Health meter

The Check meter (チェックメ－タ－) is a function introduced on the original Tamagotchi and has been featured on every virtual pet released since. It is typically represented as an icon of a scale.

Function

The check meter allows the user to see a general overview of their Tamagotchi's overall health. This allows the user to know their Tamagotchi's current needs and therefore allows the user to make decisions that influence the Tamagotchi's overall care, which in turn impact the Tamagotchi's Evolutions throughout its life cycle. The check meter does not show hidden attributes, such as the total amount of care mistakes. If a Tamagotchi calls for Attention, using the check meter is typically the first step before direct care is administered.

On the Tamagotchi 4U, Tamagotchi m!x and Tamagotchi On, the check meter is also used to adjust the screen brightness and contrast, toggle the sound on or off, and see the user's own profile.

Common Measurements

Age

Age is a measure of how long the Tamagotchi has lived. On most releases, the age counter increases by 1 each time either the Tamagotchi wakes up from sleep or the clock reavhes a certain time, i.e midnight. On the Tamagotchi Connection series, the age counter instead increases by 1 for every full 24 hour cycle.

Weight

This measures the Tamagotchi's weight. Every Tamagotchi character has a base weight from which they can't have their weight lowered any further. Weight increases by feeding food, and decreases by playing games. The further up the weight is, the more of a negative influence it will have on the Tamagotchi's overall health. On certain releases, reaching a certain weight will trigger evolutions, such as Debutchi. The unit of measure for weight varies between releases and regions.

Training

Main article: Training

Training measures the Tamagotchi's maturity and behavior. In general, filling the training meter increases the likelihood of getting a healthier adult. It is measured in increments, which vary between releases.

Hungry

This measures the Tamagotchi's hunger. Once the meter is empty, the Tamagotchi will call for attention. The Hungry meter is filled by feeding the Tamagotchi meals. On most releases, once the Hungry meter is completely filled, the Tamagotchi will refuse to eat more. On some releases, certain snacks will also fill the Hungry meter; in these cases, the Tamagotchi will refuse to eat the snack if the Hungry meter is full.

Happy

This measures the Tamagotchi's happiness. Once the meter is empty, the Tamagotchi will call for attention. The Happy meter is filled in multiple ways: feeding snacks, playing games, using toys, traveling, and connecting to other virtual pets. From the Tamagotchi Plus Color onward, the Happy meter starts off small and must be expanded in the Tamagotchi's lifetime. On some releases, how full the Happy meter is determines the Tamagotchi's evolutions and on-screen behavior.

Name

This displays the Tamagotchi's given name. On the Tamagotchi Connection and Plus models, the name is given when the Tamagotchi is first hatched or when they first wake up on the second generation onward. On the Tamagotchi M!x and On models, the First Generation will always feature the Tamagotchi's normal name. Once the user begins raising a My Tama, they will be prompted to give the Tamagotchi a name once it's born.

Generation

Main article: Generation

This displays the number of generations the Tamagotchi has been running. This number increases each time the Tamagotchi gets married and produces offspring. On some models, the generational number may determine which characters can be raised. Generations always cap at 99 and reset to 1 upon Death.

Gotchi Points

Main article: Gotchi Points

Gotchi Points are a currency earned from certain activities, such as playing games. All of the Gotchi Points that have currently been earned will be shown in the check meter menu, and the cap of how much Gotchi Points can be stored varies between releases. Gotchi Points can be redeemed for food, toys, wallpapers, house expansions, and more.

Other Measurements

Water Quality

Exclusive to the Tamagotchi Ocean, the water quality meter determines the cleanliness of the water. It is represented by four skulls. It gradually increases on its own over time and once filled, the main screen will become black. Each use of the toilet icon will reduce the meter by 1.

Length

Length is a special measurement exclusive to the Mori de Hakken! Tamagotch, and is only available when raising Kabutotchi. The length measurement gradually increases as Kabutotchi is kept alive, fed, kept happy, and given its special foods, with the end goal of making Kabutotchi as long as possible. Upon death, its final length can be checked.

Skill Points

Main article: Skill Points

Releases featuring Skill Points will have them displayed in the check menu, each represented by an icon and having a value from 0 to 999. Skill points are earned by playing games or using certain items. Depending on the release, Skill Points may influence the Tamagotchi's evolution and career opportunities.

Bonding

Main article: Bonding

Exclusive to the Tamagotchi Connection Version 5 and V5 Celebrity, the Bonding meter represents the overall bond of the Tamagotchi characters have with the user. Bonding is increased by playing games, using certain items, answering training calls, and connecting to other units. Bonding also decreases over time. The overall bonding percentage influences the Tamagotchi's growth and the C-click reaction.

Stress

Stress is a measurement featured on the Tamagotchi Game Boy game, the Tamagotchi Town SNES game, and the Tamagotchi Music Star. It is a measurement of the Tamagotchi's present level of stress; keeping it low is vital for the Tamagotchi's health.

On the Game Boy game, stress is a hidden variable. Feeding a Tamagotchi its favorite food decreases stress by 2, which feeding a food it dislikes increases it by four. Stress has a vital impact on its teen and adult evolutions.

On the Tamagotchi Town game, stress can be increased through living in a polluted block, not being fed, being lured to another block by food or performing a clean that does not match the environment, and can be decreased by placing a soccer ball in a block. Soccer balls decrease about 14 stress at a time and must be replaced after a clean or at the start of a new day. Stress has a significant impact on evolution, and if it ever increases to over 30, the Tamagotchi will run away.

On the Tamagotchi Music Star, stress is shown in the check meter under the Hungry and Happy options, and is measured on a scale from 0 to 99. Stress increases when the Tamagotchi is given a time out, is given food or a toy they dislike, or practices music for a long period of time without breaks or praise. Stress is decreased by feeding the Tamagotchi its favorite foods, giving it a toy to play with (especially its favorite toy), praising it when it practices music on its own, and playing games (certain games actually add stress, however). Stress impacts adult evolutions and the Tamagotchi's chance of getting a professional debut. At critically high levels, the Tamagotchi may refuse to perform at concerts and favor playing with toys instead of practicing music.

Trivia

• On the original Tamagotchi, the check meter was the sixth icon (the second icon on the bottom row). On the Mothra Tamagotchi, it was made the first icon instead, which since became the standard for all releases.
• While the Tamagotchi Mini and Tamagotchi Nano releases don't have the check meter icon, they retain the function through their C-click reactions. A dizzy animation means the Hungry meter is empty, and a sulking animation means the Happy meter is empty.
• On the Tamagotchi Osutchi and Mesutchi, generations are measured in a separate TMP icon. From the Tamagotchi Connection onward, generations have instead been measured in the check meter.