Watch out Webkinz, Hasbro’s new release gives your 6
years-and-up a new fuzzy something to take care of, virtually and in real life.
The Littlest Pet Shop is a web-based world where your virtual pet lives and plays,
but first you’ve got to pick up the plush at the toy store where there are a
multitude of large headed, small-bodied animals to choose from (available
online and NYC in mid-October, nationally in 2008). The digital fun comes when
you visit the website and enter in the code that comes on the collar of every
Littlest Pet Shop VIP pet.
What’s all this website fantasy world about, you might ask?
You set your virtual pet up in some nice digs, and then earn points that
translate to money in the virtual world, and buy him even nicer things,
including food. Basically all of the things you would buy for a real pet if
you’re the type who makes your pooch wear a ‘Desperate Housedogs’ sweater while
sporting a new pedicure.
Ironically, the main way your kid earns points in The
Littlest Pet Shop is by participating in activities they probably should be
doing instead of sitting on their arse feeding and clothing a fake pet. The
points come when your animal goes out to the playground for a little
teeter-tottering or to participate in a rad skateboarding contest. The Littlest
Pet Shop is like Webkinz in all of the basic set-ups so far, but unlike
the 'kinz, The Pet Shop strives to be ‘pressure-free’. So while the pets will
smile and make happy noises when they get groomed or they eat, they won’t start
turning green or moving sluggishly around the world wide web if little Susie
gets caught up with her real life and forgets to feed Fluffy.
So if Webkinz has proved to be too intense for your
sensitive kid, get in line starting in January when according to the lovely
Hasbro rep, ‘new pets will be unleashed’. He he, unleashed. Retail price, $14.99. - April Peveteaux
