The Game

The object of the game is simple. You must manipulate the vertical movement of the ball using the power of your thoughts. The headband detects the intensity of your brainwaves — the harder you concentrate, the higher the fan in the unit will elevate the ball. Clearing your mind makes the ball descend. Horizontal movement is controlled by a knob on the base. There are five game modes: Freestyle, Mental Marathon, Danger Zone, Chase the Lights and Thoughtshot. Each challenge provides a different test of your ability to guide the ball through a series of customisable obstacles around the track.

The Verdict

It works. Granted it takes a little practice to master, the Mindflex game does read and respond to your brainwaves/concentration level. I was able to alter the fan speed to raise and lower the tiny foam ball at will, although there were times when the accuracy or response time was less than stellar. Occasionally, I would relax and clear my mind only to find the LED concentration indicator (and the ball) rise to its highest level. There were also times when I would be concentrating hard, but nothing would happen. Maybe it’s the game, maybe it’s my awesomely complex brain — who knows.

There are five different game modes, but I spent most of my time in “Freestyle” trying to improve my accuracy. I wasn’t all that thrilled with manually guiding the ball around the course with the control knob, but I will admit that the customisable obstacles were a fun challenge — especially the funnel cannon.

You may think differently, but I’m not the kind of guy that finds this type of game interesting for long stretches of time. Although it would be awesome if the technology matured enough to integrate it into a more complex, multi-dimensional board game. For now Mindflex seems like something you would whip out at a party to impress your friends until everyone got a headache and stopped after 30 minutes. Speaking of headaches, I have to warn my big-headed brethren that the headset can be massively uncomfortable. I had it on it’s biggest setting, but the metal sensor on the inside front part of the band was still digging hard into my gigantic grape. Plus, the clips on your ears don’t help matters.

It responds fairly well to your concentration levels.

The customisable obstacles can be a fun challenge.

Some may find the game boring after the novelty wears off.

The $US80 price tag is steep.

The headset can be uncomfortable.

[Mindflex]

Even though I was -9 years old in 1977, when Football was first released, and can’t specifically remember ever playing it, the handheld itself, as well as those tiny red dots, is immediately recognisable to me. It’s been featured in films like Bottle Rocket and Wet Hot American Summer, and chances are a lot of you readers have one or two of them in the bottom of a box somewhere in your basement. It was an incredibly, powerfully popular game, the first major handheld videogame smash, and judging by the Amazon reviews, people are still playing and loving it today. [Handheld Museum]

The Barbie Digital Fingernail Printer, slated for release this fall, can print any one of thousands of designs directly onto your fingernails. Requiring only a clear base coat of prep and 15-20 precarious seconds as a machine inks each nail, according to KidsTechReview who tried it out at CES (how did we miss this???) it actually works:

Once you’ve selected the design, and even customised it some with orientation, darkness and so on, the printer sets to work printing on your nail…the end result is impressive. It takes some getting used to though. The first nail was a little misaligned, and it feels a little funny when it’s printing, but it won’t be long before kids are making fantastic nails. If you love the design, put a layer of top coat on and the design should stay on for many days. If not, a little rubbing wipes off the design and you can try again.

It’s rumoured that if Mattel has success with the still unpriced Barbie Digital Fingernail Printer, a Barbie Tramp Stamper should be announced shortly thereafter. [KidsTechReview and YouTube via Craziest Gadgets]

The Ucreate Music can record samples, mix and match loops and use an assortment of rifts, instruments, runs and backbeats to create new music tracks. Creations can be shared with friends on Ucreate Music’s website. Unless you count holding the recording mic near a speaker, there seems to be no way to actually mix current pop songs on this. Probably a good thing–the less your six-year-old knows about the RIAA the better. It’ll be available for $US40 in Fall.

Ucreate Games is kind of an amalgation between a tablet and rudimentary videogame making software. Kids draw their designs on the tablet and then use a library of game components, sound effects and what not to turn them into their own games. The package includes a drawing table, folding camera, USB connection, software, dry erase drawing supplies and a game template booklet. Also out in Fall, but for $US60.

Mind Flex is a game in which the participant wears a headset that scans brainwaves with the hopes of controlling a mousetrap-like board. If the user can concentrate hard enough, they can activate a fan that will push a ball through a series of hoops. So the end product, on sale later this year for $US80, is really taking a simple technological concept (brain activity) and skinning it with a complicated-looking function (fans, balls, hoops, circles of fire, etc). But much like a similar game called Brainball, it’s still probably a parlour trick that excites a crowd. [Telegraph via gadgetreview]

Called the Barbie P520, this clamshell phone is in no way sponsored by Mattel. Undaunted by its lack of authenticity though, the box advertises with the doll’s silhouette, the logo, and even a tag line declaring it the “Barbie Music Phone.” It’s not too bad for a fake phone spec-wise, packing a 1.3MP camera, up to 2GB of expandable memory, two sim cards, MP3 and MP4 support and Bluetooth into a 60 x 63 x 21mm frame.

AND it’s got a touchscreen. The fake Barbie Music Phone, at $US113, costs about $US30 more than Mattel’s MP3 player but, considering what it comes with, it’s a much better deal for your hipless-big-boobied-doll-loving nieces. [Shanzhaiji]

This fall, Mattel adds a new category to its toy portfolio with the introduction of D-Rex, an interactive “pet” dinosaur for boys that boasts life-like movements, obeys commands, displays affection and protects its owner. Featuring “biomorphic robotics,” a sub-discipline of robotics that focuses on emulating the mechanics, sensor systems and methodologies used by animals, D-Rex is unique in that it features advanced technology along with incredible life-like features, making “him” both a robot and an autonomous pet.

D-Rex has several features that bring him to life – he moves his eyes, wags his tail, responds to care and feeding, comes when called, and like any good pet, protects his owner and his prize possessions.

D-Rex celebrates traditional boys play patterns, while also infusing innovative technology to allow him to come to life and create a memorable “wow” moment for kids.

D-REX
D-Rex is the ultimate pet for boys. A ferocious yet loyal dinosaur with an independent personality, D-Rex combines robotics, proprietary software and reptilian skin to create a life-like appearance and behavior. He walks around, chomps his jaw, bares his teeth and roars more than 100 different ways to let you know what he wants. D-Rex might demand food or want to play a game, and he’ll hear your voice and respond to your touch. Like the ideal pet, D-Rex will protect his owner and his prize possessions.
ARP: $150.00 Age: 6+ Available: Fall 2008

[Mattel]

Damn, I wish they made an adult size. Here’s another shot, to get a sense of scale.

[Toy Fair 2008 @ Giz]