Tamagotchi
A pocket-sized egg-shaped digital pet that went on sale in Japan in November 1996.
Bandai released the Tamagotchi in Japan on November 23, 1996. Aki Maita of Bandai proposed the idea and Akihiro Yokoi of WiZ developed the toy. Its name combines the Japanese words for egg and watch.
A small black-and-white screen showed a pet that needed to be fed, played with and cleaned up after. If the owner neglected it, the pet could die. The toy reached the United States in May 1997. More than 80 million have been sold worldwide, including later versions.
Why it matters
The Tamagotchi turned a simple microcontroller into an emotional experience. It shaped later virtual pets, mobile games and designs that reward daily check-ins.
Key facts
- Released in Japan on November 23, 1996.
- Reached the US in May 1997.
- More than 80 million sold across all versions.
- Pets needed regular care or they could die.
Sources
- Bandai, Tamagotchi history pages (tamagotchi.com).
- Kent, Steven L. The Ultimate History of Video Games, Volume 2. Crown, 2021.
- Allison, Anne. Millennial Monsters: Japanese Toys and the Global Imagination. University of California Press, 2006.