Bill, known as Sam (サム Samu) in Japan, is a special adult character introduced on the global release of the original Tamagotchi.
Name Origin[]
The US name "Bill" was coined due to the character sprite's similarity in appearance to former US President Bill Clinton (despite the character not being directly based on him). This visual similarity is later played out in Bill's personality traits in early American Tamagotchi media.
In Japan, Bill's official name is Sam (サム), which is a reference to "Uncle Sam", a personification of the United States. Prior to his official name being revealed, he was colloquially known as Gaijintchi (外人っち), with "gaijin" means "foreigner" or "outsider".
Appearance[]
Bill has had varying appearances, though he remains to be a large head with legs. In his original Japanese artwork, he was portrayed with a large, stereotypical American head with blond hair, wearing jeans and brown shoes, with large arms in his back pockets, and blue eyes. This appearance was carried over when he reappeared in modern Tamagotchi releases, with the exception of his shoes; his original artwork had brown shoes, but he has blue feet in the updated artwork.
In his American portrayal in 1997, his head had much less detail and had brown hair and stick legs, much like Oyajitchi. On the Tamagotchi CD-ROM and in Tamagotchi Video Adventures, he also has stick arms and is tinted a bit more pinkish.
On the Tamagotchi L.i.f.e. app, he can also be pink, or orange with blue hair.
Personality[]
Due to his secretive nature, Bill's personality remains shrouded in mystery. However, he is shown to have a love for jazz music and pop music and enjoy playing his saxophone. The Tamagotchi CD-ROM depicts him with a somewhat formal manner of speech, a desire to maintain a presidential role back on his homeworld and an almost obsessive love for spaghetti and bubblegum.
On Virtual Pets[]
Tamagotchi (Generation 1)[]
Bill is a secret character on the international version, replacing Oyajitchi. The user must first raise a Maskutchi from a Tamatchi that started with 0% Discipline. From there, the user must provide good to perfect care, with no care mistakes. Maskutchi will evolve into Bill around the age of 10. If the Discipline meter is not entirely filled at the time of evolution, it will fill to 100% immediately upon evolving. Bill wakes at 9 AM, sleeps at 10 PM, and has a base weight of 30. Like Mametchi, it has a longer life span than other adults.
On the 2018 English replica, any Maskutchi raised from any method may evolve into Bill by the age of 18 if good care is maintained and the Discipline meter is filled.
Tamagotchi Connection Version 3[]
Bill appears as a standard adult, evolving in even-numbered generations with average care. Its favorite food is beef, and it dislikes grapes.
Tamagotchi Music Star[]
When a Tamagotchi band auditions for their professional debut, Bill appears as a judge. Here, he wears big sunglasses. He is somewhat easy to please and will award the band an "O" or an "X" depending on the player's Tamagotchi's status; this involves hunger, happiness and stress levels, as well as the amount of time spent practicing at home. Praising it when it practices will increase the chance of the band getting an "O" from Bill.
Tamagotchi Mini[]
Bill appears on the 20th Anniversary edition, evolving from Mametchi with perfect care and will pass away (or depart to Tamagotchi Planet) after 7 more days. On the 20th Anniversary version, a glitch exists where instead of the death sequence lasting one minute like normal, it lasts one hour, with the beeping stopping after the first minute. The death sequence operates normally with the standard adults. This technicality is shared with Oyajitchi.
In Video Games[]
Tamagotchi (Game Boy)[]
In the Japanese version, Bill can evolve from Oyajitchi or Sekitoritchi but first, the player must have a Tamagotchi recorded in the Hall of Fame (raise any Tamagotchi and have it win all three tournaments, wherein it enters the Hall of Fame upon its Death). Once this is complete, Bill will be unlocked. In the English version, Bill simply replaces both Oyajitchi and Sekitoritchi as the special evolution, and entering a Tamagotchi into the Hall of Fame unlocks nothing. The sprite for Bill is different between the two regions.
Tamagotchi CD-ROM[]
Bill again appears as a Special Adult, and evolves from type two Maskutchi after about 82 hours. Like in Tamagotchi Video Adventures, he is shown with arms and is more of a pinkish color. As with the original Tamagotchi, it has a base weight of 30lb, goes to sleep at 10pm and wakes up at 9am. The discipline meter will fill out to 100% if it had not already done so, and Bill will not make any discipline calls. While still tied with Zatchi as the longest-lived character, Bill has a maximum lifespan of 21-22 days instead of 24-25 - apart from the first of its natural sicknesses occuring rather early on, its heart loss rates will remain relatively stable up until age 19 and gradually decrease to once every twenty minutes or so, but will suddenly drop to once every two minutes during the final six hours.
| Postcard messages |
|---|
| Went home |
| "Congratulations. You've raised a special and handsome pet, me, Bill. Thanks for all the spaghetti. We can't eat it on my planet. Maybe that's the first thing I'll do after I become president of Planet Tamagotchi: pass a spaghetti law!" |
| "Ask not what your Tamagotchi can do for you, but what you can do for your Tamagotchi. Right now you can send a Univeral Express package full of bubble gum to me care of the Flight House, Tamagotchi Planet. Please hurry, I have a craving!" |
| "With great humility, I give up my post. It has been my pleasure to serve as your pet for this short term of office. I look forward to relaxing on my home planet, playing zero-gravity golf, and fly-fishing for Red Giants in the Galactic Slipstream." |
| "I'm not very good at giving speeches, but I would just like to say blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. And I mean that from the bottom of my heart." |
| "Earthlings say I look familiar to them. I must remind them of a certain Earth celebrity with straight teeth, fabulous hair and a Southern accent. Just as well then that I have returned to my home planet. I don't like messy situations." |
| Sent home |
| "I categorically deny any involvement in the unfortunate affair with your BIOS chips last month. I was no where near your RAM when it occurred. If you have any further questions, please hold them until the millennium." |
| "I hope you will consider me a strong candidate to become your pet once more. As a Tamagotchi raised in the heartland, I share your dreams and will work to pass the "Free Bubble Gum on Fridays to People Named Bill" law in your neighborhood. " |
| "I think I speak for the Tamagotchi people when I say how much we have enjoyed meeting your people, kissing your babies, and riding on the backs of your trains. I hope to live in a huge white Earth house rent free some day." |
Hoshi de Hakken!! Tamagotchi[]
While Bill is not a raisable character in the game, he appears randomly as a selectable relay race partner.
In Animation[]
Tamagotchi Video Adventures[]
Bill appears similar to his PC form. His original contribution to the museum is a "Stinkulator" from the planet "Galeconic", the "farthest planet in the Kruton system (for good reason)". During the expedition to Earth, he is paired up with Nyorotchi. The two bring a tape player back to the planet, which pleases Cosmotchi.
Tamagotchi TV[]
Bill has appeared throughout several official YouTube videos teaching English letters and words.
On Websites[]
Tamatown's "Tama Island"[]
Bill was the host of the V3's "Tama Island", where users could vote for their favorite characters.
Music City[]
Bill appears at the Concert Hall as a judge during band performances in the Music City website.
Gallery[]
Artwork[]
Anime[]
Trading Cards[]
Sprites[]
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Trivia[]
- Bill's similarity to former US president Bill Clinton is played out in the Tamagotchi CD-ROM and Tamagotchi Video Adventures, where his voice closely resembles that of Clinton's and he is shown playing the saxophone.
- More references are made in the song "What's a Tamagotchi?" where Bill is shown in front of a US flag and the lyrics state he is running for office. The lyrics then add "Just don't tell him where the staff is" referencing the controversy that had occurred during the president's run. Similarly, one of his postcards on the CD-ROM mentions a relationship scandal involving the computer's BIOS.