Do real cats cross their legs like they're lounging on the couch watching soap operas?
(Credit: Sega Toys)When we first caught sight of Sega Toys' meowing, purring robo-feline, we fervently hoped Lucky the robo-dog or some other bigger, stronger robot would come along and scare the creepy cat out of the neighborhood.
Alas, that's not to be. "Yume-Neko Venus," or "Dream Cat Venus," is slated for a July 30 release, according to Sega (PDF in Japanese). The fake feline will cost 10,000 yen (about $108)--not bad considering you'll be saving a bundle on kitty litter and toy mice.
The battery-operated robo-cat is equipped with five touch sensors that let it engage in real-life behavior like rolling on its back, blinking its eyes, moving its legs when you rub its belly, and sleeping a lot. Sega says the target age is four and above, and/or anyone who likes cats but can't have them due to allergies or co-habitating with animal haters.
The bot, which is modeled after the Norwegian forest cat, measures about 20 inches by 9 inches by 9.5 inches, making it the size of a (smaller) real cat. As far as we can tell, it'll only be available in Japan for now, but if you see a white cat with oddly vacant eyes slinking around your garden anytime soon, you'll know robo-cat went global.
(Thanks as always to my CNET co-worker Takayuki Sakurai for helping me make sense of the Japanese--the language that is, not the people.)
(Credit:
Sega Toys)
Here's something to consider for the next Fourth of July if you're still feeling the recessionary pinch or want to avoid the holiday throngs. Sega Toys' Uchiage Hanabi Fireworks Projector (15,540 yen; $166) brings the pyrotechnics and fiery colors right into your (preferably darkened) living room, complete with sounds but minus the cordite tang.
Powered by four AA batteries good for three hours, the device measures about 7x8x8 inches. I'd take a rain check, though, on customizing my own fireworks by drawing on the special plates, since they'll just come out looking like toxic fallout on the walls.
The Uchiage Hanabi projector comes with five projection lenses plus special plates you can customize.
(Credit: Sega Toys)(Source: Crave Asia via Impress Japan)
A Sega Toys employee pets the new robot cat "Yume-Neko Venus" in Tokyo Wednesday.
(Credit: AFP Photo/Yoshikazu Tsuno)Some will call it cute, others will surely call it creepy. We'll reserve final judgment until we see how it feels when Sega Toys' new "Yume-Neko Venus," or "Dream Cat Venus," sheds on our couch and rubs up against our leg.
The robo-cat is equipped with touch sensors that let it engage in such real-life feline behavior as purring, moving its legs when you rub its belly, and sleeping a lot. It will not, as far as we know, scratch your face or drag mice in.
The furry faux cat (OK, maybe if you're allergic...) is set to hit the market in July, but we're not yet sure for how much. Hopefully by then we will have finally made uneasy peace with the existence of Lucky the robo-dog.
For a better sense of how Dream Cat Venus operates, watch this video of its predecessor, Dream Cat Smile, in action.
I used to be the biggest Sega fan. Starting way back in 1986 from the Sega Master System, all the way to the Dreamcast (yes, I'm that old), I've been a diehard Nintendo/NEC/Sony-hating Sega fanboy. After the Dreamcast, our 16-year relationship ended and now the reason why is painfully clear. The robots have taken over Sega, at least in Japan, and they've enacted their plan for world domination I first alluded to a few weeks back.
(Credit:
Sega Toys)
Be afraid. Be very afraid. "Lucky" is coming, and I don't think he can be stopped. Just check out the video. Lucky is a fluffy little robot dog developed by Sega Toys. He's incredibly cute and obedient (for now at least). Lucky does tricks like handstands; he barks when spoken to; and he is subtlety racist ("herro"? come on!). All the while he is biding his time, I'm sure, until he gets the signal. A switch will go off in his head and we'll all be doomed.
Resistance is indeed futile. I mean, just look at him. How is anyone supposed to resist that? No word yet on when he'll make his debut in the U.S., but I'm sure he has a plan for us as well.
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