While I spent countless summer days playing Super Mario and Donkey Kong Country on my Super Nintendo, some of my contemporaries were entranced by the Genesis. You may wonder why I didn’t have a Genesis, despite the awesomeness of Sonic—well, it wasn’t just because I never got one for Christmas. No, actually it was because even as a child I had incredible foresight, and I predicted that Sega would one day curse the earth with some vile robotic thing. My efforts were those of preemptive boycott fueled by a Nostradamus-like vision of a future overrun by robots. That future has arrived, and I can finally say to all my friends of yore “What’d I tellya?”.
The destroyer takes a most counterintuitive form—that of a cute little puppy. But this is no living, breathing puppy, but rather a mechanical, feelingless beast. Sega calls it “Lucky” and although it looks far less sinister than Sony’s AIBO, it is equally evil. Lucky’s not yet available in the US.
Lucky can bark and do tricks like handstands….::sigh:: I guess he does look kinda harmless. Aw Lucky, I love you!
Woof Woof Woof GRRRR
What the..!
Chomp Chomp Hooowwwl
Nooooo! I’m dead now.
[CNET]

Companies have tried again and again to create the perfect robo-dog…Tried and failed, often miserably. The Sega Dream Dog DX is the best yet, super cuddly and pretty damn believable. It recently wowed humans at the Tokyo Toy Show, responding to voice commands, sitting, rolling over, barking and even nipping at your fingers. It’s the closest thing to a real dog I’ve seen yet. It’s dog sounds make your geek heart fall in love. It’s available in September, and the Dream Dog DX Golden Retriever will be sell for just 29,800 ($276).

[Segatoys]

Sega Toys announced their plans to start selling a new humanoid robot in Japan, named E.M.A., on September 26th. E.M.A. stands for “Eternal, Maiden, Actualization” Translated that means, “Hi nerd. Here’s your new companion.”

The robot is of the female persuasion and stands at 38 cm tall. According to Sega, the E.M.A. is special because of her “glamorous body” and because she’s highly interactive. (Translation:Only a nerd could love that body and she kinda puts out.) She’ll sing and dance, hand out your business cards, even walk “like a lady”. I wasn’t kidding when I said she puts out. She won’t go all the way, though I’m sure some of you will force the issue, but she will kiss you if your head comes into close contact with her. That’s when the love mode switches on.

It’s got all the usual infrared sensors for avoiding obstacles and such. The elbows, shoulders, waist and knees all move. Looks like Japan only, for $175.

[Segatoys] VIA [Slipperybrick]