Let's face it, we humans love our cute animals. We especially love pets. Again, invoking Buck Feris' "catharsis" argument, we like our entertainment to be as close to reality (or at least an "alternate reality") as possible, without the negative consequences.

It's a "god" game, pure and simple, not as far from "Sim City," "The Sims," or even "Hammurabi" as you might imagine. Our actions and choices affect the happiness of other creature(s), even simulated.

The challenge of programming such a game is how close they can come to reality without too much reality (financial expenses, smelling bio-waste, etc.). These "pet" games go overboard to mimic the "cute" responses of these animals without the less appealing attributes of these animals. These "sims" give one the simulated feeling of affection towards a "cute" animal without the aggravation. Notice there are no cockroach "pet" simulations, simply because they're icky. There's a strong emotional bond that's intentionally invoked towards the simulated creatures, as well as a "nurturing" instinct.

A similar parallel is the "realistic baby" dolls that were advertised frequently back in the day (do they still have these?). They would cry, soil their diapers, and move their lips in response to feeding.

Boy's dolls had super-powers, fought crime, paratrooped into enemy territory, and so forth. However, Girls' dolls soiled themselves and cried incessantly (or in the case of "Barbie," needed clothes, again a form of nurturing). "Where's the fun in that?" I wondered from the "boy's" perspective. I didn't understand.

I think I do now. It's a simulated "god" game, most probably aimed at young females.

On another note, in these sorts of games, you're rewarded by making another creature "happy," as opposed to sending them to their maker, as in most "boys" games. It's possibly a gender-targetted thing, maybe?

Boys' game = "I am powerful, I am somebody special, I am a hero!"

Girls' game = "I am making someone else happy and providing for their needs."

(OK, back to work... I gotta fix my broken scanner.)

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Yeah, I don't think there's any secret to the appeal of these products. They're just the continued evolution of virtual pet care and play, first popularized with Tamogotchi, but certainly around before that. They're not targeted to "us" (something like The Sims would likely be more targeted to us), but I know my daughters would really love it. Young people, especially girls, like to be mommy's and care for things. I think this carries into the early teens. By the way, I seem to remember this series starting out as a screen saver, though I'm not sure if this is from those original developers. It used to basically be an on-screen pet you played with and kept you company while you did other things (in Windows). There was a dog, cat and a custom beast version.

There are lots of these virtual play, virtual responsibility products, especially for the DS, again many targeted to girls, such as babysitting. They're all the same type of product, all for the same type of audience.

I suppose I can liken it to "us" micromanaging a SimCity city or a Civilization civilization, except on a much smaller and more targeted (and simpler scale). Really, we're all being mommies and daddies, we're all protectors, no doubt a very basic human need or desire.

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Yeah, I guess I can see where you guys are coming from. It's sorta that instinct that makes people want to have a real pet. I never cared for pets, so I guess I don't have the personality for it. I always just saw them as a nuisance, though I did have some cats and a fish when I was younger.

I guess if these things can simulate the joys of a pet without the mess and fuss, it's brilliant for parents. Hell, I can't imagine having to clean up a dog's poop and all that when you can just toss them a DS with a doggie petz game on it.

However, I strongly disagree with Rob about the cockroach thing. That's got the potential to be HUGE, especially with boys. Imagine--you've got a giant pet cockroach or whatever it is on your PETZ, then you show a girl who's got the cuddly hamster or kitty. EEEEEK!! Imagine the "gross out factor" that boys love to have. Wow, I should market that one myself.