November 2006
| Electronic toys Here's the list of tested electronic toys, in order of kids' preference |
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NINTENDO DS LITE by Nintendo: $130 |
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| What it is: The latest version of the Nintendo DS. It plays the same games, but boasts a brighter screen, smaller console, and larger
stylus. Both DS models are backward-compatible with Game Boy Advance games. For ages: Everyone What's cool about it: Dual screens make play user-friendly, especially since one of the screens can be used as a touch screen when needed during play. It even recognizes handwriting. Other comments: Cartridge games are sold separately for $20 to $35 each. |
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MIUCHIZ VIRTUAL PET by MGA: $30 |
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| What it is: A handheld device that can connect to a computer USB port. When using the handheld device, you can travel with your Miuchiz
pet to the scene of your choice and perform activities, such as playing tic-tac-toe and rock-paper-scissors games. Miuchiz
needs to eat at the café when it gets hungry. When you plug your Miuchiz console into a PC, you can then enter the "Planet
Mion," where there are more advanced games and activities to play. Price includes the gadget and a 1-year subscription to
the site. After that, online membership to Planet Mion is $25 per year. For ages: 6 and up What's cool about it: When connected to the PC, there is a chat box where players can talk to and play games with other kids logged on to Planet Mion. (PC performance is more advanced than the handheld device's capabilities alone, making it worthwhile to log on.) The handheld device also has an infrared sensor for two-player games with other Miuchiz. What's not so cool: Even though the handheld screen is in color, the resolution is low, making it hard to decipher images on the 0.75"x1.25" screen. It won't allow you to go online if your pet is not happy and fed. Some parents had a difficult time creating the online accounts, but don't expect any help from technical support. The handheld controller functions did not always operate reliably. MGA has created an impressive online program for Miuchiz. However, the handheld graphics are a step down from Nintendogs, a virtual-pet game. What the kid testers said: It was voted a favorite toy. Playing online was more fun than using the handheld, but some kids couldn't figure out how to connect online. One kid said, "Too many problems before you can go online." Other comments: Kids also need to be more closely supervised when connected online, especially since it encourages interaction with other Miuchiz--and potential cyber-predators. The online features appear to be in compliance with the Children's online privacy protection act, since it requires a parent's consent to create an account. |
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DIGI MAKEOVER by Radica: $60 |
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| What it is: A digital camera built into a controller that allows you to design a virtual makeover on a TV screen. Take your picture and
save the image, then create new makeup, hairstyles, and accessories. Includes a touch-screen and stylus to apply your virtual
makeup. For ages: 8 and up What's cool about it: Girls can have the experience of changing their hair and applying makeup without actually doing it. Parents might also be able to satisfy their daughters' urge to be like an adult without actually letting them apply heavy makeup or jewelry, or drastically changing their hair. What's not so cool: More often than not, the finished product looked fake when kids were done--not like what real hair and makeup would look like--and that was disappointing. Sizing the picture properly was hard for the kids. Even if one of the testers was able to take the picture properly, some of the dimensions of her face were different than the lips and other features she applied. What the kid testers said: This was a favorite among girls, but they weren't satisfied with makeovers when using their own pictures--they only liked the results of the included template model. One kid said, "I like designing the model, because it comes out nice." Another kid said, "We tried to get it to work with our pictures, but it was all fuzzy." Other comments: Pictures cannot be printed out when finished, but they can be viewed on a TV screen and saved in the console memory. |
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LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT: $250 |
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| What it is: An advanced, computer-controlled Lego robot that can be configured into many different machines. Hardware includes touch,
sound, light, and ultrasonic sensors, as well as several servo motors. It can be programmed with or without a PC to perform
different operations. It can even be controlled with a Bluetooth-capable phone. For ages: 10 and up What's cool about it: It is the most advanced construction set we have ever seen. The program is based on LabVIEW software, so a suitable student can experience real-life programming fundamentals of automated control. What's not so cool: Even though it is recommended for ages 10 and up, the testers who were 10 couldn't figure it out. It's also the most expensive Lego set we've ever tested. What the kid testers said: A 13-year-old tester liked it because he could program it to do whatever he wanted. He spent more than six hours building it and learning how to use it. He said, "Everything is cool about it." Other comments: Visit the Lego Mindstorms Web site for free downloads to get the most out of the Mindstorms NXT. |
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VMIGO virtual pets by Jakks Pacific: $50 |
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| What it is: A handheld device and console that connects to a TV. The virtual pet can be cared for solely with the handheld device. For
more advanced play, the handheld plugs into the base console, which then plugs into a TV. The handheld and TV activities are
very similar, and include pet-care necessities such as eating, visiting the vet, and shopping for food. It also includes some
mildly amusing games like playing Frisbee and doing dog tricks. For ages: 8 and up What's cool about it: Includes a built-in pedometer so you can actually go for a walk yourself with the handheld device, which helps promote exercise and fitness. It can be connected to other Vmigos wirelessly for two-player fun. What's not so cool: The handheld screen is monochromatic with a blue backlight, making it hard to see the screen and offering low resolution. When connected to a TV, the graphics are in color, but still low resolution, and it doesn't offer many more games or things to do using only the handheld device. What the kid testers said: It was a low-interest toy among our kid testers. They thought it would have been better if it had a color screen. Kids who didn't like it thought it was difficult to understand what to do. |
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