An electronic pet having reality by various machines is implemented. An IC
card stores a matter to be renewed in accordance with an action when an
electronic pet takes the action on the basis of an internal status
parameter which contains the feeling of the electronic pet and represents
the internal status thereof, and it is detachably mounted in a device
functioning as the body of the electronic pet. A virtual pet device
functions as the body of the electronic pet and performs processing to
display the electronic pet, and it has a slot in which the IC card is
detachably mounted. A pet type robot functions as the body of the
electronic pet, and it has a slot in which the IC card is detachably
mounted.