From: Jonathan Nigel Wells 

Subject: Tamagotchi!



Hi!



I just read the report on your web page about these little beasties,

and thought I ought to give you my view as well.



Although I do agree with a lot of what you have said, my experience

has been rather different.



When we discovered that they had been released in Germany, a friend of

mine and I went out and bought one each. Once we 'woke them up', we

discovered that they have very different traits. After three days, his

has never required discipline, mine has been told off more times than I

care to remember (actually, I think it's 6). His eats like an elephant

and hardly ever goes to the toilet (it can take 5 meals at once),

whereas mine often fills 2 Hungry hearts with one meal.



They do both go to sleep at the same time, but I think that the reason

for this is that these are going to be used by small children, and the

last thing that Bandai wants is thousands of angry parents claiming

that this toy is keeping their kids up till stupid hours of the night!



All in all, I think they're pretty neat for what they are - obviously

there are improvements that could be made, but it's not bad for a first

attempt!



Jon Wells

From: Harley McGrew 

Subject: tamagotchi



	The problem I have with your 'article' is that you neglect to

mention quite a few issues that make the tamagotchi an acceptable toy.

Tamagotchi's were designed for younger children, the need for some complex

statistically realistic model was not necessary, it would only confuse

most eight year olds.  

	I was also amused at your denial of ever being attached to it.  I

suppose you should write an article about how your teddy bear just sat

there staring at you, and wouldn't even growl if you smashed it through a

window.  How could anyone become attached to a bunch of cloth wrapped

around a pile of polyester?  Obviously it has to do with imagination, and

one can just as easily be attached to a pixelized objectification as a

storybook character or a stuffed animal.  

	Obviously there is a tremendous amount of hype, whenever something

is quaint and unique, there often is.  People in general should be weary

of hype as a rule, when it applies to any purchase.  Much of this hype is

generated by the majority purchasers, 20-21 year olds (male and female)

who enjoy the product.  The mistake made was not in the initial design of

the tamagotchi (it's a great toy for an 8 year old), but in that the

larger market opportunity was that of much older consumers.  If this had

been anticipated, then I'm sure that we would have a tamagotchi that

appealed even more to adults.  

	Buying a tamagotchi and criticizing it for simplicity is similar

to buying one of those 'computers for kids' and complaining that it

only teaches you how to spell basic words with less than three syllables.  

	As for pixel resolution, there's always been a matter of

suspension of disbelief and imagination.  I'm sure that you end up going

to movies and say "HAH! that man isn't really flying at all! it's just a

harness cleverly mounted in front of a keyed bluescreen.  Maybe you feel

clever acknowledging such faults, but more likely it reduces the whole

experience.  Do you read novels muttering to yourself "hah! this isn't

really happening at all! it's just a bunch of letters printed shoddily on

cheap paper!?" 

	Another consideration is that this is a first generation item.

There's nothing out there really similar apart from a watch, and how

complex do those really get in general?  How much memory and program data

can you really cram into that size and still make a good profit at $15?

There WILL be newer versions, more correctly targeted at adults as well as

children, and most likely having features similar and beyond those you

suggested.  

	In the meantime, I'll continue to remain mirthful thinking about

someone buying a childs toy and expecting something along the lines of a

full fledged application (crammed into a plastic egg case no less). I'll

have the added bonus of laughing at the others who respond idiotically as

well.

cheers

-red penguin / harley mcgrew



From: Charles Tuck 

Subject: Tamogotchi



I have been doing tests on my Tamogotchi,and I have found that as adults

the tamogotchis develop an emacicated look and if you don't feed them

enough,and if you feed them to much, the get fatter. My tamogotchi once

ate his poo.......he died instantly.



From: John Blachford 

Subject: Tamagothchi's are peoples own choice



Hey, 

	You do have the right to say what you want say, i know. But why this?

Some people like these toys, some don't. But what is actually wrong with

it? Does it kill you? Is it a rip-off of $15??? 

Tell me, what would you prefere:



1) A real pet (E.g: Dog) that your need to feed, (spend cash all the

time), wash it (unpleasent process), clean up it's shit, (another

unpleasent process), go for a walk 3 times a day with it, even when you

still need to go work or school, etc... - also, when it dies "IT DIES

FOR GOOD!!!"

or...



1) A tamagotchi which is very compact into a small-pocket sized casing.

Which you feed, give a bath, in your hand without getting messed up and

dirty. Think of it like this, "feed it on the way to work (Bus)". When

your pet dies, you start another game, unlike a real pet, you gotta buy

another one!



-Just think it over again, ok...

J. Blachford



From: Victor Ireland <74431.3226@compuserve.com>

Subject: Tamagotchi differences



As some have pointed out, there ARE some differences between the

Tamagotchi pets, even within the same "types".  We got my mother-in-law

one that she started 1 day after ours.  Hers, although looking exactly

the same and behaving the same for the first couple days, began to

require a LOT less food and attention from about day 3 on, though it

still LOOKED the same as ours.  At day 11, she got one of the "hidden"

characters, a human man's face on Tamagotchi-chick legs.  It's still

alive at Day 19, even though she feeds it like every 2 or 3 hours, where

ours bit it on day 17 (after not developing the man's face) because we

couldn't keep up with it's hourly 4 hearts and 4 happiness empty feed

me/let's play ritual (actually, towards the end, it was about every 45

MINUTES!).  Dunno if she just lucked out, or if it got used to her

spartan feeding schedule (after 7 kids, she doesn't cave to whining

about being hungry like we did with ours), but hers DID seem to develop

a different personality, though looking exactly the same for the first

11 days.





Cheers!

Vic

Redding, CA, USA



From: XOUTLETX@aol.com

Subject: Tamawhatever



I have a tamagotchi, more out of interest than anything. I am an adult so i

do see your points about being so simple, but to be honest, this is for

children. The functions they perform are simple, but about all a child would

want to deal with. If you want more responsibility, get a dog or cat. But for

the 8 and up age group, this is plenty. My tama does not go to bed at the

same time everynight, does not poop at the same times and wakes up different

times each day. The one homepage i looked at gave times of when they go to

bed and wake up, but mine does not fit that. I wish it would go to bed at one

time each day, i feel guilty ( as stupid as this sounds ) not taking care of

it. I do not recomend it for adults, because it is not made for adults. For a

child, it is a great experience. If i was considering getting a pet for my

child, if i had children, I would give them this first to see how they took

care of it, to test the responsibility. They may not want a real pet after

finding out about the care of it. And this way, you would not need to find a

new home if your child does not take care of the pet. And you always have the

tama to see when they are ready for the real pet.

Lea



From: Jason Howard (howardjm@telegram.infi.net)

Subject: Tamagotchi page



I have a few comments about your page.



1. I've found that it takes more than one snack to gain a point on the

hunger scale.



2. If 99 represents 9 pounds 9 ounces, instead of 99 ounces, and a pound

has 16 ounces, why doesn't a tamagotchi ever say something like 613, or

6 pounds, 13 ounces?



3. According to my experience, they get ill and poop at similar times,

but sometimes one poops and the other doesn't, vice versa. Also, sleep

depends on the type of tamagotchi. Some go to sleep at 8:00, others as

late as 11.



Jason



From: "Alex Lightle" (alienworkshop@hotmail.com)

Subject: Tamagotchi



I know that everyone is entitled to their own opinoin but what is there 

not to like about a Tamagotchi?  Who cares if they are all the same? The 

are still cute.  I guess the only reason you don't like them is because 

your not cut out to raise one,even if it is a microchip.   

Or maybe you ca't handle the pressure of having to feed it or play with 

it asi f it were a real child.  When you grow up, I hope ypu don't have 

kids. 

  Alexandra J. Lightle



P.S. I could care less if you showed it to everyone.



From: LuvYaten@aol.com

Subject: *Tamagotchi Corrections*



I see the points that you are making about Tamagotchi but some of your info

is inaccurate:

1.When I feed it snacks it does not gain points on the hunger scale

2.Weight gain on mine varies

3.I've only had to give him one shot before



also one interesting thing I found was that on it's first morning my father

heard my Tami wake up at eight but I wa sasleep so it went back to sleep and

woke up at nine, ever since it has gotten up at nine. Ithought that was

interesting. Also I found that of all my frinds' tamagotchies, mine is the

only one that makes two poops on top of eachother AND it only started doing

that since it turned 11. Before it would get sick before it could make two

poops. One last thing is that Japanese pople probably get more attached

because the Japanese version had more variations, like old age and weight

gain. Still, you must admit you can see the appeall even the American version

can have to some. :)

-LuvYaten



From: Bryon Vandiver (asterick@buxx.com)

Subject: Tamagotchi Fan (But not an abusive psycho maniac)



Hello

 I have a few things to say about your site.



Well, I do feel you express a few points, (some very good points) but

they arn't nessesarly the type that make up peoples minds for them.



Well, you have to take into account a few things, 



1) SPACE! the thing is a keychain! I mean, you can't cram like 2megs

of   ram in the thing for a tack buffer, not to mention the internal    

variables, I mean, you just   can't work with that much!



2) TECHNOLOGY! I mean, you can't expect to have a great product to

think    alot, it just takes too much processor time! I mean, open one

of    those little hand held games up, EVEN A GAME BOY! I mean, the

little    tiger games have a little processor under some black tar

stuff, but I    mean, the thing has to control like what, maybe 20

sprites? and they    are just bit gates! and the gameboy, the pocket

gameboy isn't all    that light, strap one of those babys to your

keychain and you have to 

   buy a new ignition slot. :) (if you read the tech specs on a   

gameboy, they arn't all that powerful, a freaking 5mhz Z80 chip!)



3) The stronger the CPU, the less battery time. It's SUCH a bitch to   

change batteries, not to mention little kids going "DDDDAAADDD!!!   

It's outta batteries again! GO BUY ME SOME!", not to mention the fact   

that when your batteries are dead, so are your pets :~( 



4) KIDS LOVE IT! The thing was intended for childeren, I mean why

else    would they make the lovely egg shaped case? It really wouldn't

appeal    to a 21 year old male, now would it? :) I mean, i'm not 21,

but it's    still kinda... UNmanly.



5) Simplicity, It has to be kinda basic, kids can't really comprehend   

driving a sickly pet, pukeing all over your seats and dashboard,      

rushing it to the vet before it finally croaks. and I don't think a

   kid would like having to put they're toy to 'sleep' because it's

got    rabies and is systematicly tring to kill your famley. (well,

sure    pets don't do that, but it would be cool, wouldn't it? "Famley

of 5    killed by Bandai's tamagotchi, film at 10")



6) AI. Just lile it says. ARTIFICIAL, regardless, it's going to be

fake.    you can't just whip up a scentient being and shove it into a

egg    shaped case, not to mention that a pentium chip requires a

cooling    fan, one ball of pocket lent and WOOSH! Your screaming and

running    arround as your pants are lit on fire, not to mention that

hospital    bills would be a MAJOR problem. Think about it, Everything

is event    driven, it's just up to you to find out what those events

are. :)    some of them change dynamicly (usually considered MI

(Machine       Inteligence)), some of them are numerous but static, but

no matter      what, It's events.



7) MANY people have complained about the random number generation,

but    think about it this way, you can't just tell a computer "Pick

a    number, 1 to 10" this thing is either going to say "bad

command",    fall into an endless loop, or have a little computer

anurithm (which    might I add, would cost you. j/k). the way a random

number generator    works is a pattern baised on a seed number, which is

usually the    current time (very good method, but some what

predictable)



Things I do agree with though, it should be a tad more chalengeing, but

not nessesarly more time consuming, otherwise, how could I write this

message! ;) I mean, I would LOVE to have it a tad more realistic, but it

shouldn't be my life. You could try to improve apon this, I mean, the

HP48G calculator series is GREAT for handheld programming (people have

made a 3d nethunting game, it was neat) it runs at like 5mhzs, and is

VERY portable. The thing has a battery span on like I think it was a

year, not to mention the fact that you can preform psysics on the thing. 

woops, i went off the subject. I have one more thing to say. You can't

complain unless you could do better. Have fun! (You need it if you got

THIS far in the message, i've been typeing for over an hour)

							-Bryon Vandiver



From: Catherine Trottman (CatGirl@ibm.net)

Subject: Tamagotchi



Chris,

	I don't fully agree with you, but I think you do have some pretty valid

points. Oh, and I wanted to correct you. If you feed Tamagotchi a snack

it only gets a heart for happy and not hunger. Tamagotchi's are just

toys and I really don't think that you should take this so seriously.

You are starting to sound a little like my dad. He always thinks that

things could be better. I was reading the letters from people that don't

agree with you and one of them had a pretty good point. They said that

Bandai just wanted to make a toy that kids could understand and that

kids could afford. Oh, and if you want to tell about how you think

tamagotchi's aren't good, then you have every right to. Everyone has

their own opinions. And I really don't think that some little kid would

believe you about all this stuff. At first when I read it I was a little

upset, but then I realized that maybe the Tama's were all different, so

I just decided to give mine a chance.

                         Sincerely,

                           Catherine

                    (and Mona, her tama)



From: Frank Stevens (matthew@davis.uswest.net)

Subject: You suck!



I think that your expirements on the poor littlie tamagotchis were cruel 

and unusual.  I just got mine and I am totally satisfied.  The only 

thoughts I have about it's technological "Limitations" are things like.. 

 "if it is this cool now what will it be like next year?"  I am sure 

that the few synchronizing problems were merely coincidental or you just 

saw them because you wanted to.  Also I think you are verry stupid to 

say that your own tamagotchi.  I also think that all the tama copiers 

shoud be put to jail.  The only true tamagotchi is tamagotchi.  I also 

think that your comment about the lack of fariables is stupid.  This is 

only the first edition of them?  This was meant to be simple.  If it was 

too complicated then they would take up too much time.   The main Idea 

that I had for tamagotchi's Is that they should have vibrating alarms 

for when you are in a situation where a beep would be intrusive but 

neglect would be a problem.  Or lights, but they would drain the 

batteries.  

-Matthew Stevens



From: Scud1373A@aol.com

Subject: tamagotchi



Hello. 

          It seems that emotions run high when it comes to electronic pets.

In the states, too, Tamagotchis are nearly impossible to find. (I live in

Arizona) I do own one, as does my fiance, and we both have fun taking care of

them. I mostly like mine because it is cute. Bill likes his because he can

torture it. I haven't noticed that they were on the same schedule,quite the

contrary in fact. They do fall asleep at different times,mine likes to stay

up til ten, and Bill's until 8:30 or so. Mine gets hungrier more too. I

wouldn't go so far as to say they have a wonderful personality,though they do

have their own quirks it seems. I think you have a valid point, but we should

also keep in mind that they are toys, and the technology, being what it is,

will almost certainly improve with time.Well, that was all. You seem like a

rational fellow. Have fun with the fanatics. :]  

ps. I don't think you're ruining things at all. I find it all rather amusing,

myself. heheh

                               

                                                                     yours, 

                                                                      Celeste



From: Christina Gels (102377.40@CompuServe.COM)

Subject: Tamagotchi



	Dear Chris,

I do not agree with you. But I think you are pretty smart. I like them. You are

the only civiliced person to make one of these anti-Tamagotchi things. All the

others just say that they suck. But you explan why you think that they do. 



							Sincerly,

                                                         Erica



From: [no name]



    I just finished reading your website about tamagotchi.  I want to commend

you on a well written and well thought out article.  I'm glad that you didn't

complain and then not offer a solution.

  While I agree with some of the things you said on your site (it would be

more intresting with a deeper personality) I also disagree with a few.

 First, the tamagotchi were designed with young children in mind, and from

what I've read, the peolpe at Bandi did too good a job.  There have been

reports of children going into hysterics when thier pets died, and wouldn't

these episodes be hightened if the pet had a personality, if you felt like it

really care about you, the owner?  

   But I do hope that Bandi will introduce a model which will be more

intresting to teens and adults.  It dose annoy me that everything is

scheduled and pre-planned.  Thank you.



P.S. Please withhold my address.



From: C-Dog (?!?)



Dear Chris,

While I really enjoy the entartainment of my Tamagotchi, I respect you

for pointing out some flaws.  In your page you stated  that the system

is very simple,and I agree with you, but this isn't really a bad thing. 

If you wanted to make these toys more complex, wouldn't they cost more

money, and for $35 bucks a pop in ontario, canada, anymore exspensive

would be bad.  Also the simplicity if it is great, seeing as it is

pointed towards a younger audience,(if you hadn't already noticed by the

kiddish graphics on the front) because the younger ones will not realize

these finite things that you state.  And for a virtual toy that realizes

what it lacks, sends messages, has collosal amounts of graphics for a

small LCD screen, measures the good attributes of the owner to determine

the physical outcome, is a watch and still manages to fit into the palm

of your hand, this simplicity is pretty darn skippy.

						   Thanks for you time,

								C-DOG



From: [address withheld, as usual]



I've an opinion to share about your site, but I'd appreciate it if you'd

withhold my name and address.



I hate to disappoint you and your readers, but the Tamagotchi is the most

sophisticated virtual pet available. I have tried almost every spin-off

there is, and none are quite as advanced as Tamagotchi. This small egg is

very amazing, considering that it was NOT designed by artificial

intelligence teams, as you suggest (as an improvement, of course.). It was

created by computer programmers and various game specialists. It is good,

considering. If you attempt to build a new virtual pet, I will gladly test

it, as I have the others. Good luck!



	                        JUST TRY AND TAKE THE PISS OUT OF THIS MESSAGE,

CRITICS.



From: Bonnie Puckett



I didn't read any of your mail, so I don't know if this has been said

already, but the Tamagotchi is a TOY.  I found mine in the little girl's

jewelry section at Hills.  Granted, this is probably a bit ignorant(all

the other stores carried them at the cash registers and they were out in

about a week), but they have a point.  One of the Tamagotchi's main

audience is children, and children are not going to be able to grasp the

concept of hunger's effects on weight and sickness, and all the other

functions you mentioned that could use improvement.  I personally think

it is extremely cute.  I am not trying to insult you, honestly, but are

you one of those people who goes to a movie, possibly a children's

movie, and spends the rest of the evening pointing out exactly what was

unrealistic, inaccurate, and therefore demeaning about it?  I don't

think people should feel offended by the inconsistencies of a TOY.  You

failed to mention, also, that the Tamagotchi goes to bed and wakes up at

the same time every night.  It never wakes up for a night feeding, or

cries at night, or anything.  Do I need to go off on a list of what is

unrealistic about Barbie dolls?  I realize you are talking to an older

group of people when you openly do not recommend Tamagotchi, but before

you discredit it as a bad quality toy, remember that children, and some

adults who are children at heart, will like it for other reasons than

that is like a real baby/pet.



			Bonnie Puckett



From: The Gordon Family (just one of them, I'd guess)



   Tamagotchi's are a fun toy for young kids and a responsibility builder

for older one's. For kids this cyberpet is like a fun computer game or a

computerized doll. As for older kids aka young adults this teaches them

responsibility for something other then themselves, their room , and or

their car. I have a horriable teacher who is so strict(she doesn't even

allow watches that beep in the claasroom) and yet she thinks that this toy

is wonderful and allows it in class. It has also made the sluty girls

realize the responsibilties of maybe having a little one around. The

Tomagotchi is a great toy for all ages. Our teacher thinks it's great, why

can't you?

               P.S. Put this on your page, please

From: Tommy



I'm sorry, But I have to disagree with you. You know, It is a little

KEYCHAIN, and you expect all this futuristic stuff from it??? MOVEMENT

SENSORS???!!!!

This is the 21st century you know, not the 25th!!!! TEMPERATURE

SENSORS???!!!!

So what, do you think your Tamagotchi should start leaking water when it

sweats???

YOU EXPECT ALL THIS JUNK FROM A DINKY EGG-SHAPED VIDEOGAME?????

DID I MENTION THAT IT'S ONLY A DINKY EGG-SHAPED HAND-HELD VIDEOGAME???

WELL, THEN I'VE SAID IT AGAIN!!!!



WITH ALL YOU THINK A TAMAGOTCHI SHOULD BE THEY MIGHT AS WELL MAKE A BIG

ROBOTIC ALIEN FOR LITTLE KIDS TO TAKE CARE OF!!!!!! WHY NOT MAKE AN

ELECTRONIC LIFE-SIZED C-3PO??? THEY'D COST ABOUT THE SAME!!!



I don't care if you post my E-mail address and I could care less if you

post this message



Just expressing my opinion.

( yeah right )



Tommy

( I don't care if you post my name Either, just not my last name. )



From: Sonny Lagos



I read your page about not to buy a Tamagotchi. Personally I think

they're pretty cool (I just got one). 

From what I read on your page, I understand that your critics against

the Tamagotchi is that they are too simple. You dont seem to believe

they are harmful to kids, but you think they suck because they are not

very advanced, and therefore boring. Since you are a computer programmer

I can see why, but you have to agree that they're fun anyway?? Well,

maybe you don't.

Anyway, I also read your email page from people who disagree with you.

When I read that, I understood one thing: These people who hate you so

much for disliking the Tamagotchi, they have seen your page as a

personal offence against a friend (Tamagotchi). These people actually

look upon Tamagotchi as a real pet (almost a human being) and they are

as angry at you as if you had told them their mothers are whores (or

something like that).

This is where I see the real problems with Tamagotchi. They are cool,

and they are fun, but when people get so attached to them as these

people who have written to you obviously are, it becomes insanity. These

people can not be very well educated. A person who knows a bit about the

World and reality would never become so hopelessly attached to a virtual

pet.

It was especially one thing I read that was totally lame. One of those

who had written to you said that an 8 year old girl killed herself when

her Tamagotchi died. This illustrates the insanity. Kids must learn the

difference between living creatures and computers before they can even

come close to a virtual pet. But the really LAME thing was that the

writer of the email actually used the girl who killed herself as an

argument FOR the Tamagotchi. He thought that this, that she killed

herself over the Tamagotchi, was a strong argument for that the

Tamagotchi is great. How can he be that stupid?? People like him should

learn to think.



Feel free to publish this email on your page. I would be very happy if

some more people read this.



Sincerely,

Sonny Lagos (20)