WidgetPet, new virtual care game

By Hilary Reed, 24 March, 2021

Forum

iOS and iPadOS Gaming

Hello everyone. I hope that you are all doing well. I recently came across a new virtual care app for iOS and iPad OS that was emailed to me by Apple in their App Store promotions. The game is called WidgetPet. This game functions like any other Tomagotchi style game, accept that you can access the stats on the Home Screen by adding a widget. From playing around with it, I have discovered that this is different from the widgets on the today screen. This goes directly on the Home Screen somewhere, wherever you decide to place it during edit mode. You open the game, and you have to agree to the terms of use and privacy policy. This game does use ads, unless you pay $0.99 for the ad removal, and you will be asked if you want the app to track things like your web activity to deliver personalized ads. Pick yes or no. Then you enter the Widget Pet shop. Here you can pick what type of pet you wish to raise. Or, you can select the “surprise me” button to get a random pet. You can then choose its name and gender. All pets hatch from eggs. I don’t know why, but they do. It is best to start this game if you are doing something else, as it takes a few hours in real time for your newborn pet to enter the world. I have not made a directory entry for this just yet, because I want to hear everyone’s thoughts on accessibility first. I think that it is reasonably accessible, aside from the ads, but that’s how the devs are making their money. There are in-app purchases, such as more pets and stuff, but these can be unlocked through game play as well. I have the app link here, and I’ll post the developer contact link as well. I would also like to add that this game has only been out since October of 2020, and I have only just started working with them on accessibility, and they have already released an update based on some feedback I gave them. Please be gentle with the Ha’Ppile Interactive folks. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this, and let me know what the directory entry should look like.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/widgetpet/id1533559619
The devs can be contacted by going to https://www.widgetpet.com/contact/
P.s. You cannot create the widget until you start incubating a pet.

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Comments

Pretty cool!!

Hi.
So im loving this game so far.
Are the playdates/games accessible?
I tried and wasnt sure what was going on.

They don't seem to be

I don’t think they are accessible which is unfortunate

Sent an email.

I sent the devs an email about this. I don’t expect to hear anything until at least Monday, but I will keep you all posted. If there’s anything else, you can visit the WidgetPets website and complete the contact form.

Thanks for the new game, love it!!!!!

How do I make a widget for the game? I have never used them before. Thanks for any help

What makes this different?

Aside their being a widget on the homescreen, what makes this app any different than the other 100 billion pet care apps out there? That's not me trying to be an ass wipe about this, though it may come across that way. Let me be transparent to say that isn't at all my intentions. It just sounds to me like this is a total re-creation of the same wheel that's been spinning for several years now. I'm willing to stand corrected though. If I'm gonna download an app, me personally, it's gonna need to be something unique enough to jump out at me and say, this is a one of a kind app. In other words, convince me! What makes your app as a dev worth me using instead of the other app I already have which does the same exact thing. Again, not trying to be a jerk here. It's probably coming off that way I'm sure, but I am truly asking this out of curiosity. Seriously, what makes it any different? I get the widget thing, but is that it?

What game do you already have?

If you are referring to Hatchi, then the only major difference is that this one is somewhat accessible and still being worked on. The only other thing is that the pets have dialog text, which offers clues about their moods.

Use edit mode.

Select any app on your home screen, and swipe to activate edit mode in the traditional ways. At the top, you should see add widget. Double tap that, scroll through the options until you find the one for the app. Double tap it, then hit add widget, then hit done.

Coins

How do you get more coins? The Play dates don’t seem to be accessible

I surprisingly didn’t find it

I followed the instructions, but couldn’t find any option. So what do I do now? Thanks anyway for your help

Have you created a pet?

You have to create a pet first.

Yes I have and just checked up on him

I love the game and I wanted sound effects and music. I also would like to see more pets added. I did everything you said and still didn’t work.

cool game, but unable to earn coins

So far, I'm liking this game, but how do we earn coins to buy supplies for our pets? The play dates aren't accessable with voiceover. We can't take our pets on play dates. I was able to do it with sighted help, but a sightd person may not always be around.

They’re looking into it.

The devs responded and said they will look into ways to fix it. Hopefully there will be a fix and an update soon.

So here's the million dollar question.

Does anyone plan to add this game to the directory? I'm about to try it out and if no one does, I'll probably do it myself.

How to rate it.

I wasn’t sure what accessibility rating to give it.

Accessibility

If I were you, I'd go for the option that says this app is mostly accessible with voice-over and most buttons are clearly labelled.

I’m not having any accessibility issues

Hi,
I’ve had this game on my iPhone for a few days now, & am not having any issues.

The play dates are automated.
You, as the user, just have to click the game you want to play, & let it run.
They’re very short.

thank u it works

I'm late seeing all answers to my question but im seeing all answers. Thanks for telling me this. I had no idea it was automated. Ive already earned coins.

I very much doubt that.

The only games I seem to win, are when my opponents quit. Otherwise, I lose.

winning sems to be random

Now that I know the play dates don't need any user interaction, I just send my pet on a play date and sit back while I wait for it to be over. Winning aginst the other pet that is chosen for your pet to play against seems to be ranom. I've won a few games, lost a few, and had the other pet leave the game.

devs of this should clarify it.

They should say this in description, or somewhere in the app. about those play dates.

I don’t think it’s automated.

The only way to win is if your opponent leaves the game. While I understand this is random, it does not actually mean that your pets beat the other pet.

Will they be more games?

There fun but, there’s nothing too do. I’m already on the gold level and I want more to do. I don’t know what the other pets are? Please tell the dev that the adds are hard to close. When I’m trying to get a treat, I have to close the app, just to get out of the add. Then I’ll lose my treat.Also can they add more treats for a variety, instead of only one choice.

Indeed.

I also found out something strange. While the players are making their moves, there is a slight vibration. I've noticed that if you turn off VoiceOver and tap around on the screen, you can make the vibrations go faster, indicating clearly that we must have some kind of control in the game.

Let's just get some clarification first.

Before we start thinking of new games, let's just get some clarification on whether these games are playable in the first place. As far as ads go, these are often third-party issues and not necessarily controlled by the developer. It's better to just get the ad removal.

Anything to do?

I am on platinum level with all of my pets. Is there anything to do aside from attempting the mini games? It gets kind of boring when all you are able to do or feed water and love

Daily vacations?

To tell you the truth, I use the app and not the widget. From within the app, go to options and there is a place where you can send your pet to certain areas. Can't remember what its called. Other than that, I'm afraid that's about it.

I know what you’re talking about

Yeah, I know exactly what you’re talking about. That is one thing to do, but as the player you don’t seem to get much out of it. Like no points or anything noticeably different with your pet. I really hope they add more actionable things to do

Yeah me too.

As long as the new actions are playable, I'll have no issues.

Is it just me?

When I get three gift boxes to choose from, it seems like no matter which one I choose I always get vaccinations. Anyone else get anything other than vaccinations when clicking on the gifts?

Gift box 2.

Choose 2. Boxes 1 and 3 are always vaccinations. 2 can contain anything from medicine to coins.

I just got a level boost yesterday

How do you activate more gifts?

What if you don't want to create that wigit or whatever yt is?

the subject says it all, so read. I might be interested someday, ... if there's dragons and/or Digimon type things. it sounds as though that's what's going on here, raising a little digital monster ... so cute. anyway, what if you choose not to create the wigit thing, AS A PERSON WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS. I wouldn't be able to see it anyway, so it'd be no use unless VoiceOver could describe it somehow.

Without a widget

Creating a widget is optional, it is still possible to play without it.

Thanks, and it's okay

It's okay for an app with VoiceOver support. however, the videos don't work/close as VO can't see them. withought caring actions, what can be done for your animal? don't have any caring actions right now/used em all up. it's okay for a life sim, though/might be useful for teaching somehow. wish it had sound effects, though/a lot better than that junk on Blindfold Games series of apps.

The adds are not accessible

Hi.
I just downloaded the game yesterday. I used up all my care actions without getting any coins for playing games. I tried to watch the adds videos to get new actions, but I can't continue after the video has finished. Closing and opening the app again does not give the reward for watching the adds, so my only choice was to buy coins with real money.
Are you having success with the adds?