You are in the middle of a perfect dream when you are suddenly awakened by an obnoxious beeping sound. Frustrated and annoyed, you start slamming your hand near your alarm. In your groggy state you then realize that it is not your alarm, but your virtu al pet. He needs to be fed. You groggily push the feed button and try to fall back to sleep.
These little critters are today's hottest trend. Kids all over the world can be seen carrying these pets on everything from purses to backpacks to key chains and belt loops. Toy stores can not keep enough virtual pets in stock to satisfy the great deman d for them by the consumers. Kids love to have these little pets because this a way that they can get that pet they always wanted, without the usual inconviences of a real pet. "My virtual pet is just like owning a real pet. I have to feed it, clean up after it, and play with it." said Rebecca Hall, freshman.
These pets can be referred to by many different names. These names include tamaguchis, giga pets, and virtual pets. They are all the same concept, but made by different companies. They are actually tiny computer games that are usually in the shape of an egg and come in different colors. Virtual pets can be different animals; such as dogs, cats, dinosaurs, hamsters and various other animals. These pets then beep at different times of the day to let their ÒmomsÓ know that they are hungry, tired, want to be played with, or sick. The "moms" then have to push a series of buttons in which they can respond to the needs of their pet. How long your pet lives depends on how well you take care of it. Molly Hayes, senior, has a giga pet. She took such good care of her pet that after 35 days it had become full grown, and she beat the computer game. Although she thought her little pet was fun there were times when the little pet could became a hassle. "On Saturdays it would wake up at 7 A.M. and then I got s ick of it because I would want to sleep in," said Hayes. For the most part Hayes did have fun with her virtual pet. "It became addicting. I took it with me everywhere,Ò said Hayes. On the other hand, if you do not take care of it your pet will die and you will have to start the game over. "I overfed mine and it died," said Emily Erwin, sophomore.
To some Marian students however these pets are more than just a silly computer game. These girls do not see this as just a toy for the young kids. Girls at Marian can be seen taking care of their pets. Some teachers do not allow the virtual pets in the classroom and some schools have even outlawed them because they were disrupting class. After an informal poll, Marian teachers do not seem to mind the girls having their virtual pets in class. Most students who have these pets say they enjoy them becau se they have fun playing with them. Once you start playing with these pets though they can become addicting. Ò I begin to think that it is real,Ó said Nina Easley, junior, on the virtual pet that she is baby- sitting for a friend.
However, other people, have their own pets that they take care of each day. These pets can be a good way to show kids that real pets are more trouble then they are worth. Courtney Bullins, freshman, thinks differently. "I thought that taking care of m y virtual pet was more like taking care of a baby, then taking care of a pet," said Bullins.
Now that your pet has been fed, you can try and fall back to sleep. You wonder though that it might have just been easier to get a real dog. With that pet you could at least get a good night's sleep.