Koby the Interactive Bear (Furby Fake)

Koby the Interactive Bear (Furby Fake)
General Information
Name(s)	Koby The Interactive Bear
Known Variations	3
Company	MGA Entertainment
Price	Unknown

Koby the Interactive Bear was a knock-off produced by MGA Entertainment, It was based off the original Furbys, and it was sold in 1999.

MGA Entertainment is also known for releasing Bratz dolls in 2001 and Lalaloopsy dolls in 2010.

Appearance

Koby resembles a bear and comes in three color combinations: Black/white, brown/white, and gray/white. Koby's eyes can be green, blue, or gray.  

Functions

Koby has a unique interactive program with voice recognition and is advertised on the box as a toy that can walk around. He can be fed, tickled and pet. He has a mouth sensor, back sensor, head sensor, tilt sensor, light sensor, and an infrared port that is used to communicate with another Koby. Koby also has a microphone that is located above his belly button which is used for him to respond to any commands and responses you give him. Koby can sing the alphabet song with you, allowing you to take turns singing parts of the song with him. Koby can wink his eyes, barf, and burp. 

Official Description

The following excerpt is from a capture of MGA's website in 1999 from the Wayback Machine:

With soft, huggable interactive Koby, the fun never stops! For kids of all ages, this amazing bear speaks to you and your friends in English, solves math problems, recognizes hundreds of voices, asks you questions and listens to your answers, winks, blinks, walks, features 17 different activities, over 400 play sequences, and more!

Gallery

Koby's logo from MGA's website

An image of a prototype brown Koby from MGA's website

An image of three prototype Kobys from MGA's website

Koby's tag

A black and white Koby

A brown and white Koby

Koby's sensors and battery compartment location

Koby's base

The main circuit boards inside Koby's are stamped "TOBY"

Kobys appear to have a "demo mode" that is inaccessible unless the divider keeping the switch limited to on and off is removed

The divider that prevents demo mode

Videos

Koby Furby Fake

Meet Koby The Interactive Bear

KOBY WORKS!!!!!!! part 1

KOBY WORKS!!!! Part 2

Trivia

• There is a second version of Koby called "Study Buddy Koby" and less resembles a furby.
• Mona Marshall voices Koby.
• The word "TOBY" stamped on the toy's main circuit board could mean that the toy's working name was Toby, but when the toy was released they changed it to Koby (this may not be true)
• Speaker issues seem very common with Koby.