Parents and teachers should beware of children becoming addicted to the latest electronic game of Tamagotchi, an expert said.
Psychological counsellor of Positive Living United Services, Annis Fung Lai-chu, said the game could entertain people and help release the pressure of daily life, but becoming dependent on it could cripple their communication skills and social life.
Tamagotchi is an egg-shaped, key-chained device with a lively character on its display screen. The game was invented and released in Japan late last year. It took the country by storm.
But it is different from other electronic games in that it becomes a virtual pet, usually in the form of a chicken. The pet is reliant on how the player feeds, plays and disciplines it.
'The lifespan of the chicken becomes paramount and some players are glued to the game all day,' Mrs Fung said. 'It can take up a lot of time and disturb their daily schedule.' Mrs Fung believes that Tamagotchi could take off in Hong Kong because of the lifestyle here.
'Living environments are often overcrowded. People get stuck in a small flat where they have limited chance to play with and talk to others. The game becomes their companion.' She said that small families and a lack of child-parent communication also fuelled the demand for Tamagotchi. So far, every shipment to Hong Kong has sold out within a few hours and some stores have had to run pre-sale lotteries to avoid stampedes.
