“Overall, the game gives players the sense of actually being part of the Tamagotchi world.”
The brand name that spawned legions of beeping keychains, created an entire subculture of pet owners, and interrupted several classrooms, Tamagotchi is still a force to be reckoned with. The original virtual pet, Tamagotchi has gone above and beyond its original forms to encompass video games as well as other forms of media.
From NAMCO BANDAI Games, Tamagotchi Corner Shop 3 for the Nintendo DS is the latest game in from the franchise. Giving players the opportunity to play through a variety of mini-games with all of their favorite characters from the Tamagotchi universe, Corner Shop 3 keeps the franchise moving forward with some fun and enticing gameplay elements for fans of the brand.
GameZone had a chance to speak with Nobuaki Taguchi, Localization Manager for NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc., and get his thoughts on the game as well as the Tamagotchi license as a whole.
Tamagotchi has been a well-known brand for a decade now, what do you think has attributed to its success?
Nobu: The success factor with this is the enticing play and innovative virtual pet concept that was brought about by the initial Tamagotchi virtual pet. These endearing characters have lived on and are still very alive and well today.
Being that Tamagotchi began as a virtual pet handheld, what does the Corner Shop series add to the license?
Nobu: The Corner Shop series add a level of entertainment other than raising characters. The Corner Shop series is composed by many various and fun mini-games, which have been made to accommodate our fans, while at the same time, having a level of difficulty that even most gamers may find challenging. Overall, the game gives players the sense of actually being part of the Tamagotchi world.
What new features does Corner Shop 3 bring to the table compared to the first two?
Nobu: We kept the basic core mechanics the same, while revisiting the mini-game list. We included new features such as fortune telling and journal exchanges via Wireless Communications. Also, there is a DS Single Card demo game sharing feature, so that your friends can get a feel of how the game plays.
What can you say about the online elements of the game?
Nobu: The game features a number of components which utilizes the wireless capability of the DS. First, the game has a journal feature where a player can make simple journal entries with a customizable display and send those out to other people who have the game. In this way, players can do journal exchanges wirelessly through the game. Secondly, the game has an item sharing feature where if a player wants to have a certain item unlocked, another player with the unlocked item already can help unlock it by “sharing” that item.
How does the game utilize the DS’s specific abilities (ie microphone, stylus, etc.)?
Nobu: There are many instances within the game which use the stylus and microphone. The game’s main source of navigation and gameplay is all done with the stylus, so it’s safe to say that you can literally play the game using just the touch screen. For the microphone, there are mini-games which feature usage of it (such as the Gardening shop where you need to blow into the microphone to blow away clouds covering the sun or sing to the plants to help them grow).
Any connectivity options with the Wii?
Nobu: Unfortunately, no.
What are some of the ways that the Corner Shop franchise stands out against similar titles on the DS?
Nobu: The overall setting and the very family friendly theme it epitomizes is something you don’t see in the majority of the games out on the market. This game is great for all ages, while at the same time, being a very fun and challenging game for all players. It offers something refreshingly different than the shoot-em’ and bash-em-up games out there.
Which audience will get the most out of the game?
Nobu: In the sense of who will get the most of this game, this would be our youth and “tween” audience. Honestly though, I believe the game can be quite fun for even our older audience. There’s something strangely addicting to the general gameplay and concept which we are sure will delightfully surprise players.
After Corner Shop 3, where would you like to see the Tamagotchi license go on the DS (as in, what new directions would you like to see for future iterations)?
Nobu: The imagination is infinite on where to take this. We can keep the proven mechanics and build upon that in various ways on the DS. The theme that Tamagotchi implies lets us approach different themes with ease. We can’t say for sure yet, but we hope that we can please everyone with a fun and fulfilling game for all to play.
