Review » You probably won’t catch me wearing these glasses at the Transformers 3-D movie

The third Transformers film, Dark Side of the Moon, is coming out this week, and it is no surprise that it is in 3-D. Hasbro is all ready for the release with all kinds of toys, and this is one of them, specially made 3-D glasses.

As my headline states, there is no way that I will be wearing in the theater, even though the multiplex charges a price of “renting” them. My son, pictured here, is another story. By the way, these glasses only work on RealD equipped 3-D movies, but the toy does come with red and blue type, as well as a 3-D poster.

You should be able to get this 3D mask for about $9.99 at the Toys R Us site. I couldn’t find it on the Hasbro site, but it is available in Optimus Prime form. Check out the jump for more Transformers action.

For example, Hasbro also has another version of Bumblebee with the Mechtech Leader Class Bumblebee. It looks very similar to the Battle Ops Bumblebee that we reported on a while ago. I have to admit that the sounds are less cooler, and it is just as hard to fold it up into a Camaro. It costs about $44.99 and is available at the Hasbro site.

In addition to the large figure, I recently got to try out some more Transformer toys in both small and medium size. Once again, I wish the Transformers back in the day looked this cool. Check out the Hasbro Toy Shop site and see what you can find if you are a fan.

Review » Solitaire Chess

If you’re a chess whizz kid who absolutely hates to lose, then you might find yourself preserving your unbeaten track record among your peers – but that’s because no one wants to play with you because you’re such a sore loser. Or it could be you’re just too good, and not a gracious winner at all.

Well, guess you will just have to play with yourself then, and since chess is a 2-player game, what other option do you have? Enter Solitaire Chess, which offers a strategic twist on a timeless classic. This is the perfect tool for you to sharpen your chess game – or perhaps, perfect it if you’re nearly there already. You have five dozen challenges to choose from, ranging from beginner to expert to keep your noggin’ occupied this summer.

The $19.99 Solitaire Chess will stretch your critical thinking muscles to the maximum, ensuring that even during the off season, you can still get your practice “shots” in.

Review » Jakks Pacific Plug-and-Play Video Games

We have reported on items from Jakks Pacific before, and I had a chance to try out three of their Plug and Play video games. All three of them plug into the television with white and yellow composite cables, and they are all pretty fun.

The first is the Pac-man Retro Arcade, which is a joystick that brings back the goodness of the arcade. Not only is Pac-man available, but all sorts of games like Xevious, Galaga, Dig Dug, and about ten more. I found that it was definitely bringing me back to the old Atari 2600 days, but with better graphics. Hit the jump to see the other two gaming systems.

The second is Golden Tee Golf, and it is strictly a golf game with a track ball controller. The player is able to draw back the club by rolling on the track ball, and then roll it forward quickly to strike it. This one I found difficult to control, but then again, I’ve never really liked golf games.

The third is Big Buck Hunter, and it is a TV adaptation of the arcade game where you shoot bucks, not does. If shooting defenseless animals isn’t your sport, the game also has shooting UFOs, cowpies, and moonshine jugs. Of the three that I reviewed, this game was the only one that required a sensor, and required 3 AAA batteries.

Speaking of batteries, each of them required 4 AA batteries, and they are all available at the Jakks Pacific website now at varying prices. You can also purchase Big Buck Hunter here and the Pac-man Plug and Play here. As for the Golden Tee Golf Game, it is not out yet, and won’t be until the month of August.

Review » Pedal Powered School Bus Ready to Combat Childhood Obesity

I believe that I have said it before, but children have all this energy that adults actually need. I figure that you might as well tap into that energy in this pedal powered school bus!

This bus, powered by Flintstones Kids technology, is made in the Netherlands by De Cafe Racer. It has room for about ten kids, and they will be put to work.

Oh man, this would solve so many problems with unruly kids on the schools bus! Just try and make those spitballs now, junior! Yeah, those kids should have both hands on the handlebars.

Of course, I think we all know that a pedal powered school bus might tire out most school children. Fortunately, there is an auxiliary electric motor for some power if needed. However, if you are the school bus driver, only use it in the case of an emergency!

Yeah, I’m not certain how practical this technology is either, especially if there is no roof on the bus. Still, I like the idea of using the energy of unruly children to power transportation to their school. Or does this seem like a violation of child labor laws? I suppose if the bus driver cracked a whip and yelled “faster”!

http://www.ohgizmo.com/2011/06/29/pedal-powered-school-bus-not-so-magic-now-huh-kids/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Ohgizmo+%28OhGizmo%21%29

Review » Dr Who Ride On Dalek

Dr Who fans, here is something you might want to get your for kids – especially if they have yet to find the same love as you for the TV series. Supposing you fork out £199.99 for this Dr Who Ride On Dalek, which hopefully, will make them see what a cool parent you are, and turning their allegiance from Glee to a much more serious TV series.

This Dalek body is composed from a mixture of ballistic nylon/laminated rubberised polyvinyl which is soft and tactile to the touch. Basically, getting around in this Ride On Dalek shouldn’t leave any doubts in your mind – it is very durable, structurally safe, tear resistant and easy to inflate and assemble. Standing tall at 128cm with 360 degree movement, the Dr Who Ride On Dalek boasts of 10 sounds and phrases, lights within so that you need not ride in the dark, a 6v rechargeable battery, and a maximum speed of 3km per hour – this makes sure wayward kids who are thinking of using this as an escape ride won’t go very far.

Review » Ten Person Water Totter

If you happen to be part of a really, really large family, and each time during the holiday season your uncles, aunts, siblings, nephews and nieces will congregate at your home due to this activity being a family tradition, why not offer something different to keep the little ones entertained this time around with the Ten Person Water Totter instead of letting them sit through yet another round of watching your wedding video while you adults sit down and talk elsewhere?

The Ten Person Water Totter needs no explanation really – this waterborne “toy”, so to speak, will be able to rock up to 10 people simultaneously, where five folks are meant to be positioned on either side, with all individuals grasping one of 20 built-in handles while using their respective body weight to rock the structure which stands 10′ above the water’s surface, splashing opponents in the process.

This is one resilient puppy thanks to the commercial-grade, 1,000 denier polyester fabric used which is sandwiched between two layers of 28 oz. PVC. Those who have some sort of military knowledge will be pleased to know that it goes through a similar same construction process for the material as with the inflatable boats used by the U.S. Navy Seals.

All seams are hot-air sealed, and the PVC has been specially treated to block damaging UV rays. The only drawback? It costs a rather hefty $4,000 to keep the little ones in your family happy.

Review » GroClock sleep trainer helps kid hit the sack on time

Getting your kids to establish a healthy sleeping pattern can be quite challenging in this day and age, especially with so many distractions around to keep them awake such as modern toys, the iPod, handheld consoles and TV programs. You as an adult too might play a role here in influencing your child to sleep late because you have a similar pattern, but enter the GroClock to help you train your kids when it comes to sleeping.

Once you have made sure that there are no more monsters hiding around in the closet or under the bed, set the GroClock and let it work its magic. All you need to do is let your child know that when the sun shines on the GroClock, that is the time he/she is supposed to get up. And when they are about to go to bed and knock off, that is when the stars come out to play. Sort of like a Pavlovian response, don’t you think so?

Your $44.99 investment doesn’t end there when they grow up though, as they can always switch on the digital clock option when that happens, giving them a better idea by connecting the time with the appearances of the stars and sun. Neat!

Review » Water Wars Water Pistol Game

Playing water pistols has just gotten more fun with the Water Wars Water Pistol Game. For those of you who grew up playing Laser Tag, you know just how fun that is, trying to zap your opponents from afar, with the vest and helmet they wear being legit targets. Since summer is here, how about playing a variation of Laser Tag with the Water Wars Water Pistol Game? Each $37 purchase will come with a couple of color changing vests, so you can tell whether your shots were accurate or not.

The kit comes with a couple of water pistols and of course, two vests, to get you started right out of the box. What’s weird is this – the vests will feature printed targets that will turn red wherever they come in contact with water, so make sure you aim properly and don’t be such a klutz to spill water all over yourself when you’re taking a break!

Just how do the vests work? Well, it isn’t magic, but instead they are printed with special ink which turns red when it gets wet, and when the shirt becomes completely red, that’s game over. Time to stash away a bucket of water as a “grenade” of sorts if you feel that you can’t take the heat. Of course, the vests will become white once again when they are dry.

REVIEW >> Interactive Story Telling Mirror

It seems like I am always reporting on how the mirrors of the future will be touch-interactive. This Through the Looking Glass mirror takes it one step further.

Designed by Romy van den Broek, this mirror allows children to experience an interactive fairy tale. If you have ever seen one of those interactive storybook iPad apps, then I am guessing that the experience is going to be quite similar.

Right now, they have it set up for Hansel and Gretel, and I am told that two kids can interact with the mirror at the same time. I wonder if they can take advantage of the mirror’s reflective surface, which would be the only difference between this an some sort of storybook app or interactive website.

The technology is done with a highly reflective LCD touchscreen display, and I suppose the idea is to imitate the magical mirrors that are seen in many stories. For example, Harry Potter’s Mirror of Erised, which I just realized is “desire” spelled backwards.

Right now, this is just concept technology, and I’m not certain whether parents would justify the purchase of one of these techno-magical mirrors for their own children. Perhaps one day we will live in an age where all mirrors will be like tablet PCs, and the functions of the Through the Looking Glass mirror will be just another App.

REVIEW >> Sip N Spoon Set

We saw the Spork in the past, which is the merging of a spoon and a fork to help you save on cutlery, but how about the Sip N Spoon set? The name itself gives the game away, and while it won’t sound as cool as Spork, it will still boast a dual function. Usually, when you have some delicious watery soup that you just love to gobble down, you would have to scoop it up with a spoon, and bring the spoon to your mouth. No longer with this $6.99 purchase – all you need to do is bring your mouth to the end of the spoon and suck it up – the physics of a straw will come into action, and you will get more soup into your mouth faster than the traditional method. How about that for gastronomic innovation?

The Sip N Spoon is available from Perpetual kid for $6.99 a set.

REVIEW >> R2-D2 Planetarium shows where the Death Star is

 

There is something about Star Wars that makes you want to put its iconic images from on Planetariums. There was that the Death Star planetarium that we reported about one year ago, and now there is R2D2.

Just to let you know, you aren’t going to see any holographic images of a galaxy far, far away from a long time ago. In fact, the 2-D projector is mounted on the top of his head, and not that nose-like projector on the side of his dome-shaped head. You won’t be hearing any princesses talking about how you are their only hope.

The R2D2 Planetarium displays about 10,000 stars, but I am not certain how accurate the display truly is. In fact, it shows something that won’t appear on any star charts: the Death Star. Yes, it is the original, fully-formed one from the first movie. You will notice the lack of planets surrounding it.

Not included in this R2 unit is the plans for how to destroy the deadly space station. However, if you take some fighters down into the trench in the middle, you should probably just shoot the exhaust port at the end. Yes, I don’t know why the Death Star designers left in an obvious Achilles heel in their plans, nor why there is a big trench leading right up to it. To me, that is a greater mystery than The Force itself.

This particular astrodroid is available from Sega Toys in Japan for a price of about $85. It should adorn the rooms of Star Wars geeks everywhere.