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.

Check the rest of the screens after the jump!

Japanese DS magazine, Nintendo Dream, have published details and pictures for 12 forthcoming DS games. The scans below show off the game's details, however they are in Japanese. They are definitely worth a look just for the screenshots, game graphics and art.

Bomberman Land DS:

Brave Story DS:

There's 10 more games covered in the Full Article, check it out!

Tamagotchi: Corner Shop is based on the wildly popular Tamagotchi "virtual pet," which debuted back in 1996 and sold more than 40 million units worldwide. Not only did the Tamagotchi spur a pop culture phenomenon, it launched a brand new toy category and has prompted countless imitators. Based on strong consumer demand, Bandai America Inc. reintroduced the tech toy in late 2004 as "Tamagotchi Connection" to a new generation of young fans.

 

In Tamagotchi: Corner Shop, players help Mametchi, Memetchi or Kuchipatchi set up a shop, with the ultimate goal of creating a "royal" shop that is a favorite of Princess Tamako. Players can select from a variety of different stores, including a bakery, beauty salon, dentist's office, flower shop, and more. Once the shop is open, players will help their customers by completing mini games with the Nintendo DS stylus. Players apply makeup, treat cavities, decorate cakes and complete many other shop-specific tasks to earn Gs, the Tamagotchi money unit, and progress towards "royal" shop status! Shop interiors can be customized, and cute Tamagotchi characters will make appearances throughout the game.

Leading video games publisher and developer NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. announced today that Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop, a shopping simulation set in the virtual world of Tamagotchi for the Nintendo DS, has shipped to retail outlets in North America. Based on the wildly popular Tamagotchi virtual pet that has sold more than 40 million units worldwide since its 1996 debut, this playful simulation allows aspiring shop owners to open and run their very own boutique stores.

“Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop offers the same charming characters and tongue-in-cheek humor that was the hallmark of the original Tamagotchi toys,” said Yoshi Niki, business director at NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. “By optimizing the use of Nintendo DS’ touch-screen functionality, this title offers a variety of fun, accessible mini-games that appeals to gamers and non-gamers alike.”

In Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop, players help primary characters like Mametchi, Memetchi or Kuchipatchi set up a shop, with the ultimate goal of creating a “royal” shop that is a favorite of Princess Tamako. Players can select from a variety of different stores, including a bakery, beauty salon, dental office, flower shop and more. Once the shop is open, players will help their customers by completing mini games with the Nintendo DS stylus. Players apply makeup, treat cavities and decorate cakes to earn “Gotchi” points, the Tamagotchi money unit, and progress towards “royal” shop status. Shop interiors can be customized and cute Tamagotchi characters will make appearances throughout the game.

Fans of the egg-shaped toy that simulates the life cycle of a real pet can currently purchase the new Tamagotchi Connection Version 2. The toy allows tweens and teens to collect “Gotchi” points, which can be used to shop for treats and toys, and to use secret codes to unlock special shopping areas not available anywhere else in the programming. In addition, wireless technology allows Tamagotchi owners to “connect” with others, allowing their pets to become friends, trade gifts and mate to create future generations.

The exciting new trailer for Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop for the Nintendo DS is now available below. Featuring playful hand-drawn art style, popular Tamagotchi characters, and an array of shops, players can run and customize their very own boutique stores!

Based on the wildly popular Tamagotchi virtual pet, which debuted back in 1996 and sold more than 40 million units worldwide, Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop allows players to assist Memetchi, Mametchi or Kuchipatchi set up a shop, with the ultimate goal of creating a ?royal? shop that is a favorite of Princess Tamako. Players can also select from a variety of specialty stores, including a bakery, beauty salon, dentist?s office, flower shop, and much more.

Once the shop is open, players will help their customers by completing mini games with the Nintendo DS stylus. Players apply makeup, treat cavities, decorate cakes and complete many other shop-specific tasks to earn ?Gotchi? points, the Tamagotchi money unit, and progress towards ?royal? shop status! Shop interiors can also be customized, while cute and cuddly Tamagotchi characters make special appearances throughout the game.

Features for Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop include:
? Selection of different shops ? bakery, dentist?s office, beauty salon and more
? Choice of three Tamagotchi business partners ? Mametchi, Memetchi and Kuchipatchi
? Shop-specific mini games that utilize the Nintendo DS stylus
? Shop customization options
? Fun sound effects for each mini game, from cake cutting to filling cavities!

Download: [Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop Trailer]

DSR reports Tamagotchi no Puchi Puchi Omissecchi, from Bandai has enjoyed strong sales since it's launch back on September 15. Now the game has reached sales of over 1 million units.

This is the first third party game to achieve this. "The other games to do so are Animal Crossing: Wild World, Brain Training

and

Brain Flex." Tamagotchi no Puchi Puchi Omissecchi is set for release in the US, under the name Tamagotchi: Corner Shop.

   

Atari today announced the forthcoming release of Bandai's Tamagotchi Connexion Corner Shop, a dose of virtual retail therapy set in the world of Tamagotchi and developed exclusively for the Nintendo DS. 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. Scheduled for release in early 2006, Tamagotchi Connexion Corner Shop features a colourful, hand-drawn visual style, popular Tamagotchi characters, and a variety of different shops.

"Tamagotchi Connexion Corner Shop is great for fans of Tamagotchi and Nintendo DS, and anyone who wants to do more shopping than their real-world wallets will allow," said Cyril Voiron, Marketing Director, Atari Europe. "Players will love opening their own shops, playing the varied mini games with the stylus, and working alongside their favourite characters. Tamagotchi Connexion Corner Shop is easy to pick up and play for fans of all ages, and the touch screen creates an original and fun interactive experience."

Tamagotchi Connexion Corner Shop is based on the wildly popular Tamagotchi "virtual pet", which debuted in 1996 and sold more than 40 million units worldwide. Not only did the Tamagotchi spur a pop culture phenomenon, it launched a brand new toy category and has prompted countless imitators.

In Tamagotchi Connexion Corner Shop, players help Mametchi, Memetchi or Kuchipatchi set up a shop, with the ultimate goal of creating a "royal" shop that is a favourite of Princess Tamako. Players can select from a variety of different stores, including a bakery, beauty salon, dentist's office, flower shop, and more. Once the shop is open, players help their customers by completing mini games with the Nintendo DS stylus. Players apply makeup, treat cavities, decorate cakes and complete many other shop-specific tasks to earn Gs, the Tamagotchi money unit, and progress towards "royal" shop status. Shop interiors can be customised and cute Tamagotchi characters will make appearances throughout the game.

Features for Tamagotchi Connexion Corner Shop include:

Selection of different shops – bakery, dentist's office, beauty salon and more

Colourful, hand-drawn visual style

Choice of three Tamagotchi business partners – Mametchi, Memetchi and Kuchipatchi

Shop-specific mini games that utilise the Nintendo DS stylus

Cute, non-playable characters from the world of Tamagotchi

Shop customisation options

Fun sound effects for each mini game, from cake cutting to filling cavities

Here are some new Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop sceens submitted by one of our users. 

This DS simulation title has you and your pet Tamagotchi open a store. You can select from three different Tamagotchi types and give your new little friend a name. The game includes a variety of shop types, including a bakery and a dentist. The DS's special features come into play quite clearly when you choose to open up a dentist office. The top screen shows the reception area. You start off by accepting patients and listing to their troubles. Then, it's time for you to work your dentistry. You clear cavities and other irregularities on the bottom screen by polishing your patient's teeth with the stylus. Your patients will give you money, so its in your best interest to serve as many patients as possible by being quick in your work. Your goal, be it a dentist or some other shop owner, is to attract customers, earn money, and make your shop grow.

Source: n-next

Today, Bandai officially confirmed that the popular Nintendo DS title, Tamagotchi Corner Shop, will be released in the US and will be published by Bandai Games. A release date is yet to be known, but at least now we know we can look forward to it. (The Japanese sales for it have been through the roof, so it must be good...)

Bandai’s upcoming shopping simulation, Tamagotchi: Corner Shop, will allow players to open up and develop their own specialty shop business. Now some of the first screenshots have been released showing players how to build their own profitable Tamagotchi.