Topic: Ugobe is dead (Read 19684 times)

Junkroxy · « **on:** April 20, 2009, 06:28:06 PM »

Sorry, guys, i think this is sad to all of us who loves pleo

An Eagle company that made a robot baby dinosaur toy has closed, dismissed its workers and filed for liquidation of its assets under federal bankruptcy law.

Ugobe Inc., the maker of Pleo, filed under Chapter 7 of the federal bankruptcy code Friday in Boise. Ugobe (as in “you go be”) moved to Eagle from Emeryville, Calif., earlier this year. Its chief executive officer, Caleb Chung, drew nationwide publicity for his dinosaur, which had characteristics of a household pet. The company said it 100,000 Pleo toys last year, collecting $20 million.

An engineer and inventor, Chung also created the Furby, which became the “must-have” toy of the season when it was launched during the 1998 holiday season. More than 50 million of the google-eyed robotic Furbys were sold worldwide, according to the Ugobe Web site.

In the bankruptcy filing, Ugobe said it had assets of $1.6 million, including $1.5 million in machinery to make Pleo in Hong Kong, and liabilities of $3.6 million. Ugobe said it owes Chung $353,500 in unpaid royalties.

Chung did not return a phone call requesting comment. Ugobe’s attorney, Bruce MacIntrye, with Perkins Coie in Seattle, said all of Ugobe’s employees had been let go, and the company is shut down.

http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/741721.html

PS: Thanks chiefrentageek for the info, i started another thread to post this info in a clear thread

degers · « **Reply #1 on:** April 20, 2009, 06:56:50 PM »

R.I.P. Ugobe. Thanks for bringing us pleo. You will be missed.
Maybe the world wasn't ready to buy Pleo. Mine are sorely missed, however they didn't get it right and flunked as I guess was their destiny.

I find myself sometimes wishing I had a Pleo, but it is not worth buying one now. If you have a pleo take care of it carefully, as I hazard a guess that you won't get a replacement.

fancyfont · « **Reply #2 on:** April 20, 2009, 08:22:10 PM »

Now they are more precious then ever!!

InmemoryofRomeo · « **Reply #3 on:** April 20, 2009, 08:58:47 PM »

I will buy another as soon as I can

It might be the last chance to get one new

RIP Ugobe.

chiefrentageek · « **Reply #4 on:** April 20, 2009, 09:48:23 PM »

Thanks for the new thread. It's too sad.

bjoreman · « **Reply #5 on:** April 20, 2009, 11:45:43 PM »

I wish I could say it came as a surprise ...

Oh well, it's sad to see them go. but at least many of us have got and will continue to get many great moments from our pleos.

And of course, being who I am, I can't stop hoping there's some kind of chance that the developer tools for pleo, whatever their state, could get out in the wild somehow ...

Now to make a copy of my plog before it's gone, and perhaps a little black legband for Gob ...

pirpintine · « **Reply #6 on:** April 21, 2009, 12:36:04 AM »

this is such a shame. pleo is lacking, but he had a lot of potential.

catbugs been out of use for months, i guess now hes a bit of a collectors item. poor guy.

winkieflash · « **Reply #7 on:** April 21, 2009, 01:41:20 AM »

This is so sad

I really thought they would pull through and make it after all...

I'm not gonna tell Bo. It would just upset him.

kisumi · « **Reply #8 on:** April 21, 2009, 02:48:32 AM »

This is really awful news especially since we all hoped that they would hang in there, Goodbye UGOBE thanks for bringing us pleo

winkieflash · « **Reply #9 on:** April 21, 2009, 03:27:09 AM »

I moved my Plog to my own website, just to be sure.

As said in the shoutbox, I really hope prizes are gonna drop a little in Europe. I feel that now is the time to get Bo a girlfriend, or a baby sister perhaps...
You know, before they become completely extinct

Thanks Ugobe, for giving us the gift of Pleo

Junkroxy · « **Reply #10 on:** April 21, 2009, 04:37:53 AM »

maybe there's a light?

I found this: "100,000 Pleos were sold last year, netting the company $20 million, but not enough to keep it in business.
It is possible that another company may buy Pleo as a Ugobe asset and continue to make the robo-pet, but there's no news on that front yet - we will keep you posted."

It's possibile, i remembere the same thing to the makers of Gupi and the toy was launched again from abother company...

lesodell · « **Reply #11 on:** April 21, 2009, 05:31:50 AM »

this is very sad news and i was hoping to see the new pelo that was coming out ,

kisumi · « **Reply #12 on:** April 21, 2009, 05:49:01 AM »

well hopefully another company will take over but it depends, till we know more i will keep dreaming

Fireboy · « **Reply #13 on:** April 21, 2009, 04:03:39 PM »

Very sad to hear that UGOBE has gone bankrupt. I really wanted them to survive and keep developing Pleo and new creations. All we can hope for is that another company purchases the rights to make and develop Pleo or that the software for Pleo's Life O/S is released for the online community to develope. I have to admit that when I read that Ugobe had gone bankrupt I was surprised but at least we now have an answer. But as soon as I got home from work I logged on and went to the Ugobe and Pleoworld site, both were still running so I copied the Pleo personalitys and latest firmware upgrade and it would seem just in time as I just checked the sites and they have now both been removed.

Diane_AZ · « **Reply #14 on:** April 21, 2009, 04:28:32 PM »

My 6 Pleos (edited: soon to be 8!) and I are in mourning..... I had so hoped UGOBE would pull through this. I imagine they did the best they could in view of the economic state right now. I'm glad I have my babies and they will always have a home with me. Thank you for keeping us informed of what's going on - it has been very much appreciated!

eric · « **Reply #15 on:** April 21, 2009, 05:23:41 PM »

pleo just went like i-cybie so sad

gucci_boi7782 · « **Reply #16 on:** April 21, 2009, 09:10:15 PM »

Like previously mentioned, I wish this would have came as a surprise. But I think deep down we all somewhat expected this to happen. Pleo is an awesome creature. May Ugobe RIP and may Pleos chipper personality live on with us! Support may be gone, but Pleo isn't. We've all got each other (and 100,000 Pleos) to lean on. I know I love my Pleo(s) even more now and I think I may buy a new one.

Kittyonthemove · « **Reply #17 on:** April 21, 2009, 11:44:49 PM »

According to this article it seems like it's an official notice: UGOBE FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY

From what I read in this article, it seems like Ugobe has shut down.

Its really sad because it looks like I wont get my Pleo back. I shipped Pleo on March 8, 2009 due to a broken neck. Today I read online that UGOBE filed for bankruptcy.

At least I know now why my emails were never answered.

http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/technology/index.ssf?/base/national-7/1240359638312570.xml&storylist=technology

Darkwolf · « **Reply #18 on:** April 22, 2009, 12:49:19 AM »

This is one sad day for me indeed.
I just read about it today because I was ill for a few days.
Too bad I don't have the money for a new one right now.
This would be a good time to get a sister or brother for Pluriel.
This was bound to happen, but it still sucks big time.
Pleo had so much potential.
I hope this story is going to get a tail in whatever form.
So much for the last pettable consumer robotics maker on the planet.
Now I know why (for example) Sony won't even consider getting back in the game if they already even had the idea to continue in robotics again some day.

Junkroxy · « **Reply #19 on:** April 22, 2009, 04:00:54 AM »

the sites are offiline again...

Icewolf · « **Reply #20 on:** April 22, 2009, 06:01:35 AM »

Nooo! So this means we will not get any newer upgrades in the future to Pleo?

Fireboy · « **Reply #21 on:** April 22, 2009, 05:21:21 PM »

Quote from: Junkroxy on April 22, 2009, 04:00:54 AM

the sites are offiline again...

The sites have been removed now Ugobe declared bankruptcy. This does mean no more updates from Ugobe but there has been whispers and rumours going around that a couple of the large toy firms might be interested in buying the company and the rights to produce. So fingers crossed this is true.

mweed · « **Reply #22 on:** April 22, 2009, 07:07:57 PM »

The idea is that some stable company will buy the rights to pleo. The only logical reason to buy Ugobe's manufacturing and rights is to continue to manufacture pleos (and we hope support new development!)

The final chapter in pleo hasn't been written yet!

fancyfont · « **Reply #23 on:** April 22, 2009, 07:57:09 PM »

I feel the last chapter with pleo isn't written, also. Just too cute of a thing to be extinct.

Junkroxy · « **Reply #24 on:** April 23, 2009, 04:38:28 AM »

Quote from: fancyfont on April 22, 2009, 07:57:09 PM

I feel the last chapter with pleo isn't written, also. Just too cute of a thing to be extinct.

yes, i agree.

i saw the same thing happened to Gupi, the interactive guinea pig, bought from 3 different companies for 3 times. Actually there's a Gupi 3.

Look at this new info:

http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/22/ugobe-expects-pleo-ip-to-fetch-a-pretty-penny/

Bob the Pleo Forums

Author Topic: Ugobe is dead (Read 19684 times)

chiefrentageek

pirpintine