Remember 1996? The year when the world was invaded by a bunch of handheld digital pets that made you feed them, play with them, and then laughed as you watched them die? Well, it's ten years later and those critters are back. Yes folks, the Tamagotchi virtual pet brigade is staging a comeback.

Atari and Bandai's Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop for the DS is but the opening salvo in the virtual pets' revenge. In the game, players open speciality shops, and develop their businesses by serving customers needs through mini games that utilise the Nintendo DS touch-screen functionality. Open up a shop, serve your customers' needs, and play some mini-games on the side on your way to achieving 'royal' shop status.

Sound grand? Check out the screenshots below for a taste.