Hello Kitty
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Most unique Hello Kitty fan items
The marketing and merchandising machine can be quite a thing to behold, especially when it comes to Hello Kitty. The possibilities for themed merchandise seem to be endless. Here is a list of some of my favorites: The Hello Kitty scooter. Hello Kitty credit card, checking account, and free (exclusive) Hello Kitty business card holder upon qualifying. Some Hello Kitty baked goods. A Barbie doll. Not just any, either; this one comes decked from head to toe in Hello Kitty merchandise. Booze. Yes folks, even Hello Kitty supports booze, this time in the form of wine. What's the coolest, or most unique Hello Kitty item that you own? Do you make your own items, buy them from official shops, or try to score limited edition merchandise?
Breaking News: Hello Kitty Island Adventures expansion announced!
Sanrio Digital, showing a dedication to content creation and fan service that other game companies could definitely learn from, has already started in with some exciting news for Hello Kitty fans everywhere. Despite not being out of Closed Beta yet, It's been confirmed that Hello Kitty Online will have an expansion in 2009: Hello Kitty Island Adventures! The expansion will open with Hello Kitty and her friends (Including you, the player) crash landing on a desert island while on Hello Kitty Air flight 337 to the 5th World Cuteness Symposium in Perth, Australia. That's right, in a gutsy move that should rightly earn them the applause of MMO designers everywhere, Sanrio Digital is shaking things up and actually shrinking the game world to one desert island, giving Hello Kitty faithful a whole new area to explore and giving them a break from the humdrum environs of places like Mari Land and Nightengale Lane. Join us after the break for a rundown of some of the other features you can expect!
Hello Kitty Online to feature character creation and ... farms
I have to apologize in advance to any stalwart fans of the Hello Kitty franchise who are anxiously anticipating Hello Kitty Online with baited breath. Perhaps it is a sad commentary on the inherent cynicism and snarkiness of your modern blogger, but I have serious doubts about whether or not you will ever see a post about HKO here on Massively without some at least a touch of sarcasm or irony. Fault us for our taste if you will, but never doubt or honesty!Having said that, this official trailer for Hello Kitty Online demonstrates such innovative new features as character creation, personalized avatars (which is different than character creation, in some way that eludes me), virtual community, farms, in-game items, houses, and mini-games including fan favorites like Rock-Paper-Scissor! In this respect, the game appears less interested in re-inventing the wheel, than in ensuring it is super cute and perhaps slightly creepy. As the game moves into beta in the near future, look for more impressions and news to surface.[Via ZergWatch]
Criminal profiling is coming to a MMOG near you
With an uprising of terrorists and other criminals playing MMOGs like Hello Kitty the U.S. Government believes it is essential that Gnomeland Security monitors online behavior in virtual worlds. Humor aside, I'm not making this up. The U.S. intelligence community wants to employ counter terrorism measures by utilizing data-mining and profiling software in various online spaces such as video and even online gaming. In the unclassified Data Mining Report Act, (pdf) one initiative called the Reynard project would determine the feasibility of detecting suspicious behaviors and actions in a virtual world that could indicate a threat to national security. You read that right. "Reynard is a seedling effort to study the emerging phenomenon of social (particularly terrorist) dynamics in virtual worlds and large-scale online games and their implications for the Intelligence Community.""The cultural and behavioral norms of virtual worlds and gaming are generally unstudied. Therefore, Reynard will seek to identify the emerging social, behavioral and cultural norms in virtual worlds and gaming environments. The project would then apply the lessons learned to determine the feasibility of automatically detecting suspicious behavior and actions in the virtual world."This is probably a good time to stop referring to my spells as WMDs, and reciting The Communist Manifesto in guild chat. I don't want to end up in a secret prison somewhere drinking a lot of water because I'm obsessed with engineering and PvP. What the CIA should do is recruit top ranked WoW Arena players to infiltrate the Chinese servers to steal gold farming secrets. [via Wired]
Crapgadget CES edition, round 14: Hello Kitty with human debris
Hello Kitty meets hair.
Hello Kitty gets Swarovski-studded again on the NEC LaVie G laptop
When you really love Hello Kitty, it's safe to say that one of anything featuring her image is never enough. If you know what we mean, you may want to check into the latest high-end entry in the canon: the NEC LaVie G Hello Kitty edition -- a follow-up to this Summer's LaVie -- once again featuring images of the ubiquitous cat studded in breathtaking Swarovski crystals. Underneath the glitz you'll find a 15.4-inch WXGA display, an AMD Turion CPU, 2GB of RAM, a 120GB hard drive, plus a DVD+RW and a handful of USB ports which will allow you to plug in your Hello Kitty flash drives and the like. Right now this sweet puppy kitty is only available in Japan, and will run you around ¥210,000 ($1,840) -- but we don't think that will stop you.
Bicycle tire rocks Hello Kitty tread pattern, world wonders why
Just when you thought Hello Kitty had touched everything she possibly could, along comes a bicycle tire (of all things) to prove you wrong. Stock up now for $25.99 apiece.[Via OhGizmo, image courtesy of Nirve]
Hello Kitty gets her own automatic toilet paper dispenser
Sadly, automatic toilet paper dispensers are nothing new to this gadget-crazed world, but the latest from Sanrio puts a bizarre twist on an already zany contraption. The Hello Kitty TP dispenser is gushing with obligatory cuteness and can be programmed to dole out exactly the right amount of paper with each button press; of course, there really should be a couple of buttons to satisfy the whole family, but we digress. The unit reportedly rings up at around $220, which sounds about two bills too high unless you're already devoted to collecting all things adorned with Ms. Kitty. Ah well, at least your Hello Kitty toilet paper won't seem so out of place now, right?
Hello Kitty gets two new Bluetooth headsets
What better to go with your shiny new Hello Kitty-themed phone than -- wait for it -- a Bluetooth headset doused in cuteness? Apparently, a pair of these very devices have managed to surface, and we're sure gals everywhere are clamoring to get their hands, er, ear under one. Granted, we've no idea how well these things would actually work (nor how much they'll cost), but the adorable factor is undeniably through the roof. If you're not already overwhelmed, feel free to check out the other version after the break.[Thanks, Mickel]
Hello Kitty mini-ATM for your penny counting kids
Alright, so it's not a real hole-in-the-wall, but just in case your eight year-old did need some training in how to operate one, here's the Hello Kitty ATM Bank. Its pink, it's got HK on it, and it looks vaguely like those machines you find in 7-Elevens: fortunately, it won't give your kids cash on credit. They've gotta put some pennies in first. It comes with a Hello Kitty cash card for withdrawals, which should help your child transition to the Hello Kitty Consolidated Bank account you've set up -- yes, they're real. No word on how much this monstrosity is, but you can probably guess which country they're available in.[Via Crave]
Hello Kitty FOR THE HORDE!
Actually, the Hello Kitty UI interface is faction-agnostic. And I'm not sure how HK would voice her allegiance anyway -- she has no mouth and she must scream. Regardless, Alice over at Wonderland links to two separate instances of a Hello Kitty-themed interface for WoW, one of them from famed virtual worlder Joi Ito. As she says, "Bloody hell ... it's horrible :o)"If Blizzard released an epic set of Hello Kitty armor tomorrow, how many of you would jump at it?
The Virtual World Boom
Looking for a great escape from reality? Nothing comes close to a Virtual World for a thrill seeking whimsical adventure that doesn't require you to crash your bank account or take some time away from work-- except when an expansion is released or you that long-awaited beta invite shows up, thank you sick leave! It's only natural that people from all walks of life and ages enjoy being entertained by an interactive medium that offers socialization, avatars, items, mini-games and other various shenanigans. Everyone from Webkinz moms, Club Penguin kiddos, the voracious World of Warcraft indulgers and in between is getting in on some Virtual World action. The whole Virtual World genre is going to get a lot more crowded as big media conglomerates take notice and throw staggering piles of cash around in an attempt to attract new visitors. Recent findings by the Virtual World Conference suggest that from October 2006 to October 2007 more than 1 billion dollars was invested in 35 virtual worlds companies. Over at Business Week, there is a great write-up from Paul Heyman of Game Daily about the stirrings from the last Virtual Worlds conference and where some of this money is coming from and where it's going. You won't find any Jeff Kaplan quotes on "welfare epics" but it's still worth a gander if you are interested in an upcoming subset of the genre that will probably prove to be more popular than traditional based fantasy MMORPGS. It isn't the promise land for every Virtual World. Mike Schramm recently reported on the MMO Boom and how it isn't always peaches and cream. This year has been rough on Auto Assault and Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising as both MMOGS shut down permanently while Ryzom is still hanging on for dear life. Despite the pitfalls, MMORPGS will thrive or World of Warcraft will at least, for how long? If Ultima Online has lasted 10 years, WoW will easily top that. 2008 should prove to be a better year for MMORPGS with Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning and Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures set to hit our desktops. My hope is that these Virtual Worlds, the ones with elves and fireballs and not Hello Kitty, will be just as fun to explore as their predecessors.
Okwap's C150T gets mauled by Hello Kitty
Hello Kitty has certainly claimed her fair share of cellphones in the past, but she's going totally diva on the Okwap C150T. From top to bottom, side to side, this GSM handset is smothered in cuteness, and reportedly, it boasts a built-in media player, a two-megapixel camera, and a myriad Hello Kitty themes / backgrounds. Regrettably, there's no word on a price just yet, and it's doubtful you'll find this thing anywhere in America, but go on and click through for shots of the interface if you just can't get enough.[Via AkihabaraNews]
Hello Kitty claims two more Epson laptops
It's bad (or good, depending on perspective) enough that Hello Kitty has claimed one Epson laptop as its own, but now fanboys and girls can select two other A4 machines to flesh out their collection. Aside from touting heaps of monogrammed cuteness, these machines reportedly weigh in at 6.6-pounds and include a 1.73GHz Intel Celeron M processor, 80GB of hard drive space, 1GB of RAM, and Windows Vista. Seems a little weak considering the ¥189,000 ($1,640) price tag, but it's hard to assign a dollar value to such a design scheme, right? Click on for another color.
Hello Kitty mouse: does it chase itself?
Hello Kitty has found her way onto a-many of gizmos, but the irony of Queen Cuteness showing up on her favorite prey is striking, indeed. Nevertheless, this adorable critter plays nice with Macs and PCs, reportedly boasts a 1,200dpi sensor, includes a scroll wheel and right / left click buttons, and touts one of the most un-ergonomic designs we've ever witnessed. Notably, we've no idea whether or not this piece is actually authentic, but hey, it sure looks the part and costs just $10.08.[Via ChipChick]
Hello Kitty hand warmer keeps your paws toasty
Although you aren't likely to need a hand warmer when the temperatures in some areas of the country are creeping into triple-digits, it's never too early to start dreaming of winter. Moreover, it's always a good time to compliment your Hello Kitty foot warmers and heating blanket with a couple of matching hand warmers, and this here gizmo provides the last missing piece in the aforementioned triangle. Just plug it in, wait for it to charge, and pop in your pocket for "one to two hours" of the cutest heat known to mankind. No word just yet on price, but it looks like orders are being taken now for wholesalers who stay a few steps ahead of the, um, seasons.[Via TRFJ]
Hello Kitty Robot pre-orders start for 50% more moolah
Remember that Hello Kitty Robot we wrote about back in 2004? Of course, you do, you Hello Kitty obsessed soul you! Well, it looks like the makers are finally getting ready to sell the thing, for 50% more money than they were originally asking. If you want to pick up one of these interactive cuties, it'll set you back $6,300: then again, you do get stereo cameras, voice recognition, ultrasonic and "lift-up" sensors as part of the deal. Money can't buy you love, but apparently it can buy you a whole lot of simulated affection.
Hello Kitty emergency gadget saves lives, looks real cute
If you live in a place like Japan, there are two things that probably pop into your head from time to time. One is earthquakes, because the little island has been home to some of the biggest over the years, and the other is Hello Kitty -- and she needs no introduction. Sanrio, in its infinite wisdom, has sought to join these two disparate elements by creating the Hello Kitty emergency gadget. In the event of some type of catastrophic event, Hello Kitty will be there with her hand crank USB cell phone charger, LED flashlight, AM/FM radio. hazard siren, and compass -- all in one super-cute pink package. Of course, once rescue workers find you, you still might die... of humiliation.
Nokia's Eseries gets covered in Hello Kitty
Nah, these shots aren't real (so far as we can tell), but wouldn't it be nice if they were? A presumably bored and decently talented Photoshopper got to work on a trio of Nokia Eseries phones, and the end result is three of the cutest mobile renderings you'll ever have the pleasure of witnessing. Of course, this isn't the first time a Hello Kitty fanatic gave a Nokia an unsuspecting paint job (scroll down, it pops up in the final pic!), but we must say we're a tad partial to the pinked-E90. Hey, with the amount of objects that her cuteness has landed on these days, you never know how serious Nokia may consider it.
Hello Kitty's mini baby grand piano
When your pet mouse isn't zooming around the house in his new plane, the tiny rodent Liberace can entertain your family by jamming on Sega Toys' Hello Kitty mini baby grand piano. The miniscule music maker, which weighs in at 3.6 kg and is 18cm high by 25cm wide, features 100 jazz and classical standards built-in, and takes SD cards of music which it can automatically play on its 0.4cm ivories. The diminutive keys can also be tapped by hand, provided your fingers are disturbingly small. The piano will retail for £275 (or around $554 US), but before you get your credit card out check the video after the break.[Via ShinyShiny]
