TL;DR: As of Oct. 17, you can get the CircuitPet Handheld Virtual Pet for just $109.99 instead of $119.99 — that’s a 8% discount.
Missing your old Tamagotchi? What if you could rekindle your vintage love of handheld digital pets while learning a brand-new skillset? CircuitPet offers you a chance to DIY a virtual pet similar to your good old Tamagotchi (may they rest in peace). And for a limited time, this fun project is on sale for just $109.99.
The cool ’90s kids toted around Tamagotchis, keeping track of their well-being and watching them grow. The 21st-century twist on these handheld pets is that now you can build them on your own, learning vital STEM skills as you go. CircuitPet took a page out of the Tamagotchi book, allowing you to build and code your own digital pal.
Even those brand new to coding should find the straightforward instructions simple to follow. First check out the anatomy guide, which teaches you about the parts that make CircuitPets work. Then follow the step-by-step build guide that includes over 100 photos to help you get going.
There’s also a usage guide, with pointers on how to use your CircuitPet, and a coding guide that’s tailored to beginners. You’ll be coding in C++ and CircuitBlocks and learning video game mechanics while you build and play. And there are hardware skills involved, including soldering and hardware assembly, real-time clocks (RTC), and TFT LCD displays.
Once you get your CircuitPet going, it stays on, but you only need to check in on it once in a while. This little robot pet requires a lot less maintenance than a real pet, while offering even more fun. It includes six pre-loaded mini-games, so you can collect XP and make sure your buddy is happy simultaneously.
Build and code your very own handheld virtual pet, much like your old Tamagotchi, with the CircuitPet Handheld Virtual Pet. This fun challenge is available now for $109.99.
Prices subject to change.