Petz

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Template:Short description Script error: No such module "other uses".Script error: No such module "Unsubst".Template:Infobox video game series

Petz is a series of single-player video games dating back to 1995, in which the player can adopt, raise, care for and breed their own virtual pets. Developed by PF.Magic, original Petz (Dogz and Catz) has sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide.[1] The series has grown to over 22 million copies as of 2011 since coming under Ubisoft.[2]

Development

The original Petz games — Dogz: Your Computer Pet and Catz: Your Computer Pet—were developed by PF.Magic, released in 1995 and 1996 respectively. They reused the graphics engine used Ballz. Rob Fulop conceived of Dogz, following the controversy surrounding his previous title Night Trap, which resulted in him wanting to make a game that was "so cute and so adorable that no could ever, ever say it was bad for kids". He claims to have consulted a shopping mall Santa Claus about what children wanted, and was informed that puppies were the most popular request every year.[3][4]

Following the success the company, instead of continuing to branch out into other household pets, developed Oddballz, focused on Chimeraic and mutatable creatures.[5] This would release along with sequels to the Dogz and Catz.[4]

In 1997, PF.Magic was acquired by The Learning Company's Mindscape division for $15.8 million in 1998.[6] In 2001, Ubi Soft (Ubisoft, since 2003) acquired the entertainment division of The Learning Company, granting Ubisoft exclusive publishing rights to 88 titles, including Dogz and Catz.[4][7]

Ubisoft would publish Catz 5 and Dogz 5, in 2002, as the last games following the original style, before putting franchise on hold for three years. After releasing Dogz and Catz for the Game Boy Advance in 2005 and 2006, Ubisoft announced their intention for a "revitalisation" of the series, in direct response to the success of Nintendo's Nintendogs.[8] The successive entries were in many ways very different from the P.F. magic games,[9] with many being localised games from Japan or Europe—simply rebranded with the Petz name.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

In, 2010 Ubisoft announced its intention to publish a Frima Studios developed Petz themed MMO under the title Petz World, which they expected to be released in 2011.[10][11] No further announcements have been subsequently made, and no such game was ever released.

Ubisoft would continue releasing entries until 2014.[4]

Animals

The initial games were limited to dogz and catz, but additional animals were also introduced. These animals include Pigz,[12] Bunnyz,[13] Monkeyz,[14] Dolphinz,[15] and Hamsterz,[16] some of which received their own games.

Users learned how to reverse-engineer the system, and began producing additional breedz, toyz, playscenes, clothes, and developer tools for the games, as permitted by PF.Magic, Mindscape, and Ubisoft.[17]

Games

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Game Developer Publisher Release date Platform Ref(s)
Catz and Dogz: Your Virtual Petz PF.Magic PF.Magic, Virgin Interactive Entertainment Template:Ubl Template:Ubl
Oddballz: Your Wacky Computer Petz PF.Magic PF.Magic, Virgin Interactive Entertainment 1996 PC
Catz and Dogz II: Your Virtual Petz PF.Magic PF.Magic, Mindscape 1997 PC [18][19]
Catz and Dogz 3: Your Virtual Petz PF.Magic PF.Magic, Mindscape 1998 PC [20]
Catz and Dogz 4 PF.Magic Mindscape Entertainment 1999 PC [21]
Catz and Dogz 5 Studio Mythos Ubi Soft 2002 PC [22]
DogzTemplate:Efn-lr MTO, Backbone Entertainment Ubisoft Template:Unbulleted list Template:Unbulleted list [23][24]
CatzTemplate:Efn-lr MTO Ubisoft 2006 Gameboy Advance [25]
Catz Powerhead Games Ubisoft 2006 Nintendo DS [26]
Dogz and CatzTemplate:Efn-lr ImaginEngine Ubisoft 2006 PC [27][28]
Hamsterz LifeTemplate:Efn-lr Template:Wikidata fallback link Ubisoft 2006 Nintendo DS [16]
HorsezTemplate:Efn-lr Template:Ill Ubisoft 2006 Template:Unbulleted list [29][30]
Petz: Dogz 2 and Catz 2Template:Efn-lr Yuke's Ubisoft 2007 Template:Unbulleted list [31]
Petz: Dogz 2 and Catz 2 ImaginEngine Ubisoft 2007 PC [32][33]
Petz: Catz 2 Powerhead Games Ubisoft 2007 Nintendo DS [34]
Petz: Dogz 2Template:Efn-lr MTO Ubisoft 2007 Nintendo DS [35]
Dogz 2Template:Efn-lr MTO Ubisoft 2007 Game Boy Advance [36]
Petz: Horsez 2Template:Efn-lr Phoenix Studio Ubisoft 2007 Template:Unbulleted list [37]
Petz: Hamsterz 2Template:Efn-lr Template:Wikidata fallback link Ubisoft
Interchannel 		2007 DS [38]
Petz VetTemplate:Efn-lr Sensory Sweep Ubisoft 2007 Game Boy Advance [39]
Petz: Wild Animals: DolphinzTemplate:Efn-lr Magic Pockets Ubisoft 2007 DS [15]
Petz: Wild Animals: TigerzTemplate:Efn-lr Magic Pockets Ubisoft 2008 Nintendo DS [40]
Petz: BunnyzTemplate:Efn-lr Digital Kids Ubisoft 2008 Nintendo DS [13]
Petz: Monkeyz House MTO Ubisoft 2008 Nintendo DS [41]
Petz: Horse ClubTemplate:Efn-lr Phoenix Interactive Ubisoft 2008 Wii, PC [42]
Petz Rescue: Ocean Patrol Magic Pockets Ubisoft 2008 DS [43]
Petz Rescue: Wildlife Vet Virtual Toys Ubisoft 2008 Template:Ubl [44]
Petz Rescue: Endangered Paradise Phoenix Studio Ubisoft 2008 DS [45]
Petz Sports: Dog Playground Ubisoft Montreal Ubisoft 2008 Template:Unbulleted list [46]
Dogz Gameloft 2008 N-Gage 2.0 [47]
Petz: Dogz Pack Ubisoft Ubisoft 2008 DS
Petz: Dogz FashionTemplate:Efn-lr MTO Ubisoft 2008 DS [48]
Petz: Catz Clan Digital Kids Ubisoft 2008 DS [49]
Petz: Crazy Monkeyz Y'sK Ubisoft 2009 Wii [14]
Petz Fashion: Dogz & Catz Powerhead Games Ubisoft 2009 DS [50]
Petz: My Baby PandaTemplate:Efn-lr Namco Bandai Games 2009 DS [51]
Petz: Hamsterz Superstarz Ubisoft Nagoya Ubisoft 2009 DS
Petz: Hamsterz Bunch DK Games Ubisoft 2009 PSP
Petz: Dogz Talent Show Ubisoft Nagoya Ubisoft 2009 DS
Petz Nursery Ubisoft Ubisoft 2009 DS [52]
Petz: Pony Beauty PageantTemplate:Efn-lr HotGen Ubisoft 2009 DS [50]
Petz Nursery 2 Ubisoft Ubisoft 2010 DS
Petz: Horsez Family Ubisoft Ubisoft 2010 DS
Petz: Catz Playground Ubisoft Ubisoft 2010 DS [53]
Petz: Dogz Family Ubisoft Ubisoft 2010 DSiWare [54]
Petz Hamsterz Family Ubisoft Ubisoft 2010 DSiWare [55]
Petz Kittens Ubisoft Ubisoft 2010 DSiWare [56][57]
Petz Fantasy: Moonlight Magic Ubisoft Ubisoft 2010 DS
Petz Fantasy: Sunshine Magic Ubisoft Ubisoft 2010 DS
Petz Fantasy 3D Ubisoft Ubisoft 2011 3DS [58]
Petz: Puppyz & Kittenz Ubisoft Ubisoft 2011 DS
Petz Beach Ubisoft Ubisoft 2014 3DS [59][60]
Petz Countryside Ubisoft Ubisoft 2014 3DS [59][60][61]

Notes

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Reception

Template:Video game series reviews The original software was generally well received, with The Salt Lake Tribune giving 1995's Dogz 4 out of 5 stars,[62] and PC Zone and Entertainment Weekly giving Catz an 8/10 and B+ respectively.[63][64] However, later games were less well received, in particularly compared to other virtual pet experiences that were available, with the 1999 Game Boy Color games negatively compared to Tamagotchi,[65][66] and 2005's Dogz for the Game Boy Advance, being seen as an attempt to ape Nintendogs.[67][68][69][70]

By 2007, Joystiq recommended buying games in the series only for "people you hate".[71] On the other hand, a 2008 feature in Game Developer opined that Ubisoft's "casual titles"—specifically mentioning the Petz and Imagine series—had distinguished themselves by being "well-made non-shovelware" that didn't try to "take advantage of the innocence of the target market."[72]

The Petz games developed by P.F. Magic grew a dedicated online community that, including a community of "Hexers", who would edit the games files to create custom petz.[9] Game designer Nathalie Lawhead speculates this was part of the reason for its success and enduring legacy.[73]

Sales

The original Dogz and Catz sold around 200,000, in their first year on the market,[74] and would go on to sell—along with their sequels Catz and Dogz II—1.5 million copies.[1][75] By the time of PF.Magic's purchase by Mindscape, the series had made over $8 million.[6] The series as a whole has now sold more than 24 million copies.[75]

See also

References

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  1. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  43. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  44. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  45. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  46. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  47. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  48. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  49. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  50. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  51. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  52. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  53. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  54. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  55. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  56. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  57. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  58. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  59. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  60. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  61. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  62. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  63. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  64. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  65. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  66. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  67. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  68. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  69. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  70. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  71. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  72. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  73. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  74. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  75. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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Further reading

  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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