Tamagotchi L.i.f.e. brings virtual pets back to life on Android

Children of the '90s will remember Tamagotchi, those simple virtual pets that lived inside colorful eggs that hung from key chains on our backpacks or jackets. With a new generation of youngsters comes a revitalization of the Tamagotchi name, as the franchise has been restructured into a "lifestyle brand" called Tamagotchi L.i.f.e.

Tamagotchi L.i.f.e., or "Love is Fun Everywhere," start with a new Android app that will give players a modern version of the pet raising gameplay they might remember from the original toys. Instead of simply feeding a pet and playing with it, however, this new version allows players to customize their pets in terms of apparel and accessories. %VIRTUAL-Gallery-178193% For those looking for an old school experience, the app's "Retro Mode" will spawn an egg right on your Android device (and later iOS), allowing you to recreate the magic of way back when with those little black pixels years ago. If you're new to the franchise, the Retro mode offers a great look at how things all began.

Expanding upon the "lifestyle brand" idea, the Tamagotchi L.i.f.e. app will also include a collection archive that will keep track of all of the individual Tamagotchis you raise over time, and mini-games like "Rock, Paper, Scissors" will give you new ways to pass the time and interact with your pets.The Tamagotchi L.i.f.e. app will launch first on Android and hit iOS later this year, and we'll have a complete look at the app for you once we get our hands on it ourselves.

Are you excited about the Tamagotchi L.i.f.e. app? Do you remember playing with Tamagotchis when you were younger, or will this be your first experience with the brand? Sound off in the comments!