Tiger 2-XL Robot (partially lost compact cassette tape edutainment games; 1992-1995): Difference between revisions

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(Pictures of six more French tapes have surfaced. Given that no tapes outside of these six are listed on the backs, save for the "World of 2-XL" pack-in tape, this may represent the entire French line.)
(Added images to the gallery that show Italian and French robot boxes, which have partial tape lists.)
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File:Rires_Et_Jeux.jpg | The French equivalent of "Fun and Games"
File:Rires_Et_Jeux.jpg | The French equivalent of "Fun and Games"
File:Voyage_Intersideral.jpg | The French equivalent "Voyage into Outer Space"
File:Voyage_Intersideral.jpg | The French equivalent "Voyage into Outer Space"
 
File:Italian_Tiger_2-XL_Box.jpg | Picture of the Italian Tiger 2-XL box, showing a list of 12 confirmed tapes.
File:French_Tiger_2-XL_Box.jpg | Picture of the French Tiger 2-XL box, showing a list of six confirmed tapes.
</gallery>
</gallery>
==References==
==References==

Revision as of 13:47, 28 July 2021

Tiger Scholastic Series.jpg

An advertisement showing the Tiger 2-XL Robot with the Scholastic Series, some of the last tapes produced before it was discontinued.

Status: Partially Lost

In 1992, toy company Tiger produced the Tiger 2-XL Robot, a children’s toy used the play trivia games and "Choose Your Own Adventure" games. It was an attempt at the modernization of the original 2-XL robot produced by Mego in 1978. While the original robot stored the trivia questions and answers on 8-track tapes, the Tiger version used compact cassette tapes. This allowed the tapes to be recorded with four mono audio tracks in the same direction. This is different from normal compact cassette tapes, as two tracks would usually be recorded in stereo in one direction. In comparison, two more tracks would be recorded in stereo in the other direction. As the questions were asked, the player would select their answer by pressing one of the four buttons on the robot. This would switch the track, and the different tracks contained different responses for different answers. This allowed 2-XL to “respond” differently depending on the player’s answer.[1] The English versions of the tapes are the most well-known. As with the original 1978 Mego 2-XL, the English voice was provided by Dr. Michael J Freeman, the inventor of both 2-XL variants. The Tiger 2-XL was taken off the market in 1995.

Preservation

The compact cassettes that were used for the Tiger 2-XL can be easily erased with a permanent magnet. Additionally, as this toy was for young children, the tapes may not have been well-cared-for. Thankfully, compact cassette tape players are still being made, though they are uncommon. Proper preservation requires a stereo tape deck. However, the recording is not intuitive due to all four tracks being recorded in the same direction. While two tracks will normally play from beginning to end, the other two will play in reverse from end to beginning. This will need to be fixed using an audio editor. Also, the tracks may become misaligned due to variations in tape speed. This will also require correction later. Several of the tapes have now been uploaded to the Internet Archive. Additionally, a simulator exists for playing with the 2-XL robot in a web browser. The simulator was written in JavaScript, and it features all 44 U.S. tapes from the Tiger 2-XL, as well as over 45 English-language tapes for the older Mego 2-XL. [2]

Various Findings

Throughout October 2019, LMW user TropesAreDangerous uploaded the following eight tapes to the Internet Archive on the account TheManWithNoPlan: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Attack of the 100 Foot Teenagers, Jurassic Park: Chaos in Jurassic Park, Ripley's Believe It Or Not!: The Strange & True, Batman: The Sizzling Scheme, Are You Afraid of the Dark?: Tale of the Phantom Manor, Spider-Man: For King and Country, Star Trek - The Next Generation Blinded by the Light, Tales from the Cryptkeeper: If Wishes Were Hornets. In December 2019, the same user uploaded the following eight tapes to the Internet Archive: Careers & You - Scholastic Series, All Time Top Topics, Jurassic Facts, Monsters, Myths, & Dinosaurs, Say Hello to Famous Folks, Treasure Chest of Facts and Fun, Trivia Time, and World of Science. Additionally, in December 2019, eBay listings were discovered for Italian Tiger 2-XL tapes. These revealed ten previously unknown titles that were released in Italy.

On January 7th, 2020, TropesAreDangerous uploaded Incredible Sports Feats onto the Internet Archive. Between March 7th and March 29th, 2020, TropesAreDangerous uploaded 9 games onto the Internet Archive. Those games being Scholastic Series: Fun With Words, Scholastic Series: Geography and You, Scholastic Series: Safety First, Storymaker, Sports World, Stars & Planets, Oceans of Fun, X-Men: Deadly Games, and X-Men: Ghosts that Haunt Us.

United States Releases

As with the original Mego 2-XL, the U.S. release of the Tiger 2-XL is more well-documented than releases in other countries. Fan-sites have compiled a total of 44 U.S tapes that are known to have been released. Four other tapes appeared on Later 2-XL boxes, but it is unknown whether they were produced. The Scholastic Series was released in 1994 as the last proper series of tapes for the system. However, a single tape, a Power Rangers tie-in, was released in 1995 shortly before Tiger discontinued the system.[3] Some of these tapes have made their way online through the Internet Archive. There is also a web-browser-based 2-XL simulator produced by Mouser of DonationCoder.com, which allows users to interact with a virtual 2-XL and play some of the tapes.[4]

Known International Releases

A small number of non-U.S. releases have been documented on 2-XL fan-sites. At least five tapes were released in Germany by the toy company, Joker. These releases are known from pictures of German packaging that were posted to a 2-XL fan-site. Audio clips from two of these tapes have also been uploaded online. At least four tapes were released in Italy by the company Gig, who rebranded many toys from around the world for the Italian market. Three of these tapes were found on a Gig promotional flier, containing blurry images of six tapes. The titles on these six items are not legible. An audio clip from one of these tapes has been uploaded online. At least five Spanish-language tapes are known to exist via a YouTube video by "Forever Toys," but it is unclear if this was a release in Spain, Mexico, or another country. At least seven tapes are known to have been released in France. Most of these tapes were branded by legendary toy company Kenner. All of these releases were based on existing U.S. releases from Tiger, but they were performed in their countries’ native languages. Finally, the Tiger 2-XL was released in the United Kingdom by toy company Tomy. These tapes, like the U.S. releases, were recorded in English by Michael J Freeman. However, at least one tape had noticeable differences from the U.S version. [5]

Obscure Releases

According to a 2-XL fan-site, there were a few other releases of the Tiger 2-XL. The fan-site lists Mexico, Spain, Russia, Japan and makes mention of other countries in Latin America. [5] The Spanish-language tapes could possibly be from Spain, Mexico, or one of the miscellaneous Latin American countries. However, there are no known breakdowns of which Spanish-language tapes were released in which countries. Audio clips have surfaced online from two different Spanish-language versions of the "World of 2-XL" tape, in which one is believed to have been from Spain, while the other is believed to have been from Mexico. A small audio clip of an unknown 2-XL tape from Japan has also appeared online, believed to be from a Tiger 2-XL release. No images of Tiger 2-XL tapes or tape lists from Russia or Japan have resurfaced, leaving those releases shrouded in mystery.

U.S. Releases

Title Status of Audio Year of Release Status of Workbooks
2-XLebrations! Existence Unconfirmed N/A N/A
African Safari Found 1992 N/A
All-Time Top Topics Found 1992 N/A
Amazing World Records Found 1992 N/A
Are You Afraid of the Dark?: Tale of the Phantom Manor – Nickelodeon Found 1994 N/A
Batman: Carnival of Crime Found 1993 N/A
Batman: The Sizzling Scheme Found 1993 N/A
Careers & You - Scholastic Series Found 1994 N/A
Count on 2-XL (possibly released as “Count On It”) Existence Unconfirmed N/A N/A
Count On It – Scholastic Series Found 1994 Found
Fascinating Facts Found 1992 N/A
Food Facts and You Found 1992 N/A
Friends From Far Away Existence Unconfirmed N/A N/A
Fun and Games Found 1992 N/A
Fun With Words – Scholastic Series Found 1994 Found
Geography and You – Scholastic Series Found 1994 Found
Incredible Sports Feats Found 1992 N/A
Jurassic Facts Found 1993 N/A
Jurassic Park: Chaos in Jurassic Park Found 1994 N/A
Letter Perfect Found 1993 Found
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Attack of the 100 Foot Teenagers Found 1995 N/A
Monsters, Myths, & Dinosaurs Found 1992 N/A
Music Maker Found 1993 N/A
Nature & You – Scholastic Series Found 1994 N/A
Oceans of Fun Found 1993 N/A
On the Go! Existence Unconfirmed N/A N/A
Pet Parade Found 1993 N/A
Planet Earth Found 1992 N/A
Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!: The Strange & True Found 1992 N/A
Safety First - Scholastic Series Found 1994 N/A
Say Hello to Famous Folks Found 1992 N/A
Spider-Man: For King and Country Found 1994 N/A
Sports World Found 1992 N/A
Stars and Planets Found 1993 Found
Star Trek – The Next Generation: Blinded by the Light Found 1994 N/A
Storymaker Found 1992 N/A
Superman – The Man of Steel: A New Hero in Town Found 1994 N/A
Superman – The Man of Steel: Mayhem in Metropolis Found 1994 N/A
Surprise Package Found 1992 N/A
Tales from the Cryptkeeper: If Wishes Were Hornets Found 1994 N/A
Treasure Chest of Facts and Fun Found 1992 N/A
Trivia Time Found 1992 N/A
Voyage to Outer Space Found 1992 N/A
World of 2-XL Found 1992 N/A
World of Animals Found 1992 N/A
World of Science Found 1992 N/A
X-Men: Deadly Games Found 1994 N/A
X-Men: Ghosts That Haunt Us Found 1994 N/A

German Releases

Title English Translation Status Description
Geschichten, die Noch Keiner Kent Stories That Nobody Knows Yet Lost This was the German release of the U.S. tape, Storymaker.
Das Galubt Kein Mensch That Does Not Believe Man Partially Found This was the German release of the U.S tape, Fascinating Facts.
Dinos, Monster und Gespenter Dinos, Monsters, and Ghosts Lost This appears to have been a German release of the U.S tape, Monsters, Myths, & Dinosaurs, although it curiously substitutes Ghosts for Myths.
Unser Planet Erde Our Planet Earth Lost This appears to have been a German release of the U.S tape, Planet Earth.
Die Welt des 2-XL The World of 2-XL Partially Found This was the German release of the World of 2-XL, which seems to have been the introductory tape in all countries.

Italian Releases

Title English Translation Status Description
Il Mondo di 2-XL The World of 2-XL Found This was the Italian release of the “World of 2-XL”, which seems to have been the introductory tape in all countries.
Nel Mondo Della Musica The World of Music Found This appears to have been the Italian release of Music Maker.
Agenti Sergeti e Detective 2-XL Detective (or Secret Agent Detective) Found The U.S. equivalents, if any, for this tape are unclear.
Avventura Nello Spazio Space Adventure Found This appears to have been the Italian release of the Voyage to Outer Space.
Il Nostro, Planeta, La Natura, L'Ecologia Our Planet, Nature, Ecology Lost This was probably the Italian equivalent of the U.S "Planet Earth" tape.
Il Mondo Della Scienza The World of Science Lost This was probably the Italian equivalent of the U.S. World of Science tape.
Il Mondo Del Misterio The World of Mystery Lost The U.S. equivalents, if any, for this tape are unclear.
Il Mondo Degli Animali The World of Animals Lost This was likely the Italian equivalent of the U.S. World of Animals tape.
Il Mondo Dello Sport The World of Sports Found This was likely the Italian equivalent of the U.S. Sports World tape.
Alla Scoperta Del Corpa Umano Discovering the Human Body Found The U.S. equivalents, if any, for this tape are unclear.
Giochi Ed Indevinelli Games and Riddles Lost The U.S. equivalents, if any, for this tape are unclear.
Miti e Leggende Myths and Legends Lost The U.S. equivalents, if any, for this tape are unclear.
Le Cose piu strane ed Incredibili The Strangest and Most Incredible Things Found The U.S. equivalents, if any, for this tape are unclear.
Viaggio Nella Storia Journey Through History Lost The U.S. equivalents, if any, for this tape are unclear. It could have been "Say Hello to Famous Folks."
Il Mondo Delle Fiabe The World of Fairy Tales Lost This was most likely the Italian equivalent of the U.S. tape "Storymaker."

Spanish-Language Releases (Country Uncertain unless noted)

Title English Translation Status Description
El Mundo de 2-XL (believed to be the Spain version) The World of 2-XL Partially Found This was a Spanish-language release of The World of 2-XL. It is believed to have been released in Spain. It is believed that there was a separate release in Mexico with different voice lines. Credit to LMW Forum user p4ndr1x for pointing out the differences in the dialects.
El Mundo de 2-XL (believed to be the Mexico version) The World of 2-XL Partially Found This was a Spanish-language release of The World of 2-XL. It is believed to have been released in Mexico. It is believed that there was a separate release in Spain with different voice lines. Credit to LMW Forum user p4ndr1x for pointing out the differences in the dialects.
El Mundo de la Ciencia The World of Science Lost This was the Spanish-language release of World of Science.
Monstruos, Mitos, y Dinosaurios Monsters, Myths, and Dinosaurs Lost This was the Spanish-language release of Monsters, Myths, and Dinosaurs.
Planeta Tierra Planet Earth Lost This was the Spanish-language release of Planet Earth.
Hechos Fascinantes Fascinating Facts Lost This was the Spanish-language release of Fascinating Facts.
El Pais de los Cuentos The Country of Tales Lost This appears to have been the Spanish-language release of Storymaker.
Juegos y Diversiones Games and Entertainment Lost This appears to have been the Spanish-language release of Fun and Games.
El Mundo de los Animales The World of Animals Lost This was the Spanish-language release of World of Animals

French Releases

Title English Translation Status Description
A la découverte de 2-XL The World of 2-XL Partially Found This was the French release of the World of 2-XL, which seems to have been the introductory tape in all countries.
Histoires Extraordinaires Extraordinary Stories Lost This French tape uses the background from the U.S. tape "Fascinating Facts".
Voyage Intersideral Interstellar Travel Lost This was the French release of the U.S. tape "Voyage Into Outer Space".
Monstres, Mythes, and Dinosaures Monsters, Myths, and Dinosaurs Lost This was the French release of the U.S. tape "Monsters, Myths, and Legends". It is unclear why 'legends' was exchanged with 'dinosaurs'
Rires Et Jeux Laughter and Games Lost This was the French release of the U.S. tape "Fun and Games".
Au Pays Des Contes In the Land of Fairy Tales Lost This was the French release of the U.S. tape "Storyteller"
Le Monde Des Animaux Animal World Lost This was the French release of the U.S. tape "The World of Animals"

Known U.K.-Modified English Releases

Title Status Description
Sports World Partially Found Differences have been documented with the wording of question #15 and the options on question #16.

Japanese Releases

Title Status Description
Unknown Partially Found This 27-second clip is believed to have come from a Tiger 2-XL tape released in Japan. However, no one has been able to identify the title.

Gallery

A U.S. commercial for the Tiger 2-XL (Courtesy of GeorgeVHS).

Video evidence of the Spanish-language Tiger 2-XL tapes (Courtesy of Forever Toys).

An Italian commercial for the Tiger 2-XL (Courtesy of Latte e Cartoni Time Machine).

A demonstration of the U.K. release of the 2-XL by Tomy (Courtesy of Robot Elixir).

References