Toys That Connect With TVs

from the why-now? dept

It seems like an odd time for "new toy" stories to be coming out. They usually appear as we swing into the holiday season, not two months later. Anyway, it seems that despite years and years of failed attempts at making toys that interact with TV (Microsoft's Barney doll...), companies are at it again, but this time, they think kids will really want toys that interact with the TV. Of course, this faces the same problem that has come up every time people think up this idea. Most people watch TV. They consume it. They don't interact with it, and adding a toy in the middle doesn't necessarily improve things. Of course, there is an element of getting kids to read/sing/clap along with a TV, but it's not clear if the toy really enhances that process. Meanwhile, it seems like many kids are less interested in TV and more interested in the internet. Of course, it won't be long before we have toys that interact with the internet as well (I'm sure some are already out there).
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  1. identicon
    Andrew Klossner, 18 Feb 2004 @ 5:21pm

    Timing is correct

    This is, in fact, the time of year that strategic toy news is announced. This is the week of the American International Toy Fair in New York, the biggest trade show of the year.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  2. identicon
    MLO, 19 Feb 2004 @ 7:00am

    They'll Steal Your Soul!!!

    Apparently whomever had this idea was NOT watching the Angel episode last night.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  3. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 19 Feb 2004 @ 8:31am

    Re: They'll Steal Your Soul!!!

    *L* That was a great episode.

    Anyway - remember Captain Power? The toys would flash at the TV during certain scenes...guess it worked for a while, but I think it was novelty factor only.

    I agree, there's a lot of confusion between the mediums.



    link to this | view in thread ]

  4. identicon
    Joe Schmoe, 19 Feb 2004 @ 10:41am

    No Subject Given

    I read about this a couple of days ago and got the biggest kick out of seeing the name of the system, "VEIL". Re-arrange the leters. Bahahaha

    link to this | view in thread ]


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