NES and SNES resurrected

Reports suggest the virtual pet gadget will come with original retro programming.

The re-release will be rolled out in two generations – Generation One will require players to guess the pet’s next move while Generation Two will feature a number guessing game.

‘[Bandai has] decided to bring back the original Tamagotchi with some new additions that will keep the classic look and feel of the original game, but with new colours that will bring the device to life like never before’, a company representative from the Japanese toy manufacturer told Hype Beast

MailOnline has contacted Bandai to ask if the Tamagotchi is being released in the UK and how much it will cost.  

After hatching a digital creature, users must take care of their virtual pet as it moves through the different stages of life.

Users have to feed it – either a ‘meal,’ consisting of a rice bowl, or a candy ‘snack’ – and clean up after it goes to the bathroom.

If they fail to care for it properly, the pet will get sick and could even die. 

The wildly popular egg-shaped toy first launched in the United States 21 years ago following its 1996 release in Japan, allowing users to hatch and raise their own digital characters

The wildly popular egg-shaped toy first launched in the United States 21 years ago following its 1996 release in Japan, allowing users to hatch and raise their own digital characters

The wildly popular egg-shaped toy first launched in the United States 21 years ago following its 1996 release in Japan, allowing users to hatch and raise their own digital characters

Retailing at $19.99 (£15.39), the toy is coming in eight new colours and eight vintage styles and will be available to re-order from 30 September

Retailing at $19.99 (£15.39), the toy is coming in eight new colours and eight vintage styles and will be available to re-order from 30 September

Retailing at $19.99 (£15.39), the toy is coming in eight new colours and eight vintage styles and will be available to re-order from 30 September

In June last year, Nintendo released a modern and miniaturised version of the NES console, said to be one of the ‘greatest video game systems ever made,’ and gamers snapped them up.

Nintendo’s second iteration of the NES Classic was available online and in-person at stores the world over.

In September the Japanese firm also resurrected the Super NES console that first launched back in 1991.

It came with 21 built-in games – including beloved titles such as Super Mario World, Yoshi’s Island, and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. 

This is not the first time Tamagotchi has made a come-back. 

The virtual pet toy was available to order as a 20th anniversary version last year and sold for $15 (£11.30). 

Pre-orders began October 10 on Amazon, before the toy officially hits the shelves in the US on November 5.

The retro Tamagotchi was first re-released in October last year and sold for $15 (£11.30).Pre-orders began October 10 on Amazon, before the toy officially hits the shelves in the US on November 5

The retro Tamagotchi was first re-released in October last year and sold for $15 (£11.30).Pre-orders began October 10 on Amazon, before the toy officially hits the shelves in the US on November 5

The retro Tamagotchi was first re-released in October last year and sold for $15 (£11.30).Pre-orders began October 10 on Amazon, before the toy officially hits the shelves in the US on November 5

The 20th anniversary version was much smaller than the original but the gameplay was much the same, albeit simpler in some ways 

The 20th anniversary version was much smaller than the original but the gameplay was much the same, albeit simpler in some ways 

The 20th anniversary version was much smaller than the original but the gameplay was much the same, albeit simpler in some ways 

DAILYMAIL.COM TRIES OUT THE MINI-TAMAGOTCHI 

At first glance, there’s one thing that immediately stands out about the new Tamagotchi – it’s tiny.

For adult hands, this takes some getting used to.

But, the compact design made it much easier to carry around without it becoming a nuisance.

It easily fits onto a key ring, belt loop, or purse; I attached mine to my phone case so I could keep it on me at all times.

 

A spokesperson for the company told Dailymail.com the toy is about 80 percent smaller shellwise, with a screen that’s 60 percent smaller than the original.

Still, much about the game feels the same.

While the display is noticeably lacking the ‘Health Meter,’ there are little indicators that pop up when your virtual pet needs something.

If it has gone to the bathroom, a little poo will appear at the bottom of the screen.

And, if it’s sick, a small black bug will flash at the top right.

Feeding the virtual pet is simple (press the A button to toggle between options, then B to select), and it’s quite enjoyable to watch it stubbornly refuse the rice bowl in favour of a piece of candy.

In somewhat of a disappointment, it appears they’ve done away with the Play option, which once allowed you to engage in simple mini-games with the virtual pet.

The most important thing to know is how to turn the sound off (hold the C button, and simultaneously push the A button).

As I quickly found out, the persistent beeping is not as endearing as it was when I was a kid – especially not on a crowded train, or in the middle of the night (though correctly setting the time solved the latter).

All in all, the mini-Tamagotchi is a great novelty toy, especially considering it costs just $14.99.  

Playing with it brings you right back to a time before today’s technology, and there’s an undeniable childlike joy that comes with finding your virtual pet has grown to the next stage of life.

-Cheyenne MacDonald for Dailymail.com 

‘It got such a tremendous worldwide response from fans that were knocking down our door to bring it back to the US, so we brought it back,’ Liz Grampp, Vice President of Brand Management at Bandai America, told Dailymail.com last year.

The 20th anniversary version was much smaller than the original but the gameplay was much the same, albeit simpler in some ways.

The toy was released in six different shell designs, from pale orange and see-through blue to boldly contrasting two-tone schemes straight out of the 90s.

Each Tamagotchi included six virtual pets.

‘It’s about resource management, it’s about nurturing, caring for a little virtual pet, and that basic human emotion of taking care of something that I don’t think ever goes away,’ Grampp told Dailymail.com.

‘What’s different is our delivery. So, it’s a more classic pixel game, which has a little bit of a trend of its own.

‘I think for kids who have only grown up playing with iPhones and iPads, it’ll feel unique, but the game play will still feel really familiar.’ 

The toy was released in six different shell designs, from pale orange and see-through blue to boldly contrasting two-tone schemes straight out of the 90s 

The toy was released in six different shell designs, from pale orange and see-through blue to boldly contrasting two-tone schemes straight out of the 90s 

The toy was released in six different shell designs, from pale orange and see-through blue to boldly contrasting two-tone schemes straight out of the 90s 



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