At the risk of enduring further humiliation over virtual dogs defecating or not, I read today about TheSims2.com releasing a virtual pets expansion pack in November 2006:

The addition of a new friend is guaranteed to enrich the daily lives of your Sims! Not only will players have the opportunity to choose from a variety of existing breeds, and hot designer mixes, but they’ll also be able to personally design their new friend with the Create-a-Pet feature. The ability to customize gives fans the opportunity to create their ideal pet by choosing their body shape, unique markings, even their pet’s personalities! With so many different animals to choose from, there’s no telling what unpredictable experiences could occur!

I still don’t know about raising virtual animals. I mean, why not get the real thing? I suppose if someone is really, really lonely … maybe. And keep in mind I like the virtual world Second Life. I don’t have any animals in Second Life though. In fact, I haven’t seen people with too many pets there.

Virtual pets are definitely something the younger crowd is interested in. I don’t know many older people getting all excited about them but the most commented on post here ever to date was on a virtual pets game (Nintendogs review). I know the Sims will bring realism to the pet owner experience. Heck, they brought all the mundane parts of real life to a “game.” I still haven’t ever played The Sims on the PC despite it being the bestselling PC game of all time but it’s one of those things I plan to do someday. Have bought and played it on the PS2 and the DS though.

I am intrigued by Will Wright’s newest game: Spore. Not sure where he’s going with that, but I would like to learn more.

About the closest I’ve come to actually enjoying any sort of virtual pet is having a virtual aquarium screensaver. You’ve seen those fish if you’ve been to a retail store with a bunch of demo PCs. The fish just swim around in an environment that never requires feeding or cleaning and if you turn up the speakers the sound of air bubbles pushing their way to the surface can sometimes be heard.

I have enough to do keeping up with work not to worry about feeding some virtual dog or cat. Any older readers (as in 18 or over) who actually enjoy caring and maintaining their virtual pet? I suppose virtual poop is easier to clean up than the real deal.

Did this post make you go hmm?

 Loading ...

• Sims creator on next game: Spore
• Nintendogs don’t grow old, die or poop?
• $444 to feed your pet remotely by PC or cell phone
• MMORPG Virtual Ad Agency
• MLB pitcher to mix it up with Everquest II players in charity drive
• Spore could be delayed until fiscal year 2009