No need to shy away from the truth. You are either allergic to fur, do not have the proper facilities to take care of a pet or are simply not allowed to own one. You feel devastated when you see your best friend happily conducting a marathon with his dog, but not anymore! The explosive hope to capture the heart of timid children and pet loving people that faded in the blink of an eye after 1998 is back again with bigger, brighter and better features. Please scratch the ears of the new Furby family: Voodoo, Phoenix, Black Magic, Sprite, Yeti and Taboo!
Many of us might recall the pastel coloured furry models that sported floppy ears and fluffy tails with eyes that would rotate like those of dolls. Those memories are not forgotten in the new and intensely vivacious coloured Furby that is ready for adoption.
Simple alterations like replacing the plain fur with a more visually realistic, wavy hair and creating the ears from a material similar to latex for easier motion, inserted a breath of fresh air into the toy. Now Furby appears livelier than ever with its jiggling ears and blinking LED eyes.
Communication between the user and Furby is made possible by the sensors located in between the eyes, tummy, tail and ears. The most striking feature is the dramatic eyes that reflect their current mood. Puppy eyes, beady eyes, evil eyes, happy eyes, you name it, Furby shows it!
Like any real pet, their personality depends on how they are treated. Shower them with cuddles and they will turn out to be the best pet ever. Act rashly by overfeeding or ignoring them and the devil side will arise to the surface, which to warn you, is not a delightful experience.
The ever so energetic children are the real daredevils who are usually caught trying to pull the cat’s tail or turn the fish upside down. Parents are always concerned about the safety of their poor pets. Now they can take a guilt free break while the curious offspring spend time with Furby. Flash light in their eyes, tickle the ears and tummy, pat their back and give loop the loops; for every action, Furby responds with an unexpected reaction.
Place them in a group with other Furbies and enjoy their amusing interaction. Let us not forget their newfound love: music. Play Gangnam style and see how your Furby dances with joy.
The cutest moment is witnessing them during their uninterrupted sleep. Starvation is a no-no. You can feed them by eitherpressing their tongue with your finger or using their application and browsing through the scrumptious menu.
Remove the thought of precious time being wasted if your child plays too much with Furby. Younger children can learn and teach Furby their own native language. Even though Furbies speak Furbish, they can learn any language with more time spent, so children can be benefitted while playing. Apps are available to translate Furbish and one can skim through the dictionary available on the official website. This way everyone can understand what these cute creatures are saying. Overall, children can polish their language skills and learn the pros and cons of different behaviors when moulding their Furby’s personality.
Who does not like to mix match items and play with creativity? Fashionistas are in for a treat with the latest arrival of funky Furby accessories in the form of bags, sunglasses, stickers, bean bags, carrier bags, T-shirts and much more.
Hasbro also launched a Party Rockers Edition exclusively for 2013. These models are comparatively smaller than the original Furby and have limited sensors and features, but they get wild as they are rocked harder! The new members of this line are Twitby, Fussby, Scoofby and Loveby.
It seems everyone is caught up with the hype for these adorable creatures. The shelves in various parts of the world are hit by a blast of cold wind as the stores have run out of stock. If your child deserves a brownie point and money is no issue, then head over to your nearest toy store.
The Apps are compatible with IPod Touch, IPad and IPhone with iOS 4.2 onwards. Furby requires 4 AA batteries while Part Rockers necessitate 3 AAA batteries. Furby and Party Rockersare strictly for ages 6 and above. So, who would not have the heart to give Furby a good home?
Printed in Petigree Magazine Aug / Sep 2013 issue