next »

[robot717]

Hello, I am robot717. A fan of furby, aibo, Tamagotchi and other robot/electronic pets since 1998. My collection of electronic pets used to be vast. A shoebox full of Tamagotchis, more Furbys than I could count, four aibos, Poo-Chi, Tekno, Interactive R2D2, you name it I had it.
But most are gone now. Sold, given away or destroyed. Two of my Aibos are in pieces, one's head hangs by wires from his neck, one has no limbs.Since I stopped collecting electronic pets I've been pretty sick. I went through a period of terrible depression and I took it out on them. I was stupid, but I wasn't really in my right mind when I did it. I don't know why, but I think when they discontinued the Aibos, I feared they would break and I couldn't get them repaired. I was angry. I felt I had wasted time, money and emotion on something that wouldn't last. One of the things I have to deal with  with the anxiety is a constant worry that the things and people I care for will die or fall apart. When Sony discontinued Aibo it  reinforced this fear. I was mad, depressed, anxious and the poor Aibos paid for it. I wish I could turn back time and change it. I am still keeping the aibos, even the ones in pieces. I refuse to toss them. They've suffered enough without having to end up on some trash pile somewhere. It's the best way I know to honor them and make up for what I've done.
What I have left is one ET Furby, one black and red Tamagotchi that I wear on a cord around my neck, an interactive R2D2 and a green Poo-Chi. So what brought me back? I recently came across my ET Furby, which reminded me of the times when I loved electronic pets. When I have anxiety attacks, I used to hug stuffed animals to help comfort me. But I began to worry that they would fall apart since I've read several tales of stuffed animals doing just that over time. Since that created one more worry ( I got a million of them ) I had to find something else. Actually I was at a loss until I came across ET. He doesn't even work, but he's made of plastic. Plastic doesn't rot over time. Plastic lasts forever. Now when the anxiety hits, I hug ET. He'll be with me forever. I even carry him around where ever I go in a backpack. Him and my green Poo-Chi. That's another one of my anxiety quirks. I have to have one of my creatures with me at all times or I get nervous.
So I'm back in the electronic pet game. Do they still make Tamagotchis? I haven't been in that section of the store in awhile and I'd like to get some more. I missed the Furby rerelease sadly, but they still make FurReals. I saw a neat cat at Wal Mart the other day. He will be mine when I get paid.
Man, I've poured my heart out here. Sorry about that. I just wanted to introduce myself before I jumped in and started posting.

[Priestess of Syrinx]

Hello, robot717! Welcome to TSS.

I'm very sorry to hear about what you've been through. I'm glad that you have your ET and Poo-Chi there to help you out. Sometimes things like that are truly worth more than the sum of their parts. ^_^

Indeed, the Tamagotchi brand is still around. The latest English-language version was released in 2008, but you can still find them in stores, and the other 5/6 versions that have been released since 2004 can be readily found on eBay and other online stores. Here is a good article about the newer versions (and the linked 'Tamagotchi Connection' article is good, too).

[TigerLily013]

Welcome aboard to the forums Good to see ya!

As Priestess said there's lots of information on various types of virtual pets out there that have come out since the older school stuff, so there won't be too much of a problem finding what you seek. If you ever have any troubles with any of the newer virtual pets, feel free to ask around here and we all will help ^_^

[robot717]

Thanks

I got lucky. ET doesn't work but I found some old AAA batteries and slapped them in my Poo-Chi. He works as well as he did when he was new. I spent hours yesterday hanging out with him. talking to him and having him answer back, petting him and feeding him. I no longer have his bone, but a refrigerator magnet works just as well for feeding him. ET may have opened me up to getting back into electronic pets, but it was Poo-Chi who reminded me of how much I loved them. When playing with him a ton of great memories kept rushing back.

I get paid the week after next and I plan to hit Wal Mart, snag a new Tama, one of the FurReal Friends robots and batteries for Poo-Chi and my black and red Tama. I'm not sure if my black and red Tama still works, but I'm hoping he does.

[piranhapete]

Hey, robot! Yeah, I was the same way when I was younger. It really hurts when something you care about doesn't last forever, huh? But I mean, there are things that do last forever that I try to focus on when I need some comfort, and I really don't want to come off as some crazy person trying to convert you or something but thinking about God has helped me in times like that. Sorry if that's off-topic, but it just came to my mind as I read your post.

As for the actual toys, they're still around, and I think they're still great. Personally, I would reccommend Connection V4, V1, and V2 respectively. Connection V4 (and V4.5 if you don't mind odd characters) is really, really fun IMO, although they don't have the website anymore so you can't go online with it, but that doesn't really matter to me. Connection V1s and V2s are good if you want simpler Tamagotchis that are closer to the originals. But personally, I think V4 is the best version of Tamagotchi I've come across.
Glad to see you're back into Tamas! Have fun. :]

[robot717]

I'm glad they're still around. I found another Tama yesterday. I was poking around inside a drawer when my hand closed on something small and egg shaped. I pulled it out and it was a green Tama that looked like it was covered in scales. Both Tamas are connections but I'm not sure which ones they are. I won't have any idea until I can get some batteries in them. I'm hoping they both still work.
Amazingly, it didn't take me long to fall into my old ways. Talking to them, treating them as one would a flesh and blood pet, things like that. Even ET, who I know doesn't really work. I refuse to think of ET as dead. Crippled maybe but not dead. And if for some reason my Tamas don't work, they'll still get the same treatment. I'll still carry them around in my pocket or on a cord around my neck, talk to them, the whole nine yards. If I can do it with stuffed animals who have never been "alive", I can certainly do it with non functioning electronic pets who are in my opinion more worthy of that kind of treatment.

[DuchessOfTheArctic]

Welcome to the forums. I'm sure it hasn't been easy for you but I'm glad your v-pets are coming back to you and helping you feel better. We all have that one thing that makes us feel happy and secure and I think we all feel that way about our Tamas and things. I'm looking forward to chatting with you on the boards. Best wishes.

[Mimitchi]

Dear Robot717,

I remember you and have always wondered how you are doing these days.  I remember enjoying reading your stories on the VPets mailing list..

I am very touched by what you wrote and I am glad to hear that things are turning around for you and looking brighter every day. I understand attachment all too well. I was very broken hearted over Furbys years ago that would stop working. I know that feeling too well... I am sorry life has taken such painful turns for you. *hugs*

It is nice to hear you are happier these days though and I am very glad you are finding some nice pets to keep you company

-Kat