Xbox 360
Cabbage Patch Kids Babies
Furby
New Generation of Intelligent Toys
Leapster L-Max
Roboraptor and Robo Pet
Fisher Price DVD Learning System
FLY by LeapFrog
(NC)-Since its launch in 2001, Xbox
has become a household
entertainment brand, weaving itself
into the pop culture fabric with blockbuster titles like
Halo 2. But where can video games possibly go from there?
Microsoft will answer that question with the Xbox 360, the
next incarnation of the Xbox video game system in stores
this holiday season.
"Xbox 360 is so much more than just
an amazing video game console," said Jason Anderson, Xbox
Canada. "What we are doing here is reaching out to beyond
just gamers, capturing all the activities the whole family
can enjoy."
Xbox 360 will have all the top games
like Perfect Dark Zero, Kameo: Elements of Power and Project
Gotham Racing 3, and will also feature more titles for the
whole family, from parents to kids. Beyond the games
themselves, families will also be able to run the rest of
their home entertainment through the Xbox 360.
With just one component next to their
TV, Xbox 360 owners will be able to easily manage and enjoy
everything from movies, to music, to photos, and even
personal video recorders. The Xbox 360 will also feature a
simple video chat feature for communicating with other users
around the world.
"The Xbox 360 truly puts consumers at
the centre of a revolutionary entertainment experience,"
said Anderson. "We believe Xbox 360 will be the
entertainment product of the decade and the catalyst that
makes Microsoft an entertainment powerhouse in the 21st
century."
- News Canada
Mother Cabbage is expecting again - this time with Cabbage Patch Kids
Babies!
Cabbage Patch dolls were re-released last year. This season,
they introduced Cabbage Patch Kids Babies, such as the one
at right. These adorable dolls come with a kit of baby accessories
(including a diaper), and they smell like baby powder!
Note that you
can order these dolls through Toys R Us (see link directly below
this description) by choosing a general description of the doll,
such as "Blonde Hair Girl, Pink Sweatsuit", but because
each doll is one-of-a-kind, the eyes, hair styles, and faces will
be different than those shown.
[For more information, user
reviews, or to buy: All Cabbage Patch Dolls
at Amazon.com (Toys R Us)]
Sensory Chip Provides Brains for the Next Generation of
Intelligent Toys -- Hasbro's New FURBY Is First
Wednesday September 7, 6:00 am ET
Single RSC-4128 IC from Sensory Controls All Motor, Speech and
Hearing Functions
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 7, 2005--There is a new
wave of interactive toys ready to explode on the marketplace this
fall, and they are arriving just in the nick of time for the holiday
buying season. If it talks, hears and "understands" you, it is
probably using an integrated circuit developed by Sensory, Inc., a
Silicon Valley innovative force with over ten years experience in
designing low-cost speech technologies into consumer electronics.
Featuring highly accurate voice recognition, speech synthesis and
command and control capability, Sensory's RSC-4128 integrated
circuit is being utilized as the main brain unit for a new
generation of low-priced interactive consumer products.
New FURBY Features Single Processor for All Advanced Functions
One of the best selling toys of all time, with 40 million units
sold, is back! Hasbro, Inc.'s (NYSE:HAS - News) Tiger Electronics
division has developed an all-new FURBY creature that has been
engineered with Sensory's RSC-4128 microcontroller providing the
brains necessary for its many advanced new functions. Todd Mozer,
CEO of Sensory notes, "The newly-released FURBY creature uses the
RSC-4128 as a complete single-chip solution providing all hearing,
talking and CPU functions." The new FURBY is larger and uses 6 times
more memory than its predecessor, allowing for complex motor
controls (dancing, expressive eyes and moving ears), multiple
sensors (tilt, tickling, petting and feeding), and advanced
multilingual speech capabilities (talking and hearing). Most
importantly, all of its brains are located on a single chip, which
keeps the cost of a new FURBY under approximately $40 at retail.
Using a technology designed by Hasbro called EMOTO-TRONICS, the
evolved FURBY creature displays many new personality characteristics
that will make it more life-like and globally loved than ever.
"Because of advances in technology, we have been able to make the
new FURBY with many of the features that we had wanted to put in the
original but could not because of cost," said Leif Askeland, Vice
President of Engineering and Technology Development for Hasbro.
"Thanks to Sensory's cutting-edge ICs and speech technologies, the
new FURBY creature can actually listen to what you say and respond
in a very vibrant fashion."
The new FURBY creature "understands" requests to sing a favorite
song, tell jokes, dance and play interactive games. It can also
communicate with children and other FURBY creatures using human
languages, as well as its native "Furbish," making it a uniquely
multilingual product.
Speech Capabilities Made Possible by Sensory's Quick T2SI(TM)
The new FURBY creatures' speech capabilities were developed using
Sensory's Quick Text to Speaker Independent(TM) (Quick T2SI)
recognition technology, which allows vocabularies in multiple
languages to be built for an RSC-4128-enabled product using text
models that can be fine-tuned for a particular dialect, including
invented ones like "Furbish." The command words are referred to as
speaker independent -- they work with any speaker (male, female,
child or adult) in a given language, and they even recognize
different accents, such as the difference between American and
British English. Hasbro's new FURBY creature is currently available
in the U.S. and will be rolling out across the globe throughout the
early fall. In addition to English, versions will be available that
also speak Dutch, German, French, Spanish, Japanese and Italian.
According to Mr. Mozer, "The new Sensory-energized FURBY creatures
promise to set a new standard for realistic, low-cost interactive
toys around the globe."
About Sensory, Inc.
Sensory, Inc., (www.sensoryinc.com) based in Santa Clara, CA, is the
world leader in embedded speech technologies. Sensory is a
profitable private company offering a complete line of IC and
software-only solutions for speech recognition, speech synthesis,
speaker verification, music synthesis and more. The company's
products are widely deployed in consumer electronics applications
including telephones, home automation, toys, remote controls,
automotive, security, and learning aids. Sensory's customers
represent the leaders in consumer electronics, including such
companies as Hasbro, JVC, Kenwood, Mitsubishi, Toshiba, Uniden and
Sony. Additional Sensory offices are located in Portland, Hong Kong,
Tokyo and Vienna.
About Hasbro, Inc.
Hasbro (NYSE:HAS - News) is a worldwide leader in children's and
family leisure time entertainment products and services, including
the design, manufacture and marketing of games and toys ranging from
traditional to high-tech. Both internationally and in the U.S., its
PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER, and
WIZARDS OF THE COAST brands and products provide the highest quality
and most recognizable play experiences in the world.
Two screens are better than one in the new Leapster L-MAX(TM)
learning game system, now available from LeapFrog
Enterprises, Inc. , marks the
company's next entry into the video game arena. By
combining handheld learning and TV screen learning,
Leapster L-MAX learning game system offers the
ultimate in educational video gaming.
"LeapFrog has
always set the standard for personal learning tools,
creating an impressive legacy that we strive to live
up to with every product launch," said Craig
Hendrickson, director of marketing. "The Leapster
L-MAX system is yet another example of our ability to
apply cutting edge technology to a new play pattern
that utilizes a handheld screen and a TV screen to
unlock a deeper level of learning that will thrill and
delight children and their parents."
Raising the Bar on Product Innovation
The new Leapster L-MAX learning game system is the
only educational video game solution that offers
dual-screen technology, activated by special software,
to provide added learning opportunities. As a handheld
system, it supports portable learning for children on
the go. Connect the Leapster L-MAX learning game
system to the TV and the dual-screen functionality
creates a unique, interactive learning experience that
best teaches key school skills for multiple skill
levels.
Standard on LeapFrog(R) products, the Leapster
L-MAX learning game system uses a stylus to help
children better master early handwriting skills. It is
the only video game system that also uses a touch
screen to support different modes of game play.
In-Depth Tutorials Offer Better Way to Teach Key
Concepts
The Leapster L-MAX system features the richest
educational content available in a learning game
system. Rather than designing games that assume
children understand certain reading or math concepts,
Leapster L-MAX learning game system supports children
in their individual learning process. By providing the
best in-depth tutorials and a supporting hint
structure to guide the learning, players may seek
step-by-step assistance through reading, math or
spelling concepts. This type of guided practice not
only helps them learn as they play, but inspires
confidence in mastering important skills from
preschool to fourth grade.
Extensive Software Library Offers Range of Games
A software library designed to work specifically
with the Leapster L-MAX learning game system is
immediately available for multiple skill levels, and
additional titles that go up to fourth grade will
follow. The platform will also be compatible with the
entire Leapster learning game library of more than 20
software titles to support handheld learning.
Pricing and Availability
The Leapster L-MAX learning game system and new
software titles are available immediately in retail
stores, including Wal-Mart, Target, and Toys R Us. It
has a suggested retail price of $99.99 and the new
software titles retail for $29.99 each. Compatible
Leapster learning game system titles retail for
$24.99.
For more information, user reviews, and to buy: Leapster L-Max
New from the makers of Robosapien
Wow Wee, the makers of last year's hit Robosapien, have released
Robraptor--a toy with artificial intelligence. The raptor features
three different modes (or moods!): Hunter, Cautious, and Playful.
Speaking of moods, this toy is designed to be moody, performs
bi-pedal walking motions, and works with a remote control.
Also forthcoming from Wow Wee is Robo Pet, a canine bot that
walks, jumps, sits, and gets up after falling over. Color
recognition and multiple function sound and vision system are
featured. This pet has mood swings!
New this season is
Read with Me DVD learning system by Fisher Price designed for
children ages 3 to 7. Story comprehension, vocabulary, and word
awareness skills are built as kids play. A wireless controller
allows children to interact with the stories onscreen (they press
the page forward or page backward buttons, press shapes to answer
multiple choice questions, push the pause button to temporarily stop
the action, and so forth). A Read With Me
book is included in the package, and more add-on books are available
separately. The stories are read aloud and kids answer questions
that test their listening and reading comprehension skills.
Scholastic is associated with the unit as well, and some of
children's beloved stories are available as add-ons.
This fall, LeapFrog launches
an innovative computing platform -- the FLY(TM) pentop computer.
This new
technology platform is designed to bring computer interactivity to
the most
prolific and easiest-to-use interface of all -- pen and paper.
The
FLY pentop
computer is the first consumer electronics device to give users
real-time
audio feedback as they write and draw on special FLY paper, making
what you
write, really work.
A user of the FLY platform will be able to write on a piece
of paper and
then interact with the writing directly on the paper.
For
instance, a FLY pentop computer user can draw a calculator, touch the handwritten
digits and
functions to perform an operation -- then hear the answer announced
from the
FLY platform. A user also can write a word in English and hear
it translated
into Spanish, or draw a piano keyboard and play it.
At the core of the product are a variety of state-of-the-art
technologies
including optical scanning technology licensed from Anoto, a widely
acclaimed
industry leader in digital pen technology.
"The introduction of the FLY pentop computer is an important
milestone for
LeapFrog as we strategically extend our successful learning products
line into
new markets, new technologies, and to broader audiences," explained
LeapFrog
President Jerry Perez. "The FLY pentop computer strongly positions
us to
establish and grow a completely new market segment with broad
potential for
core FLY products and a tremendous range of application
opportunities for both
LeapFrog and for companies that will support this new platform."
"The FLY platform heralds the birth of a new industry market
--
paper-based computing. With 'intelligent' technology, the FLY pentop
computer
will assist people of all ages in the mastery of core academic
subjects and
provide a new genre of entertainment," said Jim Marggraff, the
father of the
LeapPad(R) learning system, the visionary behind the FLY pentop
computer and
LeapFrog's Executive Vice President of Worldwide Content.
Cool Tween Applications
With the FLY pentop computer, LeapFrog applies its deep roots
in
technology-based learning products to a range of innovative
applications
created for tweens to learn, communicate, and game. These
paper/software
applications make it cool, convenient and fun for tweens to get
homework help
in math or spelling, translate words into other languages, play
baseball with
interactive collectible playing cards, write in their journals,
interactively
master key concepts from school textbooks, compose music, and much
more.
"We've created an intuitive user interface that provides
instant
navigation, from a blank piece of paper to a user's desired
application. Our
initial set of tween learning tools and games are designed to
alleviate
critical educational pain points for tweens, and to provide easy
access to
information and entertainment in synch with a tweens' lifestyle,"
added
Marggraff.
Development of the FLY pentop computer was enhanced by a
group of 50
tweens, aged 8 to 13, known as the Quantum X Team. These "kid
developers"
worked on a regular basis over the past year with LeapFrog product
designers
to provide input on the FLY platform and its applications.
Product Information and Availability
The FLY pentop computer will be available in Fall 2005 in the
consumer
electronics section of select retailers nationwide. The suggested
retail price
for the FLY pentop computer is expected to be approximately $99 and
the suggested retail prices for applications are expected to range
from $7.99 - $29.99.
Remember
Littlest Pet Shop? They're back! This next
generation series of Littlest Pet Shop toys is actually
quite different than you may remember them—the pets are
bigger, for one, and they look a little funkier. Kids love toy pets, and
they adore teeny-weeny toys, too. Although not as teeny as
they used to be, Littlest Pet Shop sets will have
strong appeal with kids approximately 4-8 years old. The
smaller sets include two adorable pets and little
accessories. The larger sets are playsets.
These miniature pets contain little magnets and feature
bobbling heads. Their paws have tiny magnets inside that,
when placed on special areas on an accessory, allow them to
"do" something, such as open the lid of a food
dish or a jewelry box. Accessories include such things as a
tiny hairbrush or cool sunglasses. They're unquestionably cute,
comparatively inexpensive, and kids love
them.
A blast from
the past! The original Cabbage Patch doll frenzy occurred in the
early 1980's. Many parents of today's children took part in the
thrill of the dolls: each doll is entirely unique and comes with
adoption papers that include a name and a birthdate. Kids loved
them then, and they love them today. Many parents will be happy to
know that today's Cabbage Patch dolls have not been
"updated" with technology or anything of the sort.
Note that you
can order these dolls through Toys R Us (see link directly below
this description) by choosing a general description of the doll,
such as "Blonde Hair Girl, Pink Sweatsuit", but because
each doll is one-of-a-kind, the eyes, hair styles, and faces will
be different than those shown.
[For more information, user
reviews, or to buy: All Cabbage Patch Dolls
at Amazon.com (Toys R Us)]
Tamagotchi Connection
Tamagotchi
virtual pets are back with all-new features. This new breed
of Tamagotchi pets features infrared technology that allows
them to communicate with up to 50 other Tamagotchi. There is
a Lights Off feature that should help minimize the stress
that the old Tamagotchi caused some children. Kids still
need to feed, clean up after, play with, and discipline
their virtual pets in order to keep them alive and well. Why
didn't we recommend this toy in our gift guides? Our gift
guides feature our most recommended toys. Tamagotchi
Connection didn't make it simply because we still find the
toy stresses children out, especially younger kids. Of
course, every child is different and responds to this type
of toy in unique ways. However, we found that the care
required to keep Tamagotchi thriving is a little too
challenging, and many kids, especially sensitive ones, don't
need that kind of stress to keep a pet "alive".
December
2004: VideoNow Color Named Best Toy of 2004
Already
topping the leading national 'what's hot' lists predicting
the holiday season's 'must haves' Hasbro, Inc.'s VIDEONOW
COLOR was named 'Best Toy of 2004' in
early December during the first annual Ultimate Toy Awards
Show, a nationally televised special presented by Toy Wishes
Magazine. Voted on by consumers and the American toy press,
The Ultimate Toy Awards celebrate play, family entertainment
and the toy industry.
"VIDEONOW COLOR has
raised the bar in the world of electronic entertainment for
kids," said Jim Silver, editor-in-chief of Toy Wishes
Magazine. "It truly deserves this year's top
honors."
"We are thrilled that
both consumers and the media have voted VIDEONOW COLOR as
the best toy of the year," said Brian Goldner,
president of Hasbro's U.S. Toys group. "Hasbro
established a leadership position in this important category
beginning in 2003, and we are very pleased that our
consumers continue to look to VIDEONOW for a great 'anytime,
anywhere' experience. A key part of our success is the
synergistic relationships we have with our valued content
partners and top celebrities such as Nickelodeon, Discovery,
NBC, CBS, ABC, Hilary Duff and Raven."
In addition to securing the
top spot as "Best Toy of 2004" VIDEONOW COLOR also
brought home the 'Ultimate Electronic Entertainment Toy of
2004' award.
Scene
It? Jr. won a toy award in the Best Puzzles & Games
category in NBC's Ultimate Toy Awards Show. "Scene It?(TM)
Jr. represents a new generation of board games," said Jim
Silver, editor-in-chief of Toy Wishes magazine. "The game
embraces the growth of DVD technology, which adds a new level
of fun and excitement to kids' board game play." Scene
It?(TM) Jr. is the first-ever DVD-based board game for
youngsters that combines an interactive board game with the
visual excitement of the fast-growing DVD technology. Targeted
to today's 'tweens, kids can gather together to share their
memory, logic and pop culture knowledge as they move frame to
frame along the film reels of the game board, challenging
other players or racing the clock. Many of the questions are
based on observation, so players of all ages can participate
in the fun. Scene It?(TM) Jr. along with the Disney Scene It?
(TM) DVD Game were introductions this year into the successful
Scene It? (TM) portfolio of games.
Fans
of My Little Pony will be pleased to hear that the property
has returned as a popular brand with little girls, and new
products are being released this year.
Since last fall, more than
four million ponies and over three million books featuring
the pastel ponies have reached the U.S. marketplace alone.
This year, there is even more to look forward to as the My
Little Pony brand celebrates a new theme - FRIENDSHIP BALL.
Little girls will enjoy these new pony adventures with an
in-pack video being distributed worldwide. The MY LITTLE
PONY story will also be told through the successful and
growing publishing program. This year, Simon & Schuster,
Hemma, The Five Mile Press and Egmont Books will work with
Hasbro Properties Group to bring publishing to multiple
countries and more than double the number of titles
released.
Additional licensees for
the brand in 2004 include Atari, Cohen & Wilks, American
Greetings, pending contract, and Fruit of the Loom, to name
a few. In spring 2005, look for a promotion with a major
restaurant chain.
On the Horizon:
My Little Pony was
released on software some years ago, but the CD-ROM was
discontinued. In January 2005, Atari will release My
Little Pony Pack, which is now available for pre-order here:
My Little Pony Play Pack.
MY LITTLE PONY TWINKLE
TWIRL’s DANCE STUDIO is a playset by Hasbro due out in
Fall 2004. All the ponies are practicing their dance moves
in preparation for the Friendship Ball at TWINKLE TWIRL’s
DANCE STUDIO. Twinkle Twirl is included and spins to music
and lights on the playset’s rotating dance floor! Ages
3-up.
"Xbox 360 is so much more than just
an amazing video game console," said Jason Anderson, Xbox
Canada. "What we are doing here is reaching out to beyond
just gamers, capturing all the activities the whole family
can enjoy." 
Cabbage Patch dolls were re-released last year. This season,
they introduced Cabbage Patch Kids Babies, such as the one
at right. These adorable dolls come with a kit of baby accessories
(including a diaper), and they smell like baby powder!
One of the best selling toys of all time, with 40 million units
sold, is back! Hasbro, Inc.'s (NYSE:HAS - News) Tiger Electronics
division has developed an all-new FURBY creature that has been
engineered with Sensory's RSC-4128 microcontroller providing the
brains necessary for its many advanced new functions. Todd Mozer,
CEO of Sensory notes, "The newly-released FURBY creature uses the
RSC-4128 as a complete single-chip solution providing all hearing,
talking and CPU functions." The new FURBY is larger and uses 6 times
more memory than its predecessor, allowing for complex motor
controls (dancing, expressive eyes and moving ears), multiple
sensors (tilt, tickling, petting and feeding), and advanced
multilingual speech capabilities (talking and hearing). Most
importantly, all of its brains are located on a single chip, which
keeps the cost of a new FURBY under approximately $40 at retail. 
Two screens are better than one in the new Leapster L-MAX(TM)
learning game system, now available from LeapFrog
Enterprises, Inc. , marks the
company's next entry into the video game arena. By
combining handheld learning and TV screen learning,
Leapster L-MAX learning game system offers the
ultimate in educational video gaming.
Playful.
Speaking of moods, this toy is designed to be moody, performs
bi-pedal walking motions, and works with a remote control.
New this season is
Read with Me DVD learning system by Fisher Price designed for
children ages 3 to 7. Story comprehension, vocabulary, and word
awareness skills are built as kids play. A wireless controller
allows children to interact with the stories onscreen (they press
the page forward or page backward buttons, press shapes to answer
multiple choice questions, push the pause button to temporarily stop
the action, and so forth). A Read With Me
book is included in the package, and more add-on books are available
separately. The stories are read aloud and kids answer questions
that test their listening and reading comprehension skills.
Scholastic is associated with the unit as well, and some of
children's beloved stories are available as add-ons.
This fall, LeapFrog launches
an innovative computing platform -- the FLY(TM) pentop computer.
This new
technology platform is designed to bring computer interactivity to
the most
prolific and easiest-to-use interface of all -- pen and paper. 
A blast from
the past! The original Cabbage Patch doll frenzy occurred in the
early 1980's. Many parents of today's children took part in the
thrill of the dolls: each doll is entirely unique and comes with
adoption papers that include a name and a birthdate. Kids loved
them then, and they love them today. Many parents will be happy to
know that today's Cabbage Patch dolls have not been
"updated" with technology or anything of the sort. 
