- Star Bird
Star Bird is a plastic-bodied, electronic handheld toy that was produced by MB Electronics from
1979 .The Star Bird manual describes it as "THE AMAZING SPACESHIP with realistic engine sounds and flashing laser blasts". The toy is only used in three configurations: the Star Bird which consists of all available pieces, the Star Bird Fighter which is mostly only the front hull, and the Star Bird Orbiter which is the main body without the front hull. When turned on the Star Bird mimics an engine sound. If the toy is pointed upwards the sound would automatically be altered to imply acceleration or taking-off, while a nose down orientation gives the sound of decelerating engines. A button activates the
LED s at the front of the toy, along with a blast noise, to simulate the firing of its lasers. A simple, detachable drone-like "Interceptor" is provided at the end of each wing. It also had a rotating laser turret which doubled as an escape-pod/orbiter-type ship.Follow-up toys to the Star Bird, called the Star Bird
Space Avenger and the Star BirdCommand Base , arrived on the market in 1979.This toy was developed by Bing McCoy who designed a number of successful toys in the late 70's including Electronic Battleship and ROM the Spaceknight.
External links
* [http://www.starbirdcommand.com/ StarBird Command]
* [http://www.bugeyedmonster.com/toys/starbird/ Bugeyed Monster]
* [http://www.handheldmuseum.com/MB/StarBird.htm Handheld Games Museum]
* [http://www.stonefoundationentertainment.com/starbird.html StarBird]
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