These are the first virtual pets.
But they wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the most controversial video game of the 1990s:
How do you get from scantily clad teens to sweet dogz and catz?
Let’s go back in time.
“It may be the most addictive toy in history, and it’s definitely the hottest
thing this Christmas: Nintendo video games.”
In the late 80s and early 90s, video games were widely seen as kids’ toys.
News programs explained the new video game fad to parents across the country.
“Now what’s Nintendo, you ask?
And why should you care?”
The conversation centered mostly around kid-friendly Nintendo games
like Super Mario Bros. 2 and The Adventure of Link.
But there were still concerns:
“Maybe you will be brain-dead from staring at this thing all the time!”
“No.”
“But have things gone a bit too far?”
In 1992, Night Trap was released — and it sparked a storm of debate.
“There is a growing concern on Capitol Hill that parents who buy some of those games may
not realize just how much violence they’re getting.”
Night Trap featured real actors and full-motion video.
Here’s James Riley, the writer, director, and co-creator of Night Trap.
This wasn’t his first FMV experiment, and previous demos had gone over well:
“The parents were going — wait a minute, that’s a real image.
You’re interacting with TV.
I could do this.”
Hasbro saw an opportunity to compete with Nintendo, and offer something new:
video games that appealed to the entire family.
Night Trap, which was ultimately released by SEGA, definitely missed the mark.
Night Trap’s predecessor was a mystery game where the player used security cameras to
figure out who had robbed a safe.
“You start off with this really simple, clean concept that could be refined and really
have an edge to it. And a look and stuff.
And you end up with this thing that is a combination of bad notes over time.”
The game’s setting was changed to a girls' slumber party, with ninja burglers trying
to steal the money.
And then it became a game about vampires who want to drain the girls’ blood.
The player views surveillance footage to trap the vampires and save the girls.
But you wouldn’t know it from listening to the news.
“It is a sick, disgusting video game in my judgment.
It’s an effort to trap and kill women."
"I mean how would you like to have a teenage daughter go out on a date
with someone who has just watched, or played three hours of that game?"
"Shame on people that produce that trash.
It’s child abuse, in my judgment.”
By today's standards, Night Trap isn't that violent.
But its voyeuristic gameplay made it a convenient target
for a Senate investigation that led to the creation of the ESRB.
For Rob Fulop, one of Night Trap’s developers, this was the killing blow:
"Understand that these are not harmless toys.
That they can indeed cause great emotional and other damage to a child."
Bob Keeshan hosted the children’s TV show Captain Kangaroo for 30 years.
He was a beloved figure.
Seeing him denounce Night Trap on TV was "horrible," said Fulop.
He decided that his next project would be "so cute" and "so adorable"
that no one could object.
That game was Petz.
Fulop had a yearly tradition: he went to see a mall Santa and ask
what was in-demand that Christmas.
This year, a Santa imparted some simple wisdom:
“The most popular thing that kids ask for every year is a puppy.
For the last 50 years."
Fulop decided to give them a puppy.
Petz was a success. To date the series has sold 24 million copies.
Petz and Night Trap have both faded in public memory.
Petz is now owned by Ubisoft.
The most recent game came out in 2014.
And Night Trap?
Well, it's back.
There’s a remastered version out now on PS4 and Steam.
And these days, it’s rated T for Teen.