Posted in Robotic Pets on Jul 25th, 2007
Business Design Laboratory, NEC System Technologies, and Futuba Industrial Company collaborated in development of Hello Kitty ROBO released November 1st, 2004 to celebrate the Sanrio character’s 30th birthday. It sits about 52 cm tall, has a moving head and arms, its eyes are video cameras that can recognize different human faces (up to ten different […]
Posted in Business, Dolls, Virtual Communities on Jul 24th, 2007
A 23 July 2007 article in the Wall Street Journal titled, Online Popularity Contest Next in Barbie-Bratz Brawl, reports MGA will be releasing their own online social networking site, Be-Bratz, on August 1st. MGA’s Bratz has been gaining ground on Mattel’s Barbie the last several years, but Mattel’s new online world, Barbie Girls, has been […]
CScout Japan reported on 30 June 2007 they saw Sega Toys’ new Private Ocean at the Tokyo Toy Show. Somewhat similar to Ant’s Life Studio, but it has over 100 different ocean creatures. Private Ocean becomes your own private ocean. You can change the background and the screen is backlit if different colors. It includes […]
Posted in Uncategorized on Jul 24th, 2007
In 2006 Bandai released Ant’s Life Studio, a small desktop virtual ant farm, reminiscent of the famous Uncle Milton’s Ant Farms from years ago when you used to buy them in the store and mail in a coupon to have the ants sent to you. Except this version has virtual ants and you care for […]
Posted in Plush Pets, Therapy Pets on Jul 22nd, 2007
Tomy has a therapeutic pet for those with health or medical difficulties called Healing Partner Dacky. He has several sensors and can talk to his owner in Japanese.
Posted in Instructional, People on Jul 21st, 2007
Frepar Networks in Japan will be releasing an interactive 3D display called a “POD” in which a virtual person can “read” newsfeeds and other content to the user. You can actually engage in a discussion with the character using the SAMURAIPHONE. Plus the virtual person responds to touch and you can even blow on them […]
Posted in Robotic Pets on Jul 21st, 2007
Bandai will shortly be releasing five little see through, walking virtual insects called Hex Bug. Bandai refers to them as Micro Robotic Creatures. Hex Bugs recognize when their feeler antennae hit something and turn away from the obstruction. Plus if you clap your hands, they will change direction. They name them by color. Charley is […]
Posted in People on Jul 20th, 2007
While some are pushing virtual pets toward the “Uncanny Valley” where they seem so real they become eirie and people back away from them, Bandai took the opposite tack with its Cube World released in late 2005. Little stick people repesented by only a few pixels live, work and play in each cube. Once connected […]
Posted in Musical on Jul 18th, 2007
Konami showed Otoizm at the Tokyo Toy Forum, then released it in June 2006 . This pet needs to be fed music. You basically wire it in series with your MP3 Player and the pet grows according to what kind of music you feed it (it classifies music into 19 types). The entire system is […]
Posted in Business, Dolls, People, Virtual Communities on Jul 17th, 2007
Launched with a press release back on 26 April 2007, Mattel’s Barbie Girls is taking the world by storm. Girls can create their own character, design a room, shop, play games, listen to music and communicate with other girls. Although Barbie is facing tough competition from Bratz in the stores, she’s winning strong online. In […]
