December 5, 2000. Copyright, 2000, Graphic News. All rights reserved

DREAMING OF AN INTERACTIVE CHRISTMAS
By Julie Mullins

LONDON, December 5, Graphic News:  WHILE the ubiquitous micro-scooter might top the Christmas wishlists, the sheer multitude of interactive toys available are likely to mean thousands of bleary-eyed parents will wake on Christmas morning to a cacophony of electronic barking, engine noises and E.T.Õs strangulated vowels.

Of the numerous robotic dogs on sale, Teksta (£39.99), Poo-Chi (£24.99), complete with interactive bone and repertoire of six songs, and the endearing little I-Dog (£4.99) are among the most appealing.
Teksta, programmed to respond like an eight-week old puppy, sees and hears everything around him, talks, eats, laughs, cries, and even farts. Thankfully, unlike other pups of his age, he falls short of leaving messes to clear up.

Younger children will enjoy the interactive Thomas the Tank Engine and friends (talking engines from £14.99), while Tomy also has an excellent range of robotic toys for little ones, ranging from a jet aircraft (£39.99) and bright yellow VW Beetle (£24.99) to the wacky Beep and Bopp (£17.99 each), all operated with pleasingly simple controls. Even the most technophobe mums and dads might be tempted to have a go after the owners have gone to bed.

Older kids will appreciate NikkoÕs sophisticated jumping car (from £69.99), interactive doll Amazing Ally (around £60), and the unpleasant-looking characters from TVÕs Robot Wars. Radio-controlled Shunt and Matilda retail at a hefty £59.99 each but a wider range of action figures can be had for a more modest £9.99.

Not all toys, however, require a microchip to be guaranteed a place on SantaÕs sleigh. Bob the Builder and his playmates (around £9.99 for a 12-inch soft toy), BarbieÕs newest incarnation, Princess Bride (£17.99), and the inevitable clutch of Pokemon and Digimon characters and cards are also likely to feature strongly amongst the brightly coloured parcels beneath the tree.

Perennial favourite LegoÕs Football Championship Challenge (£39.99) proved popular with my young companion at a pre-Christmas toy fair, while the new range of Lego Time watches, ranging in price from £29.99 to £39.99, is destined to be the coolest new watch brand around. Each of the 10 designs can be adapted to match your team colours or simply suit your mood, and will make an imaginative present for relatives aged nine to 90.

Good ideas for stocking fillers include the collectable Bendos -- 50 posable action figures at £3.99 each, or the repulsive Martians Brainz (£2.99), inspired by the runaway success of last yearÕs Alien Eggs. This year a pair of pincers is supplied with which to extract the alienÕs brain once it has been freed from its surrounding goo.

The most original gift this year? WakeYoo (£14.99), an alternative to the alarm clock, invented by 24-year old British student Tom Lawton, which allows you to record your favourite sounds to give you a personal wake-up call each morning.
/ENDS

Sources: British Association of Toy Retailers, Reuters, Hamleys, etoys.com, toysrus.co.uk