Hello Kitty Minutiae: February 2008

Friday, February 29, 2008

Sanrio inks Hello Kitty deal with tokidoki

Sanrio, the house of Hello Kitty, has inked a co-branding partnership with Italian design house tokidoki to create a line of products (from accessories to apparel) based on the world-famous feline for the US market.

The tokidoki for Hello Kitty limited-edition collection will feature product ranging from vinyl dolls and jewellery to apparel, including t-shirts, tanks, hoodies, fleece tops, fleece shorts and dresses.

Signature tokidoki style is evident on super cute designs created by the company's artist-in-residence Simone Legno that feature foil, flocking and other unique treatments.

The collection is currently at retailers in Japan and will make its US debut in Metro Park and Macy's department stores in April 2008. Prices range from US$40 (tank tops) to US$92 (hoodies).

Source

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

eBay vintage bike!

this bike is so awesome! the auction states that it is a 1972 bridgestone children's bike and the asking price is $1000 - here is the link: awesome bike! i have to dispute the age though because hello kitty wasn't created until 1975.

Friday, February 15, 2008

Hello Kitty MMORPG Beta!!!!!!

Hello Kitty MMORPG goes beta (13-02-2008) (from hellokittyonline.com)

Sanrio Digital's "Hello Kitty Online" accepting players for closed beta

Hong Kong - February 13, 2008: Sanrio Digital (www.sanriodigital.com) today announced the closed beta launch of "Hello Kitty Online", a Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) based on the famous Sanrio characters. Hello Kitty Online allows players to explore and adventure in Sanrio's fantasy world, a magical land that has recently fallen under the influence of a mysterious and malevolent power.

Players for the closed beta version are invited to apply at the official game site (www.hellokittyonline.com) or community site (www.sanriotown.com) and experience Hello Kitty Online in advance of the game release expected in the second half of 2008. Targeting female players from their pre-teens to twenties, Hello Kitty Online is the first installable MMORPG to set its sights on this demographic profile.

Hello Kitty Online is fully integrated with official Sanrio portal Sanriotown.com, which utilizes blogs, email, video sharing, Sanrio merchandise sales and more to create a digital and social experience accessible at any time. Players of Hello Kitty Online can extend their game experience on Sanriotown.com by interacting with other players, purchasing upgrades for their in-game characters, etc.

In addition to the standard MMORPG features such as customizable avatars, guilds, skill systems, and player economy, some of the outstanding Hello Kitty Online features include:

Unique game world:
a persistent, beautifully designed environment where thousands of players and NPCs live, explore and quest in a magical world with real and imaginary zones such as the Flower Kingdom, Tokyo, Paris, Moscow, and more. Real world locations offer players the ability to learn about those places.
Unique NPCs:
players will encounter and interact with popular Sanrio characters such as Hello Kitty, Badtz-Maru, My Melody, Keroppi, and many others, all animated with a variety of contextual facial-expressions.
Free to play:
Hello Kitty Online is downloaded and played free of charge. There are no subscription fees.
Character upgrades:
the Item Mall allows players to use real money to purchase special items and upgrades for characters.
Player housing:
players can build and customize their own houses after acquiring the necessary licenses and materials. Houses depreciate over time and need to be maintained properly or will fall in disuse. A homeowner can invite someone to visit by making an in-game telephone call, and the player called will automatically be transported to the house if she agrees.
Crafting system:
Hello Kitty Online has an extensive crafting system with output such as tools & weapons, farming implements & furniture, a wide variety of cooked dishes, and clothing for decorative and stat-modifying items. Raw materials include wood, minerals and metals, and crops.
Farming:
players can run their own farms, which offer extra storage room and have the potential to produce important raw materials. The farming system incorporates a number of variables such as fertility, pest infestations, and crop characteristics.
A different focus:
although it has a sophisticated combat system, unlike other MMORPGs combat need not be a primary objective for players of Hello Kitty Online. There are many puzzles to be solved, mini-games to compete in, story lines to follow, and adventures to experience.