The Tamagotchi is back, this time for smartphones The virtual pet craze of the 90s is back, this time as an app on your smartphone. The Tamagotchi is back. This time as an app. No word on whether it will make annoying, unprompted noises at 2am. Say it isn't so. THE virtual pet that drove teachers and parents to distraction is back. But instead of a lump of plastic housing a grey screen, attached to a keyring, the Tamagotchi will soon be available as a smartphone app. That sound you heard was the collective groan from bosses everywhere. Tamagotchi L.I.F.E (which stands for Love Is Fun Everywhere) will be available soon for iPhone and Android smartphones. Users will be able to watch as their digital pet hatches and will be able to care for it by pressing buttons to feed it, pet it and take it for a walk. Nostalgia purchases are in right now so the app will also include a "Retro Mode" which offers features similar to the original game. "The original Tamagotchi was first released 16 years ago and took the world by storm," the game development company, Bandai said in a statement. Everyone had a Tamagotchi and loved taking care of their digital pets. The new Tamagotchi app will feature the same game you know and love with a number of exciting new features. The app will be available to download from Google Play in four days according to the Tamagotchi Life website. No word yet on when we can expect it to arrive in the App Store.