Tamas Got Me (Patreon)

I’ve always had a thing for Tamagotchis. I remember them being in the news before release in the US in 1997 and was immediately enamored with the idea. I called the local Kay*Bee Toys at the Boulevard Mall in Amherst every day until they could give me a release date and when it finally came I went straight there after school to pick up my white Tamagotchi. I used it through the summer and the next school year, eventually raising all of the possible forms. I did not get into Digimon at the time and didn’t mess with the other virtual pets that followed like GigaPets. During my senior year I picked it back up again and raised a bunch more. At this point the fad had passed and no one was asking to borrow my Tama for a few periods. After graduation I put it down and moved on. I sadly don’t know what happened to my original. The newer versions interested me, but they weren’t as easily available as the original Gen1/2 models so I never explored them further at that time.

Blast forward to around 2012. Vani and I are dating and she’s moving into our apartment. I noticed she had a dead orange Tamagotchi and the sudden urge to raise one was unshakeable. I changed the batteries and got right back into trying to unlock all of the different forms. A few years later a CUPodcast listener sent us a package and one of the items for me was an orange tamagotchi, just like Vani’s. I went through the process again. Once I get going on them I can’t stop until I’ve burned through most of the possibilities.

In 2017 Bandai started releasing revised versions of the Tamagotchi Nano. This small version of the Tamagotchi became the basis for a plethora of licensed versions. Some involve raising traditional Tamagotchis that will be visited by licensed characters, like Pac-Man or Hello Kitty. Others have you raising licensed characters in the Tamagotchi style, like the Evangelion and Jurassic Park models. These became an obsession of mine, with me collecting multiple shell designs for many of the themes. The Nanos are wonderful, fairly low maintenance virtual pets that fit perfectly in a pocket or on a keychain. To this day I think they’re the ideal Tamagotchi for someone who’s interested in them, but has never tried one. They’re also great for those familiar with Tamas, but haven’t used one in a while and want to scratch that itch.

I usually go to two comic conventions every year, Wonder Con and San Diego Comic Con. There is always a Tamagotchi booth and it always has long lines. In addition to limited edition shells for Nanos and Gen1/2 Tamas they also sell the current fancy models. By the time I see the booth the modern Tamas are usually sold out. This year at Comic Con I decided to get there early enough to get in line. I wanted one of the limited edition Hello Kitty Nanos, but my real goal was to get something new to try. I ended up getting two of the Tamagotchi Connection re-releases and a Tamagotchi Uni - Monster Carnival Edition. I’m currently raising both. The Connection feels like the ideal modern Tama for those that want something like the traditional experience, but with more to do. They’re still black and white and fairly low-tech, but there are multiple games to play, items to buy for your Tama to interact with (simply, of course), unique foods and snacks, and something like 50 evolutions. They can be connected via IR(!) to other Tamagotchi Connections for play dates, marriage, and exchange of money and items. It’s a really nice package and I’d say the best recommendation for folks who want something a little more. The Uni is something I’ve barely scratched the surface on. There is a TON to do. I mean, it uses a Wi-Fi connection to download updates, limited edition contests, accessories, hats, games, and a whole lot more. There is the TamaVerse to explore where you can meet other people’s Tamas and boost them with hearts. This morning I played in a surfing contest that coincided with the Olympics. It’s nuts. I love it, but at twice the price of the Connection it’s a little harder for me to recommend unless you want to go all in. It definitely expands the Tamagotchi experience in amazing ways if you want to drop the cash. It also incorporates DLC, which is certainly a slippery slope, but right now I’m OK with it. There is a steady drip of free DLC and the paid packs are the exclusives from other versions of the Uni so there’s no need to buy multiple versions.

Bandai really seems to be thriving with the Tamagotchi line and I’m happy to see it. I think the main reason I like them is that they’re perfect fidget toys. Not in the sensory way like a spinner or a clicker, but a small thing to divert your attention while waiting in a line, stuck in traffic, or at a party where you feel out of place. They’re a swell time!

-Ian