Spring is finally here and Riley and I have a bunch of cool new stuff for Kids and Dads that we’ve reviewed and want to tell you about. In addition to this stuff, University Games, the company that sends us games to review, has an amazing contest going on called the National Young Game Inventors Contest. From now until October1st, kids ages 5-12 can submit their own original board game for a chance to win a $10,000 bond, a trip to San Francisco, a game library and a chance for your own game to actually be created. For more info and entry forms, go to www.ugames.com/NYGIC. And now on with the reviews…
Spot The Difference Game
Dad Says: The ever-popular spot the difference game comes to the board game world and is fun for the whole family. The game consists of 6 rounds in which a player rolls a die to determine what color card each player will choose to find differences. The color of the card determine how many differences they need to circle on the card before the timer runs out. Whoever finds the most total differences at the end of the 6 rounds is the winner. This game cleverly uses dry-erase markers to write on the card that can be wiped off after each round, although the quality of the markers is low, you’d be wise to pick up a pack of better markers to play with. If you want all of the answers, you will also need to download the answer keys from the website, but you can certainly play without it, as you only get credit for the ones you spot anyway. This is a fun game that is great for players as young as 6 or 7 up to adults.
Kid Says: I like this game, there’s like a million pictures and a million cues to find.
$19.95
Divoom: Blutune-solo
Dad Says: I’ve reviewed a lot of Bluetooth speakers and headphones, but never has one impressed me like this one. At about the size of half a soda can, this little gadget is shockingly loud, more so than the one I had on the shelf next to it that it not only three times its size, but also more than three times the cost. Setting it up is super simple, you turn it on, press the button on top, and turn on your phone’s Bluetooth to pair it. It works both as a speakerphone with its built-in mic, or as a speaker for music from your phone, or whatever else you want to plug into it via the auxiliary jack. You can also daisy chain several Blutune-solos if you want. Another great feature of the speaker is it’s portablilty. Ours currently lives in our one car that doesn’t have an auxiliary jack to play music from our phones and act as an impromptu speakerphone as well and it’s actually louder than the stock speakers in the vehicle. This one’s a steal at $29.99.
Kid Says: I like to make it so loud I can’t hear Dad tell me it’s time to go to bed. Now our dance parties last longer.
I Ate Zombies Card Game
Dad Says: This is a fun, quick card game that is best with 3 or more players. It is for older kids though, as the images on the cards is all horror-based characters including zombies, chainsaw killers, boogeymen and more. So unless you’re ready to explain to your child what a ‘grim reaper’ is, this game is best for older kids, but also can be a fun party game for adults. The concept is simple and fun- one side of the card says “Who Ate…” with a character, the other side says “I Ate…” with another character. Someone starts with an “I Ate…” then flips their card to read the “Who Ate…” and puts it in the discard pile. Other players then frantically check their cards to see if they have the matching “I Ate…” card for the “Who Ate…” that was just read. The first player to get their card on the pile goes next, and the first person to get rid of all their cards wins. Simple, fun and fast, how all the best, most addictive games are.
Kid Says: The pictures are way too scary for me, I’m only 7 and three quarters!
$9.99
Sunvolt Portable Solar Power Station
Dad Says: This thing is like holding a piece of the future in your hands. A portable solar charging power station to charge your phones and USB-powered gadgets? How cool is this? It’s literally a 13” x 11.5” solar panel in a nice padded bag with handles and a shoulder strap, that you simply open and fold out on an angle to the sun, plug in a phone or two to the included adapters and charge. This is pretty amazing when you actually do it and watch it happen right in front of you. The 10 watt version I tested can charge two devices at once, although on a cloudy day you’ll only realistically be able to efficiently charge one. There is also a 15 watt version that can charge up to 3 devices at once, as well as a variety of adapters and accessories available like a storage battery that you can charge by day, then use to recharge your device while you sleep. This thing is really, really cool and is great for emergencies/blackouts, camping, the beach and anytime you need a charge and are not near an outlet. Bonus points that it began as a Kickstarter, which made double the money they were trying to raise to begin manufacturing.
Kid says: My friends don’t believe me when I tell them I charged my DS from the sun.
$99.95
Deer In The Headlights Game
Dad Says: Here’s a game that is all-ages and mostly based on luck that the whole family can truly enjoy. The object is to get rid of all your cards and have the lowest score when the game ends once someone’s points add up to 150. It reminds me of Uno, but with the dice telling you what to do with your standard playing cards. The numbers, deer in headlights, running deer and car all have different combinations that will allow you to discard, pass cards to other players, pick up, freeze and so forth. It will take a few games, but eventually you’ll memorize what they mean and won’t need to refer to the enclosed chart, which slows down play at the beginning. We also found that when playing with two players, it’s best to play with one deck, but for three or more, go with both. The more is the merrier though with Deer In The Headlights, and you’ll find yourself coming back to it like we do in our house.
Kid says: I love this game because I can win a lot!
$11.99
CM Q Card Case for iPhone
Dad Says: I’ve never been a guy who carries a wallet in my entire life, always hating the extra bulk of it in my pocket or jacket. It’s always been my cash and at minimum by driver’s license and credit card in my pocket, mixing in with whatever other crap would accumulate, like receipts, other cards, etc. After getting a sample of the CM Q card case, a slim iPhone case with a leather pocket on the back it’s seriously changed my life. As far as my pants pockets go, anyway. I was concerned that the protection factor wouldn’t be enough on this case, but after many drops, everything is cool, and it comes with a stick on screen protector as well. While the case won’t fit more than 2 cards and some folded up bills, it will help you eliminate all the aforementioned crap from your life that you don’t need. Thumbs up on this case.
Kid Says: I can’t steal Daddy’s money out of his pockets any more. 🙁
$39.99
Ape Entertainment Comics
Dad Says: Ape Entertainment is a small comic book publisher that releases a lot of original and creator-owned comics, and comics based on already established characters from TV and movies like Strawberry Shortcake and the Dreamworks animated movie characters like Kung Fu Panda, Shrek and Madagascar. These are the kind of comics I remember first starting off reading with my Dad and it’s fun to get my daughter into that world now with trade paperbacks like Strawberry Shortcake, which recently returned and sold out immediately. There’s definitely a shortage of comics aimed toward younger kids, especially little girls, so it’s great to see Ape Entertainment filling that void. The comics are all quality too, not some thrown together books solely to cash in on a property. Just be sure to preview anything you think may not be age appropriate for your kids.
Kid Says: Old McMonster’s Haunted Farm was too creepy for me.
ecbc Zeus Messenger Bag
Dad Says: When it comes to a messenger bag, it pays to spend a little more to have something that’s made well. This bag is made WELL. It can hold a 15” laptop (with lots of protective padding), with tons of slots, pockets, compartments and other places to put anything you can think of, with velcro and zippers abound that seem to be having their own strongman competition. There is also a padded shoulder strap with a cool flip up/down latch to adjust the length. Hell, you can even customize the inside to securely hold what you need it to hold, regardless of the size. This is as badass as a messenger bag can get. If only I can get it back from my wife.
Mom Says: Dad’s not getting this one back, it’s coming to work with me every day, where I get compliments on it from the other teachers.
$89.99
Screensters
Dad Says: Screensters are little plush dolls that are made of two textures of micro-fiber for cleaning the screens of your phone, tablet, laptop or handheld video games. Needless to say, these aren’t aimed at Dads, pbut kids and tweens, with the elastic loop that would make it easily attachable to backpack. I removed my phone from the Otterbox (which eliminates the need to ever clean the screen), and gave it a wipe down with the plush side, than another wipe with the smooth side for polishing. Yes, it gave it a nice sheen and a nice feel to the touch, but not to the point where an adult would carry around a little doll bigger than the actual phone, or something that looks like this to wipe down an iPad. It is also nice that you can throw it in the washing machine and it will still work.
Kid Says: I don’t like the nerdy guy we got, but I would put one of the girls on my book bag to clean my DS. It’s cute.
$9.99
Korg Mini Kaoss Pad 2
Dad Says: First thing to know about the Kaoss Pad 2 is that it’s not something you can really just pick up and have some fun with, it’s a specific tool for producers and DJs. The mini-Kaoss Pad 2 is an effects processor for adding different effects to already created tracks or sounds. Used in conjunction with a Kaossilator, you can create truly professional sounding tracks, with all the same effects you hear on the biggest hits. The Mini-Kaoss Pad 2 does allow you to play back already created tracks via the SD card slot, to which you can then add effects as you’d like during playback as well as save the new version. Over 100 different effects are available and customizable. Another great feature is the internal mic and additional audio input to truly open it up your music to anything you can imagine. It can also be hooked up to work with the Kaossilator 2 that we reviewed last time.
Kid Says: I like to make my voice sound like crazy robots on this and then dance to it with songs we hear on the radio.
$129.99
Pucs Rechargeable Ice
Dad Says: Sometimes in life you need a drink cooled quick, but don’t want it watered down with the melting ice, as in the case of a fine whisky, bottle of wine or room temperature beer. Pucs will solve your problem quickly, albeit at a cost of about $6 per Puc. This set of 6 stainless steel, reusable metal discs live in your freezer in their own case and are ready on the double when optimum cooling is needed. The one thing you will want to be careful of, however, is to not just drop these little guys right into a thin glass, as they are very heavy and could break it in a heartbeat. You’ll definitely want to slide these little guys in carefully or risk a full blown beverage emergency. To pick them up, go to their Kickstarter page, which was recently funded on their first day.
Kid Says: Dad won’t let me use these, he thinks I will break something. I have to use regular ice in my drinks. Wah.
$35