Wappy Dog
© 2011 Activision, Inc.
This toy/screen experience turns your Nintendo DS into a remote control for a robotic dog. Instead of using standard infra-red signals, however, this dog is controlled by sound, in the form of coded chirps that come out of your Nintendo DS speakers. A microphone in Wappy Dog can "hear" the chirps, which can be sent to Wappy Dog's computer for different responses. There are two modes: Home and Travel. In Home mode, you select tricks such as singing and dancing. In Travel mode, you play with a screen-based version of your dog, petting it with your stylus. This includes nurturing your dog, playing games and buying treats. When you reunite your DS with your physical pet, they sync to enable the same personality and status. The dog works for a distance of about 3 feet. Testers found the idea interesting at first, but Wappy Dog's range of responses is narrow, which makes things far less interesting over time. Buy with caution. See http://youtu.be/vY6GCRK923k.
$50, Nintendo DS, Smart Toy
Teaches: cause and effect
CTR Rating: 72%