When Sega is mentioned, many gamers are undoubtedly very familiar with it, as it is a long-established and highly respected Japanese gaming company with a rich history in the industry. This company has launched many popular and globally acclaimed games, such as “Contra Returns,” “Three Kingdoms Chronicles,” and “The King of Fighters ’97: Revival,” which have accompanied many friends born in the 1970s and 1980s through their wonderful childhoods.
At this point, some friends might be curious: why is the editor bringing up Sega today? Could it be that Sega has recently released some blockbuster new game, which the editor wants to introduce and share?
The answer is no. What the editor wants to share today is the news of Sega’s “failure,” but not with a virtual video game. Instead, it concerns a pet plush cat toy named Kimit.
On March 1st, Sega launched this Kimit pet plush cat toy, stating that the toy was specifically developed for those who like cats but are allergic to them, or whose communities might not allow pet ownership.
Sega claims that this Kimit pet plush cat was developed from data collected from over 100 real cats, aiming to mimic everything about a cat. This plush cat sounds just like a real cat, with purring sounds, dilated pupils, and meowing, among other features.
Additionally, this plush cat also has a heartbeat sound; if you hug it, it also feels warm, and its fur feels just like petting a real cat. Essentially, the Kimit pet cat is an artificial intelligence simulated pet cat, an excellent substitute for those who love cats but, for various reasons, cannot keep real cats.
This Kimit pet plush cat was priced at 33,000 yen, roughly equivalent to about 1,500 yuan, and it has been on the market for less than two months. So, what exactly is the problem with this product that caused Sega to hurriedly announce a recall on April 18th?
The reason is that Sega received customer feedback confirming that the Kimit pet cat purchased by this customer had a burnt smell. After investigation, it was determined that the cause was the heating of the internal control motor IC, which led to the charring of the fabric that came into contact with the micromotor unit cover, hence the burnt smell.
Sega has stated that, so far, there have been no real cases of injury or fire caused by this issue. However, putting customer safety first, the company has decided to immediately stop selling this product and recall all Kimit pet cats that have been sold, offering a full refund.
Additionally, Sega is advising customers who have already purchased the Kimit pet cat to immediately turn off the power and stop using it. The company deeply apologizes for the inconvenience and trouble caused to customers and states that it will strengthen its product quality management system in the future. Below is the original text of Sega’s recall notice.
Simply put, the internal IC heating issue of the Kimit pet cat has not been adequately resolved. Continued use can generate high temperatures, which may char nearby fabric and even cause a fire, posing a significant safety hazard.
Therefore, Sega has decided to immediately recall this product. The overall attitude is very commendable and deserves recognition. It is hoped that Sega will implement more rigorous certifications in future product developments to avoid similar incidents.
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