Having a virtual pet is one of the many joys that a kid can have, and it has been an existing toy for years. First, it was the Tamagotchi, and now Bitzee has released arguably better versions as they are now holographic. With the new line released, kids can have their favorite Disney characters as pets.
(Photo : Amazon)
Bitzee's Disney Collection
Bitzee is fulfilling the wishes of many kids by releasing a line that allows them to bring Disney-themed pets everywhere. While the brand was brought to the US by Spin Master last summer, the new characters will not be arriving until this fall.
The collection will feature 30 new characters within the Disney and Pixar universe, as well as a new line called Bitzee Magicals. Some of the characters from the two entertainment giants include Mickey, Stitch, Olaf, Nemo, Doug, Goofy, Wall-E, Mike Wazowski, and more.
Even though the toy is yet to be released, they are already open for pre-orders on Amazon. The Disney line is available for $35 while the Magicals are priced at $30. The product is already tagged as a #1 best seller on Amazon.
It won't even take a lot to take care of a Bitzee pet. To interact with it, you'll have to open the toy like a ring box to reveal the holographic pet inside. There are no buttons as well since interactions will be based on gestures and movements, as per Engadget.
Running your finger along the head of the hologram means that you are petting it while rocking the toy side to side would put it to sleep. While buttons are absent, there is a swipe bar that allows users to access the menu and navigate through activities.
Other than taking care of the pet, there are also mini-games that users can enjoy, along with replayable animations based on movie moments from a particular character. For example, the Dory Bitzee will greet you will whale sounds.
What's better is that Bitzees are more child-friendly, in a way, since they don't require too much attention to survive. Unlike Tamagotchis, the pets won't die if they are neglected for too long, which makes it more fun than obligatory.
Read Also: 7 Best Animal Companions in Animated Disney Movies
Tamagotchi
The Japanese toy was released by Bandai back in the late 90s, where the egg-shaped toy featured a screen and three buttons for interactions. You can feed your pet and play with it, just like you would with a real-life pet.
The toy is still popular after decades of existence, so much so that it has already sold 82 million units, as per Wired. There are already new versions that are far from the first ones back in the 90s, some even featuring a camera.
If you owned one at a point in your life, you know how much of a big deal they were back then. Kids were begging their parents to buy them one and they tried their best to keep their Tamagotchi alive. It wasn't the easiest task either since like a real-life pet, they go on "living" without the option to pause.
Related: #ToyTech: The History and Evolution of the Tamagotchi