How to Help the Microsoft ActiMates Showcase Upload More Content

From 1997 up until 2000, Microsoft released these interactive toys called ActiMates. They could be used as stand-alone toys, but the fun increased when they were equipped with the ActiMates TV Pack and ActiMates PC Pack, enabling them to interact with VHS tapes, television broadcasts and CD-ROM games respectively! The ActiMates characters will also interact with episodes of Barney, Arthur and Teletubbies that were taped from TV! Some Arthur tapes from 2000-2005 even have some episodes that still work with ActiMates Arthur and D.W.!

If you happen to have any ActiMates compatible Barney & Friends, Arthur and Teletubbies videos or any blank tapes of ActiMates encoded episodes recorded from PBS or PBS Kids Sprout (episodes that you have that work with ActiMates Barney, Arthur, D.W. and the ActiMates Teletubbies), then here is your chance to help me upload more content on the Microsoft ActiMates Showcase, therefore continuing our mission to bring ActiMates to today's children, and people who never got to experience ActiMates in their country! Read below for requirements and instructions on how to do so.

REQUIREMENTS

1. You must have at least one ActiMates character. If you're contributing any Arthur content, you'll need both Arthur and D.W. for the full effect, but you can also send me audio of both of them separately if you want to, and I can mix them together. Same goes for if you're contributing any Teletubbies content. You'll need all of them for the full effect, but I'll also allow you to send me audio of all of them separately and I can mix them together.
2. You must have the ActiMates TV Pack.
3. You must have at least one ActiMates compatible video or blank tape with at least one episode recorded from PBS or PBS Kids Sprout that works with the ActiMates characters. As for the official videos, I'm only accepting the ones listed under "Videos and Episodes I Am Currently Accepting," as I was already able to obtain most of the video releases myself.
4. If you have any of the ActiMates Teletubbies, you will need to make sure there is a radio cartridge in each of them, depending on how many you have. According to a page in the TV Pack manual from 1999, some later versions of Barney, Arthur and D.W. may also require a radio cartridge, so if you have any of those, be sure look in the battery compartment. If you see a radio cartridge door in the battery compartment (which would be under where the batteries go), you'll need a radio cartridge. If you don't see said radio cartridge door, then your versions of any of the three aforementioned characters you have already contain a built-in radio cartridge, and you won't need a separate radio cartridge.
5. You must have a microphone to record the stuff the ActiMates characters say during the shows. A video capture card is preferred for the video you send me. You can also use the microphone from your smartphone or tablet (if it has a microphone built in). You can also use a pickup coil and put it to the speaker, if you happen to have one.
6. You will need the ActiMates PC Pack if you plan on sending me gameplays of the ActiMates compatible CD-ROMs. You'll also need to make sure you have a computer that works with the PC transmitter, and that means it needs to have a MIDI port.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Tell me what you what ActiMates compatible videos or TV episodes you have to send me video captures and (ActiMates character) audio for that are listed under "Videos and Episodes I Am Currently Accepting" via this survey. You can also send me a list of what you have in the comments section below. 
2. Using your microphone, record what the character says throughout the show. Also, please try to make sure the quality of the audio coming from your recording is as high as possible and try to limit as much of the background noise as possible.
3. Record the video file using a video capture card (assuming you have one).
4. Send me the video and audio files to me any way you can. Examples include my email (thevideolover3@gmail.com), Google Drive or an unlisted YouTube link. If you are unable to send the content in any of these ways, you could find another way to send it to me. You can compile the video and audio yourself or you can send them to me separately and I can compile them myself. Also, if you are sending me the video and audio via my email, do it if you would like to send me any links to what you're sending me if you plan on doing so from elsewhere.
5. If you have any blank tapes of any Barney, Arthur or Teletubbies episodes taped off of PBS, you'll need to make sure that your ActiMates character is interacting with the show before you can go through steps 2, 3 and 4. There are two ways to tell if your tapes or blank tapes are ActiMates compatible:

• The green light on your VCR Transmitter will be on and blinking.

• On some newer televisions (depending on the picture settings) and quite a few capture cards, you will see a black and white barcode-like thing along the left side of the video frame. This is actually the signal which enabled the toys to function with VHS releases and television broadcasts from PBS, as well as some Barney & Friends episodes from seasons 4, 5 and 6 on PBS Kids Sprout.

Videos and Episodes I Am Currently Accepting

I have a list of what episodes and videos I am currently accepting depending on what you have. You can also send me audio recordings of ActiMates Tinky Winky and Dipsy for the 1999 Microsoft ActiMates Introductory Video. You can even send me gameplays of the ActiMates compatible CD-ROM titles if you have the PC Pack and a computer with a MIDI port.

BARNEY & FRIENDS

Waiting for Santa (UK VHS)

Campfire Sing-Along (Canadian VHS) (if there were ever any copies that were ActiMates compatible)

Barney Goes To School (UK VHS) (if there were ever any copies that were ActiMates compatible)

Barney Goes To School (Canadian VHS)

Barney in Concert (UK VHS)

Rock with Barney (UK VHS) (if there were ever any copies that were ActiMates compatible)

Rock With Barney (Canadian VHS)

101. The Queen Of Make-Believe

102. My Family's Just Right For Me 

103. Playing It Safe 

104. Hop To It! 

105. Eat, Drink And Be Healthy! 

106. Four Seasons Day

107. The Treasure Of Rainbow Beard

108. Going Places!

109. Caring Means Sharing

110. Down On Barney's Farm

111. What's That Shadow? 

112. Happy Birthday, Barney!

113. Alphabet Soup!

114. Our Earth, Our Home 

115. Let's Help Mother Goose!

116. Be A Friend 

117. "I Just Love Bugs" 

118. When I Grow Up... 

119. 1-2-3-4-5 Senses!

120. Practice Makes Music 

121. Hi, Neighbor! 

122. A Camping We Will Go!

123. A Splash Party, Please (television broadcast)

124. Carnival Of Numbers

125. A World Of Music

126. Doctor Barney Is Here! 

127. Oh, What A Day!

128. Home Sweet Homes 

129. Hola, Mexico!

130. Everyone Is Special

Barney's Musical Adventure (UK VHS)

201. Falling For Autumn! 

202. Grandparents Are Grand!

203. May I Help You? 

204. Red, Blue And Circles Too!

205. Honk! Honk! A Goose On The Loose! 

206. Hoo's In The Forest? 

207. I Can Do That! 

208. Grown-Ups For A Day! 

209. Picture This! 

210. Look At Me, I'm 3! 

211. The Exercise Circus!

212. My Favorite Things 

213. The Dentist Makes Me Smile 

214. Stop, Look And Be Safe!

215. An Adventure In Make Believe

216. The Alphabet Zoo (television broadcast)

217. Having Tens Of Fun!

218. A Very Special Delivery!

Barney's Alphabet Zoo (Canadian VHS) (if there were ever any copies that were ActiMates compatible)

Barney Live! in New York City (UK VHS)

Barney Live! in New York City (Canadian VHS)

Barney's Imagination Island (UK VHS)

Barney's Imagination Island (Canadian VHS)

301. Shawn & The Beanstalk 

302. If The Shoe Fits... 

303. Room For Everyone 

304. I Can Be A Firefighter! 

305. Shopping For A Surprise!

Barney Safety (Canadian VHS)

306. Any Way You Slice It 

307. Twice Is Nice! 

308. On The Move (television broadcast)

309. A Welcome Home 

310. Classical Cleanup 

311. Our Furry Feathered Fishy Friends 

312. Gone Fishing!

313. At Home With Animals 

314. It's Raining, It's Pouring... 

315. Camera Safari 

316. Who's Who On The Choo Choo? (television broadcast)

317. Are We There Yet? (television broadcast)

318. Ship, Ahoy! 

319. Hats Off To BJ! 

320. Up We Go!

Barney's Making New Friends (UK VHS) (if there were ever any copies that were ActiMates compatible)

Barney's Making New Friends (Canadian VHS)

Riding In Barney's Car (Canadian VHS)

Barney Songs & Live from Deep in the Jungle (Blockbuster VHS)

Barney Songs (UK VHS)

Barney's All Aboard For Sharing (Canadian VHS) (if there were ever any copies that were ActiMates compatible)

Barney's Talent Show (UK VHS)

Barney's Talent Show (Canadian VHS) (if there were ever any copies that were ActiMates compatible)

Kids for Character & Barney Safety (Blockbuster VHS)

Barney's Fun & Games (an ActiMates compatible copy of the 1996 print)

Barney's Fun & Games (UK VHS)

Barney's Fun & Games (Canadian VHS)

Barney's 1-2-3-4 Seasons (UK VHS)

Barney's 1-2-3-4 Seasons (Canadian VHS) (an ActiMates compatible copy, as my copy is not ActiMates compatible despite the ActiMates compatible sticker being on the case)

Barney's Once Upon A Time (UK VHS)

Barney's Once Upon A Time (Canadian VHS) (an ActiMates compatible copy, as my copy is not ActiMates compatible despite the ActiMates compatible sticker being on the case)

Barney's Sense-Sational Day (UK VHS)

Barney's Sense-Sational Day (Canadian VHS)

Barney's Musical Scrapbook (UK VHS)

Barney's Musical Scrapbook (Canadian VHS)

Barney's Stu-u-upendous Puzzle Fun (UK VHS)

Barney's Adventure Bus (UK VHS)

Barney's Adventure Bus (Canadian VHS)

Barney's Good Day, Good Night (UK VHS)

401. First Day of School

402. Is Everybody Happy? (a complete copy, as the copy that I have is incomplete)

403. Pennies, Nickels, Dimes 

404. We've Got Rhythm 

405. Tick Tock Clocks!

406. Waiting For Mr. MacRooney

407. Let's Build Together 

408. It's Tradition 

409. A Picture of Health 

410. Play Ball! 

411. A Different Kind of Mystery 

412. Going On A Bear Hunt 

413. Let's Eat 

414. Tree-Mendous Trees 

415. Good, Clean Fun! (television broadcast, or PBS Kids Sprout broadcast)

416. Easy, Breezy Day! 

417. All Mixed Up 

418. Oh, Brother...She's My Sister (television broadcast, or PBS Kids Sprout broadcast)

419. Once A Pond A Time 

420. E-I-E-I-O

It's Time For Counting (UK VHS)

Barney In Outer Space (UK VHS)

Barney In Outer Space (Canadian VHS)

Barney's First Adventures (Original Fox Kids broadcast) (if it was ever ActiMates compatible, as the official VHS is not ActiMates compatible)

Barney's Big Surprise! (UK VHS)

Barney's Big Surprise! Live on Stage (Canadian VHS)

Barney's Big Surprise! Live on Stage (2000 Version)

Barney's Halloween Party (Canadian VHS)

Barney's Great Adventure: The Movie (UK VHS)

Barney's Great Adventure: The Movie (Canadian VHS)

Barney Bonus 2 Pack (Good Clean Fun and Oh Brother, She's My Sister) (Canadian VHS)

Play and Learn with Barney

501. Books Are Fun! 

502. Trading Places 

503. Safety First! 

504. Circle of Friends 

505. The One And Only You 

506. Barney's Band 

507. Try It, You'll Like It! 

508. Colors All Around 

509. Howdy, Friends! 

510. Seven Days A Week 

511. Hidden Treasures 

512. A Royal Welcome 

513. Sweet As Honey 

514. First Things First! 

515. Aunt Rachel Is Here! 

516. It's A Rainy Day! 

517. Easy Does It! 

518. What's In A Name? 

519. A Very Special Mouse 

520. A Package Of Friendship

Sing And Dance With Barney (UK VHS)

Around The World With Barney (UK VHS)

Walk Around The Block With Barney (Canadian VHS)

Let's Play School (UK VHS)

Let's Play School (Canadian VHS)

Barney's Time for School (a better copy, as my current copy is somewhat damaged in a few parts)

Barney's Night Before Christmas (UK VHS)

Barney's Night Before Christmas (Canadian VHS)

601. Stick With Imagination! 

602. Itty Bitty Bugs

603. Grandparents Are Grand

604. Snack Time!

605. A Sunny, Snowy Day

606. You've Got To Have Art 

607. Five Kinds Of Fun!

608. Count Me In! 

609. Who's Who At The Zoo? 

610. Birthday Olé

MORE BARNEY SONGS (Canadian VHS)

Barney's Rhyme Time Rhythm (Canadian VHS)

611. Excellent Exercise! 

612. Brushing Up On Teeth 

613. A "Little" Mother Goose 

614. Good Job! 

615. It's Home To Me 

616. How Does Your Garden Grow? 

617. You Can Do It! 

618. Here Comes The Firetruck! 

619. Ready, Set, Go! 

620. You Are Special

Super Singing Circus (Canadian VHS)

If you're sending me video captures and ActiMates Barney audio from any of the UK tapes, you'll need either a PAL or Multisystem VCR. You'll probably have a PAL VCR if you live in the United Kingdom, as the United Kingdom uses the PAL format.

ARTHUR

101. Arthur's Eyes/Francine's Bad Hair Day

102. Arthur and the Real Mr. Ratburn/Arthur's Spelling Trubble

103. D.W. All Wet/Buster's Dino Dilemma

104. D.W.'s Imaginary Friend/Arthur's Lost Library Book

105. Arthur's Pet Business/D.W. the Copycat

106. Locked in the Library!/Arthur Accused!

107. Arthur Goes to Camp/Buster Makes the Grade

108. Arthur's New Puppy/Arthur Bounces Back

109. Arthur Babysits/Arthur's Cousin Catastrophe

110. Arthur's Birthday/Francine Frensky, Superstar

111. Arthur's Baby/D.W.'s Baby

112. Arthur Writes a Story/Arthur's Lost Dog

113. So Long, Spanky/Buster's New Friend

114. Arthur the Wrecker/Arthur and the True Francine

115. Arthur's Family Vacation/Grandpa Dave's Old Country Farm

116. Arthur and the Crunch Cereal Contest/D.W. Flips

117. Meek for a Week/Arthur, World's Greatest Gleeper

118. Arthur's Chicken Pox/Sick as a Dog

119. D.W. Rides Again/Arthur Makes the Team

120. Arthur's Almost Boring Day/The Half-Baked Sale

121. Sue Ellen Moves In/The Perfect Brother

122. D.W.'s Snow Mystery/Team Trouble

123. Bully for Binky/Misfortune Teller

124. Arthur's Tooth/D.W. Gets Lost

125. D.W. Thinks Big/Arthur Cleans Up

126. My Dad, the Garbage Man/Poor Muffy

127. D.W.'s Blankie/Arthur's Substitute Teacher Trouble

128. I'm a Poet/The Scare-Your-Pants-Off Club

129. My Club Rules/Stolen Bike

130. Arthur's First Sleepover/Arthur's New Year's Eve

Arthur's Eyes (VHS, if there were ever any copies that were compatible with ActiMates Arthur and D.W.)

Arthur's Pet Business (VHS, if there were ever any copies that were compatible with ActiMates Arthur and D.W.)

Arthur Writes a Story (VHS, if there were ever any copies that were compatible with ActiMates Arthur and D.W.)

Arthur's Teacher Trouble (VHS, if there were ever any copies that were compatible with ActiMates Arthur and D.W.)

Arthur's Lost Library Book (VHS, if there were ever any copies that were compatible with ActiMates Arthur and D.W.)

Arthur's New Puppy (VHS)

Arthur's Chicken Pox (VHS, if there were ever any copies that were compatible with ActiMates Arthur and D.W.)

D.W.'s Blankie (VHS, if there were ever any copies that were compatible with ActiMates Arthur and D.W.)

D.W. Rides Again (VHS, if there were ever any copies that were compatible with ActiMates Arthur and D.W.)

201. Arthur Meets Mister Rogers/Draw!

202. Binky Barnes, Art Expert/Arthur's Lucky Pencil

203. D.W, the Picky Eater/Buster And The Daredevils

204. Arthur Makes a Movie/Go to Your Room, D.W.

205. Arthur's Underwear/Francine Frensky, Olympic Rider

206. Buster Baxter, Cat Saver/Play it Again, D.W.

207. Arthur's TV-Free Week/Night Fright

208. Arthur vs. the Piano/The Big Blow-Up

209. Lost!/The Short, Quick Summer

210. D.W. Goes to Washington/Arthur's Mystery Envelope

211. D.W.'s Deer Friend/Buster Hits the Books

212. Arthur's Faraway Friend/Arthur and the Square Dance

213. Water and the Brain/Arthur the Unfunny

214. Sue Ellen's Lost Diary/Arthur's Knee

215. Grandma Thora Appreciation Day/Fern's Slumber Party

216. Love Notes for Muffy/D.W. Blows the Whistle

217. Francine Redecorates/Arthur the Loser

218. Arthur vs. the Very Mean Crossing Guard/D.W.'s Very Bad Mood

219. D.W.'s Name Game/Finders Key-pers

220. How the Cookie Crumbles/Sue Ellen's Little Sister

301. Buster's Back/The Ballad of Buster Baxter

302. D.W, All Fired Up/I'd Rather Read It Myself

303. Arthur Goes Crosswire/Sue Ellen and the Brainasaurous

304. Background Blues/And Now Let's Talk to Some Kids

305. The Chips are Down/Revenge of the Chip

306. Binky Rules/Meet Binky

307. Arthur Rides the Bandwagon/Dad's Dessert Dilemma

308. Popular Girls/Buster's Growing Grudge

309. Arthur's Treasure Hunt/The Return of the King

310. Attack of the Turbo Tibbles/D.W. Tricks the Tooth Fairy

311. Double Tibble Trouble/Arthur's Almost Live Not Real Music Festival

312. What Scared Sue Ellen?/Clarissa is Cracked

313. Arthur's Dummy Disaster/Francine and the Feline

314. Mom and Dad Have a Great Big Fight/D.W.'s Perfect Wish

315. Arthur and D.W. Clean Up/The Long, Dull Winter

Arthur's Birthday (Promotional Copy)

Arthur's TV-Free Week (Promotional Copy)

Arthur's Family Vacation (a better copy of the promotional copy, as my current copy is somewhat damaged in a few parts)

Arthur's Computer Adventure (a better copy of the promotional copy, as my current copy is somewhat damaged at the end due to what looked like mold on the filmstrip)

401. D.W.'s Library Card/Arthur's Big Hit

402. Hide and Snake/Muffy's New Best Friend

403. Buster's Breathless/The Fright Stuff

404. The Contest/Prove It

405. The Blizzard/The Rat Who Came to Dinner

406. D.W. Tale Spins/Prunella Gets it Twice

407. Binky Barnes, Wingman/To Beat or Not To Beat

408. 1001 Dads/Prunella's Prediction

409. What is that Thing?/Buster's Best Behavior

410. My Music Rules/That's a Baby Show!

Arthur's Famous Friends (If "I'm a Poet" works with ActiMates Arthur and D.W.)

Arthur Goes to Hollywood (If "The Contest" works with ActiMates Arthur and D.W.)

Arthur Family Feature Starring Arthur and Friends!

Arthur Learns Responsibility (Reader's Digest VHS)

Arthur: Get Well Soon (Reader's Digest VHS) (as my current copy was not being properly picked up by my ActiMates TV transmitter)

Arthur Goes on Vacation (Reader's Digest VHS)

Arthur Learns About Confidence (Reader's Digest VHS)

Arthur Discovers Nature (Reader's Digest VHS)

Arthur Faces His Fears (Reader's Digest VHS)

Arthur Goes On A School Trip (Reader's Digest VHS)

Arthur Learns To Cope With Anger (Reader's Digest VHS)

Arthur Learns Teamwork (Reader's Digest VHS)

Arthur's Pet Problems (Reader's Digest VHS)

Arthur's Great Summer

Arthur's Family Fun (If "Sue Ellen's Little Sister" works with ActiMates Arthur and D.W.)

Arthur's Snow Day

Arthur Gets Spooked

D.W. Thinks Big

Parents Are from Pluto

Arthur's Music Medley

Arthur's Terrible Teasers

Arthur's Money Matters

And as for the Teletubbies, you can send me everything that you have!