IPlay The Way Things Work Game Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a fun game, but to play at the more challenging levels you have to build some machines (like a scale, race car, ramp)that are used over and over in the game. Unfortunately, the materials provided are not very sturdy. The dowels were too big to fit into some of the required pieces and consequently,my husband broke one of the dowels trying to force it into the discs necessary to build the scale. Then we couldn't use the scale, which was really disappointing because it is central to the game. Also, my ten year old found an error in one of the question cards - the answer provided was incorrect. Having said all that, we still enjoy the game and play it alot even though we can't use the scale. It is very interesting, especially if your child has an inclination towards logic, mechanics, or physical sciences. My son loves it, and because he is mechanical minded (and I'm not!), he gets a kick out of getting answers right that Mom gets wrong!

Click Here to see more reviews about: IPlay The Way Things Work Game

Figure out how things work as you play! Multi-levels of play allow for a quick game for beginners or more involved competitions, including mechanical experiments for more advanced players. The game includes 4 game pawns, dice, 100 Knowledge Checkpoint trivia cards, 50 experiments, materials to build models, 4 tool boxes, and 24 tool cards. Play with 2-4 people. Ages 10 and up.

Click here for more information about IPlay The Way Things Work Game

Tiger Games MX Dirt Rebel Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Ok, I'm not into games and wouldn't know, so maybe it's a decent game (though if it is, that means they haven't changed AT ALL since the '80s).
However, lets say you're looking at this, and thinking, hey, it's got handlebars and controls, this might be an easy and painless introduction for a kid interested in motorcycles to the basic control concepts.. particularly the counter-intuitive need to roll the grip-throttle BACK to accelerate FORWARD, and maybe a start on the tricky bits of coordination needed to keep from applying the throttle and the front brake at the same time...
Forget it. This isn't going to teach anything real at all. There is no grip throttle, the "accelerator" is a little thumbswitch about where the starter button should be that's either "on" (go fast) or "off" (decelerate rapidly to a stop). Both levers are "brakes" (I didn't really expect a clutch), that decellerate even more rapidly to a stop. I haven't seen any need to do that in the internal logic of the game, so they can be pretty much ignored- and will be. The steering is a tilt switch, you tilt the whole thing in the air to turn, which actually isn't too bad- it's more like countersteering than a turn sensor would be- but then, it works with both wheels in the air. None of the controls modulate at all- the tilt switch feels like it has maybe 5 positions counting neutral/centered, in other words "turn" and "turn hard" in each direction, the brakes and throttle are just either on or off.
So, maybe it's OK just as a game, but the "educational value" is actually in the negative realm somewhere, since a kid who plays with it a lot would have to "unlearn" these controls to ride someday...

Click Here to see more reviews about: Tiger Games MX Dirt Rebel

Experience the thrill of Motocross racing, right on your own TV. Realistic handles let you accelerate, brake and turn on adjustable terrains. Go head-to-head with virtual drivers or race the clock in eight different levels of extreme action. For 1 to 4 players. Requires 4 "AA" batteries (not included).

Click here for more information about Tiger Games MX Dirt Rebel

Automatic Tommy 20 (battery operated) w/ 20 darts Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The Auto Tommy 20 is the fully automatic version of the Mech Tommy 20.
I was at first curious as to how this gun worked because I couldn't see how 3 AA batteries could build up that much air pressure in such a short time, but I've found that this gun doesn't use air pressure at all. It shoots out the Nerf darts by pushing them through two spinning wheels much like how an automatic football or tennis ball thrower works.
Here are my comments on the most important criteria of a Nerf gun:
1) Power: Quite powerful, more power than your regular spring powered piston pushing Nerf gun and as powerful as some of the hand pumped air pressure Nerf guns.
Grade: Very good.
2) Speed: As advertised, this gun can pump out shots quickly and plaster your opponent with bullets before he can hand pump out 2 or 3. This is really an automatic machine gun when you keep your finger on the trigger. But they are not as fast as a air pump gun with a pressure reservoir.
Grade: Good.
3) Accuracy: Surprisingly accurate, except when it shoots crooked darts, so just make sure all your darts are straight. And sometimes the spinning wheels don't catch the dart right and spits them out all wobbly.
Grade: Very good.
Additional comments: The trigger is also the on switch for the spinning wheels. When you pull the trigger it spits a dart into the wheels and the wheels shoot the dart out. The only problem is that it takes a second or so for the spinning wheels get up to speed so the first dart often doesn't have a lot of power. The way to get around that is to only squeeze the trigger just enough to start the wheels spinning, then pull the trigger all the way to spit the dart into the wheels. This way, the dart hits the wheels when they're going full power and your first dart will be as powerful as the next ones.
They also improved the dart holder barrel so that each dart holder is narrower at the bottom. This way the darts won't fall out when you point the gun downwards. A small point, but it just goes to show how detailed this company is. Two thumbs up!
Postcript/6 month review: In firefights, this is always the first gun chosen, we have like 20 nerf guns around the house so I think it says a lot for it. It combines firepower with speed. Some of the reviews complain about jamming. Our Tommy20 doesn't jam. The problem with jamming is threefold. One, make sure your bullets are straight, it's crooked bullets which cause jamming and not the gun. Two, use that trick where you squeeze the trigger to get the wheels up to speed, and then squeeze all the way to fire. That way your gun shoot even the first bullet out at full speed and minimizes the chance of jamming. Three: Use new batteries. Apart from that I have nothing much more to say, it's everyone's favorite gun here. If I only could chose one gun to go to a desert island I'd pick this one.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Automatic Tommy 20 (battery operated) w/ 20 darts

BuzzBee Toys Air Blasters Automatic Tommy 20.Battery Operated; Requires 3 AA Alkaline Batteries, not included. Fully Automatic Dart Blasting!

Click here for more information about Automatic Tommy 20 (battery operated) w/ 20 darts