After bringing the likes of Pokemon and the NBA to augmented reality--and with names like Marvel and Monster Hunter on the way--Niantic is now entering the world of virtual pets. Peridot, Niantic's first new IP since its first-ever game Ingress, is available to download now.

　　Peridot lets players create their own unique creatures called Peridots--or "Dots" for short--with each creature being unique to the player who creates it. Simple touch controls will let you pet your Dot, play fetch with it, feed it, and teach it tricks as it grows, while clothing and other customization options can give a Dot its own unique style.

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　　The game uses a "Perigenetics" system to create procedurally generated creatures with "100% unique DNA," and according to Niantic, there are "2.3 x 10^24" different possibilities. As more Dots are created, players will discover unique Archetypes, which include some that resemble both real-world animals and mythical creatures.

　　Peridot also marks Niantic's first-ever game to operate entirely in augmented reality via its new Lightship technology. This will allow your Dot to recognize objects in the room and interact with them, for example, a Dot might climb up on a couch or chair and fall asleep. The tech can also recognize terrain like dirt, sand, or concrete, which will allow the Dot to find unique items within each one.

　　Peridot is available to download now for free on both iOS and Android devices.

　　Jason Fanelli on Google+