A simulated pet is no substitute for a real, warm, adorable bundle of dependency. But the artificial-things industry has been trying for years, moving up the pseudo-evolutionary ladder from Tamagotchis and NeoPets, Aibos and more. Now, with the release of Nintendogs, a pinnacle has been reached. Nintendo's digital dogs are the peak of fake-pet technology

Darren Zenko
CanWest News Service
Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Nintendogs

Rating: three-and-a-half stars out of five

EDMONTON - My frisky new Nintendog had just arrived, and I was busily getting the adorable black Lab up to speed on some basic tricks ``Sit! Siiiiit E good doggy! Who likes a head scratch, huh? Who likes a widdle head scratch?'' when my roommate came bursting out of her bedroom with as much excitement as a recently sleeping person can muster. She peered fuzzily around the living room, eyes narrowed with sleep and confusion.

``There's no puppy?'' she asked, scowling.

``Well,'' I replied, her disappointment making me feel guilty, ``there's a virtual puppy.E''

``I thought you had a real puppy here.''

``Sorry E would you like to see my virtual puppy?''

``No,'' she growled, and moped back to her bed.

I know where she's coming from; a simulated pet is no substitute for a real, warm, adorable bundle of dependency and lovelike instincts. But the artificial-things industry has been trying for years, moving up the pseudo-evolutionary ladder from Tamagotchis and NeoPets and Aibos and myriad other virtual companions until now, with the release of Nintendogs, a pinnacle has been reached. Nintendo's digital dogs are the peak of fake-pet technology.

The experience begins at the surface, with photorealistic cuteness married to some of the most uncannily lifelike 3-D animation I've ever seen, but the real secret of Nintendogs' success is how overwhelmingly tactile it is. With the stylus, you're petting and patting and paw-shaking, rubbing bellies and tossing Frisbees, tugging leashes and poop-scooping E and as your puppy one of six ultra-cute breeds in this first edition responds in its adorable way to your stroking stylus, the barrier of the screen seems to melt away. Instincts deep in the mammalian brain kick in and attachment forms with scary speed. Now, add in the voice interactions.E

The voice-recognition aspect is fundamental to the Nintendogs experience, and it's the reason why this'll make a lousy commuter time-killer or kiddie car-trip diversion. Imagine the torture of a seven-hour drive with a steady stream of ``Sit! Sit! C'mere! Sit! Shake a paw! C'mere! C'mere!'' coming from the back seat. Would you be comfortable sitting in a crowded LRT and making goo-goo puppytalk into your hands? Crazily, you just might, as the bonding effect of your little bundle of joy growing to recognize and respond to your voice kicks in. It's eerie E and kind of spooky/sick.

That three-and-a-half star rating up there might seem low for such a devilish triumph of virtual-life creation, but it reflects the universal flaw of these kinds of pet sims, namely that there's not a lot of game here. You can take walks and enter agility contests and Frisbee competitions and such, and you can make puppy playdates with other dogs via the DS's wireless connection, but beyond the freaky joys of training and bonding with your pup, there's not much to, you know, do.

Now, if Nintedo kicked out a fighting-cock simulator.E