This article is about the 2010 release. For information on other releases in the franchise of the same name, see Tamagotchi Nano franchise.
The Tamagotchi Nano (たまごっちナノ) is a Tamagotchi virtual pet released in Japan in 2010. It is the successor to the Tamagotchi Mini, and inspired by the Tamagotchi iD and Tamagotchi iD L. Like the Mini, it was marketed not as a virtual pet, but rather as an accessory for the iD.
The Tamagotchi Nano would later be revisited in 2017 to become a template for licensed releases, eventually evolving into its own sub-line.
Design[]
The Tamagotchi Nano is a miniature virtual pet that measures at about 4 centimeters tall, or about 1.57 inches. It has a rounder, more egg-like shape, making it thicker than a normal Tamagotchi and slightly bigger than the Tamagotchi Mini.
The front of the shell has a droplet-shaped frame around the screen, and the screen itself is deeply recessed into the body of the shell. Two first wave shells also had a crystal-like front. The battery panel has a rectangle with "cracked" patterns on the left and right side, and a pressure-sensitive tab beneath it. Pressing the tab with a small, pointed object will open it.
Like the classic Tamagotchi, it takes two LR44 batteries. The screen is larger in resolution than that of the Mini, at 24x24 pixels.
The Nano comes in two versions, which are functionally identical but with different characters. The two versions are distinguished by the background print; the first version's background has a floral pattern at the upper right and bottom left corners of the screen, and the second version's has a wave pattern across the top and bottom halves of the screen.
The prototype images of the second version on Bandai's site don't show this distinction. In addition, there are three shells exclusive to the Tamagotchi Department Store which have the store's logo as the background.
Functions[]
Hatching and Growth[]
One minute after setting the clock, the egg will hatch into one of two babies. The Tamagotchi Nano has two growth stages; Baby and Adult. The baby stage is 24 hours long, while the Adult stage will continue until it leaves either due to neglect or reaches the end of its life span.
Which adult character a baby becomes depends on which version the model is, the baby's gender, and the quality of care it is given. It can also evolve into a secret character if certain requirements are fulfilled.
Buttons[]
Like the Mini, there are no on-screen icons, and therefore all information is conveyed through the screen and buttons. The Tamagotchi is cared for by filling its meters; it has Hungry and Happy meters, each consisting of four units, which are both empty when it's born. If either becomes empty, it will call for attention to fill them.
If the Tamagotchi needs something, the user can press the C button for an animation to see what it needs. If the Tamagotchi looks dizzy, it's hungry; if it sulks, it's unhappy. If its Hungry and Happy meters are not empty, it will perform a Close Up. It will also perform a Close Up on its own at 10:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 6:00 PM each day.
Pressing the A button opens the main menu, with the options to feed or to play the game. The meal option (rice) fills one Hungry unit, and will refuse to eat anymore once the meter is full. The snack (candy) fills one Happy unit, and can be fed even when the Happy meter is full. The A button is also used to open the lights on and off menu when the Tamagotchi has fallen asleep. Babies sleep at 8 PM, while adults sleep at 10 PM. All characters wake at 7 AM, and will turn the lights on themselves when they wake up.
Pressing A and C together will open the menu or turn on or off the sound. Pressing the B button will open the clock screen, and pressing A and C together will allow the user to set the time. These two functions are always available regardless of the character's circumstances, except when it has died or departed.
Minigame[]
The minigame involves catching the letters that spell the word "TAMAGOTCHI" in order. Catching the wrong letter, or missing the right letter when it appears, will end the game. The player must successfully spell out "TAMAGOTCHI" twice for a perfect game. The more letters are caught, the faster the game will progress. Catching at least five letters will fill one Happy heart, while a perfect game will fill two Happy hearts.
Poo[]
Throughout the day, the Tamagotchi will leave poo on the screen. Pressing the A button will clean the poo away. If left for too long, the Tamagotchi may leave multiple poos on the screen, the maximum amount being six. When poo is on the screen, cleaning it takes priority over all other functions; therefore, the Tamagotchi cannot be fed, played with, or cured of sickness or sulking until the poo is cleaned away. Poo cannot be cleaned when the Tamagotchi is asleep.
Sickness and Sulking[]
During the baby stage, if the user fails to fill the Hungry and Happy meters, and allows poo to accumulate on the screen, the baby will get sick, depicted by a skull at the top right corner of the screen. Pressing the A button twice will cure the sickness. At the adult stage, neglecting in a similar manner will cause it to sulk, indicated by it facing away from the screen and three lines appearing at the top right of the screen. The player must press A twice to cheer the Tamagotchi up. In both instances, the user will not be able to feed or play with the Tamagotchi until it is cured, and neither condition can be treated when the Tamagotchi is asleep.
Death and Departure[]
The Tamagotchi Nano has three different ending sequences:
- Death: If the Tamagotchi is severely neglected during the baby stage, it will die, leaving an image of a tombstone and Obaketchi.
- Running Away: If the Tamagotchi is severely neglected as an adult, it will run away with a suitcase, leaving a note that says "バイバイ..." ("Bye bye...").
- Departure: If the adult Tamagotchi is given generally good care and reaches a certain age, the Tamagotchi will leave with a suitcase, with a note reading "またね!" ("See you!").
In all three cases, pressing A and C together will trigger a new egg to appear.