Bandai brings Tamagotchi pets to the iPhone, iPad

Bandai’s popular Tamagotchi pets are now available for Apple users.

IPhone and iPad users can now take care of the popular digital pets just like they did on the small, egg-shaped devices sold by Bandai back in the 1990s. The app, formally called “Tamagotchi L.i.f.e.,” can be downloaded from the Apple App Store.

Bandai resurrected its Tamagotchi pets earlier this year when it launched the app for Android devices just before Valentine’s Day. The Japanese company said that the Android version of the app has been downloaded more than 600,000 times.

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“Bringing the app to the iPhone and iPad will allow an even larger group of consumers to enjoy and relive the experience of caring for a Tamagotchi,” said Naomi Tobita, Bandai’s “chief Tamagotchi officer.”

In the app, users can enter a “TOY” mode to raise their pets in a 16-bit black-and-white version that imitates playing on the original egg-shaped device.

The “APP” mode lets users raise their pets in an updated version of the game that comes in color and has higher resolution. Users can also play a “Rock, Paper Scissors” mini-game with their pets to keep them happy, and they can connect the app to their Facebook so they can “share their pet-raising experience,” the company said.

The app is free but comes with ads. However, users can pay 99 cents to get the ad-free version.

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