Raise you own child, one text message at a time. Today Chia Chin Lee pointed me to a company blurring the lines between what is a game, a virtual world, a social network, and yet another silly example of how quick we are to anthropomorphize everything.
Media Republic is a Dutch company that has launched a Tomagatchi-like "grow your own child" where the point is to find a co-player and together raise a child over the course of a few weeks. The twist is that your interactions take place all using IM and text messaging.
Some are skeptical...
This is a demanding virtual baby that text messages you throughout the
day when it needs something, such as a diaper change. The only things
that could be more fun would be surgery without anesthesia, or actual
As someone with both a baby, and an aptitude for text messaging, I can firmly say I am entirely uninterested in this product. The idea of a messenger bot going from "gaga" to "I hate you dad" does not count as satisfying gameplay.
But the idea of interaction over the media that you already use is kind of interesting, as is the requirement that you find a partner to raise the child together. They've announced a Dorittos sponsorship and a virtual H&M store where you can purchase clothing for your Eccky, so someone is paying attention. But with the prescribed life of the child being only a week - are people really getting enough satisfaction to keep coming back?