Availability: This bootleg has been available on a number of different e-retail sites, including eBay, Target, Walmart, and Amazon since around 2004.
Info/Summary (photo examples after the break): Digi Pets have been available in some form since at least 2004. The 2004 version had 32 pets you could choose from; they don’t appear to be from the Bunny ROM.
In 2005, the number of available pets was scaled down to 10 options and updated to sprites which may be original. These sprites persist through all the future versions, the newest of which was released in 2010.
Despite this vpet having been out of production since c. 2010, Target, Walmart, and Michael’s have sold it as recently as December 2024. Angry reviews on the Target site indicate they have not aged well (see links after the break).
The gameplay is very simple, and the sounds are very annoying. From a gameplay video of a post-2005 version:
“A very simple pet but really cute animations. You get to choose 1 out of 10 different animals; they do not evolve, and it doesn't include any games on them. I got it in a lot, but wouldn't pay more than $7-$10 for it [NB: it currently retails at ~$25].
Most would consider it fake but I consider it an odd simple pet, because it has it's own original programming and it doesn't reset by itself unlike some other unbranded pets which does...”
This appears to be a different Digi Pet toy than another one of the same name carried by Target during the 2024 holiday season. While that one was a Bunny Rom toy, this bootleg seems to be more similar to a bootleg Giga Pet.
2004 version
Number of pets: 32
Known colors:
Clear blue
Clear red
Front/Back view:
————
2005 version
Number of pets: 10 (and updated sprites)
Known colors:
Green
Yellow
Pink
Red
Front/Back view:
————
2006 version
Number of pets: 10
Known colors:
Green
Pink
Front/Back:
————
2008 version
Packaging is now green. It looks a lot like the 2010 version in terms of packaging, but the back lists its creation date as 2008.
Number of pets: 10
Known colors:
Green
Front/Back:
————
2010 version (being sold in 2024 in Target, Michaels, and Walmart)
Number of pets: 10
Michael’s, Walmart and Target are being supplied these toys through a company called Toynk Toys (who also have all four colors for sale on their own website). This outfit also sold some older versions of Digi Pets. I’m guessing Toynk Toys found some old stock that they decided to quietly push in order to get rid of it.
None of the 2010 examples have back-of-box photos available, but we know the manufacture date based on angry Target reviews, one of which read as follows:
Did not work
1 out of 5
Would not recommend
Item did not work upon arrival. Batteries were heavily corroded and the manufacture date showed 2010. We bought new batteries and replaced them, and the item still didn't work.
[source]
Known colors:
Yellow
Kids Only Digi Pets Electronic Virtual Pet Game | Yellow : Target
Red
Read reviews and buy Kids Only Digi Pets Electronic Virtual Pet Game | Red at Target. Choose from contactless Same Day Delivery, Drive Up an
Green
Read reviews and buy Kids Only Digi Pets Electronic Virtual Pet Game | Green at Target. Choose from contactless Same Day Delivery, Drive Up
Purple
Read reviews and buy Kids Only Digi Pets Electronic Virtual Pet Game | Purple at Target. Choose from contactless Same Day Delivery, Drive Up
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Made by: Pureeeni (alternately styled “PureEeni”), based in Wotford, UK.
Availability: Released November 24, 2020 on Amazon (based on the Pureeeni Facebook page, which was set up earlier that same day). It is no longer available.
About: The packaging for the Hey Kitty is a pretty shameless ripoff of the packaging of the officially licensed 2020 Hello Kitty Tamagotchi.
Above is a direct comparison between the two (h/t to @bootlegpals for the Hey Kitty box; they have a whole post on this knockoff here). The packaging is almost the same, except for the replaced header/logo section, generic Kitty wearing a green bow, and green bow replacing the red bow in the upper right hand corner.
The case of the Hey Kitty is also clearly ripped from the Hello Kitty tama. The generic green-bow kitty replaces Hello Kitty at the top, the scale and positioning of the pixel art images are off compared to the real version. Some pixel art images have been replaced. For example, a Space Invader sprite replaces a bumblebee.
The product image and the video from their Amazon (posted below) both show that the gameplay is just the Bunny ROM. According to an Amazon review from Saudi Arabia, the screen is super low-quality and forms bubbles.
Online discussions about this bootleg:
YouTube review
Reddit Thread
Reddit - Dive into anything
Official Description (emphasis added by me):
[source]
The Best-Selling Toy in the World Since 1996 is Back! Original Hey Kitty Tamagotchi Next-Gen Virtual Pet
Now back by overwhelming popular demand, the universe's most nostalgic game console, now in a sturdier shape and brighter colors. This next-Gen Hey Kitty Tamagotchi virtual pet is worth a thousand words and a marvelous game for kids and grown-ups alike. Nourish your pet character, look after it, and keep it in a mint, pristine condition. While exploring the wonderful Tamagotchi realm.
WHAT IS TAMAGOTCHI? Hey Kitty Tamagotchi is a portable, virtual pet game that has 4 buttons you can press to perform various activities and navigate through the game. You can feed your Tamagotchi pet, clean after it, play games with it, and look after it when it's sick. The game is extremely easy, and interactive.
ULTIMATE GIFT: Perfect present for that special person, share a piece of your childhood, a tangible nostalgic memory as a token of your love. Put a big, radiant smile on your loved one face by gifting them this retro gaming console. It doesn't get more unique than this.
INCREASE YOUR KID’S SELF ESTEEM: Immerse your kid into a healthy feeling of self-worth by introducing your child to two things: Success and achievement. Hey Kitty Tamagotchi game teaches your kid how to become responsible, take care of the virtual pet, and grant him or her instant results and a sense of achievement by keeping the Tamagotchi character healthy.
REVISIT YOUR PRECIOUS CHILDHOOD MEMORIES: Create some lovely brand-new memories while immersing in waves of fun and nostalgia. Our Next-Gen Tamagotchi retro console has all the ingredients for hours of meaningful entertainment just like old times.
GAME INSTRUCTIONS
FEED YOUR PET: There are three types of food, and your pet's weight increases 10 grams after each meal.
PET'S NUTRITION: You can feed your character meals 4 times a day maximum, and give it snacks 10times during the day. Water is essential too, 10 times a day at most.
SOOTHING MELODY: Enter the game. And enjoy the famous Tamagotchi melody. You can share the song with your pet to make it happy.
SCISSOR/FIST/RAG GAME: Forget Rock, Paper, scissors. We're playing scissor, fist, rag - a whole new exciting game experience. Press A key to choose the mode, then press B to submit your choice and enjoy.
DANCING MODE: When taken good care of, your pet can start dancing with all kinds of moves. However, if it gets in its angry state, it will decline your command until you feed the little monster.
CLEANING AFTER YOUR PET: Just like a regular pet, it can have a bowel movement now and then. Just clean after it to keep it happy. It'll feel 30 Grams lighter afterward.
HEALING ONJECTION: Give your pet character a medicine injection when it's feeling sick.
CHECK YOUR PROGRESS: Press A to check the index of food and your pet's health state.
SLEEP: It'll need its fair share of rest to stay healthy and in good shape.
SHOUTING ALERT: When your pet needs your assisting, an alarm will go off to alert you of the situation.
ORDER TODAY
and get an instant throwback to the good old days
Get yours now by scrolling up and click the BUY BUTTON NOW
Info: There’s not much info about this bootleg. The only other mention of it existing I’ve found comes from this Reddit thread from a few months ago. It’s not clear if it’s running the Bunny ROM or something else, although the egg graphic shown in pic two might indicate it’s a different game.
Availability: As of this posting, it’s for sale on Egyptian Amazon.
This appears to be a different Digi Pet toy than another one of the same name also carried by Target during this time period (see an upcoming post for details).
Availability: This bootleg seems to be carried exclusively by Target as part of their Holiday 2024 in-store only Bullseye’s Playground stock. As of this post, it seems to still be in stores—someone posted a tiktok featuring it two days ago.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
