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11/19/2003: New Article: Petster, the Robot Cat!

If you’re waiting for the next parade review, don’t worry, it’s a’comin soon. Had some video/audio synch problems, but we’re on the road to recovery. Hopefully will have two more full reviews by Thanksgiving. Meanwhile, there’s a new article up, about Petster, the robot cat. One of the forgotten gems from the era of Teddy Ruxpin-inspired electronic interactive toys, Petster was sort of like a giant Furby with wheels. Review includes a commercial download and a special lovey-love happy photo album.


Posted by Matt. E-mail me!

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Discussion Thread: 106 comments

Along with Petster,Axlon is also known for AG Bear.An electronic bear that responds to motion and sound.

Ghosted by TBear @ 11/19/2003 7:28 PM EST

Second post, woohoo!

Ahem.
I had one of the Petsters, but damned if I can remember which one. I remember carrying it by the little antenae wire that stuck out of it’s head (or thereabouts). I think it was the puppy (the first one w/ the black eye) or maybe the hamster, b/c that looks familiar, too. Who knows.

Ghosted by trajeal @ 11/19/2003 7:44 PM EST

Third! Highest yet!

I think a robot spider would scare the hell out of a small child. I can only imagine some demented parent torturing his young son with it.

"Either you mow the law, or I’ll come and get ya!"

Ghosted by Evan @ 11/19/2003 7:58 PM EST

I vaguely remember Petster, but another interactive pet I remember more was a talking dog named Wrinkles. Unlike Petster, he was more anthropomorphic and wore clothes. He also came with his own milkbone too. I still remember the commercial for it showing some kids playing with it and saying things to it. Of course, it looked rehearsed. In one part, the owner scolds Wrinkles and it whines, "Was I a bad Wrinkles?" For some strange reason, Wrinkles sounded like Professor Stephen Hawking. I wonder what the product was actually like but I doubt it was like on the commercial. Interactive toys of the 80s like Petster and Wrinkles had the IQ of burnt toast.

Ghosted by Bert Raccoon @ 11/19/2003 7:59 PM EST

does anyone know the name of that camera that would record video on cassete tapes?…and did x-e ever do an article on it?

Ghosted by blucadet3 @ 11/19/2003 8:05 PM EST

Cripes, Matt!

The Petster photo album is probably the greatest thing I’ve ever seen! Maybe it was just the timing, I don’t know. Great job.

And with the whole robots break easily thing, yeah, I had a Teddy Ruxpin (the best toy ever!) and I put it on the picnic table in the backyard and went inside to wake my mom up from her nap. (I was little.) When I got back outside, it was on the ground and its lower jaw had broken off. I was so upset. The key component of any Teddy Ruxpin- gone! So I had to rubber band it back on. I saved up my money and bought another one a little while later, and I just picked up a third this summer. I’m telling you, they’re awesome! (I still wonder how it fell off the table. I swear I put it down correctly, and it wasn’t windy or anything- that would have to be a pretty strong wind, though. Oh well.)

Anyway, I’m really excited for the next parade article. The last one was fantastic.

Ghosted by Rainbowfeet @ 11/19/2003 8:06 PM EST

A robot cat that likes Tetris… interesting , great photo ablum. the cat would make a great transporter of food when your watching TV and don’t want to get up."clap" go get food (cat head to kitchen)

Ghosted by Romo @ 11/19/2003 8:41 PM EST

I Think my older brothers had a petster hamster. But by the time I was old enough to play with it all that was left was half of its hamster-ball thingy. Why the hamster? The spider is much cooler than a damed hamster.

Hey Rainbowfeet, you think you were upset when your Teddy Ruxpin’s jaw broke off? My friend’s Teddy Ruxpin got nocked out of a second story window! None of his external parts broke off, but when we tried to play his tape he sounded like he was channeling Satan. I actually enjoyed it more that way.

Ghosted by Stormshadow @ 11/19/2003 8:43 PM EST

I think that camera that recorded on audio cassettes was called pixle vision. I know it was made by fisher price. My fave robo toy I ever owned was a Bopper it was a toy that danced to music and was made by Worlds of Wonder. Matt did you ever do an article on those?

Ghosted by pikachulover @ 11/19/2003 9:06 PM EST

‘nother great article. nuff said

Ghosted by Scourge @ 11/19/2003 9:14 PM EST

Pika: I haven’t done an article on the Boppers, though I’ve got several commercials for ‘em. There was a Teddy Ruxpin Bopper, several Muppets, and also a series of "Monster Boppers" fashioned after Dracula, Frankenstein and whatnot.

Ghosted by Matt @ 11/19/2003 9:19 PM EST

That was a pretty funny article, especially near the end with the photo gallery. Keep up the obscure toy reviews.

I still have a Teddy Ruxpin somewhere who’s missing half of his face.

Ghosted by Duudmeister @ 11/19/2003 9:31 PM EST

No one I knew ever had Teddy Ruxpin, but my cousin did have a Snoopy who came with the same capabilities. He used to drag that toy and its tapes around everywhere. I think I still have some of the cassettes memorized.

The Petster dog in the pictures is an ugly beast, especially when compared to that big, cute kitty! I loved his interaction with Matt’s real cats. Watching their reactions to Petster must have been a hoot! The photo gallery is hilarious, especially Petster with the real brown-white cat. The look on the real cat’s face is funny –
"Leave us alone, we’re getting to know one another." ; 0 )

Ghosted by starwenn @ 11/19/2003 9:43 PM EST

I remember Petsters. I first started hearing about them when the boom on robot animal toys was in it’s fade-out of the early 90’s though.

I did have one thing though. My parents were into the "build-it-yourself" stuff and I remember one year for Christmas I got this robot mouse craft kit thingy. While the thing was a pain to build and wasn’t nearly as entertaining as the bigname toy company stock, it was still pretty cool. It was made of plexiglass, so you could see all the wires and engines and such on the inside. The whiskers were sensors as well, so if it was heading towards something it would turn away based on which whisker was touching it. Stupid thing still ran headlong into walls.

Ghosted by Third Rate Ninja @ 11/19/2003 9:46 PM EST

Oh geez, Matt. That was the cutest article ever. It has filled with me joy. I also have to agree with Rainbowfeet about the photo album.

Furthermore, Teddy Ruxpins are creepy. I remember you once said it were like, $100 back in its day? A surplus store near my house has been selling it for years for a mere $3. Which reminds me, I gotta go out and get it and some tapes (also sold there). Good times.

Ghosted by Melanie @ 11/19/2003 9:51 PM EST

It knows the batting average of anyone who’s ever played for the Kansas City Royals, who won the World Series in 1985, the year Petster came out.

Now if I could only find a way to connect Mark Gubicza to Kevin Bacon…

Ghosted by Monster Dog @ 11/19/2003 9:57 PM EST

Petster+Real cats= HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAHHA

that article was the funnest since the babystitting comic thingie.

Ghosted by Jared @ 11/19/2003 10:07 PM EST

I didnt relize till i saw the end of the article but i had one of those damn hamsters…..i pretty sure it broke after i let it run around on its own too much and it fell down the stairs….that plastic ball doesnt protect it too well…..

And for blucadet3….i belive the camera that records on audio cassets was called a pixelvision camera…there actually really expensive on ebay…lots of artiists like them…

Ghosted by NeWaVe @ 11/19/2003 10:13 PM EST

Someone please help, my taskbar keeps disappearing because of some X-E ads!

Ghosted by Rob @ 11/19/2003 11:24 PM EST

Theres a Tetris board game??? How did I miss that?

Ghosted by Goggles Pizano @ 11/19/2003 11:26 PM EST

No, it’s not safe to eat your own shit. It contains fecal bacteria such as e.coli which is harmless, and in some cases beneficial, in your intestines but can cause you serious problems anywhere else in your body.

Ghosted by Bill @ 11/19/2003 11:54 PM EST

plz review tetris board gme kthx

Ghosted by Marc @ 11/20/2003 12:20 PM EST

I want a petster hamster!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Maglite flashlight takes 6 d batteries!!

Ghosted by heeloyd @ 11/20/2003 12:44 PM EST

I honestly want that spider..and thats comin from a twenty one year old man for chrisake. That has to be the coolest thing I have ever seen. I mean so many possibilities!

Ghosted by hotdog @ 11/20/2003 12:51 PM EST

Matt, I must say…that article was a beaut :) Now I do love my doggy, but I’LL BE DAMNED if I don’t find a cutie lil’ Pester under my tree on December 25th…even if I have to take matters into my own hands!!! She will be mine…OH YES!!! PESTER WILL BE MINE! :)

Ghosted by *Applesauce* @ 11/20/2003 1:27 AM EST

Matt, I don’t know if you’ve seen this yet, but I think you’ll like this CNN.com article about an entirely undiscovered species of *baleen* whale being discovered off the coast of Japan! It’s 30 feet long and about the size of a motorhome…

Ghosted by Steve Brandon @ 11/20/2003 3:08 AM EST

Hey everybody, the Charlie Brown Special reviewed last week is on this Sunday, the 23rd, at 7pm on ABC.

Ghosted by Y2JB @ 11/20/2003 9:06 AM EST

My GF has a sextoy that takes 6 D batteries.

I’m so lonley…

Ghosted by spazzamatic @ 11/20/2003 9:56 AM EST

You mentioned a Tetris board game, Matt. I should like to hear more about it. Who in Creation thought that this would actually work? (Even if it was based on Tengen’s version instead of Elorg’s (there were some legal issues in the NES days that gave Elorg rights to Tetris, but ask anyone who was around for both games and they’ll tell you Tengen’s was better), which it doesn’t appear to be.)

Ghosted by mtvcdm @ 11/20/2003 10:09 AM EST

one time i tried eating my poo. It was weird.

Ghosted by wack0 @ 11/20/2003 10:52 AM EST

Okay, first off….you see this yet dude?

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20031119/sc_nm/science_whale_dc_1

And 2nd….check it out, I had one of these cats when I was a kid!!!

http://badger.llamaherder.com/Family/babypics/typing.jpg

:D :D

Ghosted by badgerbadger @ 11/20/2003 11:19 AM EST

badger, awesome. I wish I had my kiddy photos on the internet to look through when I thought about toys I used to have…

Ghosted by chad @ 11/20/2003 12:33 PM EST

Y’know, of all the wonders I remember in the good ol’ 80’s, Petster never came up! Maybe I was too young. Maybe I just didn’t understand. Maybe I was just too involved inserting Menudo and Jimi Hendrix tapes into my Teddy Ruxpin. Yeah, probably the last one. I love the photo album! It’s not often I get to go "tee hee" and feel good about. As usual, Matt has opened me up just a little more. Me-owch! Fare thee well!

Ghosted by Armagideon Time @ 11/20/2003 1:09 PM EST

it’s always cool to see something from your childhood that you completely forgot about, but was so important to you then. its like someone found a hidden little jewel that was always there, you just forgot about it. thanks, matt. wow, that just got real serious for a second, haha.

Ghosted by MoonShadow210 @ 11/20/2003 1:43 PM EST

Petster’s cool and all… but I wanna know more about the Tetris boardgame in one of those photos. Has it ever been reviewed here at XE?

Ghosted by jjgoreha @ 11/20/2003 2:32 PM EST

I don’t remember Petster for some reason…maybe I have blocked it. It kind of reminds me of that new remote controlled vacuum/sweeper thing they’re shilling now on tv (only more furry). Teddy Ruxpin always disturbed me for some reason, though not as much as the more recent talking doll thing that looks like a cross between a mutant Teddy Ruxpin and that stupid alien thing Nukie…

Ghosted by Killer Duck @ 11/20/2003 2:34 PM EST

That article was awesome. I want a scary robot cat!

Ghosted by Jay @ 11/20/2003 2:47 PM EST

Jeez, how many cats do you have? (real, not battery operated) :)

Ghosted by Craig @ 11/20/2003 2:51 PM EST

Also, look at what I found:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3157428685&category=19198

Ghosted by Craig @ 11/20/2003 2:55 PM EST

i still have my Teddy Ruxpin in the loft. god that was such a cool toy! Also in my loft among all my other cool toys of the 80’s and 90’s is……

TETRIS THE BOARD GAME!!!!! Made by Tomy bout 1991. this thing was awsome. almost better then the game. no really!

Ghosted by Nick Soapdish @ 11/20/2003 3:31 PM EST

Hahaha, the infamous Tetris board game. I own one, got it off Ebay due to my Tetris craving.

That Robo-Cat is fairly impressive as far as old Robo-Cats go.

Hey Matt, you ever think of doing something on the Micronauts? You mentioned them in your Lords of Light review and I wondered if you’d ever do them.

Ghosted by Ian, Just Ian @ 11/20/2003 4:08 PM EST

I hate it when I have the dream where a cat is biting my hand. It bites hard.

Ghosted by malraxbar @ 11/20/2003 4:17 PM EST

I had a teddy ruxpin and all of the little action figures from it too. I remember teddy was real heavy and could be used as artillery. Don’t want to be around falling teddy’s!! It will knock you out! The mud guys were my favorites. :)

Ghosted by heeloyd @ 11/20/2003 4:39 PM EST

I had a Petster hamster! Chances are, I still do. It was so cute. It had its own little hamster ball to roll around in.

Now they have this re-issue of Go-Go My Walkin’ Pup (I remember this from the mid-90s) and it’s sort of scary. I saw a display of them at Toys R’ Us and screamed.

Do you know what else they have again? Yo-Yo Balls! I even remember the old commercial. Mine was neon green. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the new ones are decorated with great 80’s-looking graphics.

Ghosted by Jess @ 11/20/2003 4:43 PM EST

You have three cats, all named ‘Marla’?

Well, since cats don’t come when you call them and are generally ambivolent to their owners anyway, why not?

Ghosted by Inky @ 11/20/2003 5:57 PM EST

I have only this to say: robot spiders will get the same, if not worse, treatment from me than real spiders. Combining the horrors of arachnids and robots–that’s Pee Wee’s Playhouse kind of scary, and not in a good way.

Ghosted by inkmage @ 11/20/2003 6:44 PM EST

Wow badgerbadger, at first I am amazed that you have proof of ownership so readilly available rather than just the nostalgic waxings of most of us. Then I realize you also have a robot parrot and your own kids typewriter you spoiled little brat!

kidding

kind of

BTW, am I the first to ever be banned from the Blog?

Ghosted by klatubaradanikto @ 11/20/2003 7:56 PM EST

I didn’t have a Petster, but I did have a Teddy Ruxpin and a Mickey Mouse Bopper. Teddy Ruxpin is great when you put a music tape in him.

Ghosted by JG! @ 11/20/2003 8:29 PM EST

Man, I wanted a cat as a kid. No, wait, I had a cat, but she was old and had to live in the laundry room. Then she died and we got a new cat, but THAT cat would just scratch me all day rather than being a good cat. Wish I had a ROBOT cat, ’cause those things are physically incapable of scratching you, and can play outside of the laundry room all day. Or at least until the six million batteries run down.

Ghosted by Paul Ortego @ 11/20/2003 8:53 PM EST

I used to put those "read along with me" tapes in my Teddy Ruxpin. The voices came out all warped, which would probably scare any normal 5-year-old (but then again, I was not exactly a normal 5-year-old!) I also used to put the Teddy Ruxpin tapes in my tape player and I’d get really pissed off when they wouldn’t play!
I’d try and find a Petster, but it would never survive a day in my house, considering my kitten would probably try to eat it.

Ghosted by MRNonCCN @ 11/20/2003 9:35 PM EST

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