I am an avid Virtual Pet collector and this is my website. Feel free to browse around and take a look at my humble collection! (NOTE: This website is best viewed in Firefox or Opera browsers.)
Digimon Generation 1 [NEW] Generation 2 Angelgotchi Forestgotchi Umino/Oceangotchi Genjintchi Osu/Mesutchi Santagotchi Connection v1 Connection v2 Connection v3 Connection v4 Connection v4.5 Connection v5 Connection v6 [NEW] Keitai [NEW] Keitai Akai Deka Tama Ura Tama Iro Iro
Dinkie Dino Dinkie Penguin Gyaoppi 9in1 8in1 Minipets Nanos Hello Kitty Giga Pets Disney
About me What is a Tamagotchi? Who invented Tamagotchis? Where can I get my own? My current wishlist Tamagotchis I don't have. Links Contact Guestbook
Back in the day a lot of companies were coming out with virtual pets, but none of them specifically claimed to be "Tamagotchis". Now-a-days, just looking on eBay you will find so many fakes actually claiming to be real. Don't let them fool you. Anything that does not specifically say "Bandai" on the package is probably fake!
Design: Novemberly
Brushes: rainharbour & exotica-brushes
Pattern: wingsdesired
The simple answer is "The Japanese" invented them. They originally hit the markets in Japan in 1996 I believe. Tamagotchi was the first ever virtual pet to come out in toy stores. All others are basically copies or the competition. Apparently a Japanese woman by the name of "Aki Maita" came up with the concept. She works for Bandai and is part of the design and marketing departments, or so I've read. I don't know much about her except to say she must be awesome :)