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History of video games/Platforms/Pocket Neopet

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History

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Development

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Pocket Neopets were a series of eight[1] handheld dedicated consoles based on the Neopets online game website and intellectual property.

Pocket Neopets were made by Tiger Electronics,[2] referred to by some outlets as Tiger Toys.[3]

The system was unveiled on January 27, 2003.[4] Preorders were available on the Walmart website.[5]

Launch

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Standard Pocket Neopets were launched around spring 2003, with Deluxe Pocket Neopets releasing later that year around July or August.[6][7] Standard models were listed to cost $14.99 and deluxe models were listed to cost $19.99.[7]

The systems were marketed, including with a 15 second television commercial.[8]

Legacy

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Pocket Neopets were used by Temmie Chang,[9] an artist for the game Undertale, and the developer for the game Escaped Chasm.[10]

Technology

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Detailed technical specifications of the Pocket Neopet line are not known.

The handhelds featured integration with the main Neopets website through a code system.[6]

The system had a black and white LCD.[6]

The system had a fairly capable speaker seemingly capable of playing audio samples.[6]

The system used a clamshell design.[6] Notably the system included a toy figurine which could be plugged into various holes lining a built in playset on the inner upper shell, making it an early instance of the "Toys to life" genre of game console.

Systems were shipped in plastic clamshell packaging which featured a hook,[11] allowing systems to be stocked on store pegs.

Systems included "Bio Cards", which were collectable trading cards.[7]

Games

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  • Techo Says - Simon varient[4]

Versions

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Standard Models

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Deluxe Models

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  • Meridell Pocket Neopet[1][14]
  • Faerieland Pocket Neopet[1]

References

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  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h i "Neopets Merchandise - Instruction Manuals". www.neopets.com. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  2. ↑ "media - release". web.archive.org. Feb 11, 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20071116073541/https://www.hasbro.com/media/default.cfm?page=release&release=144. 
  3. ↑ "New Neopian Times". www.neopets.com. https://www.neopets.com/newnt/index.phtml?section=10970&week=87. 
  4. ↑ a b "Pocket Neopet - NeoDex: The Neopets Wiki". pinkpt.com. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  5. ↑ "Secrets Revealed". www.neopets.com. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  6. ↑ a b c d e f g "Neopets Pocket Kacheek | Let's Go, King! Episode 3: BACK AGAIN!". Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  7. ↑ a b c "media - release". web.archive.org. February 16, 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20071116073536/https://www.hasbro.com/media/default.cfm?page=release&release=107. 
  8. ↑ "Pocket Neopets Commercials". Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  9. ↑ "https://twitter.com/tuyoki/status/1104624508332376066" (in en). Twitter. https://twitter.com/tuyoki/status/1104624508332376066. 
  10. ↑ "Free games: Undertale artist Temmie Chang has released her own RPG". PCGamesN. https://www.pcgamesn.com/escaped-chasm-free-games. 
  11. ↑ "Pocket Neopet - Virtual Pet - Unboxing // Grundo". Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  12. ↑ "Neopets Virtual Pet - Kougra". Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  13. ↑ "Pocket Neopet // Grundo Gameplay". Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  14. ↑ Junn, Jihee (27 August 2018). "Remembering Neopets, an early 2000s internet phenomenon". The Spinoff. https://thespinoff.co.nz/games/27-08-2018/remembering-neopets-an-early-2000s-internet-phenomenon/. 
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