Nintendogs

If getting a pet dog is not practical, Nintendo has an alternative that will definitely have you wagging your tail. Nintendogs takes the concept of the virtual pet and adds a whole new dimension of interaction. Players can actually touch and speak to their dog, which will in turn react realistically to this attention. This interaction is unlike any other seen before on a game console. Nintendogs is an ideal pet for people who can't own a real dog; it makes no mess, will never die and definitely won't moult all over your sofa!

Players start out by selecting their puppy from a total of six available breeds to choose from. Nintendo knows that breeds of dogs vary immensely as do people's tastes so have come up with a rather unique solution. The New Zealand/European version of the smash-hit Nintendogs for Nintendo DS will come in three different packages - Labrador Retriever, Miniature Dachshund and Chihuahua - each with six different breeds of puppies to begin with, giving a total of eighteen breeds to choose, including three breeds - Golden Retriever, Siberian Husky and Boxer - not available in the Japanese version. Each breed will have a litter of three different puppies to choose from, giving players a chance to pick the sex and characteristics of their puppy.

With the hard part out of the way you are given the task of caring for and training your new pets. Innovative touch-screen controls give access to a variety of toys, treats and activities for you to use with your new pet. Playing games with your puppy will raise its skill level and help to train it, making it more obedient and opening up more options. Build up a pet's skill enough and you will even get to take part in dog shows, competing in front of a large crowd to showcase the tricks it has learnt.

Interacting with your pet has never been easier with the innovative Nintendo DS features. Want to play a game with it? With the Nintendo DS voice recognition feature, you simply call your nintendog by the name you have chosen. The touch screen is then used to select a toy or a game to play with. You can stroke, pat and tickle your dog using the Nintendo DS stylus. All nintendogs react to every touch, encouraging you to stroke or rub their sensitive areas, just like a real pet would. If you tickle a dog's ear it will tilt its head, go for its side and it will roll onto its back to let you rub its tummy! Users can teach their dogs to respond to spoken commands and train their puppies to fully obey their owners with minimal effort. Nintendogs even features an innovative wireless detection system, which allows people to trade items as they pass in the street.

Using the Nintendo DS internal clock, Nintendogs knows the difference between night and day. Nevertheless all events and activities can occur at any time. The ultra-realistic characteristic of the game prevents the dogs from learning unlimited tricks as they become tired, hungry and thirsty over time. Never before has a virtual pet offered gamers such interactivity or realism, this title really is a 'mutts' have!

Since its launch the Japanese have been going barking mad for Nintendogs. Not only do the magazines love it, but the general public can't get enough either - so much so that sales of the Nintendo DS console have rocketed to five times the average amount during the Nintendogs launch week.

Whether you are looking for a virtual pet, or the latest innovation for video game consoles, Nintendogs is the perfect title. It combines ground-breaking technology with adorable animals that feel so real you'll want to touch them. You would have to be barking mad to not adopt a nintendog this September!