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Tamagotchi lays golden eggs for Bandai

  • By Dan Tochen, GameSpot
  • Posted Apr 12, 2006 3:45 pm PT

Sales of Tamagotchi Plus units crack 20 million in just over two years; children's clothing line on the way.

Bandai announced today that sales of the latest version of its iconic Tamagotchi virtual pet have reached 20 million units. The Tamagotchi Plus reached this milestone in just over two years, and the pace of sales is accelerating. After the game's March 2004 launch, Bandai sold the first 10 million units in 17 months, while moving the second 10 million units took just nine more months. With retail prices from 2,000 to 3,000 yen ($16.90 to $25.30), the Tamagotchi Plus represents a significant source of income for the Japanese toy and gamemaker.

The virtual pet game has been successful outside of Japan as well, selling 11.8 million units overseas. It was even chosen as the UK Toy Retailers Association's Toy of the Year in 2005. Tamagotchi games have also seen success around the world. The most recent release, Tamgotchi Connection: Corner Shop, arrived in US stores earlier this year.

Part of this success may be due to the new tricks that Tamagotchis have learned since they first took the market by storm in 1996. All versions of the Tamagotchi Plus share information between units using infrared connectivity, and some versions can even communicate with cell phones and upload information to the Internet.

Tamagotchi's perennial popularity has encouraged Bandai to explore revenue sources beyond its usual areas of expertise. In a partnership announced yesterday, Bandai will collaborate with Japanese clothing retailer Uniqlo to produce Tamagotchi-branded children's clothing. Uniqlo's 709 domestic locations will offer children's T-shirts featuring Tamagotchi characters, bundled with a Tamagotchi game. Bandai describes its key strength as "character merchandising," and unexpected brand extensions like this one support that claim.

18 Comments

  • myron30

    Posted Jun 10, 2006 6:58 pm GMT

    Plus it's over priced at $29.99.

  • myron30

    Posted Jun 10, 2006 6:55 pm GMT

    I have one thing to say, Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop was not successfull here in the states, not from what I've hear and read. I've been tempted to buy it but wise up every time I read all the bashing it receives online.

  • LionsGate

    Posted Apr 17, 2006 8:20 am GMT

    Supposively the DS game has sold real well too, I think making it the highest selling third party game on DS, which is so sad.RES should be #1 third party game! I had no clue that the little things still existed, let alone sold 20 mil.

  • DrinkDuff

    Posted Apr 15, 2006 1:44 pm GMT

    Oh bandai...You and your market dominance: First Japan....then the world!

  • CasualKillla117

    Posted Apr 14, 2006 4:56 pm GMT

    Well, didn't Pokemon did this like, in the seventh month of its exsistence?

  • i_love_my_ds

    Posted Apr 13, 2006 5:47 pm GMT

    what has this world come to?

  • jaefrmbk2k

    Posted Apr 13, 2006 11:37 am GMT

    [This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]

  • DurhamNC

    Posted Apr 13, 2006 6:49 am GMT

    Well sure it's weird if you're over say seven...

  • mr_squibble

    Posted Apr 13, 2006 6:06 am GMT

    Cool. Gotta love consumers and their disposable income...

  • TryMe01

    Posted Apr 13, 2006 5:44 am GMT

    oh gez....

  • Kwiksilva

    Posted Apr 12, 2006 9:24 pm GMT

    No Comment.

  • JBrookbank

    Posted Apr 12, 2006 9:00 pm GMT

    I was not aware they still made Tamagotchi things anymore until I saw the preview for the new game at my local EB. I thought they were done with the little portable things a long time ago. Oh well, if they are making money off of it, go them.

  • drollia

    Posted Apr 12, 2006 8:34 pm GMT

    Wow i did realize that Tamichochi was still even around. i thought that it said that the DS version had sold 20 million units already and thought good lord, that game is huge. But i was wrong the game didn't come out until this year

  • NeoJedi

    Posted Apr 12, 2006 5:05 pm GMT

    That is some real weird and wild stuff right there... I wonder when the Nintendogs clothing line is coming out?

  • PSdual_wielder

    Posted Apr 12, 2006 4:28 pm GMT

    i had an original one of these years ago and remembered having it confiscated by my grad 2 teacher, i got it back, but i dont where it is now. these things are quite childish.

  • Donkeljohn

    Posted Apr 12, 2006 4:15 pm GMT

    . . . do you still have to throw the thing away when you neglect your digital pet? Bandai may be held responsible for creating the Tamagotchi Landfills. . .

  • matrix_hiei

    Posted Apr 12, 2006 3:57 pm GMT

    sad...

  • sushi_111

    Posted Apr 12, 2006 3:47 pm GMT

    Oh my god

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