I think it's needless to argue that Tamagotchi's return to America/Canada is thrilling, but actual excitement over Tamagotchi Friends has followed up with mixed results. I've read numerous reviews stating people's disappointment in the product, complaining about it's dullness in comparison to the Japanese models and even the previous English models (ex. the lack of items and add-ons).
I am experiencing mixed emotions about this. The shell designs and new characters are really exciting for the US, but the lack of technological advancement (save for perhaps the NFC connection), colored screen, new items, etc. make me worry. Of course I'd be happy for anyone to prove me wrong, since I haven't done too much research on the product itself. But what I have seen/read makes me a concerned. Below are some of the reasons why, and these are only my personal opinions. Don't feel compelled to read them, because my opinion isn't the topic of this thread. I genuinely want to know how everyone else feels.
Maybe I'm not giving Bandai enough credit, but I'm simply writing what has been on my mind. Regardless of the outcome, I still will be purchasing a Tamagotchi Friends simply because I love Tamagotchi. I just can't promise that it will be for my personal enjoyment instead of my collection alone.
Edit: Found a post on Tumblr where someone had the Tamagotchi Friends modded to have a backlight. This definitely helps with the visibility issue! By the looks of the photos, it seems like 4 LEDs were used instead of an actual backlight. Regardless, I've contacted Gotchiworld asking if they can provide any further information. If possible, I'd like to write a short tutorial on performing this modification on your own. I think it'll be helpful!
Edit 2: It turns out that MstrBlinky from Tama-Zone, the same person who created the English patch for the Tamagotchi P's, performed the backlight mod. The thread can be found here.
I am experiencing mixed emotions about this. The shell designs and new characters are really exciting for the US, but the lack of technological advancement (save for perhaps the NFC connection), colored screen, new items, etc. make me worry. Of course I'd be happy for anyone to prove me wrong, since I haven't done too much research on the product itself. But what I have seen/read makes me a concerned. Below are some of the reasons why, and these are only my personal opinions. Don't feel compelled to read them, because my opinion isn't the topic of this thread. I genuinely want to know how everyone else feels.
- Obviously, Bandai is trying to make a return to the Western market - I don't know how many people expected this, but I definitely didn't. Given the popularity of Tamagotchis in the past, it's not surprising that they're giving it another go. However, given the drastic decline over the past few years, I believe that they are releasing Tamagotchi Friends to test the market.
- This is further supported by the fact that the Tamagotchi Friends has the same body as the iD L, no color screen, similar set of characters to an existing tamagotchi (P's, if I recall correctly) and limited features (such as no downloadable items). This implies that Bandai isn't putting too much effort into creating a product that will blow away the Western market. They're depending on the fact that the name "Tamagotchi" returning on its own will create appeal, and by the looks of things in the UK it has already. However, the number of units sold does not correspond to success in the long-run. It's about the appeal of the product and how addictive it is (how long people will play with it).
- The form and functions of Tamagotchi Friends is simplistic and even 'basic'. Maybe Bandai is trying to appeal to a younger audience, or maybe they're seeing if people are still attracted to the core concept of Tamagotchi. That's why they haven't gone out and splurged with a color screen, many add-ons, etc. because given the diminished popularity of Tamagotchis in the U.S. they are not sure if creating a device that is more expensive than any other Western Tamagotchi previously released will be cost-effective. A good example is the Tama-Go, which had character figures that acted similarly to Deco Pierces. Many complained that they shouldn't have to pay for what should already come in the system, like games and items, and thus the appeal of this isn't as strong as it is in Japan. Also, the Tama-Go didn't make the market rebound either.
- Bandai is playing it safe, but it may be exactly this that stops them from "reconquering" the Western market. I don't know about everyone else, but people I have heard from and myself feel that the U.S. needs something new in the world of Tamagotchi - why couldn't Bandai release a simpler version of the iD L? I can imagine that a colored screen (amongst other things, like new stores or locations) would be a much better selling point in itself than simply the name "Tamagotchi" reappearing. It's needless to say that simply by comparing the new Tamagotchi Friends to older models, we see that it's lacking (and even falling behind) in some departments. It appears as if Tamagotchi has taken a large step back, but hopefully the new Dream Town will save that.
Edit: Found a post on Tumblr where someone had the Tamagotchi Friends modded to have a backlight. This definitely helps with the visibility issue! By the looks of the photos, it seems like 4 LEDs were used instead of an actual backlight. Regardless, I've contacted Gotchiworld asking if they can provide any further information. If possible, I'd like to write a short tutorial on performing this modification on your own. I think it'll be helpful!
Edit 2: It turns out that MstrBlinky from Tama-Zone, the same person who created the English patch for the Tamagotchi P's, performed the backlight mod. The thread can be found here.
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