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P.O.D.Z.
Playmates Toys' "Asteroids with Attitude" Recognize and Reply to Any Human Voice
NEW YORK (American International Toy Fair, Feb. 10, 2002) - Thousands of P.O.D.Z., Planetary Orbs of Downright Zaniness, perhaps left behind last month when an asteroid sped past the earth, are expected to touch down in New York City just in time for Toy Fair!
This spring, Playmates Toys introduces P.O.D.Z., a new line of off-the-wall cosmic characters that recognize and respond appropriately to any human voice. Incorporating Playmates' Rock `N' Talkvoice-recognition technology, these high-tech, interplanetary "chunks of space stone" bring pet rocks into the 21st century.
Voice-recognition technology allows P.O.D.Z. to accurately identify a dozen questions spoken by any human user. P.O.D.Z then reply with one of dozens of appropriate preprogrammed phrases - tempered by their own oddball personalities - making hours of hilarious conversation possible between human and P.O.D.Z. You talk... P.O.D.Z. Rock!
Each P.O.D.Z. has a different witty personality, reflecting the traits of the humans in the area of its earthly Landing Zone - mellow Surfin' Slate, obnoxious Ragin' Rocky, gangster Sammy Stone and nonsensical Dimrock Don. (Ask one "Do you like like humans?" Surfin' Slate will tell you, "Just the mellow ones!" or Sammy Stone will reply "I'm nuts aboutcha!") Always ready to share their hilarious extraterrestrial adventures, these fist-sized, roughly sculpted space stones are ready to rock.
"Playmates leads the industry in combining the latest technology with fantastic personality to create a superior play experience," said Jeff Trojan, vice president of boys toys, Playmates Toys. "P.O.D.Z. are a stellar combination of proprietary state-of-the-art interactive voice recognition technology and down-to-earth fun. You talk... P.O.D.Z. rock!"
Take Cover and Brace For Impact
P.O.D.Z. respond to almost all types of human stimuli, including speech, light and darkness, and movement, with a variety of unexpected - and sometimes outrageous - rejoinders. An optical sensor detects when it's light or dark and the P.O.D.Z. react according to their personalities (when the lights go off, Raging Rocky might say, "Paid your light bill?" - when the lights come on, Surfin' Slate will comment "Pass the Sunblock"). Each wisecracking P.O.D.Z. also comes equipped with an out-of-this world "Destiny Detector" to foretell the future of its new earth-bound friends.
P.O.D.Z. are shipping this month to most major retailers, and will be available for an estimated retail price of $19.99. Playmates expects additional waves of P.O.D.Z. with brand-new personalities and characteristics to touch down periodically throughout 2002.
About Playmates Toys
Playmates Toys Inc. manufactures, markets and distributes a wide range of girls' and boys' toys, activity and novelty electronics, and products based upon character-rich licensed entertainment properties. Among the company's best-known brands are the "Amazing" family of interactive dolls and the unique water-filled "Waterbabies" dolls.
Key licensed properties include Disney's Princesses and other classic characters from The Walt Disney Company, New Line Cinema's "Lord of the Rings," Sony Pictures Family Entertainment's "Jackie Chan Adventures," Twentieth Century Fox's "The Simpsons," and Mirage Studios' "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." Playmates Toys is a division of Playmates Interactive Entertainment Limited, a Hong Kong-based company whose stock is traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
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