1996 · Fujitsu · Digital pet · Point-and-click adventure

Teo 64DD

Fin Fin is a virtual pet similar to Tamagotchi. The special feature of the simulation is speech recognition with a accompanying microphone. Of course it doesn't really understand what the player is saying but it reacts to the mode of speaking - a friendly tone makes it happy and loud or hectic speeches makes it sad. Sometimes it speaks back and a "conversation" occurs. Over time it learns to distinguish the player's voice from others.

Released: 1996
Platforms: Windows
Genres: Digital pet Point-and-click adventure Simulation
Developers: Fujitsu
Publishers: —
Modes: Single-player
Perspective: First person
Themes: Fantasy Kids
Age ratings: ESRB E

About

Fin Fin on Teo the Magic Planet (stylized as fin fin: On TEO, the Magic Planet) is a 1996 computer game for Windows-based computers made by Fujitsu about a creature that is a hybrid of a bird and a dolphin which the user can communicate with via a microphone which came with the game, as well as with a webcam add-on called the SmartSensor. Fin Fin was produced by Makoto Tezuka.

Fin Fin responds to the player's volume and tone of voice. One reviewer described Fin Fin as a 'virtual mood ring'. 30,000 copies were sold in the first year in Japan.

Keywords

minigames
virtual pet
dolphin
bird
bundled with peripherals
pre-rendered backgrounds
interactive

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Story

The game's main goal is to win Fin Fin's friendship. There are many ways to communicate with Fin Fin. The first way is to press the 1 to 5 keys, which make a sound that attracts Fin Fin. The second way is to use a microphone and a whistle that come with the game, but if the player makes a loud sound or uses the whistle to scold Fin Fin, he will run away.

In the 3, 4 and 5 world versions, the player can record their own voice using the Fin Fin sound recorder that comes with the game and a microphone. Their voice then plays back when they press the 6 to 0 keys.