What is a virtual pet? How caring for one works

What is a virtual pet?

A virtual pet, sometimes called a digital pet, is a game character with its own needs: it gets hungry, tired or bored. The player’s job is to look after it - feed it, play with it and put it to bed. A well-cared-for pet is cheerful and grows, while a neglected one becomes sad. It is a simple idea that has taught children routine and caring for someone for years.

Where did virtual pets come from?

The first popular virtual pets appeared in the 1990s as electronic keychains with a tiny black-and-white screen and three buttons. They fitted in a pocket, so children took them everywhere, school included. Later, similar games moved to consoles, phones and web browsers.

Today virtual pets come in two main kinds: toys with a built-in screen, and games for phones or browsers. A toy works without the internet but has a simple picture and a few functions. A game offers more - animations, mini-games, outfits and a pet that looks like it came out of an animated film - and you usually do not need to buy anything to start.

How does caring for a virtual pet work?

In YourPet every pet has three meters: health, energy and happiness. They slowly drop over time - health and happiness faster, energy more slowly - and four daily activities raise them:

• Feeding raises health and adds energy.
• A walk improves the mood, but it is tiring, so it takes a little energy.
• Play raises happiness the most and also takes a little energy.
• Sleep restores energy - the pet sleeps for a few minutes and wakes up rested.

Feeding, walks and play cost coins, and the pet earns coins in mini-games. So children learn a simple rule: a little work first, then a treat for the pet. Every activity also gives the pet experience, and over time it levels up.

What happens if my child forgets about the pet?

Nothing scary. When one of the meters drops very low, the pet looks clearly sad - a sign that it needs care. After a longer absence, though, the meters drop by no more than they would in four hours, so the pet does not disappear or “die”. When your child comes back, it is enough to feed it, take it for a walk and play with it. This is on purpose: care should teach routine, not frighten.

A virtual pet from a photo - what makes YourPet different?

In most games you choose a ready-made pet. In YourPet you can also turn a photo of your own dog, cat or hamster into a little pet in the style of an animated film - we explain it step by step in How to turn a photo of your pet into a virtual pet. You can also pick one of the ready-made pets from the pet gallery.

Besides care, the pet plays mini-games with your child: 24 in the pet panel, including 9 educational games with a narrator, and 14 in the Park, on the Beach and in the Mountains. The pet can also wear costumes - one at a time, chosen by your child.

Is a virtual pet good for children?

A well-designed one is. It teaches a daily rhythm, caring for someone and that neglect has consequences. It is worth checking a few things, though: whether the game has chat with strangers, ads or paid random rewards, and who approves purchases. We cover this in A virtual pet for your child: what to look out for and in our piece on ad-free games for kids.