droolicious : psp

CES 2009: GameLeash and CamLeash For Kid's Handheld Electronics

Chris Ford — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:00:00 GMT

The GameLeash / CamLeash is exactly what it says it is. A simple idea to be sure, but after having shopped for a camera wrist strap recently, it wasn't as easy to find something I liked. And if you're buying your child a new camera or handheld video game player, getting them a wrist strap that's more secure than what comes with the device is a pretty good idea.

They are both identical (just different packaging) and made of velcro and neoprene.

A single leash costs $9.99 and a four pack (bundled for Nintendo Wiimotes really) will set you back $29.99. Available now from Leashtec.com.

CES 2009: iHearSafe Headphones Limit The Volume For Kids

Chris Ford — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:00:00 GMT

If I was ranking the cool stuff for kids and parents I saw at CES (which I'm defintely not), then this would undoubtedly land in the top of the list. These headphones from iHearSafe are made for kids, and they won't let any audio pass that's higher than 85 decibels.

Each pair of headphones limit sound output through the hardware in the headphones themselves, so there's no softare or anything you have to do to the imput sources. So no matter how high your kid blasts his iPod, Nintedo DS, PSP or whatever, it will never get above 85 decibels. They come in standard headphones, earbuds and "gaming headphones" - which are really just ear clip type headphones. I got a pair for my daughter and we're going to check them out, and I'll write up a review here in Droolicious.

iHearSafe headphones cost $19.99 for the buds and the regular and gaming headphones are $24.99 from iHearSafe.com.

CES 2009: Kata Camera Backpack Small Enough For Kids Gear

Chris Ford — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 15:00:00 GMT

So I've been telling you about beginner cameras options for your kids, but what about a good bag to put it in? And not just the camera, but what about all the other electronic gadgets (hand held video games, cell phones etc.) they've got? The Kata DR461 backpack will keep all of their stuff safe, but is sized small enough that even younger kids will be able to manage without a problem.

More info after the jump.

The DR-461 is a serious camera bag if you want it to be. But at 11 inches long by 12 inches high by 6.5 inches wide, it almost looks like a big lunch bag. And a small camera backpack for adults is just the right size for kids. And my guess is that if you get them a serious camera bag to go with their brand new "adult" camera, they might give the new camera you just dropped $150 on for them some more respect.

That is, of course, a theory.

The Kata DR-461 retails for around $60 and is available now. Check it out at Kata-Bags.com.

Loving LEGO Batman: The Videogame

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:04:00 GMT

Even though the incredible LEGO Star Wars saga and equally worthy LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures were serious video games for serious players, they maintained enough levity that kids and casual gamers alike could still giggle their way through the games' more intense levels. But what happens when you bring Batman to the series -- can the Dark Knight (especially the Christian Bale version) retain his brooding edge in a world made of block-people and visual punchlines?

The answer, I'm happy to say, is sort of: LEGO Batman: The Videogame's visuals are sufficiently dark and gritty, and the Danny Elfman soundtrack is a great mood-setter, but come on, this is still a LEGO game: Don't expect to see the Joker's magic trick done with minifigures.

Like its predecessors, LEGO Batman offers a ton of cutscene goofiness, and the game's cartoon violence, while intense enough to keep things exciting, is likely no worse than what your kids are already acting out with their own minifigures (at least if they're like my boys): Stuff flies around, minifigs break apart, and the villains (including some lesser-known ones -- Clayface and Man-Bat, anyone?) stay on your trail. That is, if you're not being a bad guy yourself.

You begin your journey through Gotham City playing as Batman and Robin, but the heroes only account for half the action in LEGO Batman's 30 levels: The remaining 15 levels find you completing the story as villains -- from Joker and Riddler to the aforementioned lesser baddies -- in a nice twist on the way LEGO games usually force you embrace your dark side in Free Play mode.

The game's core features, on the other hand, will be pleasantly familiar to anyone familiar with LEGO Star Wars or Indiana Jones. Besides having the new ability to buy vehicles and actually play them (hands down, one of the game's best breaks with formula), you collect studs, including pieces of minikits, as you move through the levels fighting bad guys.

The AI, unfortunately, is a bit weak, so there are times when you're playing alone as one character while your buddy just sort of lags behind you. As an older, more patient gamer, I was mildly put off by what's now an expected element of any LEGO game, but my kids (5 and 8) often got frustrated when playing the game alone, especially during puzzles and other challenges that require two characters to interact. Definitely plug in a second controller for this if you've got one -- it makes the game all that much better.

Rated "E10+," LEGO Batman: The Videogame is available everywhere for PS2, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360, PC, Sony PSP and Nintendo DS, and if you pick up an Xbox 360 Core Arcade Bundle at Amazon (click for offer details), they're also throwing in a copy of the game free.

Gorillapod Go-Go

Chris Ford — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 22:48:00 GMT

Imagine you're on an airplane, or a car trip, or any public place where you want the kids quiet, occupied and sitting down. Bringing the portable DVD player might not be feasible, but with all the iPhone's, iPods, cell phones and other small portable video devices out there, having something handy they can watch isn't out of the question. The real question is, how do you get more than one kid to watch it without them fighting over it. I present to you, the Gorillapod Go-Go.

The Gorillapod has been a handy portable table-top tripod for some years now, but manufacturer Joby has made it even better. The Go-Go comes with (in addition to the standard tripod screw mount) adhesive clips and a suction cup mount. The adhesive clips (there are two) would be for things that you would frequently attach to the Gorillapod, but the suction cup mount will attach to most anything with a flat, smooth surface. Which is (as it turns out) is perfect for an iPod, cell phone, GPS or anything else you can think of.

The website says they are "Coming in April 2008" and there isn't a price, but the regular Gorillapod retails for around $21.95. Check it out at Joby.com.

Video Games: Crash of the Titans Ships for Multiple Platforms

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 12:32:00 GMT

Crash Bandicoot made his debut 11 years ago on the Sony PlayStation, which means that, assuming my math is right, many of us hadn't started breeding when we first got down with the mischievous, planet-saving marsupial. Today, 14 games into the Crash series, the game's developers are still writing code with us in mind: See the Clash of the Titans and (in the game itself) Brokeback Mountain references in the new Crash of the Titans, both guaranteed to soar over our kids' heads while we giggle into our cupped hands.

Crash Of The Titans still finds our hero facing off against the evil Dr. Neo Cortex, who this time has discovered a mysterious substance called "mojo" (another term that'll be fun to explain to kids) and is using it to build an army of mutants out of the Wumpa Islands' peaceful inhabitants. As Crash, you spend the game battling the mutants, a.k.a. Titans, while collecting mojo and showing off your new acrobatic fighting skills; and this time, you've got an added skill called "jacking" that lets you take control of the Titans. (In two-player mode, you can even, er, jack yourself as the mutant-hero Carbon-Crash.) A learning game this isn't, but kids will eat it up -- as will the more slapstick- and action-loving parents among us.

Rated E 10+, Crash of the Titans is available for PS2, Xbox 360, Wii, DS, GBA and PSP.