Mario Kart is my sons' all-time favorite Wii game, so we were thrilled when K'NEX began making Mario Kart and Super Mario building sets a few years back. In fact, we gave K'NEX Mario and Luigi motorcycle building sets as party favors for 3Po's Mario Kart-themed 8th birthday party! K'NEX and Mario's world go together perfectly, because kids can create all kinds of adventures for Mario and his friends, and since you can build practically anything with K'NEX, the adventures are limited only by a child's imagination.
This summer, K'NEX released even more additions to their Super Mario line, which means kids can build even more adventures for Mario, Luigi, Bowser, Donkey Kong, and everyone else. The Super Mario building sets are perfectly compatible with all other K'NEX building sets, so you can never have too many! We received a Super Mario 3D World Cat Mario set, which includes a Mario figure, a mouse figure, and a whole bunch to K'NEX pieces that kids can build into a fun obstacle course for Mario to complete! I love that K'NEX used lots of big building pieces so even little hands can build the set successfully.
Here's a video we made that highlights all the best features of this building set:
This building set includes a Mario figurine, dressed in a cat suit, and a mouse figurine. Kids can lead Mario through the course, sending him flying with the help of the K'NEX launcher.
The set also includes a number of coins for Mario to collect.....
... as well as a flagpole that Mario can hoist when he finishes the course! You can combine this set with the other Mario World building sets for hours of creative play.
Disclosure: I received a product sample to facilitate my review, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions. The views and opinions expressed here are my own. Tweet this!
Have you watched How to Train Your Dragon 2? We loved the first movie and the book series, so of course we had to watch the sequel, and we enjoyed it every bit as much as the first movie. It's thrilling, funny, and heartbreaking at the same time. I highly recommend it!
If your child liked How to Train Your Dragon, he or she will definitely like Microsoft's and DreamWorks' new mobile game, DreamWorks Dragons Adventure: World Explorer. This isn't just your run-of-the-mill app -- it takes real location and map data and transforms a real map into the world of Berk! Kids can fly around on the back of Stormfly or Toothless or other dragon, and explore whatever location they happen to be in -- San Francisco, LA, or your local neighborhood -- but it's redrawn into the How to Train Your Dragon world. How awesome is that for keeping kids entertained during road trips?? Keep reading to find out more... and enter to win 2 movie tickets!
About the Game
DreamWorks Dragons Adventure: World Explorer mobile game, built in conjunction with Microsoft and DreamWorks Animation and inspired by this summer’s hit animated feature “How to Train Your Dragon 2,” transforms the real world around you into the game as you drive, turning any car ride – from routine runs to the grocery store to long family road trips – into an interactive dragon-flying adventure, sure to keep kids entertained. The game is available now as a free download for most Windows and Windows Phone 8 (and higher) tablets and mobile phones.
DreamWorks Dragons Adventure World Explorer, built in conjunction with Microsoft and DreamWorks Animation, transforms a family drive into an interactive dragon flying adventure. Inspired by one of the hottest films of the summer, "How to Train Your Dragon 2", the free game uses HERE Maps to transform real world roadways, time of day, traffic conditions and weather into the fictional Isle of Berk. Players take flight and soar freely on the back of their favorite dragon in an at home mode and also in a driving mode that transforms the real world around you into the game as you drive. This one-of-a-kind experience makes drive time, magical time.
Win a DreamWorks Animation Studio Tour
Win a trip to Los Angeles and tour of DreamWorks Animation Studios for two! To participate, simply share why you should win – via Instagram, Vine or Twitter – using the hashtag #WorldExplorer. Enter by Aug. 29, 2014. Winners announced Sept. 29, 2014. Full contest details, go to http://nokia.ly/WorldExplorer
Win 2 free movie tickets
One lucky Bongggamom Finds reader will receive 2 free movie tickets, courtesy of Microsoft!
Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me your favorite How to Train Your Dragon character.
Extra Entries For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry with a way to verify the entry (i.e. tweet link, blog post link, Facebook id, Twitter id, etc.).
4) Pin this giveaway on any of your Pinterest boards (1 entry -- you can use the "Pin It" button at the bottom of this page!). 5) Join the #WinHotLooks summer giveaway from Hot Designs. Leave the link to your Pinterest or Twitter entry in a comment below! (1 entry) 6) "Like Bonggamom Finds" on Facebook and write this on my wall (1 entry): I entered the DreamWorks Dragons Adventure: World Explorer movie ticket giveaway ends 8/27 at http://bit.ly/1rsyY0b
7) Tweet this once per day (1 entry per day)
We're celebrating the new DreamWorks Dragons Adventure World Explorer w/ a movie ticket giveaway! Enter by 8/27 http://bit.ly/1rsyY0b
8) Join any open giveaway on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry for every giveaway you join) The Rules This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on August 27, 2014; I will draw a winner at random, on August 28 and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.
Disclosure: . Product information (in italics) is provided by Zebra Partners for Microsoft. The views and opinions expressed here are my own. Tweet this!
The excitement is building for Monsters University! The sequel (or to be more precise, the prequel) to Monsters, Inc. opens in theatres on June 21, and this is one class that everyone wants to sign up for. Unfortunately only monsters are allowed to enroll in Monsters University -- but there's good news for human children. Leapfrog has not one, but two great ways for kids to learn and play with Mike and Sulley: the Monsters University game and book.
I've been a huge fan of Leapfrog's edu-tainment philosophy for years -- I can't tell you what a big help the Tag Reader and all its predecessors were in helping my kids learn to read, and learn to love reading -- so they sent me a review copy of both the new Monsters University game and book. Check out my review of the Monsters University LeapReader book -- and enter to win both the game and the book! This post contains my review of the Monsters University LeapPad game -- as well as the chance for an extra entry to my Leapfrog Monsters University giveaway!
About Monsters University Game for LeapPad and Leapster Explorer In Disney•Pixar's Monsters University, winning the Scare Games will take more than a big roar—use your problem-solving skills to help Mike and Sulley! Using clever thinking and stealth maneuvers, make your way through different locations. Are your scare skills up to the challenge?
When you start up the game, a Campus Map helps kids easily navigate between the main game, mini games and extra features.
The main game challenges kids to become the best scarer ever. It has kids navigating their way across campus, through maze-like rooms -- the library, the frat house, the scare simulator, etc... -- in their quest to grab the pennant and collect coins, scare cards and room decor along the way. There are 24 progressively difficult levels, and each level really puts kids' problem-solving skills to the test.
This is no ordinary maze -- you can't just look at a room and expect to make it across once you figure out the path. You have to avoid other monsters (your competitors!), which makes it kind of like a Pac-Man game. Instead of Pac-Man's vitamin pills, kids can utilize a number of strategies to distract or delay their opponents, like spinning globes to blind them or blowing out candles to hide. Kids have to solve logic puzzles and mini-games in order to unlock these shortcuts, so they really have to play and learn from their mistakes in order to progress -- kind of the way real people learn in real life!
There are also a couple of mini-games: a Monster Matching game patterned after the classic memory game that automatically adjusts to your child's skill level, and a Guess Who game that challenges kids' deductive skills to figure out which monster holds the hidden key. Both are easy, fast-paced and fun games that any kid will enjoy.
My favorite feature is the monster-maker, which lets kids mix and match monster body parts and come up with their own monsterrific creations. They can even monsterize (or should I say monsterrorize?) themselves by taking their photo with the LeapPad camera and recording their own monster roars with the LeapPad microphone.
In addition, kids can collect virtual scare cards they can display in a Monsters University Scare Book, as well as virtual t-shirts, pennants and other Monsters U memorabilia they can display in their Fraternity Room!
How cool is that?
The Monsters University game can be purchased as game cartridge or as a downloadable app. The game will work with both the LeapPad and the Leapster Explorer, but the in-game camera and microphone functions won't work with the Leapster Explorer.
Get free shipping on Leapfrog Monsters University products
Until June 30, get free ground shipping on orders that include any Disney•Pixar Monsters University product! Use code MONSTERS (Offer valid through 11:59PM PT 6/30/2013).
Win a Leapfrog Monsters University Prize Pack
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive Leapfrog's Monsters University book for LeapReader/Tag and Monsters University game for LeapPad/Leapster Explorer!
To enter, read the rules and leave a comment on my Monsters University LeapReader/Tag book post. For an extra entry, leave a comment on this post and tell me which feature in the game your child would enjoy the most! Giveaway ends July 2, 2013.
Disclosure: I received a product sample to facilitate my review, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions. Thanks to Leapfrog for providing review samples and prizes for this giveaway. The views and opinions expressed here are my own. Tweet this!
Like many boys their age, 3Po and Jammy love racing Hotwheels cars. They love building things with LEGO or K'nex. And they looooove videogames. And thanks to the Little Big Planet Karting game for the PS3, they get to combing all three passions.
On the surface, Little Big Planet Karting might seem like any other racing videogame. Players are put behind the wheel of a go-kart, they race each other on a track, and the one to cross the finish line first wins. Along the way they can "pop" bubbles that appear on the track in order to pick up weapons or gadgets than can help them finish first: grapplers, grenades, etc...
As with many racing games, players can customize their racing cart, choosing from a variety of frames, wheels, paint and stickers. They can also customize Sack Boy (the main character that players race as) by giving him different kinds of hats and accessories. The more you play and the higher levels you reach, the more customization options you can unlock!
But here's where Little Big Planet Karting differs from the rest: you can actually build and customize your own race tracks! Just like with Little Big Planet and Little Big Planet 2, building your own world is half the fun. My boys spent almost 2 weeks just building race tracks before they even tried a single race! Players can lay out pieces of track in a variety of materials (i.e. brick, road, etc...), they can make the track go straight or curve it around a bend or go 360. They can add obstacles like walls or (Jammy's favorite) sheets of lava. They can drop weapons and gadgets throughout the course, so racers can pick them up to help them go faster, or to slow down a rival racer. It really appeals to kids' creative side, and being able to actually race on the track they created is icing on the cake.
Little Big Planet Karting has a few other cool features that we have yet to try:
* Once you create a race track or game, you can share it online through the PlayStation Network with other players in the LBP community.
* Up to four players can race against each other locally, and up to eight players can race against each other via the PlayStation Network.
* The game is compatible with the PlayStation Move controllers when used with a PS Move Racing Wheel. (If you have the PlayStation Move system but don't have a PS Move Racing Wheel, don't forget to disconnect your PlayStation Eye Camera off and turn off all your PS Move controllers, or the videogame will forever be looking for them!)
The bottom line? I love the way Little Big Planet Karting lets kids get creative, develop their "spacial senses" and exercise their "building" urges in the virtual world It has given my kids many hours of fun and I expect it will give them many more to come.
Disclosure: As a PlayStation Family member, I received a review copy of Little Big Planet Karting. I have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions. The views and opinions expressed here are my own. Tweet this!
Superbowl 47 is over, and the Baltimore Ravens snatched victory from the San Francisco 49ers in a thrilling cliffhanger of a game. I'm in mourning for the 49ers, along with the rest of the San Francisco Bay Area. They played a terrible first half, and at one point were losing 28-6, but they clawed their way back to 31-29, With about 4 minutes to go, the 49ers were literally inches away from a touchdown and victory, but the Ravens them held off to win 34-31.
If only 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree had caught that final pass.... if only the pass interference on Crabtree had been called... if only quarterback Colin Kaepernick had been able to find someone open... if only the whole team had played better in the first half! So many "what if's".... Fortunately heartbroken 49ers fans will be able to replay Superbowl 47 the way they want it -- and gleeful Ravens fans will be able to relive their victory again and again -- with the Madden NFL 13 videogame for the PS3 and the PS Vita.
About Madden NFL 13 for PS Vita Madden NFL 13 debuts on the PlayStation Vita, delivering the ultimate NFL experience on a handheld. Become an NFL Superstar or build the league's next Dynasty utilizing the Vita's touch screens that provide unprecedented control, unlocking new layers of gameplay and feature depth. Experience Sundays like never before with all-new commentary from Jim Nantz and Phil Simms as you battle friends online and climb the leaderboard with each victory, or use the motion sensor function to control direction when kicking field goals. Madden NFL 13 for Vita lets NFL fans dominate at home or while on the road.
As a PlayStation Family blogger, I received a copy of Madden NFL 13 for the PS Vita, and my boys spent all of last week playing with it, pitting teams against each other, getting familiar with how football is played and getting psyched about the Big Game. Even though they're not big football fans, it turns out they really enjoy this videogame! They definitely enjoy playing Madden NFL 13 more than they enjoy watching football on TV, because they get to decide which teams play against each other and they get to control the players' moves on the field. They can even create their own NFL player, get him drafted and help him succeed all the way into the NFL Hall of Fame.
Learning all the movement controls can take a bit of time, but the PS Vita's front and rear touch screens make it a lot easier, and once players get used to it, they can really make those football players go. Sometimes they like to make the players do really goofy moves, like make players run in the wrong direction or aim a field goal at a player's head, just for the fun of it! The sound effects are a lot of fun, from the stadium music to the roar of the crowd to the commentators calling out the plays (they use the voices of the real TV commentators). I'm so impressed at how much detail they can pack into a portable game, from the amazing graphics to the complex moves to the number of features. It's a must-have for NFL fans, especially those who like to play on the go -- and as my kids have proven, it's a lot of fun for any kid who likes to play videogames.
The 49ers may have lost Superbowl 47, but they're always a winner in my book. Thanks to Madden NFL 13, it's still possible to escape from reality and pit the Ravens against the 49ers one more time and come out with a happier ending!
Disclosure: As a PlayStation Family member, I received a review copy of Madden NFL 13. Game information (in italics) was provided by Sony PlayStation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own. Tweet this!
Thank you to Ubisoft for sponsoring this post. Please visit Ubi.com to learn more about Ubisoft. I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective. #UbiChamps
Over the years The Pea has tried a number of extracurricular activities -- soccer, karate, volleyball, ice skating -- but the one that has really stuck with her is dance. She just loves to express herself through movement! She takes dance classes several times a week, in addition to rehearsals for performances throughout the year. Even her videogame preferences reflect this -- her all-time favorite videogame is Just Dance 4 for the Wii! So The Pea was the perfect test subject for another of Ubisoft's dance games: The Hip Hop Dance Experience.
About the game Drop it like it’s hot with hip-hop’s hottest dance game. The Hip-Hop Dance Experience is the first authentic hip-hop game in the dance category. Dance to the most popular tracks of the genre with original moves designed by the most famous hip-hop choreographers in the industry. Trigger lavish visual effects worthy of the best music videos and avatar customization unique in the market. Experience the world of hip-hop through music, dance and design with The Hip-Hop Dance Experience.
Since The Pea dances to Just Dance on the Wii pretty much every week, she was able to find her way around The Hip-Hop Dance easily: changing avatars, picking a song to dance to, going from regular mode to Dance Party mode to Dance Marathon mode and so on. I think this game is meant for kids who are somewhat older (recommended age is 13 and up). She's not as familiar with the songs on this game, and she pretty much stuck to the four songs she knew best: Sexy and I Know it by LMFAO, Wild Ones by Flo Rida, Moment 4 Life by Nicki Minaj and Hard by Rihanna. Also, even the more basic moves are a bit more difficult than what she has done in the Just Dance Series. But it does make a nice change and a good challenge for her -- plus it's good practice for some of the moves she's learning in dance class! She's determined to keep at it -- and even if she decides that hip-hop is not her style, she can still have the Hip-Hop Dance Experience in our living room, if not in the dance studio.
Disclosure: I am a UbiChamps blogger and received a copy of the game (via Clever Girls Collective) to review. The views and opinions expressed here are my own. Tweet this!
Thank you to Ubisoft for sponsoring this post. Please click here to learn more about Ubisoft. I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective. #UbiChamps
I've never been a big fan of karaoke. I come from a family of dancers, so if we're going to make fools of ourselves, we'd much rather do it while dancing to the songs we love! That's why I was so pumped up to receive the new Just Dance 4 for Nintendo Wii from Ubisoft. Our Wii has been gathering dust lately, so Just Dance 4 has breathed new life into it! Suddenly the kids' friends have been dropping by to try it, and everyone is having a blast. I LOVE seeing the kids getting into the groove:
Here's what I love best about Just Dance 4:
* It doesn't seem to matter whether you're an experienced dancer or a newbie -- everyone has fun! After you've tried the same dance a couple of times, you get to learn the steps, and your scores go up. As your scores go up, you unlock new levels and new moves, so it never gets boring. Some songs even have 2 or more dance routines you can follow, so you can get your whole crew in front of the tv and put together a real performance.
* It's all about the music! Just Dance 4 features tunes that get people off the couch and onto the dance floor. Here's the track list:
1. Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes - "(I've Had) The Time of My Life"
2. Las Ketchup - "Asereje (The Ketchup Song)"
3. Justin Bieber feat. Nicki Minaj - "Beauty and a Beat"
4. Panjabi MC - "Beware Of The Boys (Mundian To Bach Ke)"
5. Carly Rae Jepsen - "Call Me Maybe"
6. Boys Town Gang - "Can't Take My Eyes Off You"
7. Emma - "Cercavo Amore"
8. Army of Lovers - "Crucified"
9. Stefanie Heinzmann - "Diggin in the dirt"
10. Rihanna - "Disturbia"
11. Dancing Bros - "Everybody Needs Somebody To Love"
12. Flo Rida - "Good Feeling"
13. Blu Cantrell - "Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!)"
14. A.K.A - "Hot For Me"
15. The Blackout Allstars - "I Like It"
16. They Might Be Giants - "Istanbul"
17. Elvis Presley - "Jailhouse Rock"
18. Ricky Martin - "Livin' la Vida Loca"
19. Selena Gomez and the Scene - "Love You Like A Love Song"
20. Bunny Beatz - "Make The Party (Don't Stop)"
21. Nelly Furtado - "Maneater"
22. Sergio Mendes & The Black Eyed Peas - "Mas Que Nada"
23. Maroon 5 ft. Christina Aguilera - "Moves Like Jagger"
24. Alexandra Stan - "Mr. Saxobeat"
25. Rick Astley - "Never Gonna Give You Up"
26. Marina and The Diamonds - "Oh No!"
27. Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull - "On The Floor"
28. The Girly Team - "Oops!... I Dit It Again"
29. The B-52's - "Rock Lobster"
30. Skrillex - "Rock N' Roll (Will Take You To The Mountain)"
31. Kat DeLuna feat. Busta Rhymes - "Run The Show"
32. Anja - "Crazy Little Thing"
33. P!nk - "So What"
34. Sammy - "Some Catchin' Up To Do"
35. Nicki Minaj - "Super Bass"
36. Stevie Wonder - "Superstition"
37. Europe - "The Final Countdown"
38. Halloween Thrills - "Time Warp"
39. 2 Unlimited - "Tribal Dance"
40. Hit The Electro Beat - "We No Speak Americano"
41. One Direction - "What Makes You Beautiful"
42. Will Smith - "Wild Wild West"
43. Barry White - "You're The First, The Last, My Everything"
44. Bunny Beatz - "Make The Party (Don't Stop)" (available on Wii U, Kinect for Xbox 360 and PlayStation Move)
Wii U-exclusive Tracks
45. The Girly Team - "Ain't No Other Man"
46. Cher Lloyd ft. Astro - "Want U Back"
47. Jessie J - "Domino"
48. Rihanna ft. JAY-Z - "Umbrella"
There are lots of current hits for the kids -- their favorites include Moves Like Jagger, Call Me, So What, What Makes You Beautiful and Umbrella. There are older hits that bring back memories of my misspent youth, particularly the B52's Rock Lobster and Rick Astley's Never Gonna Give You Up. Some of the songs are kind of cheesy for a dance party (Stevie Wonder? Barry White?? Huh?) but I guess the cheesiness can be fun at parties. And I'm so happy that Ubisoft paid tribute to the Kind and included "Jailhouse Rock" (the young'uns need to learn the classics!).
* It's one of the few videogames I really, really enjoy playing with the kids. Race simulations make me dizzy and storyline games only hold my interest for a while, but I could do Just Dance again and again. We've been firing up Just Dance 4 almost daily for 2 weeks now. Everyone is gunning to unseat the all-around top scorer -- THAT WOULD BE ME -- but so far only Jammy has come close, so they keep trying :)
* It's a fun way to get moving. It's not just the love of competition that's spurring us on. The kids know that they could rack up their score just by sitting on the couch and move the Wii controller to match the right hand motions of the dancing icons -- but they always try to copy the full-body motions anyway. The dancing gene runs in my kids too; the beat is too infectious to stay seated, they just have to get up and dance! And let me tell you, after just a couple of songs, we are literally sweating to the beat. Just Dance 4 also has a Just Sweat mode where you can customize your own dance workout session and track the calories you burn.
We're definitely packing Just Dance 4 in our suitcase when we fly to visit my family over the holidays. Like I said, strong dance genes: my mom, dad, sisters, brothers and nieces all love to dance, so this is going to be a big hit! Find out more about Just Dance 4 on their website. Or Facebook page. Or Twitter feed. See you on the dance floor!
Disclosure: I am a Ubisoft Champion and received a copy of Just Dance 4 to review from Ubisoft, via the Clever Girls Collective. The views and opinions expressed here are my own. Tweet this!
Now that the LeapPad is firmly established as the #1 learning tablet on the market (if all those awards they've won won't convince you, then all the glowing reviews on Amazon, Target, and product review sites should,and if those don't , then my own LeapPad review will definitely do it!), what can they possibly do to top it? Well, for starters, they've made a new, improved, version, and it's out in stores now! The LeapPad 2 is everything parents and kids love about the LeapPad, and more. It has more memory, faster processors, front and back cameras, and longer battery life. What's not to love?
Features
Works with LeapFrog Explorer™ cartridges and apps
Works with LeapPad learning apps
Built-in camera and video recorder
2 (Front and Back)
1 (Back)
Memory Size
4 GB
2 GB
Recharger available
Battery Life
Up to 9 hours
Up to 8 hours
Processor
550 Mhz
393 Mhz
Other Specifications
Screen Size
5"
5"
Screen resolution
480x272
480x272
Batteries
4 AA
4 AA
AC adapter available
USB port
Headphone jack
Cartridge retail price
$24.99
$24.99
App retail price
$5 and up
$5 and up
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will be able to do more than read the table above -- they get to check out the LeapPad 2's fab features on their very own LeapPad 2! Leave a comment (or two, or eight) to enter the contest below, and good luck!
Win a LeapPad 2
Leapfrog is giving away a LeapPad 2 and cartridge game!
Required Entry Leave a comment on this post telling me what your child would enjoy most on the LeapPad 2. This entry must be completed before any extra entries will count.
Extra Entries For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry with a way to verify the entry (i.e. tweet link, blog post link, Pinterest link, Facebook id, Twitter id, etc.).
7) Follow @bonggafinds on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day): RT @bonggafinds Win a LeapPad2 and cartridge game from @Leapfrog! Enter by 9/9 at http://bit.ly/PhawMa
8) Enter any open giveaway on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry for each giveaway you've entered)
The Rules This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on September 9, 2012; I will draw a winner at random on September 10 and post his/her name after she/he confirms acceptance. Continental US residents only.For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!
Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. Thanks to Leapfrog for providing the giveaway prize. Product comparison was reprinted from the Leapfrog website. The views and opinions expressed here are my own. Tweet this!
Kids love trading cards. They love collecting cards, arranging them in neat stacks, organizing them into categories, checking their cards off a master list, and just looking at them. They love comparing their collections with friends, trading their doubles, and bartering life and limb (or maybe a week's allowance and a lucky pebble) for that much-coveted super rare card.
Kids also love videogames. They love competing with their friends, completing quests, earning virtual coins and prizes, and immersing themselves in virtual worlds where they can take on different roles and do things they can't in real life.
So why not combine the two?
That's the premise behind two new games from Nukotoys: Animal Planet Wildlands and Monsterology. Each game lets kids collect (read: purchase), trade and play with physical cards, much like Pokemon or Monsuno or Magic: The Gathering. Some of these card games also have online versions where you type a code in to unlock virtual characters. But that's where the similarity ends. Because unlike anything out there, once you download the (free) Animal Planet Wildlands and Monsterology apps on your iPad, you simply tap your Animal Planet Wildlands or Monsterology trading cards on your iPad and -- get this -- have the creature on the card COME TO LIFE on the iPad.
That's right: when you tap a leopard card into the Animal Planet Wildlands app, a virtual leopard drops into your virtual wildland habitat, and you can make it run around, race other animals, and take down a gazelle or two.
And when you tap a Sphinx card into the Monsterology app, a virtual Sphinx gets added to your collection of monsters, ready for you to use to battle other mythical monsters in a strategic, turn-based game.
How do they do it? Each card has an invisible code, printed with a special ink, that conducts a charge when the card comes in contact with the iPad's touchscreen. The app recognizes the code and activates the corresponding creature in the game.
Cool, huh? My kids certainly think so. I first told them about the apps a year ago, when Nukotoys was still in mid-development, and they fell in love with the concept alone (although I guess it's not so surprising, given that these 2 apps are based on 2 immensely popular brands -- Discovery Channel's Animal Planet Wildlands series, and the Monsterology book series). After a year of waiting and "When is it going to come out?", we got to test a pre-release version over the summer, and they loved it even more. Both apps were released to the public this week, so now every kid gets to enjoy them!
These kids certainly loved them; they were at Nukotoys' SF headquarters yesterday for a local news segment taping, and they were almost too busy playing with the apps to pay attention to the reporter's questions!
Watch out for future posts with more detail on each app. For now, I'll leave you with a brief description of the app as described by the ABC7 news reporter, the kids.... and one mom blogger :)
You can download Animal Planet Wildlands and Monsterology apps for free, from the Apple app store. You can purchase physical cards ($1.99 for a pack of 3 cards) at all Apple stores and select ToysRUs and Target stores.
Disclosure: I am a Nukotoys Parents@Play member, and have received compensation for my work with Nukotoys. The views and opinions expressed here are my own. Tweet this!
