A virtual pet can be a fantasy creature or a realistic-looking one.
A virtual desktop pet can give owners many of the joys of pet ownership -- without any of the drawbacks. Even if this is not the right time to bring home a real pet, you can adopt a virtual desktop pet quickly and easily. While virtual desktop pets are composed of mere computer pixels that "live" on your desktop computer, owners may find that these active pets can still be a satisfying and enjoyable hobby.
Pet Types
Many different types of pets are available, from the ultra-realistic to creatures that are not commonly kept as domestic pets. Dogs, cats, fish, hamsters, rabbits, penguins, guinea pigs, turtles, horses and monkeys are some of the many pet types available.
Pet Adoption Process
The virtual desktop pet adoption process varies by website, but in most cases it is a fairly simple matter to become a virtual pet parent. Virtual desktop pet websites such as RSPCA, Soft Lookup, Cybercritters, Audio 4 Fun and Screenmates (see Resources) require users to download their virtual pet program prior to use. Once the download is complete, the virtual pet has been added to the desktop computer, and it is not necessary to access the Internet to interact with the pet in the future.
Pet Customization
Pet customization is an option for most virtual desktop pets. The customization process may be as simple as choosing the sex and fur color of your cat or dog, or it may be far more in depth. For example, virtual desktop pets like Audio4Fun's "Desktop Parrot" can be taught to interact with the pet owner, mimicking and responding to sounds and words.
Virtual Pet Care
Virtual desktop pets, much like real pets, do require some attention and care. Depending on the type of pet and the website used, virtual desktop pets may need daily or near-daily attention in the form of feeding, grooming, medical care and playtime. The virtual desktop pets games inform players when their pet is hungry or needs attention. The RSPCA, for example, tells virtual desktop pet owners which of the pet's needs must be attended to on a daily basis. This includes messages such as "Your dog needs fresh drinking water" or "Your dog is due for a flea treatment."
Tags: desktop pets, virtual desktop, virtual desktop pets, virtual desktop, desktop computer