Unveiling the IR Connection of Tamagotchi Through Reverse Engineering

Tamagotchi Connection in the Tech Era

The Tamagotchi connection represents a series of toys that have modernized the original concept of a portable pet by introducing a wireless connection, allowing interaction with the pets of other Tamagotchi owners. This wireless connection is achieved using an infrared transceiver, similar to IrDA; however, as discovered by Zach Resmer through the reverse engineering process, it is known as 'Nearly NEC', according to Natalie Silvanovich, who maintains a GitHub repository filled with hacking tools and ROM dumps for Tamagotchi.

Once the protocol was unveiled, creating a low-speed infrared communication transceiver became relatively straightforward. This was implemented using an RP2040 MCU along with appropriate pairs of LEDs and IR receivers. The Tamagometer project was also developed as an application for Flipper Zero and a custom PCB called Pico TamaBadge by Daniel Weidman. In addition, there is a web application associated with Zach’s project utilizing a browser compatible with Web Serial (for example, Chrome). The serial protocol is partially documented in the patent for device connection features, making it relatively easy to implement individually.