Jakks Pacific is reinventing virtual pets by taking them outside the confines of small, hand-held pods. Users must nurture and care for the new iPet in order for it to grow up, but unlike other virtual pets, this one can be brought to life on a television screen via a plug and play console. Once there, the critter gets more freedom. Play patterns vary according to the pet. With the dino pet, the game is all about butt-kicking and exciting adventures, while the dog or cat prefers a walk in the park.

Proper care is an integral part of game play. If the iPets aren’t fed and cared for, they become slow and stubborn, but when treated well they get bigger and stronger and gain new powers. The toyco is set to launch the iPet line this fall. The starter kit (US$49.99) includes the handheld Pet Pod and the iPet gaming console. Additional Pet Pods ring in at US$29.99 each. Jakks plans to regularly refresh the selection and is currently entertaining taking on licenses for future iterations.