Tamagotchi

Definition

The word Tamagotchi is the name of a Japanese pocket pet that simulated social and material needs. The Tamagotchi became a household name shortly after Japanese toy producer Bandai released the small egg-shaped computer into the hands of millions of adoring youth. The technology, developed in 1996, by Aki Maita, would see sales of over 70 million by 2008.

Pocket pets had characteristic cries that would interrupt class if not turned off. Caring for the pet was fairly simple. A tiny creature would appear on screen after the egg was turned on. By pressing the three buttons, the owner could feed, bathe, discipline, or amuse the pet. If these four actions were done in moderation and at a fairly regular pace, the creature would eventually evolve into a better animal. If the creature was poorly cared for, it would either die or evolve a sickly weak animal.

The structure of the cell phone is very similar to that of a pocket pet. The Tamagotchi could be considered to be a technosocial training wheel for the later adoption of the mobile device, a harbinger of technosocially mediated days to come, when cell phones and Facebook would become a normal part of the everyday class experience. Text messages, phone calls to friends, and E-mail now live on many students’ mobile devices, making cell phone use in school almost completely necessary to stay in touch with friends. This makes cell phones a real-life Tamagotchi, where multiple creatures exist inside each device, and relationship maintenance becomes a push-button system.

A cell phone contains multiple contacts to care for. Each text message represents the need of a contact, which must be maintained by feeding (talking or texting with the contact). Like the Tamogotchi, a cell phone constantly calls the user to it with penalties or ignoring its signal. Missed parties or business deals reinforce responsive behaviors and maintenance strategies.

(cite this)

• Zizek and the Tamagotchi