Sega Toys' Dream Pony is one freaky robot

Remember the Uncanny Valley? It's that place where robots look very much like the biological entities that they're meant to emulate, but just dissimilar enough to give them a very creepy appearance. Well we'd suggest that Sega Toys' upcoming Dream Pony falls squarely into the valley, as the 4-foot tall bot certainly resembles a real mini horse -- though as you can see in the pictures (both here and after the jump), it probably has the potential to really freak people out. Nonetheless, Sega is confident that this latest addition to its zoo of robotic pets will be popular enough among little girls (and immature men such as ourselves) that it can move 10,000 of these strange toys per year. Since you wouldn't pay $600 for a stuffed animal that just sat around looking weird, Dream Pony -- a virtual doppelgänger for Hasbro's Butterscotch -- responds to visual, audio, and tactile stimulation by jerking its head around or emitting a frightened whinny, among several other forms of exciting feedback. Although this robopony won't actually trot around the neighborhood like the real one your parents would buy you if they weren't so stingy, you can still sit on its back (assuming you're under 80 pounds) and "feed" it a plastic carrot over and over again. All-in-all, the Dream Pony doesn't really seem to provide the kind of long-term playability you'd get from an Xbox or a Robosapien, but once your little girl starts begging and whining for one, you'll have little choice but to welcome Dreamy into your home.

[Via Pink Tentacle]

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 15th 2006 4:47PM]

I, for one, think little girls should be able to ride it. (No, not in the way you're thinking, pervert!) I mean, make it walk and allow the rider to steer it.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 15th 2006 4:58PM]

I, for one, shudder to think of what the furries will make of this toy.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 15th 2006 5:15PM]

I, for one, think that everyone who messed up and didn't include "i, for one," should be ashamed. and real ponies are wierd anyway. anybody rember that one movie with hourse hed in bed and the blood?
i, for one, see reenactments of it on a massive scale once this evil machine is created.
i, for one.

[Brian from Texas Posted Sep 15th 2006 5:39PM]

I, for one, can't believe you don't know the name of the that movie! It's the Godfather - the best movie in the free world!

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 16th 2006 5:02AM]

I, for one, recommend you view this video of the Sega robot cat: http://www.segatoys.co.jp/nearme/nearme-w_w-bb.html

(I was thinking about mentioning the cute Japanese girl in the video and her fluffy pussy, but I'm more mature than that. Oh, wait.)

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 15th 2006 9:22PM]

I, for one, would like to see this become the most
commented on engadget post of all time.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 15th 2006 10:50PM]

I, for one, feel inclined to post here for no reason other than the greatness of this comment thread.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 15th 2006 11:37PM]

i, for one, laughed so hard at electro's comment "oops, i mean i for one, LOL" that i, for one, thought it should be repeated.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 16th 2006 1:02AM]

I, for one, think you all should shut the hell up.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 16th 2006 3:31AM]

I, for one, do not understand why engadget posts always carry multiple links that do not bring you anywhere but to places you're not interested in.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 17th 2006 9:03PM]

I, for one, am reminded of Rentaghost.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 12th 2007 1:47PM]

I, for one, welcome our new "I for one" overlords.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 27th 2007 7:24AM]

I, for one. Yes, I believe in the Singularity:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_singularity