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LGR - Fin Fin, the 1996 Voice-Activated Virtual Pet
🕑 Added 2021-03-14 00:35:49 +0000 UTChttps://youtu.be/U0vm-BOKzlI
Time for a long-postponed LGR thing!
This one's all about Fujitsu's Fin Fin, a (sort of) voice-controlled virtual pet for Windows PCs from 1996. Specifically this is the US Deluxe Edition from 1997, which came packed with a plastic bird whistle and its own little microphone inside the package for $59.99. Fujitsu even made an optional Smartsensor add-on, which was apparently a repurposed alarm system motion detector that "gave Fin Fin eyes." The press seemed completely enamored with it for a time, but it seems to have disappeared almost entirely from the public consciousness in the years since.
And no surprise, it's about 10% fun and 90% gimmick. A charming, fascinating, and somewhat enjoyable one for a short time, but an absolute gimmick nonetheless. Hopefully it made for a fun video too! I've been putting off covering this for a number of years now because I actually wanted to cover the Maxis kids game Marty and the Trouble With Cheese first, since it's an even older voice-activated game that came with its own microphone in the box. But that project just kinda fell apart after a couple weeks, I never did anything with the footage, and I haven't felt like returning to it since it's even less impressive than ol' Fin Fin here. So yeah, felt the urge to cover this one first instead.
Enjoy this look at a weird alien dolphin bird from the 90s!
Ohh wait -- this is also the first video where I've recorded the voiceover using my new microphone setup. I'm still using the same Neumann TLM 102 mic in the same room as before, but now it's running through a DBX 286s preamp that's applying compression, expander/gate, de-esser, and some other light audio tweaks to the signal before I begin editing. It's all stuff that I normally do through software but now don't have to mess with, which should be a nice time saver. Ideally it's more of a backend thing no one notices except me and it shouldn't sound too much different but yep, thought I'd share.
Comments
Joe Arax
You should do a review of Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis!
Matt Tester
I wonder if anyone left their computer running 24/7 for this. That would've seemed like a crazy idea to me in 1996. Catz was a favourite of mine when visiting my friend who had a PC at the time, I was a mere console peasant with a Playstation.
LGR
It's a difference in content, yep. Earlier versions contained fewer places to visit on the map and less in terms of features, several of which are mentioned in the back of the box.
Will Herrmann
I’m interested to know what’s the non-Deluxe edition looked like. Did it just lack a microphone? Or were there other functional differences? I can’t imagine it was a difference in content given how little there is in this version.
Travis
I can't believe I didn't know about ctrl+esc for windows button. You just fixed my only challenge with my model m keyboard.
Mark Stradling
I'm assuming I'm not the other one who checked out finfin.com. Various invites to online casinos. You can buy the domain for a vanishingly small $15,000. Bargain
"Fin Fin Come and See Him" walked so that "Baby Shark" could run
CharlieVictor
Quote of the video: "I see your happiness going up . . . "
Zachary Outen
Look at those eyes, there is no soul behind them
JennaKay
Love that UI! It has that Kai Krause style look that was popular for a hot minute in things like Bryce, Kai’s Power Tools, Real Player, Xp even. I miss that heavy tactile look. Also the idea you’d sit down and spend an uninterrupted hour playing something like this.
Mya Crosbie-Styles
Okay, this video was freaking NEAT! I'm now in love with Fin Fin and will forever be sad I don't own that plushie. Awesome stuff as always clint
Laurent
I've never heard of Fin Fin. I am astonished that you didn't use Doom- or fart sounds. 😉
Oh maaaan, I totally forgot about this. I actually had Fin Fin and spoke with it when I was a kid. I think we just saw it sold super cheap for like a few buxks in a flea market or something. I can't remember it doing anything useful so I also was one of them that kind of forgot after a while. I definitely have to watch this soon
Alyxx the Rat
Yeah he doesn't do a whole lot but man is he fucking adorable!
BastetFurry
I passed back then, Creatures did this way better with its Norns.
Vladimir Vyun
At first I've read the phrase on the box as "The WORST most realistic virtual pet". Not sure that I would go as far as actually calling it the worst but, yeah, it's not surprising that the fad died out relatively quickly. Though, I still somewhat miss tamagochi.
John Bailey
For what it's worth, I didn't notice any difference in the voice over work, so from my perspective you achieved your goal with the new setup pretty well.
John Covil
To go from starring in an adorable game like this to being pulled by the FDA and sued out of existence a year later, it was a tough ride for Fin-Phen.
LGR
Yes! It's got that special something, the vibe of the whole game is slightly off and I love that aspect of it.
LGR
Haha, it has admittedly been stuck in my head a few days... Here ya go https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MufddrsUxC0
Hernando Heilbron
The UI gives me some slight Myst vibes, I love it
Perifractic's Retro Recipes
Fintastic!
Uncle Yuu
Where can I find the Fin Fin club anthem, it's kind of a bop.
Steve Lovelace
The box has some amazing 90s graphic design. I especially love the header font on the back of the box.
CONATH
Can we have Banana Deer T-Shirts, please?
Pablo Rodriguez
I never heard of Fin Fin. I did have a tamagotchi back when they were new and I found it kinda fun for a bit, but it lost its appeal really quickly. The only virtual pet that managed to hold my attention for quite a bit was Nintendogs. I really only stopped playing when I got a real dog to care for, which clearly demanded more attention.
Jared
Banana Deer vs. Cool Crab in a knife fight. Place your bets.
Frederic St-Georges
I would have watched that video anyway, but your facial expression on that picture makes me about 27% more giddy about it!
