The virtual pets also known as the digital pets have mostly taken the place of the real animals like the dog, cats, hamsters and few more similar to it. The virtual pets are artificial human companion and are kept for enjoyment and companionship. Nowadays people prefer a digital pet in the place of real pet. The virtual pets are gaining popularity simply because keeping a real pet is sometimes practically impossible due to lack of time. The pet when added in the family becomes the responsibility of the owner to look after it in every sense. For this real virtual pet cab be the better choice and can give a sense of owning a pet.



There are basically three types of virtual pets namely gadget-based virtual pets, web-page based virtual pets and Game ?or-application based virtual pet. The gadget-based virtual pets are sold as a self contained, palm size computer. It has a small screen where the image of a pet appears. The buttons on the case are meant for the users to perform different tasks like feeding them, playing with them or washing the pet clean. Pets who are not satisfied with the care taken can emit beeps and sometimes die.

Many of the popular websites adopt virtual pets to put on their webpage and use for role playing in chat rooms. In some websites you can become the adoptee and ca adopt a virtual pet for which you will require to have a web page ready for your virtual pet. Some of the sites can also adopt pets to put on a web-page and are revolving around writing for and breeding said pets to create newer, often 'showier' virtual pets. Members of such sites are often encouraged to create their own species of draconic creatures, to adopt from other members, and to breed the various species together.

The last one is the Game ?or-application based virtual pet that comes in software run on PC or video games consoles. It had powerful computing than with web page or gadget based digital pets, which helps in achieving a higher level of visual effects and interactivity.

The advanced technology gives a sense of reality to the virtual pets and some enhance playability. With the advanced video gaming technology the user and interpret the actions of the pet like body language and the facial expressions. The user can have a short term or long term interaction with the pet. In short term interaction the user can touch the pet with the cursor of the mouse and the pet will response to the touch. In long term interaction the users action affect pet's growth, behavior or life span The user starts understanding the needs of the pet through its behavior, which seems natural and nurtures a feeling of developed relationship between the virtual pet and the user.

The virtual pets are designed in such a manner that their certain level of autonomy and unpredictability gives a user a sense of reality. The user can interact with the pet and forms a special corner in the heart of the user. The user starts developing attachment for the virtual pet and a sense of responsibility towards it like when it comes having a real pet.