Virtual Squirrel joins dogs, cats and hamsters in mobile pet-sim genre
And who doesn't like squirrels, right?
Have you ever noticed that the mere sight of a squirrel going about its daily business is enough to make you smile? We don't want to get all Dr Doolittle on you but there is something about the little critters cheerfully collecting nuts and skittishly looking around with that determined sense of purpose they have. And what about those acrobatic skills? Truly there is little to dislike about squirrels.
Until you try to domesticate one. If Pocket Gamer teaches you nothing else today, learn this: a wild squirrel indoors is one of the most dangerous situations you're likely to ever face.
With that in mind, news that squirrels are to be the latest in the increasing menagerie of animals to warrant their own pet-sim, Virtual Squirrel, is welcome indeed. If nothing else, it guarantees that you won't have to change your real-life curtains, your furniture, or your face.
As is typical of the genre, you can clean your pet, train it, feed it and, er, get it to study (quite what a squirrel needs to study is currently a mystery).
The game is available for all Java enabled handsets but, more interestingly, a free WAP version is also available that is included with Apple's iPhone.
Anyway, it all sounds reasonably promising and no one will argue against the nut-loving mammals finally getting some screen time on mobiles.
Virtual Squirrel is available now from DS Effects.