For Real Family Fun (NAPSA)—There’s good news for children who want the fun of owning a pet but can’t have a real dog or cat in their home. Manyare turning to what are knownas virtual pets. These are electronic toy companions that kids can take care of, feed and play with, only without the mess— call it a modern-day “Pet Rock”! Oneof the latest developments in virtual pets allows kids to nurture the toy pet of their choice just like a real pet, only it’s inside of a handheld device, which features a small LCD screen that displays their pet doing variousactivities. Just in time for the holidays, VMIGO, from JAKKS Pacific, lets children take their virtual pet with them wherever they go. Kids can choose from different breeds of dogs and completely customize its personality through a series of activities, including feeding and nurturing. Kids can also take their VMIGO, pop it into a gaming console that plugs directly to the television, and play with their pet in in-depth worlds like a house or around town, and even in video games. They earn points through activities and use them to buy toys for their pet, and can even take a digital snapshot and send it to a friend. The first “breeds” of VMIGOs include a Golden Retriever, Chihuahua and a Puggle. To learn more, visit www.vmigo.com.
