- This page is about the first release in the Connection franchise. See Tamagotchi Connection (disambiguation) for other similar named pages.
The Tamagotchi Connection, or the Tamagotchi Plus (かえってきた!たまごっちプラス Kaettekita! Tamagotchi Purasu, literally "It's Back! Tamagotchi Plus" in Japan) and also known as the Tamagotchi Connexion in Europe and Asia and Come Back! Tamagotchi Plus in Korea, is the first modern release of the Tamagotchi virtual pet, initially released by Bandai in Japan on March 20, 2004 and in North America on August 15, 2004. Following the release of the Tamagotchi Connection Version 2, it became colloquially known as the Tamagotchi Connection Version 1.
The Tamagotchi Connection was the first Tamagotchi release to use Tamacom, an Infrared feature that connects two Tamagotchi pets, allowing them to play games, exchange presents, and give birth to offspring. It features characters from both versions of the Tamagotchi (1996) and Mesutchi and Osutchi (1997), as well as several new characters.
Design[]
The Tamagotchi Connection has a larger shell than the originals, being the same size as the Mesutchi and Osutchi.
Its screen is larger but with smaller pixels, with a resolution of 32 x 30. It features an infrared port across the top of the shell, and the keychain hole is to the right.
The Japanese and international versions featured a clasp ball chain, while the US version has a chain link and key ring. Like its predecessors, it utilizes a black-and-white LCD screen over a printed background, though unlike the classic Tamagotchi, the background print varies between shells, and some limited edition shells feature exclusive background prints.
The Tamagotchi Connection set the standard design of Tamagotchi virtual pets up until the Tamagotchi Plus Color in Japan and the TamaTown Tama-Go globally. The Tamagotchi Connection Version 2, Tamagotchi Music Star, and Oden-Kun Tamagotchi use the same mold, while other releases have a similar size and shape, but have an additional design to the left side, such as an antenna.
Features[]
The Tamagotchi Connection has 10 icons, 2 more functions in addition to the 8 found in prior releases. The two newer functions added were Communication (i.e. fifth icon, shapped like a heart with radio waves) and Friends List (i.e. ninth icon, shaped like an open book).
Additionally, the user must also input the current date and their birthday when setting it up for the first time. The user must also name their Tamagotchi when they're born, or when the next generation begins.
The device's tracking of care quality was divided into two categories - physical and emotional. Failing to tend to a Tamagotchi when it is hungry, sick or misbehaving impacts their physical health, and their emotional health is affected by how the user responds to their happiness, the lights when they are sleeping or when they are upset. Certain characters can only be gotten depending on whether their physical needs were tended to more than their emotional needs or vice versa.
Meter[]
The Meter icon was changed to a different layout than the older Tamagotchi. The first screen shows the Hungry and Happy hearts statuses. The second screen shows the Tamagotchi's Training Meter. The third screen shows its Age, Weight, and Name. The fourth and final screen shows the Gender and Generation of the Tamagotchi.
Food[]
As with the classic Tamagotchi, food is divided between Meal and Snack options. Meals increase one Hungry heart and raise the weight by 1. Snacks fill one Happy heart and increase the weight by 2. The food changes as the Tamagotchi grows, and each adult has its own unique foods. Some foods are different between regions.
Games[]
The Tamagotchi Connection Version 1 was the first release to have multiple games and prevent games from being played if a Tamagotchi is at its base weight. Each game also has a ranking system; the player must successfully clear a certain number of rounds in order to fill a Happy heart, while finishing the game perfectly fills the meter completely.
- Dance: Using all three buttons, the character is tasked with copying dance steps and will lose if they don't respond in time or get a step wrong. Pressing A makes the character move to the left, C makes it move to the right, and B makes it jump. The first several rounds will only add one new step at a time, but later rounds will add 2-3 steps and shorten the reaction time limit. The user must copy the dance at least once (3 dance steps) to win the game, and 14 times (30 dance steps) for a perfect game. This game reverses one mental care mistake and requires 2g of excess weight.
- Jump: Using the middle (B) button, the character must jump over hurdles at the correct time. The more hurdles jumped successfully, the faster the character runs towards them. The user must jump at least three hurdles to win, and a total of 30 times for a perfect game. This game reverses one physical care mistake and requires 3g of excess weight.
Toilet[]
While the Tamagotchi still poops as before, the user can now catch the Tamagotchi just before it does so and, using the toilet icon, have them use a toilet instead of making a mess on the floor - doing so raises their happiness by one heart. This function is not available for the baby stage, the Senior stage, and Oyajitchi.
Training[]
Expanding on the Discipline function from the original Tamagotchi pets, Training allows the user to both discipline and praise the Tamagotchi. Discipline is used if the Tamagotchi calls for attention when its hearts aren't completely empty or if it refuses medicine or food when needed and influences physical wellbeing; while Praise is used if the Tamagotchi is sulking or crying and influences emotional wellbeing. Rather than increasing 25% each turn, there are now nine bars with one being added for each answered call for discipline or praise. Missing a training call now counts as a care mistake.
Tamacom[]
The Tamagotchi Connection was the first virtual pet to introduce Tamacom, an infrared communication between two virtual pets. The concept of communicating originated with the Mesutchi and Osutchi release, which connected via metal sensors.
The Tamagotchi Connection introduces three functions:
- Games - Connecting virtual pets can compete against each other in two games: Food Competition and Balloon Competition. The user does not interact with their virtual pet during the game.
- Food Competition - The two pets compete to see who can eat the most food without passing out. The Japanese release shows them competing with bowls of rice, while the American release shows them eating bread.
- Balloon Competition - The two pets compete to see who can pop a balloon faster. Both stand on a pump and jump on top, causing a balloon to inflate. The first Tamagotchi to pop their balloon wins.
- Sharing Gifts - One Tamagotchi visits the other and gives a gift. The present may be an item that can be used (e.g. ball, roller skates), a static connecting item that makes the pet happy (e.g. flower, cake), or a bad item that upsets the Tamagotchi (e.g. poop).
- Love - When two Tamagotchi of different genders connect as adults, they may fall in love and produce offspring. Both Tamagotchi will receive a baby of the same gender.
There is no option to select what interaction to happen. However, if both Tamagotchi units are adults, have a full "Love" status, and have been adults for at least 72 hours, they will immediately marry and produce offspring when they next interact.
Both the English and Japanese editions can connect and marry with every release of the Tamagotchi Connection series through the Tamagotchi Connection Version 4.5. The Japanese version can connect with the Keitai Kaitsuu Tamagotchi Plus and Keitai Kaitsuu Tamagotchi Plus Akai, but can't marry. If the other Tamagotchi has a character not featured on the Tamagotchi Connection, it will render as Nazotchi instead. Depending on the ROM version, Tamacom may be unusable during the baby stage. This distinction is also shared with the Keitai Kaitsuu Tamagotchi Plus and Chou Jinsei Enjoi Tamagotchi Plus, but not the Tamagotchi Connection Version 2 onwards.
Lights[]
If the lights are turned off within the 30 minute period before a Tamagotchi is due to go to sleep, they will fall asleep early and gain a happiness heart. Certain characters may display a yawning animation just before they go to sleep at their usual times. If the user fails to turn the light off within an hour of them going to sleep, it will result in a care mistake. When an adult has been a parent long enough, they will turn the lights on by themselves at midnight to bid farewell to their child.
Friends List[]
A new icon, known as Friends List, was introduced in the shape of an open book. The user may view Tamagotchis they have connected with and examine their genders and friendship levels. The user may also select an item received during a connection session and allow their Tamagotchi play with it. The friends list can record up to 50 friends at a time, and will count different generations from the same device as different entries. At the start of a new generation, every entry's friendship level is reduced to the initial one.
Items[]
- Main article: Tamagotchi Connection item list.
By connecting and befriending other Tamagotchis, the user can acquire special items for their Tamagotchi to play with. Each adult character has their own unique set of items, while the baby, child and teen characters share the ball item. Items are not carried over between generations or if the Tamagotchi dies.
Animations[]
During certain parts of the day and on specific days, the Tamagotchi may perform a unique animation when left alone for long enough. Child characters may roll around on the floor or sing, while teens may sing or run across the screen. Adult animations are unique from each other, but they each include one where they come close to the screen. If the Tamagotchi has acquired any items from connecting, they may use them as well.
On certain days and throughout certain months, the Tamagotchi may also perform a related animation. These vary between the Japanese and international versions. All editions celebrate Christmas, New Year's Day, and the user's birthday.
All animations will play for a few minutes and end on their own. They will also end if the user presses any button.
ROM Versions[]
- Main article: Tamagotchi Connection ROM versions.
There are at least 12 different variants of this version's firmware, each with subtle differences to the others. Among these include two Japanese versions, six English language European versions (two of which never saw an official European release but can be found on American devices), three English language North American versions and one Spanish language South American version. As a few examples of the differences found between each of these versions:
- On versions 0.0 through to 2.0, one of the negative items a Tamagotchi can receive as a gift is an Obaketchi. On 2.1 this item is replaced with an item that looks like a Dorotchi, and from 4.0 onward, the item was replaced with a Jack-in-the-box.
- Child and teen characters eat a bowl of rice as a meal on the Plus and Connexion, while they eat a roll of bread on the Connection. Ojitchi, Otokitchi and Oyajitchi all drink sake as their snack on the Plus and the Connexion, while on the Connection, they drink a cup of coffee.
- On the Plus, the death screen features Obaketchi floating next to a tombstone, whereas on the Connection and Connexion, there is a floating white egg with angel wings. Additionally, the Connexion has the egg with a halo.
- On all versions up to and including 4.0, babies are unable to use the connection feature. From 4.1 onwards, babies were given this ability.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- There are several different hardware revisions used by this version - the Connection's beeping sounds are lower-pitched (A key) than that of the Plus and Connexion (C key), for example.
External links[]