E3 06: GoPets Preshow Report

While Nintendo has seemingly cornered the virtual puppy market on the Nintendo DS with its popular Nintendogs games, it has left the world's cat-lovers out in the rain--and we all know how much cats hate rain. Enter Konami's GoPets, which is set to please both Dog Fancy and Cat Fancy subscribers.

One part virtual-life simulation, one part social network, GoPets will let you create your own virtual dog or cat, which will have its own unique personality, interests, and hobbies, and then use the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to communicate and play minigames with other virtual pet owners around the world. You won't even need to speak the same language as the players you interact with, thanks to IKU, GoPets' icon-based communication system.

Konami promises an expansive single-player experience, as well, putting you on a tropical island with your pet, and you'll get to be a hands-on pet owner as you care for your pet using the DS touch screen. GoPets will be coming exclusively to the Nintendo DS and is currently set to drop sometime in 2006.