The Tamagotchi Connection Version 4 (known as the Tamagotchi Jinsei Version 4 outside America, or simply the V4) is the fourth Tamagotchi Connection virtual pet. It was released by Bandai in October 2006 for Europe and January 2007 for North America.
It is mainly based on the Chou Jinsei Enjoi Tamagotchi Plus, while retaining features from previous Tamagotchi Connection models.
The Tamagotchi Connection Version 4 features new connection options, allowing the Tamagotchi to go to school or work, alongside the option of connecting to other Tamagotchi pets like previous versions. It was also used to access TamaTown, which is now defunct.
An alternate version named the Tamagotchi Connection Version 4.5 was released as a follow-up in 2007, retaining many of the same features but introducing a new roster of characters, games and jobs.
Design[]
The shell has the same design principles as the Entama, sharing the angled antenna topped with a ball and infrared port at the top.
North American models feature a keychain ring, European models feature a ball chain, and Asia/Oceania models feature bead charms on a rubber string, in the same style as the Entama.
Features[]
The Version 4 has several features returning from the Tamagotchi Connection Version 2 and Tamagotchi Connection Version 3, as well as taking many of its new features from the Entama. These include the use of Gotchi Points, access to a shop at all times, TamaTown connectivity, and the introduction of mail.
Games[]
The V4 has five games, of which only Jumping Rope is available when the Tamagotchi is a baby. Mimic unlocks when it evolves into a child, and Shape, Dance and Flag unlock when it evolves into a teen.
As with previous Connection releases, the Tamagotchi needs to be at least 3g over their base weight in order to play a game, otherwise they will shake their head in denial when attempted.
- Jumping Rope: A jumping rope will swing around the Tamagotchi and the user needs to time it right by pressing any button to make the character jump over the rope successfully. To win, they must jump over the rope 30 times. Up to 6 of a random skill point can be earned from this game.
- Mimic: A random challenger will go through a sequence of poses before settling on one. The user's Tamagotchi will then start going through the same order of poses, and they have to press the B button when the Tamagotchi is on the matching pose. This game has a "best 2 out of 3" scoring system, so even if the user makes a mistake in a round, they have one more chance. The game lasts a total of six rounds. Up to 6 of a random skill point can be earned from this game.
- Shape: Different shapes will descend down either the left or the right column. The user has to press the B button to change the shape at the bottom of the screen until it matches the closest falling shapes, then press A or C to send it to the correct side and hit the matching shape to make it disappear. The user wins after hitting 30 shapes, and they will lose if a falling shape reaches the bottom of the screen. Up to 8 Intelligence points can be earned from this game.
- Dance: There are three circles on the top of the screen to represent the A, B, and C buttons. When the circles are filled, the user has to press the matching buttons in time to make their Tamagotchi dance. Sometimes two circles will be filled, and the user must press both buttons at the same time. The game lasts eight rounds total. Up to 8 Art points can be earned from this game.
- Flag: Big arrows appear one after another at the top of the screen that indicate based on their color whether the black flag should be raised with the A button, white flag with the C button or A + C for both. As the game goes on, there are tricks to try and confuse users; sometimes decoy arrows that are much smaller pop up, and the user must avoid pressing any buttons until the bigger, real arrows show up. Sometimes arrows also appear on the opposite side of the matching color, but the user must still raise the flag that matches the color of the arrow. There are eight rounds in total. Up to 8 Social points can be earned from this game.
Mail[]
The mail feature is slightly different from its Entama counterpart. The Entama would receive letters, newspapers in the morning, and important notices, while the V4 receives fortunes, letters and important notices. This feature replaces the "light" option from previous Connection versions, as the Tamagotchi now turns the lights off by itself when it goes to bed.
Fortunes, indicated by a star, will predict a Tamagotchi's current fortune in 3 categories: Gotchi Points, Love, and Health. The number of stars signifies the strength of the Tamagotchi's fortune in each of the categories; one star signifies a negative fortune, two stars signify a neutral fortune and three stars signify a positive fortune. Positive fortunes result in the specified category improving in some way, such as with Gotchi Points where 3 stars will have the Tamagotchi earn 500p from perfect minigames rather than the usual 400p, or with Health where your Tamagotchi is less likely to get sick after a care miss. However, it seems some negative fortunes do not have any foreseeable effects, as Gotchi Points earned are the same as they are with two stars. The effects of a fortune will only change if a new one is read; even when receiving a new one, if the user does not check it, they will have the same fortune as they did before.
The letters on the V4 also differ from its Japanese predecessor; the Entama receives written letters that the mailbox reads out to the Tamagotchi, and the user can scroll through to speed up the text. The V4, however, receives letters with surprises inside, such as hearts that increases happiness or poop and snakes that decrease happiness. Another feature the letter option is used for shows the Gotchi King occasionally delivering a present or Gotchi Points to the Tamagotchi, or shows a Burglar stealing a small amount of Gotchi Points instead.
Important Notices are indicated with a pair of brackets surrounding an exclamation point, and they function identically to the Entama. They are received during important events in the Tamagotchi's life, such as graduating from school or getting a new job, and opening them usually leads to the Tamagotchi heading off to partake in these events.
Skill Points[]
Another feature that the V4 introduces from the Entama is Skill Points. The three types are:
- Intelligence: Pencil icon
- Art: Sparkles icon
- Social: Flower icon
Skill points can be earned from playing games, going to school, working jobs and eating certain foods. They directly affect what character a Tamagotchi will evolve into and what jobs it will be accepted for. Skill points are not passed down to the next generation, effectively resetting them to zero each time.
TamaTown Access[]
Like the Tamagotchi Connection Version 3, the V4 had access to the TamaTown website to play games, earn Gotchi Points and receive a variety of different items and souvenirs. However, the Login/Logout system was modified to more closely resemble the Japanese version of TamaTown, changing the 10-digit password into a 14-digit password that includes numbers and letters A through F. With the inclusion of jobs and education, many aspects of TamaTown had been altered to fit the new circumstances, including making the preschool and offices available for visiting.
As of February 6, 2013, TamaTown's servers were officially shut down, leaving most souvenirs unable to be obtained without the use of a fan-made password generator.
School & Jobs[]
Similar to the Entama, the V4 also has the ability for the user's Tamagotchi to receive an education and eventually a job. However, many differences are present:
- Tamagotchi characters now go to school or their job when the user decides. This is done by going to the "Connection" icon, selecting "Work" and pressing B when the "Away" sign appears.
- The minigame has been altered; when the three presents appear, the skill icon goes into the far right box, and then the boxes flash to resemble two presents switching place, making it much easier for users to find the right box.
- The V4 has a different minigame available for each job. As there are 15 jobs, there are 21 minigames on the toy in total (including the present box game for teens).
- When receiving an important notice as an adult, the Tamagotchi heads out into town and is presented with a few jobs to choose from. A certain amount of skill points is required to be accepted for a job, which is shown if a Tamagotchi gets all O's from the Royal Servants. If any X's are given, it is rejected and will have to select another job to apply for. If rejected from all of the jobs shown at the time, the Tamagotchi returns home with a sad expression and must wait until receiving another letter to try again. The jobs shown each time are random, so different ones may show up each time they head out.
- Ojitchi and Otokitchi do not continue their previous career. Instead, the Gotchi King appears and hands them a cane, announcing their retirement. If the user selects "Work" anytime after with their retired senior character, they will take a stroll through Tamagotchi Town and stop by where they previously worked.
Education[]
Preschool[]
The Tamagotchi can attend preschool when they are a child. When they go to class, Ms. Frill will dance with them and the Tamagotchi will try to mimic their moves, sometimes doing it successfully and other times tripping and getting angry. A small amount of skills points from a random category is given every time regardless.
School[]
The Tamagotchi can attend school when they are a teen and as an adult until they receive a notice to apply for a job. After graduating preschool, they will be given the option to pick a teacher, with each of the three specializing in a specific category of skill points:
- Intelligence: Mr. Turtlepedia
- Art: Ms. Flower
- Social: Mr. Canvas
After arriving at school, the teacher shows up and hides the icon of their specific skill in the rightmost gift box. Then the boxes will shuffle around and swap spots, indicated by both boxes blinking. After swapping 4 times, the user must pick the correct box by moving the Tamagotchi with the A button and selecting the box above them with the B button. Choosing correctly rewards 3 skill points; school can be visited anytime during a single day, but the Tamagotchi will stop earning skill points after the 10th visit (30 total points each day).
List of Jobs[]
There are 15 jobs, 5 for each skill point category. The Tamagotchi must have at least 80 of the corresponding skill points to be accepted, with the exception of the Laboratory, Fashion Designer and Amusement Park jobs which all require 100 instead. Each job rewards up to 10 of the corresponding skill points, depending on their score or progress upon finishing the game.
Jobs can be played an unlimited amount of times per day, and the more times completed, the higher the Tamagotchi's daily paycheck comes out to be. The Tamagotchi can collect their daily paycheck the first time they go to work for the day. The Laboratory, Fashion Designer and Amusement Park jobs give a slightly higher paycheck than other jobs.
After a few days, the Tamagotchi will be given another notice letter with a new selection of jobs to choose from alongside their previous one. If the user wishes to keep their Tamagotchi's current job, they may press the C button when selecting and they will return home with same job.
Intelligence Jobs 
[]
- Hospital: The user must catch hearts by moving the open bag left with the A button and right with the B button. Black hearts give 1 point, white hearts give 2 points, and catching a skull loses the game. The user must make it to 100 points to win.
- Bank: The game functions identically to the Hospital job, but hearts are replaced with different sizes of Gotchi coins and skulls are replaced with poop.
- School: The user is shown a random array of 6 skill point icons (Intelligence, Art and Social) and has a fixed amount of time to collect a certain number of the ones specified in the top right corner. The A button moves the cursor, the B button selects the item, and C cycles to a new arrangement of icons. The kind of item needed switches out when completing a set, with the number necessary to collect increasing each time. Selecting an incorrect icon or an empty space also increases the number of current items necessary to collect.
- Laboratory: A picture of one of three flasks will be shown. The A, B, and C button must be used to select the matching item on the bottom. This job requires 100 Intelligence points to be accepted and is exclusive to the V4, being replaced with Circus on the V4.5.
- TV Studio: An arrow will move across the screen, and there will be a sequence of directions below it that correspond to the A, B and C buttons. The user must press them in time to the arrow crossing over them. This goes on for several rounds and speeds up as it goes on. The user is allowed to make a few mistakes without losing the game or missing an excellent score.
Art Jobs []
- Rock Star: The game functions identically to the TV Studio job, but the Tamagotchi will be singing into a microphone instead.
- Bakery: A picture of a certain type of cake will appear in the top right corner, and the user must press the B button to lower a claw to grab the matching cake on a moving conveyor belt. The user can speed up the belt by holding the A button. Reaching 16 points wins the game.
- Hairdresser: A random Tamagotchi will sit down in front of the user's Tamagotchi. Arrows will appear on the screen and the corresponding buttons must be pressed to wash the Tamagotchi's hair. The user must keep up with completing button sequences to keep the shampoo lathered and bubbly until water comes down to wash it away. If the NPC leaves happy, the user continues to the next round. If the NPC is angry, the game is lost.
- Fashion Designer: The game functions identically to the School job, but skill point icons are replaced with different articles of clothing. This job requires 100 Art points to be accepted and is exclusive to the V4, being replaced with Dance on the V4.5.
- Florist: The game functions identically to the Bakery job, but cakes are replaced with different types of flowers.
Social Jobs []
- Travel Guide: The Tamagotchi gets into a bus and must drive a certain distance to win while avoiding running into flowers. Pressing and holding A moves the bus up, holding B moves it down and letting go of both keeps the bus in the middle.
- Firefighter: The Tamagotchi sits in the basket of a fire truck that automatically moves up and down. There are three windows on the left side of the screen that will occasionally light on fire, and the user must press the B button to shoot water when they are lined up exactly with the window. The user must keep doing this until the game ends.
- Preschool: The Tamagotchi helps toddlers get into and out of a school bus. The user must count how many there are total in the bus and select the right number to move onto the next round.
- Restaurant: The game functions identically to the Laboratory job, but flasks are replaced with types of cutlery/silverware.
- Amusement Park: The Tamagotchi must jump with the B button to catch balloons that are above them. Holding A moves the Tamagotchi left, and holding C moves the Tamagotchi right. They must wait until the balloons drop lower to reach them, and they cannot be grabbed directly above the Tamagotchi (as most characters reach their arms up to their sides). This job requires 100 Social points to be accepted and is exclusive to the V4, being replaced with Weightlifting on the V4.5.
Characters[]
- Main article: Tamagotchi Connection Version 4/Character list
Most of the characters on the V4 are taken from the Entama, with growth being influenced mainly by what family the user's Tamagotchi is in (Mame Group, Meme Group or Kuchi Group) and what type of skill points are the highest. There is also a Universal family group that is achieved with low skill points and or severe neglect, with unique characters from previous Connection versions appearing here.
Items[]
- Main article: Tamagotchi Connection Version 4/Item list
Several items return from the previous Tamagotchi Connection versions, with the shop functioning identically to how it was on the V2 and V3, but lots of new items were added as well. Though, due to how many more Gotchi Points are earned from minigames and jobs, the prices of most items were increased to compensate. Many items were also available for purchase on TamaTown using Gotchi Points earned there, before it was shut down.
List of Codes[]
The user can enter shop codes by visiting the shop and pressing the A button rapidly 4 times until the shopkeeper makes a surprised face. Codes can then be entered by pressing the A, B, and C buttons in the needed order.
Shop[]
The first time a code is entered, the item is received as a free gift, but inputting the same code again requires the user to purchase the item. If the user inputs all 5 codes, the last item obtained will be replaced by the Cell Phone item.
| Item | Shop Code | Gotchi Points |
|---|---|---|
| CD3 | CAAA BACB | 0 |
| Steak | ACAB ACAC | 1400 |
| Love Potion | CCBA AABB | 7000 |
| Clone | BAAB ACBA | 14000 |
| Pen | BBCA CCCA | 15000 |
Cell Phone[]
The Cell Phone is obtained after inputting all of the secret shop codes, replacing the final one entered with this item. When used, the user is prompted to put in an 8-digit button combination similar to the shop codes, and when putting in the correct code, the Tamagotchi is able to talk to other characters such as teachers they've had, the Gotchi King, and the Tamagotchi's parents or grandparents if on or past the second and third generation respectively.
| Character | Phone Code |
|---|---|
| Parent | AABA CCBB |
| Grandparent | CCAC BCBA |
| Ms. Frill | AACC CABA |
| Mr. Turtlepedia | ACCB CAAB |
| Ms. Flower | CBBC BABB |
| Mr. Canvas | BBAC CAAB |
| Gotchi King | BABC AAAB |
Glitches[]
The V4 is infamous for its vast amount of glitches to be found. There have been reports of the Matchmaker bringing child and teen characters, multiple or glitched characters, characters of the same gender as the user's Tamagotchi, and even black bars that can freeze the device completely and force the user to reset.
Other glitches include food disappearing from the food menu, items such as the Ball appearing as food, letters in names changing, and adult V4 characters being able to mate with teen characters on different versions. Some of these glitches were fixed with the second wave of designs, but some still occur on occasion. An easy way to confirm that a Tamagotchi isn't corrupted is to run a ROM test.
The Great Tamagotchi Fan Shell-ection Contest[]
The winning glow-in-the-dark Tamagotchi shell design.
The Great Tamagotchi Fan Shell-ection Contest was a competition held on Tamagotchi.com beginning on July 22, 2006. The name is a play on the word "Shell", which is used to describe colors and designs for Tamagotchis, "Selection" (to select), and "Election".
The contest consisted of four different shell designs being posted on the website each week, and fans got to vote which one to be the new shell design for the V4. 12 shell designs were shown in total, and the Glow-In-The-Dark design was announced the winner in December 2006. The rest of the shells, despite not getting the highest votes, were eventually released as well.
Gallery[]
Promotional Images[]
Commercials[]
External links[]
- Official Website (Archive link)
- Growth Chart