It was...fun. You fed the thing, played with it, watched it grow. There was a mini accomplishment in having them survive to adulthood. It was like a plastic, digital pet, but one that was even fun when it pooped or cried. Plus it beeped. I didn't have any computer games or shit like that when I was a kid so it was also really high tech for me, which was also fun. The one I had was a baby, not an animal, and I loved that stupid thing. I was so sad when the battery died and the back had a dodgy screw so I couldn't replace it.