Like those gigantic backyard chess sets that only millionaires keep on hand, this monstrous 15 by 15 foot inflatable version of Twister will keep up to 10 players awkwardly touching and climbing all over each other. Except that since Hasbro has nothing to do with this version, you’ll have to remember to invite your friends over to play that ‘color dot game’ to avoid lawsuits and the like.
The massive playing surface is filled with 64 color dots, and players are assigned a color and body part thanks to a carnival-like 3-foot spinning wheel. It also includes a 1HP air blower which continually keeps the playing mat inflated under the weight of 10 people thrashing about. Oh and it it will set you back $2,000 from where else than Hammacher Schlemmer.
Every parent dreams that the endless hours their kids spend playing video games will one day pay off in a lucrative career, and in Japan a pipedream like that now has some real potential! Capcom is introducing this 4-player arcade machine there that’s based on the New Super Mario Bros. game for the Nintendo Wii. Players are rewarded with ‘medals’ that can presumably be cashed in for prizes or other real world items, but don’t get too excited if you’re a Super Mario Bros. master. Instead of racing through actual levels from the game, players compete in Super Mario themed casino-like games including slots and such. So it won’t be putting those hard-earned goomba stomping skills to good use.
I’m a bit of an earbud snob, and will probably spend more than I should on a pair with a larger set of drivers to get as much oomph and bass performance as I can squeeze out of them. So I’m really intrigued as to how JVC’s new HA-FXT90 earbuds perform since they employ a new twin driver system to ensure both the highs and the lows are equally represented without being overdriven which can lead to distortion.
Unfortunately once again due to the language barrier, and the use of flash and images which prevents translators from doing their thing, I can’t seem to dig up specific tech specs about the size of the driver units on these. But according to Akihabara News they’ll be available sometime this month for ~$117 (¥10,000) which isn’t horribly expensive if they deliver as promised.
The language barrier has unfortunately prevented me from digging up any useful information on how this Sat 119 throwable firefighting pack actually works. As you can see in the video below it’s an easily breakable container filled with a blue chemical liquid that’s quite effective at extinguishing fires in plywood shanties. I’m assuming it creates a chemical reaction of some sort that absorbs enough oxygen in the immediate vicinity to simply suffocate the flames, but if that’s really how it works, as a human who’s also dependent on O2 I’d be leery of being anywhere near it after it was thrown.
Available from Rakuten for ~$70(¥6,090) which also appears to include two condiment packs of the same chemical substance for dealing with smaller, localized kitchen fires.
Health-conscious chronic snackers will appreciate the fact that Björg í bú’s Örflögur Microchips are simply baked, dried and seasoned with sea salt instead of being fried and doused in heavy flavoring. Particularly if they happen to be from Iceland since the potatoes used are exclusively Icelandic. But what I like is the clever packaging that transforms into its own serving bowl making them easier to share with friends and doing away with having to reach deep into an oily bag. Just don’t expect to find them at your local Piggly Wiggly just yet as the Microchips are only available in Iceland at this time.
I’m a little surprised to see that Upper Deck is still in business given I haven’t even thought about trading cards since I was 15, but am not that surprised to see the company doing everything they can to stay innovative and relative. Their new Evolution series pushes the limits on what can be considered a ‘card’ given they’re over half an inch thick, but they need to be since each one incorporates a small LCD display and enough storage and battery to repeatedly play back a 60 second video clip.
Four NFL players are included in the Evolution series: Adrian Peterson, Tony Romo, DeSean Jackson and Patrick Willis, and their highlight reels only include footage from their collegiate playing days, due to a licensing agreement with the Collegiate Licensing Company. (Translation: It was probably cheaper than working with NFL Films.) The cards also include a port, presumably miniUSB, so they can be recharged, and will be randomly included in boxes of 2011 Upper Deck Football trading cards starting April 12.
Besides not looking like creepy limbless LEGO minifigs, these stainless steel double walled S’well bottles keep 17 ounces of hot beverage hot, or cold beverage cold, and are free from all the chemicals and toxins that plastic bottles have been associated with. They’re designed to look and feel like a classic water/pop bottle though, which also means they’ll easily fit in cupholders, bags etc. And on top of it all, every S’well purchase helps support the WaterAid organization which creates programs that improve access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation in poor communities around the world. $35, available in a wide variety of colors.
Nestle’s Nespresso capsule-based coffee makers make it easy to brew up a single cup of coffee, tea or cocoa with minimal muss and fuss, but until now they’ve been relegated to taking up a chunk of counter space in your offices’s break room or kitchenette. Not any more though as Nestle has recently introduced the smallest member of the Nespresso family, appropriately called the PIXIE.
It works just like all the other machines in the line: you make sure the water reservoir isn’t empty, pop in one of the ingredient capsules, stick a cup or mug under the spout and wait for your beverage. But the smaller form factor means the PIXIE can sit right on your desk without gobbling up too much space, and the heating time before it’s reached the proper brew temperature has been reduced to just 25 seconds. An eternity to someone who really needs a caffeine fix, but conveniently quick for everyone else. It also uses about 40% less energy than similarly sized coffee makers, and is available from Williams-Sonoma for $249.95.
Even though the original TRON came out when video games were in their infancy, this is the first TRON board game I’ve ever encountered. Made from laser-etched & cut smoked acrylic and die-cast light cycles all enhanced with blacklight-reactive paint, the game’s rules are still being worked out, but just like the digital version, the goal is to strategically leave behind light cycle trails for your opponents to run into. Maybe not as exciting or fast paced as the original, but I’m sure the smug satisfaction of cutting someone off is still there.
Related Tags: Gaming, Outdoors
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