Keychain Game FAQ
rworne@primenet.com; gkomatsu@hawaii.edu
and cdyer@best.com
Version .5; August 13, 1997
Copyright (c) 1997 Galen T. Kamatsu,
Robert A. Worne and Clinton R. Dyer
All right reserved. This document
may be copied, in whole or in part, by
any means provided the copyright
and contributors sections remain intact
and no fee is charged for the information.
Contributors retain the
copyright to their individual contributions.
The data herein is provided for informational
purposes only. No warranty
is made with regards to the accuracy
of this information.
These people helped contribute information
to this FAQ:
No one yet, just us 3.
Table of contents:
I. Introduction
a. What are keychain games?
b. Our thoughts re. keychain games
II. Where can I get keychain games?
a. Stores that may be near you
b. Places on the Web
III. Keychain game list/information
a. Different types of games
1. Brick Games
2. Non-Tamagotchi, Non-Brick Games
3. Tamagotchi-like
b. Different Logics
1. Tamagotchi Logic
2. Giga-Pet Logic
3. Giyaoppi Logic
4. Other possible Logics
IV. Game List/Descriptions
a. Domestic Virtual Pets
b. Foreign Virtual Pets
c. Non-Pet Brick Games
d. Non-Pet, Non-Brick Games
V. Other interesting utilities/Miscellaneous
I. Introduction
Ia. What are keychain games?
Keychain games are small self-contained
LCD games whose sizes range from that of a Zippo lighter to a
deck of playing cards with an LCD display that measures from 1"x1"
to 1"x1.5". These games originated from Japan, and
evolved to this state over: 1) a need to be compact, for portability,
and 2) something to play on the train/subway on the way to/from
school or work. Keychain games have started to make headway into
the US with the recent releases of Tetris Jr., Nano-Pets, Giga-Pets,
and Tamagotchi.
Ib. Our thoughts
Robert:
These games are fun to play and collect.
They have a playability much like that of the old VFD games in
a much smaller package (and much longer battery life!). They
are relatively cheap to obtain ($9.95 US for most domestic keychain
games and $13.95 for most foreign models). Unfortunately for US
collectors, most of these foreign games can be found only in Chinatown
(or better, a Little Tokyo). Most keychain games are either Tetris
variants or Tamagotchi-like virtual pets.
Clint:
I would agree that they're fun to
collect. Heck, for me, if it's a game, it's fun to collect.
Play wise, however, most of them are the same! One more feature
or a different character doesn't make a new game in my opinion
(it's like releasing a Sonic game with Mario put in his place).
The games that really stand out for me are the non-Tamagotchi
rip-offs and the non-Tetris (block) games. Those are what keychain
gaming should be about. Sadly, however, the list below contains
very few of those. Maybe, once the whole Tama thing has settled
down, companies will realize that keychain gaming is here and
there's a lot of money to be made in it. In fact, several US
companies have started to see the potential. Tiger has made one
(granted, a Tama rip-off - might as well start with something?),
Micro Games has gotten into the act with 4 that I've found so
far and Playmates has released the Nano series of games. I'm
just really curious as to WHY Tiger and Playmates were allowed
to completely and totally steal Tamagotchi's concept. I wonder
if anyone from Bandai is saying "Hey, that's a Tamagotchi
with a [insert farm animal here]".
Galen:
<beep> <beep> <beep>
<beep>
II. Where can I get keychain games?
IIa. List of stores that carry them
Toys R Us,
KayBee Toy Stores,
Electronics Boutique has started
carrying them,
Sanrio stores,
Longs Drugs,
Japanese bookshops,
JCPenny's,
In Chinatown: check out variety stores
(those that carry videos, and comic books)
Little Tokyo: just about anywhere,
but variety stores are the best bet.
Shirokiya, Daiei, High Performance
Kites, Liberty House dept. stores (Hawaiian stores)
IIb. Places on the web that sell
them
There are tons of them! Do a search
for "keychain&Games" and see what you come up with.
III. Game list/etc.
IIIa. Different types of games
1. Brick games:
These games feature brick type games,
and have displays that are reminiscent of the old Microvision
display. They usually have some form of level and high-score
storage. They are quite limited graphics-wise, but can still
be quite entertaining. The types of games available are:
a. Tetris: (and a multitude of Tetris
variations)
b. "Snake and Egg": you
are a snake and must eat the egg, but if you do, your body grows
longer! The snake dies if it touches the side of the playfield
or its own body.
c. Shooting Gallery: various games
in which you shoot at advancing targets on the top of the screen,
including "reverse Tetris", where you have to shoot
blocks upwards to fill the lines.
d. Car Race: race among obstacles
and avoid crashing. Graphics look somewhat like the Atari 2600
game "Street Racer"
e. Breakout: with a paddle and ball,
remove a row or pattern of bricks from the top of the screen.
f. Tank Battle: match wits with a
computer controlled tank for one-on-one battle.
2. Non-Tamagotchi, Non-Brick games:
These games feature fixed themes,
and quite a few are mini-arcade games. Some of these games (particularly
those by Bandai) have multiple screens and virtual screens that
are larger than that of the visible playfield, opening music themes,
and other features such as Pac-Man's intermissions and Bomberman
boss levels! They also usually have a battery-backup memory that
allows storage of the highest level completed and the high score.
3. Tamagotchi-like
The Tamagotchi is a virtual pet,
and for simplicity's sake, all virtual pet keychains fall into
this category. This type of game is also the most copied of all
the keychain types due to the extreme popularity of the Tamagotchi
in Asia. In these games, you hatch some sort of creature from
an egg (usually a dog, cat, or dinosaur) and the creature lives
from 2 to 4 weeks depending on the care and attention it receives.
These games come in three major subtypes, each classified by
the name of the game in which the variation first occurs (this
is based on the most widely available game that shares that type,
or, if there is no equivalent US type, the game in which the variation
first appears). Currently, there are three versions of virtual
pet logic, Tamagotchi-type, Giga-Pet-type, and Giyaoppi-type.
IIIb. Different Logics
1. Tamagotchi Logic
Tamagotchi logic is: 7 game options,
Food (Meal, Snack), Lights (on/off), Game (left-right guessing),
Medicine, Omaru (flush feces), Scale (check health), and Discipline.
Tamagotchi logic keychains usually have 3 buttons on the face.
Examples: Tamagotchi, Dinosaur
2. Giga-Pet Logic
Giga-Pet logic is: 7 game options,
Food (healthy nutritious or snack), Bath (clean up feces-- shows
toilet, and give critter an actual bath), Game (2 variations--
some sort of "catch" or race game, and either a left-right
guessing game or rock-paper-scissors), Lights (on/off), Discipline,
Medicine, and Scale (check health). Two sub-types of Giga-Pet
logic exists, either the critter dies and becomes an angel (Giga-Pet),
or packs up and runs away from home (Nano-series, Virtual Pet,
and most others). Giga-pet logic keychains usually have 4 buttons
(or more) on the face. This is seemingly the most prolific variation
to be found. If the imitation is of a dog or cat it may very
well be a Giga-Pet logic. The Nano-Baby variation has an interesting
game start animation that shows the happy couple banging their
heads together to produce offspring. Examples: Giga-Pet series,
Nano Series, Nekotcha, Pocket Puppy, Virtual Pet
3. Giyaoppi Logic
Gyaoppi logic is: 9 game options,
Food (Meat, Vegetable, Water), Game1 (left-right guessing), Medicine,
Discipline, Game2 (Over/Under 7 guessing), Weather (Rain, Sun,
Snow), Sweeper (remove feces), Scale (check health), and Lights
(on/off). Some relatively minor variations of Gyaoppi logic exist,
and certain items such as food types may vary, but the variations
all follow this basic idea. Giyaoppi logic keychains usually
have 3 buttons on the face. Examples: Giyaoppi, Bird Watching,
Chicknotch
4. Other possible logics
There are three other games which
have surfaced that may be significantly different from the three
previously mentioned logics, Ganbare! Ryuuta-kun, Raku-Raku Dino-kun
and Pocket Love. Ganbare! Ryuuta-kun has basically Giga-pet logic,
but with the difficulty greatly increased. Raku-Raku Dino-Kun
appears to be of the Giga-Pet variety, and shares many of the
Giga-Pet features, and is tentatively a member of the Giga-Pet
group unless further investigation warrants another class for
this game. Pocket Love is not a virtual pet at all, but a virtual
relationship simulator. Game play revolves around keeping the
happy couple happy. It probably falls in one of the above three
groups, but it is mentioned here as another possibility.
IV. Game list/descriptions
IVa. Domestic Virtual Pets:
-Tamagotchi (1997, Bandai) #1800;
Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; FO/CS
This is the virtual pet that started
it all. It comes in see-through blue and see-through green, and
10 other bright colors. US debut was scheduled for May 1st, but
some leaked out 2 to 3 weeks early. These pets (according to
Bandai) do not die, but the angel displayed on the screen of an
aged/mistreated pet suggests otherwise.
-Giga Pets
Digital Doggie (1997, Tiger) #??;
Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; CS
Compu Kitty (1997, Tiger) #??; Bc;
lcd; 1P; K ; CS
Baby T-Rex (1997, Tiger) #??; Bc;
lcd; 1P; K ; CS
Micro Chimp (1997, Tiger) #??; Bc;
lcd; 1P; K ; CS
Bit Critter (1997, Tiger) #??; Bc;
lcd; 1P; K ; CS
Virtual Alien (1997, Tiger) #71-614;
Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; CS
These all come in a variety of odd-shaped
clear cases. While the themes vary widely, gameplay on all the
pretty much the same. Unlike the Nano series of games, these
pets eventually die.
-Nano Pets
Baby (1996, Playmates) #40050; Bc;
lcd; 1P; K ; CS
Kitty (1996, Playmates) #40070; Bc;
lcd; 1P; K ; CS
Puppy (1996, Playmates) #40060; Bc;
lcd; 1P; K ; CS
These pets are the same as the Tiger
Giga-Pets, but the Tiger series does not include a human baby
like this series from Playmates. In this series you cannot "kill"
the pets, they run away from home. The baby just continually
cries when the game ends badly or when the child reaches an age
of three years. Each comes in several different see-through colors.
IVb. Foreign Virtual Pets (Japanese
characters, if any, have been converted to English Alphabet):
-Bird Watching (1997, ??) #681685488021;
Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; FO
This series takes the "virtual
chicken" as the US press mis-represented the Tamagotchi quite
literally. This game comes in a white egg-shaped case with a
chick body on the front. This game has Giyaoppi logic.
-Chicknotch (19??, ??) #??; Bc; lcd;
1P; K ; FO
This is a second "virtual chicken"
game. It is identical to the Bird Watching, except that the name
and packaging differ, and the artwork is slightly changed. This
game has Giyaoppi logic.
-Chick Duck (19??, ??) #??; Bc; lcd;
1P; K ; FO
Virtually the same as the "Bird
Watching" except that you raise a duck instead of a chicken.
-Dinkie Dino (19??, ??) #??; Bc;
lcd; 1P; K ; FO
It comes in Red, White, Yellow, and
Aqua. Also, the clock function gains about two minutes per day,
but it does not allow you to reset the time without starting over.
(...however once in a while the game
has "frozen" and gone into the time set mode, and resumes
as normal.)
-Dinobaby (19??, ??) #??; Bc; lcd;
1P; K ; FO
Comes in an egg-shaped case in purple
and possibly other colors. Further description unavailable.
-Dragotti (19??, ??) #??; Bc; lcd;
1P; K ; FO
Comes in multiple colored case with
three buttons. Further description unavailable.
-Gaahippi (19??, ??) #??; Bc; lcd;
1P; K ; FO
Imitation of Gojirappa.
-Ganbare!! Inudakun (19??, ??) #??;
Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; FO
This game features 3 buttons and
various colors. A wristwatch version also exists. Virtually
the same as the Ganbare! Ryuuta-kun. This game has Giyaoppi logic.
-Ganbare!! Ryuutakun (19??, ??) #??;
Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; FO
This game features 3 buttons and
various artwork, from a plain plastic case to a sculpted egg with
a dinosaur head poking out of the top. A wristwatch version also
exists. This game has Giyaoppi logic.
-Gatcha Gatcha Juuban Shoubu (19??,
??) #??; Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; FO
Description Unavailable
-Giyaoppi (19??, ??) #??; Bc; lcd;
1P; K ; FO
This game comes in a variety of color
schemes (approximately 6), and two known shapes, the more common
ovoid shape, and a kidney-shaped shell. Raise a virtual dinosaur
hatchling from an egg to adulthood. This game has several possible
outcomes depending on the care given. This game has Giyaoppi
logic.
-Gojirappa (19??, ??) #??; Bc; lcd;
1P; K ; FO
This game comes in an egg-shaped
case that is clear white, white, red, and possibly other colors
with four buttons. In this game you raise a dinosaur to adulthood.
Package features hip-hop type art. Further description unavailable.
-Hiyoko (19??, ??) #??; Bc; lcd;
1P; K ; FO
This is the alternate packaging for
"Bird Watching"
-Karugamo Land (19??, ??) #??; Bc;
lcd; 1P; K ; FO
Comes in multicolored cases with
three buttons. A virtual duck game. Further description unavailable
-Kawaii Nekochan (19??, ??) #??;
Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; FO
This game is a white oval case with
four buttons, and is apparently made by the same manufacturer
as Kyouryuu Game Gyaoo (who is still unknown). The game uses
Tamagotchi logic.
-Keshitchi (19??, ??) #??; Bc; lcd;
1P; K ; FO
Description Unavailable
-Kyouryuu Game Giyaoo (19??, ??)
#??; Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; FO
Comes in a white oval case with varying
artwork, usually that of a dinosaur. Has four buttons on the
front, once is the recessed reset button. The game uses Tamagotchi
logic.
-Moshigo No Choubutsu (19??, ??)
#??; Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; FO
This virtual pet is almost an exact
duplicate of a Japanese Tamagotchi with two major differences:
first, the characters are all forms of dinosaurs, second, the
quality, unlike the Tamagotchi, is suspect. The owner (Robert
Worne) was approached in Chinatown by a man who distributes these.
The man claimed that these were made in the same Chinese factories
with the same parts that made the Japanese Tamagotchi. Unfortunately,
the quality of the item seems to say otherwise. This game has
Tamagotchi logic.
-Nekotcha (19??, ??) #CR2032; Bc;
lcd; 1P; K ; FO
Pastel heart-shaped case or mouse-shaped
pink case with four buttons. Comes in red and blue. (description
from Galen) This is by far the worst virtual pet I have seen.
It ages linearly through 8 life stages (if it doesn't die by
then, it goes back to the first stage, explained by the instructions
that you "raise it's kitten.") While the pet does have
a range of functions (feed, bathroom, medicine, exercise, play,
injury-care, napping, and dating, what's available depends on
the life stage) and each function has 2 or 3 sub-options only
one option* will make the cat happy. Too many wrong selections
will kill the cat. The game is rather non-interactive, you just
enter some function, and it makes the cat either happy or sad,
there's no animation other than the cat's eyes moving up and down.
There is only its happiness to monitor, and it'll never refuse
anything which will please it for the particular stage, meaning
you can feed it all day long, give it injections to your heart's
content, or for the morbid, have it go under the operating knife
repeatedly. It even keeps terrible time.
*actually depending on the function
and stage, sometimes none will
please it, or for food and bathroom,
both options of both will work.
-New Tamagotchi (19??, ??) #??; Bc;
lcd; 1P; K ; FO
Description Unavailable
-New Tamago Watch (19??, ??) #??;
Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; FO
Comes in white case with three buttons.
Further description unavailable.
-Penguin Watch (19??, ??) #??; Bc;
lcd; 1P; K ; FO
Comes in a light blue penguin-shaped
case with four buttons. Features LED's in the "eyes"
of the case to alert the user. Further description unavailable.
-Penpei (19??, ??) #??; Bc; lcd;
1P; K ; FO
This game comes in a round, white
case and possibly other colors. Raise a virtual Penguin pet.
Further description unavailable.
-Petagotchi (19??, ??) #??; Bc; lcd;
1P; K ; FO
Description Unavailable
-Petegg Chicken (19??, ??) #??; Bc;
lcd; 1P; K ; FO
Comes in a white case with three
buttons, a virtual chicken game. Apparently from the same manufacturer
as Moshigo No Choubutsu, with the same drawbacks.
-Piyokko (19??, ??) #??; Bc; lcd;
1P; K ; FO
This game is virtually the same as
"Bird Watching" with different box and case. The game
uses Giayappi Logic.
-Pocket Biscuits (19??, ??) #??;
Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; FO
Game is in the shape of a sandwich
cookie, the case opens to play the game. Release is due in 6/97
or 7/97
-Pocket Love (1997, Sanrio) #??;
Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; FO
Comes in Red, Pink, Blue, Green,
Yellow, and possibly clear green. This game is a virtual relationship
game that plays similar to Tamagotchi. Predicted Availability
will be on 7/21/97. Further description unavailable.
-Pocket Puppy (19??, ??) #??; Bc;
lcd; 1P; K ; FO
Comes in a white oval case with possibly
other colors and 4 buttons. Further description unavailable.
-Pocket Turtle (19??, ??) #??; Bc;
lcd; 1P; K ; FO
This three-button game is identical
to the Japanese Tamagotchi in styling, but differs slightly in
size (larger). Raise a baby turtle to adulthood. This game uses
Tamagotchi Logic.
-Raku Raku Dino-kun (1997, ??) #TK-910;
Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; FO
This digital pet comes in a five-button
dinosaur-head shaped case in a variety of pastel colors and features
a much larger than normal LCD display of the "pet dinosaur"
you take care of. This game features several possible outcomes
depending on the care given. This game uses Giga-Pet Logic.
-Ramu Chitchi (19??, ??) #??; Bc;
lcd; 1P; K ; FO
Comes in pink, yellow and white with
imitation Tamagotchi decals. Raise octopus-like aliens. This
game uses Tamagotchi Logic.
-Rikou Rikou-chan (19??, ??) #TK9900;
Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; FO
Looks like this one is made by the
same people as the RakuRaku Dino and Yuki Penguin, and like them,
there's no manufacturer noted. You raise a boy and from the packaging
pictures, there's pics of a student (w/robe & mortar), doctor,
and gangster. There's a huge number of buttons, ESC, CLOCK, ENTER,
and four more arranged in a diamond, and two extra icons showing
arrows, so there's probably more functions than the normal keychain
game.
-Sodateyo Gray (19??, ??) #??; Bc;
lcd; 1P; K ; FO
Raise an alien in this purple spaceship-shaped
case. This version is different from the Tiger version. Further
description unavailable.
-Tamago-gata Watch (19??, ??) #??;
Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; FO
Comes in ovoid-shape case, in bright
colors. Further description unavailable.
-Tamagotchi (1996, Bandai) #??; Bc;
lcd; 1P; K ; FO
Originally came in 6 different colors,
with decals on the face. Otherwise same as the US version with
the US version having minor changes in the graphics.
-Tamago Game (19??, ??) #??; Bc;
lcd; 1P; K ; FO
Comes in a white case with three
buttons. Raise a virtual chicken. This game uses Giyaoppi Logic.
-Uupii (19??, ??) #??; Bc; lcd; 1P;
K ; FO
Identical to the Nano-Puppy, and
comes in a pear-shaped case with four buttons.
-Wan Tatchi (19??, ??) #??; Bc; lcd;
1P; K ; FO
Identical to the Nano-Puppy, and
comes in a pear-shaped case with four buttons.
-Wan Wan Story: My Puppy (19??, ??)
#??; Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; FO
Comes in a case of various colors
(usually white). Similar to the Nano-Puppy.
-Virtual Pet (1997, ??) #E-35; Bc;
lcd; 1P; K ; FO
Identical in every respect to the
Nano-Puppy save quality. This item has a dog-shaped face and
is available in several pastel colors with five buttons across
the face. This game uses Giga-pet logic.
- Yuki Penguin (199?, ??) #TK920;
Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; FO
This is pretty much identical to
the Rakuraku Dinokun but with different graphics. The packaging
and manual is very similiar to the Dino though oddly it also came
with English instructions...for the Dinkie Dino.
-??? na Shoubutsu (19??, ??) #??;
Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; FO
Description Unavailable
IVc. Non-Pet Brick Games
-155 Mini Game (19??, ??) #KC-155;
Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; FO
This game comes in a matchbook sized
box and has 9 games each with 5 to 16 variations, (except one
which has 52). In addition, you can choose the level and speed
of each of the games. I says in the instructions that with the
level and speed options, you have _6377_ game patterns!
The games are as follows:
A. "Dam Dam Shooting":
patterns of blocks descend and you just shoot them away before
they reach the bottom, it's like the "Space Invader"
game.
B. "Machine Gun": this
also appears in my "SI" keychain, but as a variation
of the Space Invader game, the one where the shots you fire fill
in blocks, and when you fill a horizontal line, it and all those
below clear.
C. "Twin Bomber": Same
as A but with a double-cannon.
D. "Super PuyoMaru":
It's Columns! However you need to line up at least 4 of
the same "color" (since
the game basically only has 3 colors)
E. "PuyoMaru Gem Search":
This one is like "Flash" Columns.
F. "MechaMecha PuyoMaru":
(mechamecha="messy"), same as E, but the target gems
aren't embedded in a pile of others, just floating in empty space.
G. "Security Boy": Sokoban
H. "IQ Hopper": Puzznic
(I think that's the title. Taito's puzzle game where you control
a little blob who shoves patterned blocks into a larger pile)
I. "Excite Block": Tetris
Rip-Off
J. "Power Block": Tetris
with an extended block set and other items (eg, bombs)
-6638-in-1 (19??, ??) #??; Bc; lcd;
1P; K ; CS
Imagine this… Having to select
the games one by one. Holding the select button down and makes
it fly through about 820 per minute. But you need to release
and re-press the button again every so often, since if you hold
it down and don't release,
the game considers things to be "idle"
and shuts off in 2 minutes.
It plays a reasonably good game
of tetris, 10 square wide well, and doesn't give those 4-long
pieces too often unlike some other tetris keyrings (then again,
sometimes this can be a minus =^) But, two things I don't like
about it are: no "NEXT" indicator, and the "T"
shaped piece doesn't rotate at its junction point.
-Blockade (1997, Micro Games) #231196;
Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; CS
This game comes in a purple package
with the word "blockade" written on the right of the
lcd screen. There are 9 different games (1-8 and A), ranging
from Tetris (a complete rip-off) to Car Racing, Shooting and Adventure
games. Different skill levels (8) for each game exist.
-Brick GP (1993, Tsukuda) #KC-32;
Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; FO
This unlicensed Tetris game comes
in a white case and features 8 variations of the "Tetris"
theme: Traditional Tetris, Side-Scrolling Tetris, and Tetris with
rising bricks. The other four are the same as the first four,
except that the screens are upside-down.
-Hello Kitty Super 3 Mini Gamer (1996,
Sanrio) #980; Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; FO
Available in a pink "Hello Kitty"
motif, this girl's game features some "unusual" choices
of brick games: Snake, Car Race, and a Shooting Game loosely based
on Galaxian.
-Pikorin 55 (19??, Gametech) #??;
Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; FO
This game comes in Silver, Yellow
and Black. Plays various block games: Snake, and others in 55
variations. A Korean version is also available. Further description
not available.
-Space Panic 118-in-1 (19??, ??)
#??; Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; FO
This game comes in a variety of different
colors. On the packaging is "118-in-1 Space Panic"
but on the game is "Space Game 118-in-1".
-Space Panic Super 97 (19??, Fukuyama)
#??; Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; FO
This game comes in a black case and
has 97 variations of seven different games.
-Space Panic 9696 (19??, ??) #??;
Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; FO
This brick game has 9,696 different
game variations! It starts at 0001 every time you turn the thing
on, and only goes in one direction. So if you wanted to play
7530, but accidentally pressed an extra time and for 7531, you're
hosed. The game contains the normal Brick type games.
-Tetris Jr. (1996, Blue Planet Software)
#56102; Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; CS
This licensed game comes in a clear
blue or gray case and has three styles of packaging: 1) Red cardboard
backing, 2) Purple cardboard backing, and 3) Bundled with Tetris
2 for the Sony PSX in a Target-exclusive special. This item features
the Tetris music and multiple skill levels. This item is identical
to the Hiro Tetris Jr.
-Tetris Jr. (1996, Hiro) #No. 1;
Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; FO
This licensed game comes in a clear
blue or gray case. This item features the Tetris music and multiple
skill levels. This item is identical to the Tetris Jr by Blue
Planet Software.
IVd. Non-Brick, Non-Pet Games
-Bomberman (1997, Bandai) #55515;
Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; FO
This licensed game comes in a rather
large white oval case. Gameplay is similar to the Bomberman arcade:
Clear the screen of bad guys (with bombs), and find the exit.
This is attempted against a countdown timer. This game also
has a more unique display of a sandwiched LCD panel that has two
layers of graphics. Gameplay occurs over 4 virtual screens.
Plays the Bomberman theme music, has power-ups (extra bomb, and
extra power), and even has boss levels!
-Car Racing (1997, Micro Games) #231134;
Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; CS
This game comes in an orange package
and has the words "Car Racing" written above the lcd
screen. It is, by far, the most common type of lcd handheld --
A simple driving game where you have to avoid hitting other cars.
A few differences from the norm are that there is a car that
comes behind you that you have to avoid and you can move the car
forward on the screen (to avoid the car behind you).
-Happy Pak-kun (19??, D&O) #4971490002330;
Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; FO
This unlicensed Pac-Man clone comes
in either a white or black case and has 9 virtual screens in which
you run about a maze. It contains 8 skill levels.
-Pac-Junior (1997, Bandai) #55606;
Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; FO
This arcade translation comes is
a rather large clear oval case. Gameplay is similar to the Pac-Man
arcade, but with a smaller maze that covers two virtual screens
and only three ghosts. Mazes change on different levels, and
this game also features intermissions after every four completed
levels. Also plays the Pac-Man theme music.
-Pac-Man (1997, Micro Games) #231073;
Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; CS
This arcade translation comes in
a blue case with "Pac-Man" written across the top.
The game itself, is quite different from the arcade game. The
maze is different for each level and the cherry moves around the
maze, randomly appearing and disappearing.
-Pac-Man (19??, ????) #TP-201; Bc;
lcd; 1P; K ; FO
This arcade translation comes in
a variety of transparent case colors. On the front of the packaging
is in Chinese "Little spirit", on the back "Pac
Man", and on the unit "P-Man".
-Pikorin Petit (1996, Gametech) #??;
Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; FO
This is another keychain game designed
for girls and comes in a clear white case with red buttons. This
game has a slot that allows insertion of "Print Club"
photos to be the backdrop for the playfield. Print Club is a
Japanese photo booth off immense popularity, it takes a picture
and prints out a sheet of stamp-sized photos with cartoonish borders
to share with friends. It also has the same problem that the
"Hello Kitty" game has odd game selections: Breakout,
and Tank Battle. Several utilities also exist in the game: a
countdown timer, and an odd display game that covers and ucovers
patterns of bricks, which is used in conjunction with the "Print
Club" feature.
-Sokoban 55 (1996, XING) #XEH96001;
Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; FO
Comes in clear case with red buttons,
this game plays 55 different levels of Sokoban, the Japanese box-shoving
puzzle game.
-Space Invaders (1996, Bandai) #55605;
Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; FO
Comes in oversized clear dark blue
case. This is a licensed Space Invaders game in which you have
2 virtual screens to do battle. Features base "shields"
that slowly (or quickly, depending on skill level) crumble when
shot at.
-Space Invaders (19??, Hiro) #No.
2; Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; FO
Comes in solid gray or clear blue
case. This is a licensed Space Invaders that plays almost like
the Bandai version, except for a much smaller size (about the
size of a Zippo Lighter). This game has two virtual screens in
which you shoot at advancing invaders, and crumbling bases.
-UFO Battler (19??, Tsukuda) #??;
Bc; lcd; 1P; K ; FO
Description Unavailable
V. Other interesting utilities/Miscellaneous
1. Photo holder: for "Print
Club" photos, you can place a photo of your beloved in the
playfield of the game (it's used as a backdrop). Print Club machines
are Japanese photo booths that produce stamp-sized adhesive photographs.
The particular game with this feature allows the user to cover
& uncover portions of the playfeild with bricks.
2. Countdown timer: displays hourglass
from 3 to 160 minutes, then sets off an alarm.
3. Recently, Tamagotchi merchandise
has started to pop up. So far, only books and T-shirts have been
seen, but we're sure to see more as time goes on.
Thanks for reading!