Released in 1996 by Creature Labs (formerly CyberLife Technology),
Released in 1996 by and created by computer scientist Steve Grand , Creatures was a landmark title that redefined the "virtual pet" genre. Far more complex than a simple Tamagotchi, it was one of the first popular applications of artificial life (A-life) and machine learning in an interactive simulation. The World of Albia and the Norns
While the original 1996 retail release used a unique "Egg Disk" system where hatching an egg permanently erased it from the diskette, modern digital versions have removed this restriction. Reddit·Alan Zucconi