Fossil Asteroids watch biggest POS ripoff EVER

[Pipercub]

I had seen this thing about a year ago and almost decided to order it but somehow never did. Just the other week I ran accross it again and I was very surprised that some of the 2,000 that were imported to the US were still available a year later! I mentioned it to the wife that I might like one for Xmass and forgot about it. She surprised me with it a few days later. Initially I was very impressed because the box looked so nice, as did the bezel styled inner box. I took it out of the box and glanced over the instructions which were pretty much a reprint of the website ad, dial and button annimate and play game.... So I pushed the button and the Asteroids began to move, Ok getting somewhere. I guessed that the watch dial would move the spacecraft and that the button would fire. No combination seemed to work. Read over everything again and no change.... Ok, called Fossil and after 3 people doing nothing more than reading the ad to me, I got ahold of someone else and they said that the watch was a animation only and that there was no playable game. In the course of the conversation he did admit that there was almost a 100% return rate and that he was hesitant to grant a return on this product. I reminded him he didn't have that option and that it was coming back.

 

Now I had to do a logic check here and make sure I wasn't the only guy who misread the ad. I am not a genius but I am a rocket scientist and when I came accross the watch I was at work, in the mission control center, and I showed it to a few other folks (scientists and engineers) who also looked at it and commented on how neat it was that there was a grownup gamewatch that you could wear without undue attention and still play a game here and there. To me, and everyone else that looked at it, animates means a demo, like a attract mode on an arcade machine, and plays means play as in interactive play. There was nothing that clearly stated animation only and no playable game. For $130 I would expect a functional game and not some silly ass animation. What the hell am I going to do with that? Anyway, the POS went back in the box and was at the post office within 15 min of arriving at the house. I hated to dislike a gift from the wife, and I really did my best to explain to her that I didn't want to hurt her feelings, but the boiling rage was something I could not hide. So do yourself a favor and do not buy this POS flashing animation that is NOT a functional game watch.

[Laner]

No offense, but how exactly did you expect to play it? It's pretty obvious from the Fossil site that it only has two buttons. You'd have a hard time playing just about any game with only two buttons, let alone one that originally required five.

 

I've only briefly seen it on a web site, and it was obvious from the get-go (to me, anyway) that it was only an animation, not a playable game.

Edited October 17, 2005 by Laner

[Flojomojo]

It's a nice looking watch IMHO. Never thought it would be playable ... maybe they need a big disclaimer or something.

[ATARIeric]

@ Pipercub: Thank you for the post, you definitely saved me a headache & possibly others from purchasing the watch. Thanks! Eric

[video game addict]

No offense, but how exactly did you expect to play it?  It's pretty obvious from the Fossil site that it only has two buttons.  You'd have a hard time playing just about any game with only two buttons, let alone one that originally required five.

 

I've only briefly seen it on a web site, and it was obvious from the get-go (to me, anyway) that it was only an animation, not a playable game.

949866[/snapback]

 

*cough**cough*

 

Pipercub, no harm intended either, just having fun. I'm curious though, what does this have to do with dedicated systems? You've already stated it isn't a game, so it doesn't really fit here either.

[+remowilliams]

I really wanted to get one when I first saw an add for it.

 

I figured it wasn't controllable, but for that money - I'd better be getting something actually RUNNING Asteroids, not flipping pictures at me

[Curt Vendel]

Hi Piper,

 

I agree and have stated to the Fossil contacts several times that the ads should properly state "Press dial to pause/play background video game animation" Yet it still says play game which does sound misleading.

 

I think you're being rather harsh to call it a POS though, I think its a very well made watch and we spent a great deal of time on the various animation sequences of the device. I would've loved for it to have been playable, but it was not commissioned to be a playable version, the device was spec'd to be a background LCD animation piece.

 

 

 

Curt

[spikey911]

Wow.... That looks neat......

 

Would love to buy that one, but its a bit too pricey...

 

Looks real nice though!

[supercat]

I think you're being rather harsh to call it a POS though, I think its a very well made watch and we spent a great deal of time on the various animation sequences of the device.

949911[/snapback]

 

I certainly see where you're coming from, but also where he's coming from. IMHO, you're both victims of the people who put forth deceptive ads for the product. I would expect that there would be a lot more happy owners of the product if the ad were accurate and truthful. The company would have had more net sales, more repeat customers, and fewer returns (which are expensive to process).

 

BTW, I'm reminded of the game Freeway. When it came out, the impression one got from the TV commercials was "Cool--Activision does Frogger!", and a lot of people bought it based on that impression. Even though Freeway is not a bad game, a lot of people bought it, said "Ugh--what a lousy version of Frogger", and set it on the shelf.

 

[bTW, how full is the Freeway ROM? I wonder if it could be hacked to support single-player fully-mobile play? Probably wouldn't even need a major kernel change if both players' Y coordinates and colors are set to match].

[Pipercub]

"No offense, but how exactly did you expect to play it? It's pretty obvious from the Fossil site that it only has two buttons. "

 

Easy, multifunction stems are nothing new, pull to wind, or pull to set and normal for winding etc. I figured that one would pull the stem out to set the time, and normal mode would control the rotation of the ship (or vice verse) and the button would fire, it seemed like a clever solution.

 

Curt, Your shop has had some top notch ideas that have been banged on for no reason. The FB1 was what it was, a product to pave the way for future legacy compatable hardware. I bought one. The FB2 was fantastic and the few minor glitches were way overblown and they didn't stop me from buying SEVERAL and spreading the word. The Rev2 FB2 will also be a must buy for me as soon as I see the shelves replenished. And you can count me in for a few FB3s. However, that does not make this absolute hunk of overpriced crap a good product. It could very well have been built playable and that would have been a killer product.

 

"Pipercub, no harm intended either, just having fun. I'm curious though, what does this have to do with dedicated systems? You've already stated it isn't a game, so it doesn't really fit here either."

 

It isn't a 2600, 5200 etc. and not a computer, and since it is an atari product that is dedicated to a single game (in a way) it fit here best.

Edited October 18, 2005 by Pipercub

[n8littlefield]

I have to agree that it was slightly mislabelled on the website, but I looked at it and thought it looked to be a very nice piece. I mean, it's a very nice looking watch, made by a reputable company, and a limited edition to boot. I would have to see one in person to say it for certain, but by the picture on the web, I'd be reluctant to label it a POS. I can understand being upset it's not playable, but it seems like a very nice watch, and that price is pretty reasonable for a very nice watch.

[Zwackery]

Argh, why couldn't they make a pocketwatch version?

 

I haven't worn a wristwatch since 1988...

[ATARIeric]

Argh, why couldn't they make a pocketwatch version?

 

 

That would be cool, your left/right buttons on the left side of face and thurst/fire on right side. with a hyperspace button on bottom center on the face.

 

I would buy that

[SteveW]

I knew that the watch wasn't going to be playable, it was only an animation. Mainly because Curt told me that himself at VGXpo in Dallas. I still want one, though. But I hope that I don't get a used one. I don't want to buy one that somebody's been screwing with, trying to get a game to play on it. I don't want it to have a broken knob.

[Retro Rogue]

Argh, why couldn't they make a pocketwatch version?

 

I haven't worn a wristwatch since 1988...

950326[/snapback]

 

 

And I haven't seen a pocketwatch worn since 1888.

[mos6507]

I think the best way to do a game in this form-factor is to have a tiny joystick like what is on the onHandPC and one fire button on the side so you could control the stick with your thumb and the fire button with your index finger.

 

Then you could have a 2600 Asteroids control-scheme.

 

 

I realize it wasn't Curt's decision to make, but the person who DID make the call goofed up in not making these playable. I think clearly the people interested in something like this are going to want something playable even if it's awkward to play it, otherwise it kind of defeats the purpose.

 

I can see a lot of awkward social situations where people are initially attracted to the watch and then you have to explain to them that they can't play it and have them possibly repsond by asking you what kind of weirdo you are for buying a watch that LOOKS like a game but isn't.

[Pipercub]

"I knew that the watch wasn't going to be playable, it was only an animation. Mainly because Curt told me that himself at VGXpo in Dallas. I still want one, though. But I hope that I don't get a used one. I don't want to buy one that somebody's been screwing with, trying to get a game to play on it. I don't want it to have a broken knob."

 

Oh, I am sure there is some other fool out there who would buy a non playable game watch, even if someone else already turned a dial designed to be turned and could not possibly be harmed by such. Given the return ratio I would bet that finding one NIB might be hard.

[pmpddytim]

"I knew that the watch wasn't going to be playable, it was only an animation. Mainly because Curt told me that himself at VGXpo in Dallas. I still want one, though. But I hope that I don't get a used one. I don't want to buy one that somebody's been screwing with, trying to get a game to play on it. I don't want it to have a broken knob."

 

Oh, I am sure there is some other fool out there who would buy a non playable game watch, even if someone else already turned a dial designed to be turned and could not possibly be harmed by such.

951050[/snapback]

 

No reason for name calling.

 

-Tim

[Gregory DG]

I hear Ben Heckendorn is making a watch that you can play 2600 carts on.

[ATARIeric]

The gameboy micro can be worn on your wrist, too bad it isnt a time piece.

 

Smaller, sleeker, and brighter-the Game Boy micro has all the power to play your favorite Game Boy Advance games, in an incredibly small size. Put it in your pocket, wear it on your wrist, hang it on your back pack-it can go with you anywhere. It's great for those moments when you have a little extra time to spare-waiting for the bus, traveling, or just standing in line-the Game Boy micro is ready when you are.

 

 

Im going to get a tomagatchi watch

[MaDDuck]

Personally I saw the ad for the watch some time ago, and figured out by reading the text, looking at the watch and using common sence that it's NOT playable.

 

Watching a game of Asteroids (vector NOT any home version, sorry 7800 Asteroids!), is a work of art! Seeing the triangular ship move, and shoot at the finely detailed wireframe rocks and UFOs is a thing of beauty. It was gorgous in 1978 (IIRC!) and it looks just as good now :!: :!: :!:

 

 

 

I get it, sorry others didn't.

 

 

BTW, I ordered one last week.

[Laner]

"No offense, but how exactly did you expect to play it? It's pretty obvious from the Fossil site that it only has two buttons. "

 

Easy, multifunction stems are nothing new, pull to wind, or pull to set and normal for winding etc. I figured that one would pull the stem out to set the time, and normal mode would control the rotation of the ship (or vice verse) and the button would fire, it seemed like a clever solution.

What about thrust and hyperspace?

[ZylonBane]

So does this thing use a dot matrix display, or a shape matrix?

 

 

As for Pipercub-- in every review of this watch I could find, the fact that it was non-playable was always among the first things they mentioned. I guess if you're well-off enough to drop over a hundred bucks on a freakin' watch without doing any research first, I can't be bothered to work up any sympathy for you.

Edited October 20, 2005 by ZylonBane

[Room 34]

BTW, I'm reminded of the game Freeway.  When it came out, the impression one got from the TV commercials was "Cool--Activision does Frogger!", and a lot of people bought it based on that impression.  Even though Freeway is not a bad game, a lot of people bought it, said "Ugh--what a lousy version of Frogger", and set it on the shelf.

Sorry to take this off-topic but...

 

Unless Activision was running commercials for Freeway a couple of years after it came out (which, of course, is possible), then this could not have happened. Activision's Freeway for the Atari 2600 preceded the original Frogger arcade game by a year.

[ATARIeric]

for someone 18 years old I would say its a good purchase when they are trying to establish credit for the first time by applying for a department store credit card, pay it off at the end of the month & then go to a car dealership to apply for the first time buyers program.

 

Too bad it cant play the game, I would of bought it

Edited October 20, 2005 by ATARIeric