Move Over, Tiddles: We Have a Replacement
Posted By seovine on June 23, 2011
With the release of Kincetimals with Microsoft’s brand new Kinect peripheral, I can’t help but be a little nostalgic for some of the early virtual pet games I once owned. Tamagotchis were probably one of the first widely available virtual pets; they probably got more of us into trouble at school or work than we’d care to admit. But what are today’s virtual pets like?
The recent release of the Playstation Move has seen an updated version of the EyePet (known as EyePet Move Edition), a game for their Playstation 3 and PSP consoles (though sadly, of course, you can’t use the Move technology with the latter). Using augmented reality the EyePet (seemingly a cross between a monkey and a mogwai) interacts with its/your environment as well as responding to various objects and stimuli, such as you petting it or clapping your hands. The new version allows you to use your Playstation Move controller in order to interact with your virtual pet, as well as offering brand new content.
Microsoft’s top interactive virtual pet offering is, of course, the aforementioned Kinectimals. Becoming one of the Kinect’s launch titles, it was initially unveiled at E3. In it you adopt one of over thirty big cat cubs (the iconic tiger not the only option) and raise it in a lush virtual environment. Although there are various mysteries to explore (and pirate’s treasure to discover) in your island home, you can just as happily hang out with your undeniably cute companion. Additionally if you ever need help there’s Bumble, a flying lemur fairy (yes, you read that right; don’t worry though, he’s voiced by Richard Horvitz, who is perhaps best known for his role as the title character of Invader Zim).
Your real pets better beware!