X-Entertainment.com X-Entertainment.com A Proud UGO Affiliate
My dying wish is for an owl/camel hybrid, which I call camowl.
« [Main Index] »

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 on 11/19/2003. E-mail me!



Discussion Thread: 112 comments
1 2 3 … 5

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

Chestnuts roasted by TBear @ 11/19/2003 7:28 PM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by trajeal @ 11/19/2003 7:44 PM

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!"

Chestnuts roasted by Evan @ 11/19/2003 7:58 PM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by Bert Raccoon @ 11/19/2003 7:59 PM

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?

Chestnuts roasted by blucadet3 @ 11/19/2003 8:05 PM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by Rainbowfeet @ 11/19/2003 8:06 PM

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)

Chestnuts roasted by Romo @ 11/19/2003 8:41 PM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by Stormshadow @ 11/19/2003 8:43 PM

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?

Chestnuts roasted by pikachulover @ 11/19/2003 9:06 PM

‘nother great article. nuff said

Chestnuts roasted by Scourge @ 11/19/2003 9:14 PM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 11/19/2003 9:19 PM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by Duudmeister @ 11/19/2003 9:31 PM

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 )

Chestnuts roasted by starwenn @ 11/19/2003 9:43 PM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by Third Rate Ninja @ 11/19/2003 9:46 PM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by Melanie @ 11/19/2003 9:51 PM

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…

Chestnuts roasted by Monster Dog @ 11/19/2003 9:57 PM

Petster+Real cats= HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAHHA

that article was the funnest since the babystitting comic thingie.

Chestnuts roasted by Jared @ 11/19/2003 10:07 PM

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…

Chestnuts roasted by NeWaVe @ 11/19/2003 10:13 PM

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

Chestnuts roasted by Rob @ 11/19/2003 11:24 PM

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

Chestnuts roasted by Goggles Pizano @ 11/19/2003 11:26 PM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by Bill @ 11/19/2003 11:54 PM

plz review tetris board gme kthx

Chestnuts roasted by Marc @ 11/20/2003 12:20 PM

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

My Maglite flashlight takes 6 d batteries!!

Chestnuts roasted by heeloyd @ 11/20/2003 12:44 PM

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!

Chestnuts roasted by hotdog @ 11/20/2003 12:51 PM

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! :)

Chestnuts roasted by *Applesauce* @ 11/20/2003 1:27 AM

1 2 3 … 5

Add A New Comment!


This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 19th, 2003 at 7:07 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.