NEW YORK — Tamagotchi, the company behind the 90s handheld virtual pet toy of the same name, is launching a new device that wants to be your e-best friend.
But the toy, called Tamagotchi Friends ($19.99), is actually more like a needy person in your life that wants you to do everything. Feed him. Potty train him. Bathe him. Make sure he turns into a healthy adult.

The company showed off the product this week at the 2014 International American Toy Fair, giving kids the opportunity to raise a virtual baby into an adult. Although the product already launched in the European market, it will come to the U.S. in the fall.

The company has sold more than 80 million units since it launched 17 years ago. The core of Tamagotchi has always been about nurturing and taking care of a virtual pet, but the progression into taking care of a virtual human is new territory for the company.
On the surface, the device looks like previous models, in hardware and especially its old-school grainy graphics, but the latest version infuses a lot of new tech. By tapping one Tamagotchi Friends toy with another, you can send virtual gifts or even text messages. Although the device isn't Wi-Fi enabled, it uses sensors to transfer data when the backs of the toys are bumped. Users can also send the character from one device to another Tamagotchi for a playdate, such as a picnic in the park.
"The main focus is taking care of and nurturing you friend, but you can also play games that earn you money so you can go virtual shopping," a company spokesperson told Mashable.

Tamagotchi is also rolling out a new app for iOS and Android on Feb. 26 called Tamagotchi Life Angel as a part of a greater effort to introduce the brand to kids. The previous app received 3 million downloads since it launched last year.

In addition, the app uses the song “Any Weather" from Joan Jett and The Blackhearts’ new album, Unvarnished. It was co-written and performed with Dave Grohl, and beats most standard music in kid apps.
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