Episode II Yoda YodaJeff.com - more than just Yoda
YodaJeff.com Main (with recent news)

Interactive Yoda:
History
Movies
Sounds
Images
Articles
Basic Information
User's Guide
News

Defective Eyes
Defective Eyes


Counter
Interactive Yoda News (YodaJeff's Interactive Yoda Page)

Interactive Yoda News

Good deals on the Interactive Yoda (November 24, 2001)
KBKids.com has the Interactive Yoda for $9.99. I'm not sure if this deal can be found in KB Toys stores or not. Also, Amazon.com has the Interactive Yoda for around $13.
Interactive Yoda received (by YodaJeff!!!) (June 21, 2000)
Today, my local KB Toys received the Interactive Yodas. He's so great! The sound isn't perfect, but it is higher quality than CommTECH chips. SamGoody.com updated the release date to June 20, and is now says "Item usually ships within 2-3 weeks"
FINALLY TODAY HAS COME (June 14, 2000)
Well, the Interactive Yoda is out now. I don't have one yet (I don't live near New York City). KB Toys are expecting them "within the next couple of days" and some may have them as soon as tomorrow. I can't wait to finally get my hands on one of these Yodas. I've been waiting for over a year. The Yahoo! Auctions for the Yodas signed by Frank Oz went for over $500. That's a lot for charity. kbkids.com lists the Yoda as a July 5 release. Also, the official Interactive Yoda site at http://www.tigertoys.com/yoda/ has updated with more information (basically stuff I already have here). I hope to do some major updating this weekend with some more sound clips, images, articles, etc.
So, if you got a Yoda, hope you enjoy it, and be sure to let me know what you think of it.
FAO June 14th (June 13, 2000)
The following is from FAO.com
FAO FIFTH AVENUE, NY
Wednesday, June 14, 10:00am
INTERACTIVE YODA
Interactive Yoda is Coming to New York!!" Get to FAO Schwarz early to be one of the first to master the force with Tiger's brand new Interactive Yoda. Authentically styled and fully animated, Interactive Yoda stands 8 inches tall and interacts with the child by responding through a series of sensors. His vocabulary of more than 800 words and phrases guide his apprentice through 4 levels of Jedi training including the highest level of training, Jedi Master. May the Force be with You!

It looks like he actually may be coming out tomorrow.
Interactive Yoda delayed more??? (June 12, 2000)
TigerToys.com/yoda still says June 14th, but are they right??? Remember, starwars.hasbro.com still says October 1999. SamGoody.com lists the release as "July 15" and FAO has the following to say:
Dear Valued Customer:
Unfortunately we are not expecting the item in until 7/15/2000. I apologize that you were not provided with a backorder date with your original email. Once we receive the item in the merchandise will be shipped to you immediately. If you need to make changes to your order, please feel free to call us at 1-800-876-7867, or you may e-mail us. I apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause. If you have any questions regarding this please feel free to let me know.
Thank you,
FAO Schwarz

So, Sam Goody and FAO both say July 15th now. Odd. It looks as though we may have another month to wait.
Interactive Yoda release date and official site (June 08, 2000)
Finally, TigerToys has an official Interactive Yoda webpage at http://www.tigertoys.com/yoda/. It has some basic information on the Yoda, along with having a commercial available for download (it apparently is going to be a TV Commercial sometime soon). Along the bottom, it says "Product Launch and Full Web Site Coming June 14th". I just finished watching the commercial, and it was pretty good.
Thanks to Jedi Kindergardner for the heads-up.

Also, here's some news on Yahoo! Auctioning some special Interactive Yodas:
One-of-a-Kind Interactive Yodas Hitting Yahoo! Auction Block to Benefit Hasbro Children's Hospital
Tiger Electronics Join Forces With Yahoo! Auctions to Launch Heavily Anticipated Star Wars Collector's Item.
VERNON HILLS, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 7, 2000-- Hasbro Inc.'s (NYSE: HAS - news) Tiger Electronics has teamed up with Yahoo! (Nasdaq: YHOO - news) to offer the heavily anticipated Star Wars collectible, Interactive Yoda(TM), on Yahoo!® Auctions (http://auctions.yahoo.com), the fastest-growing, globally-branded free auction site on the Internet. Beginning June 7, and running through June 13, 2000, Star Wars fans will have the opportunity to bid on 10 collectible Interactive Yodas autographed by Frank Oz, the original voice of Yoda. All proceeds from the auction will benefit Hasbro Childrens Hospital, a pediatric division of Rhode Island Hospital.
The fully-animated Interactive Yoda stands eight inches tall and interacts by responding through a series of sensors. Using the voice of Frank Oz, Yoda's vocabulary consists of more than 800 words and phrases to help guide his apprentice through four levels of Jedi training including the highest level of training, Jedi Master. In addition, each Yoda comes with a 12"" lightsaber for the apprentice to train with and features authentic Star Wars sound effects. Interactive Yoda will be able to communicate with other Yodas, comparing the activities and progress of their apprentices. He will also share pearls of Jedi wisdom, special questions and games with the apprentice.


Tons more Interactive Yoda news (May 26, 2000)
First off, Frank Oz is doing the voice for the Interactive Yoda. This is good news, since Mr. Oz was Yoda in all of the Star Wars movies so far.

Suncoast stores are starting to accept pre-orders for the Interactive Yoda. They cost $36.99 with a $5 deposit to pre-order. It is tentatively listed as a late June release.

At SamGoody.com, the Interactive Yoda is under $35 (plus shipping).

The following is an e-mail sent out from FAO Schwarz:
Dear Valued Customer:
Unfortunately we are not expecting the item in until 5/30/00. I apologize that you were not provided with a backorder date with your original email. Once we receive the item in the merchandise will be shipped to you immediately. If you need to make changes to your order, please feel free to call us at 1-800-876-7867, or you may e-mail us. I apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause. If you have any questions regarding this please feel free to let me know.
Thank you,
FAO Schwarz

The Interactive Yoda has been reduced to $39.99 at EBWorld.com.

The following is a part of an e-mail sent out from Tiger Electronics:
THE FORCE FLOWS!
Coming soon to a store near you is Interactive Yoda, Tiger's amazingly life-like toy. From his wise eyes to his twitching ears, this Yoda captures the spirit of the Star Wars films. Interactive Yoda will instruct you in the ways of the Force, teaching you proper use of the Light Saber (which is included with the product). Frank Oz, the original voice of Yoda in the movies, is also the voice of Interactive Yoda. To learn more about Interactive Yoda, go to: http://www.tigertoys.com


Interactive Yoda delayed more?? (May 01, 2000)
FAO did not receive a shipment of Interactive Yodas last week. Most online retailers are listing a "June" release. I've heard from mid/late May to mid June, all announced within the past week. It could depend on which retailers get the first shipments. Also, I found a news article that FAO Schwarz is going to have a 14 feet tall Yoda outside of their New York store to commemorate the release of the Interactive Yoda. I wonder if they'd be willing to donate it to me when they're done...
Interactive Yoda coming early?? (April 27, 2000)
I just received this e-mail
"I just got off the phone with a fao representative and she told me that the shipment of interactive yodas are expected in today. She told me to phone back on Monday or Tuesday to find out for sure if they came in or not because the new inventory should be registered in the computer by then. And lucky for me they ship to Canada!!!!!!!!!!!"
If anyone can confirm this, please let me know. Also, if/when you receive one, please let me know so I can alert others that they should be coming soon. I can't wait much longer...
Interactive Yoda Video Clip (February 27, 2000)
Click here for a video clip of the Interactive Yoda in action saying "Let the Force flow."
Interactive Yoda Sound Clip (February 27, 2000)
Click here for a sound clip of the Interactive Yoda saying "Let the Force flow."
ZD-TV Interactive Yoda (February 25, 2000)
The following comes from Yakface.com:
If you get the cable/satellite channel ZDTV, one of their weekly programs -- Fresh Gear -- is having a program about hi-tech toys from Toy Fair. I've seen a promo on the air that features the show's female host with the Interactive Yoda and lightsaber. I believe the program is on for the first time this Friday (Feb 25), but they repeat shows all weekend long so depending on your time and area check it out. If only I had ZD-TV...
More Interactive Yoda (January 27, 2000)
I don't mean to brag, but I posted the picture of the Interactive Yoda (Furby) on January 15, and just today (12 days later) TheForce.Net posted a picture of it. Hmmm, I was the first to break the news too. So, you know where to come for all the Yoda news!

click for larger image
Interactive Yoda: picture and preorder (January 15, 2000)
I've received more e-mails about the Interactive Yoda than anything else. Fans like you have wanted pictures, more information, you name it. Finally, I have a picture. I've seen pictures in the past, but not from a trusted source like FAO.com. Here's what they have to say about it:
Interactive Yoda
Wise Master Yoda is your own personal Jedi teacher and a force for good in your home, as he guides your child through the four stages of Jedi Development - Apprentice, Jedi, Jedi Knight, and Jedi Master - using fun games and activities. Yoda even carries hidden surprises for your child to discover! A series of electronic sensors allow Yoda to sense, see, feel, hear and speak with more than 1,000 words and phrases. When he's not teaching, he tells of the ways of the Force. Comes with a "training" light saber. 8" tall. Uses 4 "AA" batteries, not included.
For ages 6 & up
Late Spring Delivery
$49.99

You can preorder one from their website here for $49.99. This looks great! I can't wait! It looks better than I could have ever imagined. And it sounds like it's going to be the best Yoda item ever. Be sure to reserve one today before they run out. I have delt with FAO in the past, and they send out the items can be trusted. I'm making sure to have 4AA batteries ready for when he comes. I know I'll fall into temptation and open it when he comes, instead of leaving it in the package. Hopefully, his voice is reproduced good. I can't wait!!
Interactive Yoda (Furby) - more delays (UGH!) (October 11, 1999)
TheForce.Net has this to say:
We just got word from a spy overseas that It seems now there is a new problem with the Interactive Yoda. The plants, in which the computer chips are made, were damaged and disrupted by the earthquake that hit a few weeks ago. The plants are slowly coming online and production is begining again....now Tiger does plan to have some available in mid-November but quantities will very small indeed. The major release date now looks like January. (crap!) So if you dont get one over the holidays wait until 2000.
Thanks to TheForce.Net for this news. Visit their site for some of the best Star Wars news around.
Interactive Yoda (Furby) (September 09, 1999)
There were rumors that it was cancelled, but (thankfully) they were false. The Interactive Yoda is just being delayed until the end of November now (from the end of September).
Yoda Furby
A Yoda Furby will be released sometime in September by Tiger Electronics. It won't be called a Yoda Furby, it will be called the "Interactive Yoda." It will utilize the infrared technology that is used in the current Furbys. It will be able to interact with other Furbys. The above picture is not a picture of the actual Furby. It is a picture that I homemade.
Wired.Com Article. The article describes more about the Furby, and mentions the name "Interactive Yoda."
Many sites are taking pre-orders for the Interactive Yoda. KB-Toy stores mentioned in a recent ad that you can pre-order one there. At KB-Toys, they are $45, which is $5 more than the regular price for their Furbys. That is because Lucas needs a cut of the money.
YJ YJ YJ
YJ YodaJeff's Yoda Page: Copyright 1997-2002 Jeff Kleinow (YodaJeff) ( contact YodaJeff )
Use Policy   |   Yoda and other names are registered trademarks of LucasFilm Ltd. ( Full Disclaimer )
YJ
YJ YJ YJ
YJ.c