Brendan Main has killed thousands of faceless enemies during his videogame career. But the one he remembers most wasn't an enemy at all. Main ponders the meaning behind his propensity for virtual goat-slaying.

How do you make sure your pet Pikachu gets enough exercise when you can barely move yourself? Simple: Get the whole household involved. Brendan Sears and his family learn that it takes a village to raise a Pokémon.

Perhaps no character in the Fallout universe is as beloved by players as Dogmeat, the canine companion to every Lone Wanderer to leave (or be thrown out of) his vault. Michael Fiegel interviews members of the original Fallout development team about how the loveable mutt came into being.

Plenty of pet simulators let players train and play with a virtual companion, but they rarely attempt to portray the deep bond that can form between people and their pets. Austin Price looks at one of the few that does: Squaresoft's Secret of Evermore.