Petz
{{Short description|Series of virtual pet video games}}
{{other uses|Petz (disambiguation)}}
{{infobox video game series
| image =Petz logo.png
| caption =
| developer = Various
| publisher = PF.Magic, Mindscape, Ubisoft
| genre = Virtual pets
| first release version = Dogz and Catz
| first release date = November 1, 1995{{Cite web |url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/computer/doswin/home/581153.html |title=Dogz (1995) for PC - GameFAQs |access-date=2010-03-26 |archive-date=2009-09-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090901083806/http://www.gamefaqs.com/computer/doswin/home/581153.html |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/computer/doswin/home/576827.html |title=Catz (1995) for PC - GameFAQs |access-date=2010-03-26 |archive-date=2009-09-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090904071451/http://www.gamefaqs.com/computer/doswin/home/576827.html |url-status=live}}
| latest release version = Petz Beach
Petz Countryside
| latest release date = October 14, 2014
}}
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.{{Cite web |date=1998-02-19 |title=Dogz and Catz Dash Past 1.5 Million Mark; PF.Magic's Virtual Petz Brand Established as Leader in Category. |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Dogz+and+Catz+Dash+Past+1.5+Million+Mark%253B+PF.Magic%27s+Virtual+Petz...-a020299674 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305135143/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Dogz+and+Catz+Dash+Past+1.5+Million+Mark%253B+PF.Magic%27s+Virtual+Petz...-a020299674 |archive-date=2016-03-05 |access-date=2015-11-09 |website=The Free Library}} The series has grown to over 22 million copies as of 2011 since coming under Ubisoft.{{Cite web |title=Ubisoft 2010-11 H1 Earnings Presentation |url=http://www.ubisoftgroup.com/gallery_files/site/270/1042/2349.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121230140/http://www.ubisoftgroup.com/gallery_files/site/270/1042/2349.pdf |archive-date=21 November 2010 |access-date=9 November 2015}}
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.{{Cite book |last=Donovan |first=Tristan |title=Replay: The History of Video Games |publisher=Yellow Ant |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-9565072-0-4 |location=Lewes, East Sussex |pages=233}}{{cite magazine |title=From the Archives: PF Magic |magazine=Retro Gamer |date=2019 |issue=196 |pages=68-69 |url=https://archive.org/details/retro-gamer-uk-2019/Retro%20Gamer%20UK%20196/page/68/mode/2up}}
Following the success the company, instead of continuing to branch out into other household pets, developed Oddballz, focused on Chimeraic and mutatable creatures.{{cite news |last1=Boxer |first1=Steve |title=Family pet Loses its fur |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph-family-pet-loses-its/157666807/ |access-date=26 May 2025 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=31 December 1996 |location=London |page=14 |department=Connected |via=Newspapers.com}} This would release along with sequels to the Dogz and Catz.
In 1997, PF.Magic was acquired by The Learning Company's Mindscape division for $15.8 million in 1998.{{Cite web |date=1998-05-07 |title=Learning Co. to acquire PF.Magic |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/learning-co-to-acquire-pf-magic/ |access-date=2017-09-23 |website=Cnet |archive-date=2017-09-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924045012/https://www.cnet.com/news/learning-co-to-acquire-pf-magic/ |url-status=live}} 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.{{Cite press release |date=7 March 2001 |title=Ubi Soft Acquires The Learning Company's Entertainment Division |url=http://www.gamezone.com/news/ubi_soft_acquires_the_learning_company_s_entertainment_division |access-date=2017-09-23 |archive-date=2017-09-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918020853/http://www.gamezone.com/news/ubi_soft_acquires_the_learning_company_s_entertainment_division |url-status=live|last=Vogel|first=Cassie|via=Game Zone}}
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.{{cite news |last1=Wallis |first1=Alistair |title=Q&A;: Ubisoft's Petz Executive Producer Tony Van |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/102688/QA_Ubisofts_Petz_Executive_Producer_Tony_Van.php |access-date=1 November 2024 |work=Gamasutra |date=16 November 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824204202/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/102688/QA_Ubisofts_Petz_Executive_Producer_Tony_Van.php |archive-date=24 August 2021}} Many of the successive games were localised games from Japan or Europe in origin and were simply rebranded with the Petz name.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}}
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.{{cite news |last1=Fahey |first1=Mike |title=Massively Multiplayer Online Petz |url=https://kotaku.com/massively-multiplayer-online-petz-5653092 |access-date=9 June 2025 |work=Kotaku |date=1 October 2010 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=McElroy |first1=Griffin |title=Ubisoft taking Petz franchise into the MMO space, also ponytown |url=https://www.engadget.com/2010-10-01-ubisoft-taking-petz-franchise-into-the-mmo-space-also-ponytown.html |access-date=9 June 2025 |work=Engadget |date=1 October 2010}} No further announcements have been subsequently made, and no such game was ever released.
Animals
The initial games were limited to dogz and catz, but additional animals were also introduced. These animals include Pigz,{{Cite web |title=Dogz 4 – Wayback Petz |url=http://waybackpetz.com/petz-4/dogz-4 |access-date=2024-03-16 |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-03-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240316043002/http://waybackpetz.com/petz-4/dogz-4 |url-status=live}} Bunnyz, Monkeyz, Dolphinz, and Hamsterz,{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Lucas M. |date=2007-02-23 |title=Hamsterz Life Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/02/23/hamsterz-life-review |access-date=2024-03-16 |website=IGN |language=en |archive-date=2023-08-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230828022711/https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/02/23/hamsterz-life-review |url-status=live}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Hansmeyer |first=Becky |date=11 March 2015 |title=Ballz & Linez: Remembering the Golden Age of Petz Hexing |url=http://beckyhansmeyer.com/2015/03/11/ballz-linez-remembering-the-golden-age-of-petz-hexing/ |access-date=9 November 2015 |website=Becky Hansmeyer |archive-date=16 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416113938/http://beckyhansmeyer.com/2015/03/11/ballz-linez-remembering-the-golden-age-of-petz-hexing/ |url-status=live}}
Games
{{Incomplete list|date=March 2024}}
=Notes=
{{notelist-lr}}
Reception
{{Video game series reviews
| updated = 24 October 2024| gr = yes | mc = yes
|game1 = Dogz
| game2 = Catz
| game3 = Dogz
| mc3 = GBA: 48/100{{cite web |title=Dogz Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/dogz/ |website=www.metacritic.com |access-date=24 October 2024 |language=en}}
| gr3 = GBA: 49%{{cite web |title=Dogz |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/gba/930366-dogz/index.html |website=Game Rankings |access-date=24 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209015827/https://www.gamerankings.com/gba/930366-dogz/index.html |archive-date=9 December 2019}}
DS: 66%{{cite web |title=Dogz |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/ds/934856-dogz/index.html |website=Game Rankings |access-date=24 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209012436/https://www.gamerankings.com/ds/934856-dogz/index.html |archive-date=9 December 2019}}
| game4 = Catz
| game5 = Hamsterz Life
| game6 = Horsez
| game7 = Petz: Horse Club
| game8 = Petz Rescue: Ocean Patrol
| game9 = Petz Rescue: Wildlife Vet
| game10 = Petz Sports: Dog Playground
| game11 = Petz: Dogz Family
}}
The original software was generally well received, with The Salt Lake Tribune giving 1995's Dogz 4 out of 5 stars,{{cite news |last1=McDaniel |first1=Kim |title=Going to the Dogs |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-going-to-the-dogs/157666833/ |work=The Salt Lake Tribune |date=11 March 1996 |page=11}} and PC Zone and Entertainment Weekly giving Catz an 8/10 and B+ respectively.{{cite news |title=Catz |url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=2811 |access-date=24 October 2024 |work=computerandvideogames.com |date=13 August 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070104091104/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=2811 |archive-date=4 January 2007}}{{Cite news |title=Catz: Your Computer Petz |language=en |work=EW.com |url=https://ew.com/article/1996/08/02/catz-your-computer-petz/ |access-date=2018-11-03 |archive-date=2021-10-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019181846/https://ew.com/article/1996/08/02/catz-your-computer-petz/ |url-status=live}} 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,{{cite news |last1=Harris |first1=Craig |title=Dogz |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/01/13/dogz-3 |access-date=26 October 2024 |work=IGN |date=13 January 2000 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Harris |first1=Craig |title=Catz |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/01/15/catz-2 |access-date=26 October 2024 |work=IGN |date=15 January 2000 |language=en}} and 2005's Dogz for the Game Boy Advance, being seen as an attempt to ape Nintendogs.{{cite news |title=Dogz: Dogz' dinner, more like. |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/r-dogz-gba |access-date=25 October 2024 |work=Eurogamer |date=20 December 2005 |language=en}}{{cite magazine |last=Green |first=Mark |date=February 2006 |title=Dogz: How Much is that doggy? Too much... |url= |magazine=NGC Magazine |issue=116 |page=51 |access-date=}}{{cite news |last1=Hollingshead |first1=Anise |title=Dogz |url=http://gameboy.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r9917.htm |access-date=25 October 2024 |work=GameZone |date=6 December 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060213113224/http://gameboy.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r9917.htm |archive-date=13 February 2006}}{{cite web |author1=hiro |title=Dogz |url=https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00007561-dogz-test.htm |website=Jeuxvideo.com |access-date=25 October 2024 |date=18 April 2007}}
By 2007, Joystiq recommended buying games in the series only for "people you hate".{{cite news |last1=Karabinus |first1=Alisha |title=Five games to buy for people you hate |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/10/five-games-to-buy-for-people-you-hate/ |access-date=1 November 2024 |work=Joystiq |date=10 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128054437/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/10/five-games-to-buy-for-people-you-hate/ |archive-date=28 January 2015}} 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."{{cite magazine |title=Top Deck |magazine=Game Developer |date=November 2008 |volume=15 |issue=10 |page=10 |url=https://archive.org/details/GDM_November_2008/page/n11/mode/2up |access-date=5 June 2025 |language=english}}
The Petz series is also notable for the online community that grew around it,{{cite web |last1=Famularo |first1=Jessica |title=Lost to Time: Gaming's Forgotten Petz Subculture and the Women Who Shaped It |url=https://www.themarysue.com/petz-subculture-women/ |website=The Mary Sue |date=18 September 2015 |access-date=16 November 2022 |archive-date=16 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116200725/https://www.themarysue.com/petz-subculture-women/ |url-status=live}} which game designer Nathalie Lawhead speculates is part of the reason for its success and enduring legacy.{{cite web |last1=Lawhead |first1=Nathalie |title=About desktop pets & virtual companions: discussing the inhabitants that fill the void of our digital spaces |url=http://www.nathalielawhead.com/candybox/about-desktop-pets-virtual-companions-discussing-the-inhabitants-that-fill-the-void-of-our-digital-spaces |website=The Candybox Blog |access-date=16 November 2022 |archive-date=16 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116210732/http://www.nathalielawhead.com/candybox/about-desktop-pets-virtual-companions-discussing-the-inhabitants-that-fill-the-void-of-our-digital-spaces |url-status=live}}
=Sales=
The original Dogz and Catz sold around 200,000, in their first year on the market,{{cite news |last1=Jackson |first1=Steve |title=Conjuring up a Touch of Animal Magic |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph-conjuring-up-a-touch/157666989/ |access-date=24 October 2024 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=24 September 1996 |page=50}} and would go on to sell—along with their sequels Catz and Dogz II—1.5 million copies.{{cite news |last1=Rochefort |first1=Simone de |title=Petz wouldn’t exist without Night Trap |url=https://www.polygon.com/features/2017/8/31/16215336/night-trap-petz-rob-fulop |access-date=27 May 2025 |work=Polygon |date=31 August 2017}} By the time of PF.Magic's purchase by Mindscape, the series had made over $8 million. The series as a whole has now sold more than 24 million copies.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
Further reading
- {{cite conference |url=https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/280765.280852 |title=Virtual Petz: A Hybrid Approach to Creating Autonomous, Lifelike Dogz and Catz |last1=Stern |first1=Andrew |last2=Frank |first2=Adam |last3=Resner|first3=Ben |date= |publisher= |book-title=AGENTS '98: Proceedings of the second international conference on Autonomous agents |pages=334–335 |location= |conference= |id= |doi=10.1145/280765.280852}}
- {{cite book |last1=Stern |first1=Andrew |title=Emotions in Humans and Artifacts |date=14 March 2003 |publisher=MIT Press |isbn=9780262285131 |chapter-url=https://direct.mit.edu/books/edited-volume/4405/chapter-abstract/188612/Creating-Emotional-Relationships-with-Virtual?redirectedFrom=fulltext |language=en |chapter=Creating Emotional Relationships with Virtual Characters |url=https://direct.mit.edu/books/edited-volume/4405/Emotions-in-Humans-and-Artifacts|editor-first1=Robert|editor-last1=Trappl|editor-first2=Paolo|editor-last2=Petta|editor-first3=Sabine|editor-last3=Payr|editor-link1=Robert Trappl|editor-link2=Paolo Petta}}
- {{cite journal |last1=Stern |first1=Andrew |title=Virtual Babyz: Believable agents with narrative intelligence |journal=Advances in Consciousness Research |date=27 February 2003 |volume=46 |pages=215–227 |url=https://cdn.aaai.org/Symposia/Fall/1999/FS-99-01/FS99-01-009.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060618164112/http://www.interactivestory.net/papers/PetzAndBabyz.html |archive-date=18 June 2006 |url-status=live}}
Category:Single-player video games
Category:Video game franchises introduced in 1995
Category:Video game franchises
Category:Video games developed in the United States