Why Realistic Pet Simulators Could Be a Good Thing
Throughout the Millennia, aside from taking care of their family and loved ones, people have given love and care to non-human extended family members, which appears not only to be natural, but a good thing as well. Taking care of pets has become a custom, if not a need that has been handed down throughout the generations, even in today's technologically oriented world.
There is a psychological aspect when it comes to taking care of domesticated animals or pets. Whether it's a Dog, Cat, Rat, Myna, Pig, or Stitch, a pet is a pet and a bond forms between the animal and its master.
Taking care of a pet is not only good for the animal being taken care of (that's free rent, food, and lots of TLC), but for the owner, it can be psychologically and emotionally satisfying and very helpful to one's overall well-being. Either way, depending on the pet, the love usually flows both ways, and a lifelong bond is formed.
However, in today's busy and technologically advancing world, the simple activity of taking care of one's "Little Friend" (no matter how big they can get) can become a tedious if not complicated process due to several modern-day limitations non-existent in humanity's past. Taking care of an actual pet today may be impractical and difficult to do, so there are certain technological alternatives that simulate the activity of taking care of a pet.
The virtual pet simulator
The development of virtual pet simulators has been an ongoing endeavour for quite some time, but officially, the first widely known and popular electronic video game virtual pet simulators are Dogz, released in 1995, and Catz, released the following year, for the Petz game series by PF Magic. These computer games allowe gamers to adopt and care for digital (or virtual) Dogs and Cats.
As these were the two most common household pets, these pet simulators were considered to be the first mainstream examples that achieved popularity and were well received because of the interactivity of the virtual pet experience.
This further led to the acceptance and popularization of the concept of virtual pets, which led to further development of pet toys and games, particularly Tamagotchi and Digimon, released in 1996 and 1997, respectively.
The rise of AR and VR
Today's virtual pet simulators have gone a bit further in terms of realistic and interactive pet care experiences with the advent of Augmented and Virtual Reality. Raising a virtual pet with respect to real-life has both its benefits and limitations.
Caring for and interacting with a virtual pet through AR and VR comes with the addition of a much more realistic and interactive bonding time with your little friend. Pet simulators in this category provide a higher personal experience when compared to an inanimate pet toy or a virtual pet confined to the screen of a computer or mobile gaming platform.
Pets in cyberspace
Here are three good examples of virtually realistic pet-bonding experiences made possible through an AR screen or headset or a completely alternate world VR headset experience.
"Pets VR", released in 2022 by Actum Games, is a virtual pet simulator where you can take care of a kitten or a puppy. You can care for it by bathing it, clipping its nails, giving it virtual food and water, cleaning it up, and playing games with it.
The experience though, is limited as there are only given areas where you can interact with your pet, like taking it on a walk at the park, or in the case of your doggy, training it to fetch and do other things. Nevertheless, the interactive experience differs for both Dog and Cat.
"Bogo", released in 2019 for the Oculus Meta Quest VR headset, lets you take care of Bogo, an alien-looking virtual pet who you can interact with in a relaxed and fun manner. Bogo is responsive and friendly and will try his best to please you, but you do have to take care of him and feed him virtual food in a virtual world.
The sad limitation is that by the time you have to end your VR session, you'll have to bid Bogo farewell, and when you come back, the game and experience reset to the very start.
"Peridot" is an AR virtual pet simulator released by Niantic in 2023 for Android and IOS mobile devices. The simulator lets you bond with a magic creature (called a dot) that can fly around and always wants to be by your side. Due to the game's AR nature, you will see your Dot via the device screen or AR headset with you in the real world. The simulator can be viewed in many similar ways to Pokemon Go.
Why these pet simulators could be a good thing
Taking care of a virtual pet requires just as much effort and time as taking care of a pet in real life. However, despite the advantages a virtual pet has over a real one, nothing can compare to having a real dog or cat by your side as you go through your everyday life.
Regardless, here are a few reasons why having a virtual pet could be a good thing after all.
For kids, a virtual pet experience can help one understand the concept of caring for a domesticated animal without the long-term commitment of owning a live one. Also, a pet simulator in VR/AR heightens the realism and intensity of the experience, especially for children.
A child interacting and caring for a virtual pet teaches compassion, empathy, and responsibility as a child takes care of another being, just like one would in real life.
For older kids and grown-ups interested in taking care of a virtual pet, there are several advantages that can more or less simulate the benefits of having to take care of a real-life animal companion while avoiding certain difficulties that come with it.
Aside from virtual pets providing companionship and emotional support, they can reduce stress, improve one's mood, and bring down feelings of anxiety and fatigue. Virtual pets are cost-effective as you don't have to bring them to the vet for treatment and check-ups, and you won't need pet food and other supplies either, as your pet is virtual and lives in a virtual reality of its own.
Having a virtual pet can be advantageous for mental health as they can help owners externalize their care motivations, detaching themselves from self-criticism. A virtual pet can provide a means of helpful therapy, especially for elders experiencing the effects of mental and physical degeneration. Caring for a virtual pet exercises mental acuity and cognitive abilities.
Finally, virtual pets offer accessibility and convenience as they are available to interact with on various devices while avoiding the hassle and effort required for actual physical pet care. This can be an advantage for busy people and those with mobility problems.
Whether one opts for a virtual pet or a real live and naughty kitty or doggy, the activity of interacting and taking care of your little friend is still what will count the most.
