Furbies aren't just for the 90s. These little guys are back on toy store shelves across the U.S. in a wider variety of colors. Photo courtesy of windy234/Flickr.com
Do you remember the long winding lines at the toy stores during the 1998 winter season? If you were looking for the Furby you might. It was the best selling toy that year and based on the Hot toys of 2012 list it might be as successful this year with its re-release that took place on September 16, 2012.
Some University of Tampa students aren’t too convinced that the Furby is a good comeback. Senior and digital arts major Meagan Glennon said re-releasing the Furby held no purpose. “It’s kind of random,” she said. “There’s so many other things they could have done and to rehash old ideas seems uncreative and uninspired.”
The Furby has been re-released with technological upgrades including LCD eyes that show different expressions. The new Furby has a “mind of its own;” you will never know what its reaction will be to different things like petting it, pulling its tail, and holding it upside down. Hasbro warns, how you treat your Furby will shape its personality. The 1998 and 1999 “Toy of the Year” award winner, according to www.toyretailassociation.co.uk, shows it still has popularity in 2012. Furbies are sold out online at ToysRUs, Walmart and Target, according to www.hottoysofchristmas.com.
Senior-digital arts major Danielle Duet said she didn’t expect the return of the Furby. “It’s not something to bring back … It was kind of a nineties thing,” she said. “They look weird to be honest. They look like little owl monster things,” she said. “They kind of freaked me out a little bit when I was a kid.”
The new Furby recognizes music and will dance along to your favorite tunes. It will respond when you talk to it too. The new Furby still speaks the “Furbish” language when you first take it home and will learn English over time. For all things Furby you can visit www.furby.com. This site allows you to create your own Furby online and “meet” the new Furby by learning what it likes and dislikes. You can also learn the Furbish language with the online dictionary. The site also advertises a free Furby App that works with iPod touch, iPad and iPhone with iOS 4.2 or later which you can use to feed your Furby and translate his native language.
Despite all the technological updates made for the 2012 toy generation, students seem to be on the same page when it comes to their opinion on the toy’s remake. Senior and graphic design major Sarah Kortraght said she never liked them to begin with. “I thought they were kind of freaky so I never bought one,” she contested. She also thought it was not a very innovative move by Hasbro. “It’s not so great that it could be brought back and be successful,” she explained.
Kelly St. Onge can be reached at kelly.st.onge@theminaretonline.com.
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