Giga Pets Care Tips

I used to think Giga Pets (by Tiger) were difficult and annoying to care for, but I recently discovered that it's really only difficult if you don't have a full understanding of how they work. I was surprised to find after all these years that I didn't know as much about them as I thought I did....especially when it came to the "training" feature and how it affects the discipline meter.

Anyway, I'm amazed at all the misinformation there is out there about caring for them, but I was lucky to come across this article. It's the best and most accurate Giga info I've ever seen anywhere. Most of you may already know this stuff, but I'm posting it here because it's good to have info like this the archives......our little library of vpet info ;)

The following article (letter) was copied with permission from the Vpet Newsgroup  "alt.toys.virtual-pets"



Date: Wed, 24 Dec 1997
From: Peter
Newsgroups: alt.toys.virtual-pets
Subject: Digital Doggie Care Sheet
 

CARE SHEET FOR DIGITAL DOGGIE (also applies to most other Giga Pets)

1.  It�s really quite easy to take care of a Digital Doggie. When he�s first born, his health will usually be 80 or so. If you follow the advice given below, in a couple of days his health should be 100.  From there on it�s a simple matter of doing the routine outlined in 14.  By the way, my digital doggie has long reached 99 - the maximum age the Lifesigns (Heart icon) will display - and is still in perfect health and going strong.  So, it works!

2.  Make sure his clock is set to your clock (MODE button gets you to the time set).  All the times stated below assume this.  Besides, do you want him waking you at 3:00 AM ???

3.  If he barks twice, he simply wants  attention - you can ignore him.  If he barks twice over and over again, his discipline is very low (and probably his food level, too) - it�s best NOT to ignore him.  If he barks four/five times, then he really needs something - DON�T  ignore him!

4.  He wants to go to bed around 9:30 PM (4 barks) and gets up around 7:00 AM all by himself.  Make sure you turn off his light (Sleep icon) when he wants to sleep - the longer you leave him awake or the light on when he�s sleeping, the more his health goes down. This can also throw sleep/nap times out of whack for the rest of the day.  Doing it right can bring his health up a point or two (assuming it�s not at 100 already).

5. He needs 3 naps a day , around 10:45 AM, 2:45 PM and 6:45 PM (4 barks each time).  Again, turn off  his light right away.  (His health and sleep/nap times will be affected or not as in 4.)  He'll wake up by himself in about 15 minutes.  Don�t put him to sleep if he hasn�t asked for it - his health will go down.

6.  One helping of food (bowl) = 20 Food points. If his Food level is at 50, then 2 helpings brings him up to 90.  If you feed him up to or over the full 100, that makes him gain a pound.  Fine when he's young (less than two), but not great after - just like real life!  In fact, it�s best to feed him  just enough to get him into the 80�s - his health can go up a point by doing that.  If his Food level gets to zero - it shouldn�t if you are following the routine in 14.- he may tell you (4 barks) but not always.  By the way, he automatically gains a pound or two overnight (to a max of 100 pounds).

7.  One treat (bone) = 5 Food points.  Too many treats (more than 2/3 per day), either as rewards for doing tricks or as food, are bad for him and generally will bring his health down.  Reserve treats for his daily training (see 10).

8.  He usually poos (4 barks) after every couple of meals / 20 Food points.  Clean it up right away (Bath icon). Not doing it can bring his health down.  Doing it can bring his health up.  (Notice his big smile when he shows you the poo?  Somebody had a sense of humour!)

9.  Don't use the Discipline icon - maintain discipline by having him do a trick (Training icon).  Using the Discipline icon will certainly get him disciplined  but will bring his happiness and, sometimes, his health down.  Training, on the other hand, does the opposite (see 10).

10. I teach him one trick a day, first thing in the morning, and then have him do that trick the rest of the day (he forgets overnight).  To teach him the trick, keep asking him to do it until he does it right once.  Immediately  give him a reward using the Training icon NOT the Food icon.  Now make him do the trick three or four times to fix it in his mind.  One correct trick = 10 Discipline points.

11. His happiness is easy to keep up.  In fact, his health could be way down and, yet, have a happiness score of 100.  Having said that, most things that bring his health down will also bring his happiness down: the difference is that it is much easier to get his happiness back up than to get his health back up. Simply doing things for him when needed and the occassional game of catch (see 14. below) will keep his happiness at or near 100.  By the way, if after playing catch with him, you notice that the happiness score went down, that usually means he�s tired - you either played too much or it�s really close to nap / bedtime - so let him rest before playing with him again.  Oh yes, it could also be that he missed the ball too often - do learn how to play catch!

12. Taking him to the vet isn't usually necessary - once or twice when he's young but after that  Anyway, too many trips to the vet will, strangely enough, bring his health down.  If he has a real need for something (4 barks) but its not naptime / bedtime / poo, then the vet might be a good idea - if it was, his health will go up.  (Regardless, his happiness will go down!)

13. Giving him a bath sort of works the same way - he doesn't mind it once in a while but too many baths will, again, bring his health down.  Sometimes, a bath will bring it up.

14. Check his Lifesigns  (Heart icon) every hour or so.  If anything is down below 70, then take appropriate steps (food / discipline / etc).  My usual routine when something is needed is:

a) have him do his trick three to five times (usually gets his Discipline to 100),

b) play catch with him once or twice (usually gets his Happiness to 100) and, finally,

c) feed him just enough to get his Food level into the 80�s


15. If you have left him alone for a period of time, you may find him frowning when you come back. This usually means that either

a) you missed a 4 bark request (see 16. below, etc.) or

b) his discipline is close to zero (see 9. and 10. above).

If he constantly frowns, then it�s because he isn�t feeling well - until his health improves, he�ll keep frowning (in this case, I call it looking sad).

16. So, when he barks 4 times, how can you tell what he needs?  Sometimes he�ll tell you what he wants by making the appropriate icon blink, especially if a request has been ignored for a while.  Usually, though, it�s a simple case of logic:  Has he pooped - it might be a few seconds before he shows it to you  (see 8. above)? If not, then is it a sleep time (see 4. and 5. above)? If not, then check his Lifesigns - he may be starving (see 6. above) or sick (see 12. above).  In my experience, those are the only things that will make him bark 4 times.

17. Finally, is there a way to pause him?  Sort of. Going into Time set (Mode button) and leaving it there apparently does achieve a limited pause BUT if left too long you�ll find an angel - he died! - when you come out of Time set.  I haven�t tried it myself and don�t intend to. Afterall, this is supposed to be a simulation of a real live dog - try pausing a real one! - therefore, pausing him is defeating both the purpose and the spirit of Digital Doggie.

18. Good Luck and enjoy!  Your Digital Doggie should live in good health and happiness till the batteries run out.

---
© 1997  Peter W. Skwarczynski
Permission is granted to copy and distribute the Care Sheet
as long as no fee whatsoever is charged for the distribution
or use of this material.

Back to Giga Pets


- Tinkerville -
HOME EMAIL

 
Tamagotchiville Tama photos Rare Tamas Tamagotchi items Tama Cradles
Giga Pets Nano Pets American Vpets Japanese Vpets Pedometer Pets
Mutsu Home Round Tank Bunny Mutsu Penguin Mutsu Puppy Mutsu
Turtle Mutsu Dolphin Mutsu Whale Mutsu Remote Control Mutsu Review
Micropets Home US Micropets Jap Micropets Jap Robo-D Rare Micropets
Micropets instr. Micropets review Micro Babies Neopets MicroAqua
Hidamari ChibiBotto Zudes Furby/Shelby VPET LINKS