Pokémon and Virtual Pets

Virtual pets, as the term suggests, are animals or animal-like creatures that people take care of electronically or digitally as opposed to in real life. As such, they may also be called digital or artificial pets. Meanwhile, Pokémon not only represents games of different aspects but also a body of hundreds upon hundreds of species, some of which may be regarded as pets. With that being the case, it would appear that the concept is perfectly applicable to Pokémon, and it is. It becomes something to be explored, and that is the purpose of this post.

Many virtual pets take the form of specific gadgets, and Pokémon has a few of those. An early device is the Pokémon Pikachu (else called Pocket Pikachu), which features the titular Pokémon in an interactable and walkable form, and for its second iteration, something that gives back to the second-generation games through the infrared port and Mystery Gift function. In that regard, the PokéWalker may be considered its successor, for it allows Pokémon from the second-generation remakes to be transferred to the device and walked, which allows one to obtain even more bonuses from activities before the Pokémon is transferred back. The Poké Ball Plus, with its ability to carry a Pokémon, may only be considered to be not as comprehensive but still a workable device.

Another form of virtual pets, or at least their management, is software-based virtual pets. Now, all Pokémon games constitute software of their own, but a few have parts that are characteristic of virtual pet applications. Pokémon-Amie in the sixth generation games and Pokémon Refresh in the seventh generation games are the parts that practically fulfill interactions with Pokémon the way one would to a virtual pet, even though the involved aspects are different (the former is on general care while the latter is on recovery care). Likewise, in that regard, the revised Buddy Pokémon system in Pokémon Go would constitute another form due to the aspects present in the "play with Buddy" part and the rest of the system in general.

That does beg a particular question: can Pokémon itself in general and overall be considered a virtual pet? Some people would think so, as the overall developmental progression of them in many games, including many that are related or linked to what I've mentioned above, does constitute similar ones for applications that are largely considered defining of being virtual pet applications. One of these, in fact, even has a battle system for certain pets just like how Pokémon has its system; it obviously had to be inspired from the latter. And though taking care of Pokémon doesn't necessitate extensive feeding and caring of them like in other applications, some Pokémon do still have to be "fed" and "cared" somehow over the course of their development.

Essentially, it's hard to avoid discussing "virtual pets" when Pokémon is brought up. Devices or applications that are considered virtual pets have aspects that are also reflected in both specific and general aspects of Pokémon, which may very well make it desirable to be considered as one. Regardless, Pokémon in its many game software implementations do facilitate its digital enjoyment, and that's a key thing about virtual pets as the programmed analogue of this aspect of real life.

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