The digital graveyards are littered with virtual pets of all shapes and sizes. From blipping demanding Tamagotchis on up, virtual pets tend to get abandoned for one simple reason: They ask too much and give too little, and in the end, the illusion of life just isn't enough motivation to keep them going. (Or, in the case of the late-'90s Dreamcast title Seaman, they're ugly, abusive beasties who are better off dead.) Nintendogs, a new Nintendo DS title, might solve that problem. Not only are the simulation's dogs cute, they behave uncannily like real dogs, right down to the endearing/ creepy look of undying devotion.
Nintendogs comes in three different variations, which differ only in the breeds from which players (er… owners?) may initially choose. For instance, Nintendogs: Chihuahua & Friends comes with options to adopt a chihuahua, German Shepherd, boxer, or three other breeds, but play long enough, and you'll have access to all 18 puppy types. Once you adopt, the training begins, and just as with real dogs, it's all about repetition. The DS voice-recognition system lets players talk directly to their Nintendogs. It's a cool feature, but also one of the game's weaker aspects, in part because it can be a bit twitchy, but mostly because it makes it impossible to play with your Nintendog without looking like a lunatic.