I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t miss my original Tamagotchi. It was a fun, creative way to bring me and my friends together as we brought up our very own pets that often went to visit one another. Thankfully, Bandai America, Bandai Namco’s US arm that distributes toy products, have found a way into my subconscious and have decided that now is the time that the original Tamagotchi’s from 1997 deserve their very own comeback.
According to PR Newswire, the original Tamagotchi devices will be returning sometime this fall, “featuring eight original colors and eight brand new colors” as well as having the exact same programming that they had before. To put it bluntly: nothing about these new Tamagotchi products appear to have changed. Whether that’s a blessing or a curse remains to be seen.
The word ‘Tamagotchi’ is a blend of the Japanese word tama (egg) and uotchi (watch), which explains its quirky shape that so many people loved. It was not only small enough to fit into your pocket, but the minimal controls that should have been off-putting were one of the product’s biggest strengths. It never got tiring, and while I’m biased, we’re sure that just like me, there are going to be a number of people investing in this toy when it comes back onto the market.
Bias aside, Tara Badie, Bandai America’s Marketing Director also believe that the original Tamagotchi’s have a chance to be big in the current market. Speaking briefly about My Tamagotchi Forever, a mobile app that lets you raise your very own Tamagotchi, she had this to say:
“We have found that since we brought the Tamagotchi back last year in a new form, fans have been clamoring for the return of the originals that launched in 1997.” She continued,”We have decided to bring back the original Tamagotchi with some new additions that will keep the classic look and feel of the original game, but with new colors that will bring the device to life like never before.”