Sing-a-ma-jigs Are Just Too Cute

Overview

The Sing-a-ma-jigs are a quirky, off-beat toy designed to bring smiles and to make you laugh. When you press their bellies, they sing. As they sing, they open their mouths (too cute, made of scrunchies). Scrunchies wide open, you can see little teeth and a pink tongue. This is what makes them irresistible. Their plush bodies and funky shirts are just gravy. See for yourself . . .

An Open Scrunchy Exposes a Cute Tongue and Tiny Teeth

The Sing-a-ma-jigs come in four colors, each with a different song:

• Red sings “Where, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone”
• Blue sings “When the Saints Go Marching In”
• Pink sings “Skip to My Loo”
• Yellow sings “Home on the Range”

We played with the red, blue, and pink creatures.

The Creatures With Which We Played

Play Time

There’s no power button on the Sing-a-ma-jigs. They are ready to sing whenever you press their bellies. If you don’t make them sing, they will automatically shut down after about 12 seconds of being idle. To let you know they are going into power saving mode, they will say “Bye Bye” or “See You Later” depending on the toy you have.

The Sing-a-ma-jig creatures have three modes that you can switch among by squeezing a creature’s left arm. When you toggle to speaking mode, you will be greeted with a little, “Aaaah!” letting you know that the Sing-a-ma-jig is ready to talk. Pressing the creature’s tummy in this mode produces cooing sounds like baby chatter.

Press the arm until you hear “Song,” when you want to hear the Sing-a-ma-jig’s personal song. You control the tempo of the music by squeezing the belly faster or slower.

The default mode mode is harmonize. If you are toggling through the modes, you will hear a single tone letting you know that it’s time to sing along. Pressing the creatures belly in this mode will give you a tone that will sustain as long as you squeeze, up to about 3 seconds. Every time you press its belly, the Sing-a-ma-jig sings another tone in its range.

The video below shows the red Sing-a-ma-jig cycle through these modes.

Harmonize mode is especially fun when you play with more than one creature because they actually do harmonize with each other. Here’s an example of this extreme cuteness.

Maintenance

The Sing-a-ma-jigs come with two AAA batteries. When it’s time to replace them, there is a compartment in the back of the creature.  Simply unfasten the creature’s shirt, and open the Velcro compartment in the plush covering, and you will find the screw that holds the battery compartment closed.

Access to Batteries (2 AAA, included)

I should note that it can be a bit tricky to get a screw driver into the compartment because, while the opening is big enough, there’s not a lot of give in the plush fabric. However, this keeps small children from being able to access the batteries, which is good for safety. And, since the Sing-a-ma-jigs are for ages 3 and up, this is an important consideration.

The Screw Is Really Tucked In There

Tester Response

The best way to give an idea of the tester response is to provide some quotations.

Tester 1 — “Oh, they are SOOOO cute! Can I keep it?”

Tester 2 — “Look! They have teeth!”

Tester 3 — “Can I sleep with her? She’s so soft and cute and cuddly!”

There’s not much more to say. The testers absolutely LOVED these toys.

In a Nutshell

These plush toys are adorable and very cute. They were a hit with testers, and are priced well for the market. We give the Sing-a-ma-jigs

5 out of 5 stars

MobiGo Packaged for Sale

Overview

MobiGo was designed to be a portable, durable, gaming unit for children 3-8 years old. Games are interactive and leveled to match your child’s skills. They are designed to reinforce phonics, math, problem solving, science, memory and fine motor skills. The unit retails for $59.99 with one game cartridge, and additional games run $19.99 each.

The MobiGo is available in two color schemes: blue with yellow and orange and purple with pink and more pink.  I reviewed the blue/yellow/orange device as it comes packaged for sale.

Out of the Box

When you open the MobiGo box, you will find that your system comes with the Touch & Learn game cartridge (featuring 7 games, each with multiple levels), a USB cable to connect to your computer for downloads, a cleaning cloth, and an owner’s manual.

MobiGo and the Friends it Comes With

VTech has taken great care in designing the MobiGo to make it easy to use and fun. It sports a typical hand-held gaming style with the bonus of rubberized grips to keep it securely in little hands. Other features that VTech added include: touch screen technology (very slick), a flip out QWERTY keyboard (fun and handy), and, of course, educational games.

MobiGo Sporting the Flip-Out Keyboard

The MobiGo sports other basic features that you would also expect for a gaming unit: adjustable volume, screen brightness, headphone and DC adapter jacks (headphones and adapter not included).

Here's MobiGo's Top View With Power Switch, Brightness Control, and DC Port

And Here's MobiGo 180 Degrees Later With Volume Control, Headphone Jack, and USB Port

VTech offers several accessories for purchase to complete the MobiGo ensemble.  These include a carrying case to protect the player and to hold up to three games when your child is on the go. There is also a DC plug for when you don’t have 4 AA batteries on you.  All of these are sold separately.

MobiGo With a View to the Batteries

Additional Games and Downloads

VTech currently has eleven cartridges with licensed characters available for purchase.  These include:

• Ben 10 Ultimate Alien
• Disney/Pixar’s Cars
• Disney Fairies
• Disney Princesses
• Dora the Explorer
• Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
• Mr. Men & Little Miss
• NASCAR
• Shrek 4
• Super Hero Squad
• Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 3

In addition to cartridges, VTech is working on an online portion with games and content to download which will be offered later this summer. The online features are not available at the time of this review, so I am not able to comment on the functionality nor do I know the pricing.

Using the MobiGo

As with most gaming systems, there’s nothing to do on the MobiGo without a cartridge.

MobiGo's Top With Cartridge Slot

However, once I inserted the cartridge it came with, I was prompted to enter my name (or choose my name after the initial entry); then, I was ready to play.  Even with a small screen (roughly 1.75 x 2.25 inches), navigation is very easy, and the screen is responsive.

MobiGo in Action

I also found the spoken instructions at the beginning of each game to be very clear, even for young children.  All things considered, children don’t require a lot of instruction to get started.

Testing Results

In general, my testers loved the MobiGo.  The included game cartridge was entertaining, and the flip out keyboard and touch screen were novel for a device aimed as young children. None of the games we had required the use of the directional arrows or the button on the front of the unit, but the buttons seems to be well-placed for little thumbs to reach.

Additionally, the game cartridge that was included contained educational games at multiple levels that entertained testers from 3-8 years old. I have to admit, I love the penguin game, so I suppose I should say the games were fun for testers up to thirty-something.

That said, there were three aspects of the MobiGo that came up during testing that I didn’t like.

1. Limited Score: when some of my testers played the games on the included cartridge, they could only achieve a score of 100 points. While this doesn’t seem like a big deal, it was blatantly obvious when the testers would play a game, reach a score of 100 points, and continue to complete point-earning tasks, but the score wouldn’t change. When I contacted the public relations team for MobiGo, I was told that this is the way the game was designed. That just doesn’t jive with my competitive side or my sense of fairness.
2. Marketing Age Range Doesn’t Match Available Games: VTech clearly states that the MobiGo is for children 3-8 years old.  However, none of the games that are currently available are labeled for children beyond 7 years.  Furthermore, of the games I found for sale, only two stretched to include 7-year-old kids; the rest were for 6 and under.  Frankly, I have a hard time saying the unit is for 8-year-olds when there are no games geared toward that age group. When I asked about this, the PR team said that there are both beginner and experienced levels of the games and that the experienced levels are geared toward ages 6-7, which does nothing to address my concern with the marketing age range. So, buyer beware, while this unit may be designed for children up to 8, the games only go part way there.
   

   MobiGo Age Range

3. Prompting to Connect to Internet: after several testing sessions, I was surprised when I turned on the MobiGo and was greeted with the following message, “You won a special prize.  Ask a grownup to connect MobiGo to the web, and go pick up your reward.”  I did not like this on three fronts: first, this feels like child-focused marketing to me, which I adamantly oppose.  Second, what if I want to use the MobiGo without the Internet? I now have a child begging me to go online and see what the prize is.  Third, there is currently no site available for MobiGo downloads, so now I have a child begging me to go online to find a prize that’s not even there.  When I asked the PR team, I was told that as soon as I connect to the internet, the message would go away.  As a parent, I’m not impressed with this “feature,” and I want the option to turn it off.

In a Nutshell

The technology employed by the MobiGo is advanced, and the system is slick.  However, VTech has overlooked some important aspects when it comes to usability, including some “features” that I don’t agree with when you’re talking about 3-year-old children. The result:

3.5 out of 5 stars

Loopz in Box - The New "Simon?"

Overview

Loopz™ challenges players to remember a pattern of lights and sounds or to follow the leader by putting their hands through four semi-circular rings, or “loopz,” and activating sensors.  Players can compete against each other or play alone.  And, as play continues, the games become more challenging.  An internal counter tracks time, accuracy, and completed levels.  Geared for ages 7+, Loopz™ retails for $29.99.

Out of the Box

Loopz™ comes with the light unit, two circular stands and a set of instructions.

Loopz - What You Get

Getting the game out of the box required scissors and minor detective skills to find all the tape, but it only took a minute or two. After that, the setup was minor. Basically, you snap the stabilizing disks onto the base of the tower (yes, they cover the battery door, but they pop right back off when you need to change the batteries), remove the pull tab from the slot on the back of the unit, and then you’re ready to play.

Stabilizer Disks Easily Pop On and Off

I should mention that the box states the need for four AA batteries since the included batteries are “for demonstration purposes only.”  That said, the included batteries lasted through several testing sessions with no problems. I did, however, replace the batteries, slipping in some fresh alkaline AA’s, to see whether it would change the performance.  It did seem that Loopz™ was a bit more responsive when it had fresh batteries in it, but the sound quality didn’t change regardless of whether the “demo” batteries or my own were in the player.  Take home message: use the demo batteries up and then switch.  Don’t feel like you need to change them out as soon as you get the machine.

A word about the sound quality: it’s not great. It’s easy to hear instructions and tones, but when a whole song is playing the speaker gets grainy. Basically, if you treat this like a game and not a home mixing studio, the sound quality is adequate does not affect play.

So . . .

Let’s Play!

There are (at least) seven different ways to play with Loopz™.

To exercise your memory skills:

• Repeat the Beat where you repeat the sequence that Loopz™ gives you, building speed and complexity as you go, a la Simon of old.
• Versus allows two players to take turns building and then repeating a sequence to see who can go the longest without making mistakes. The first player to make three errors loses.
• Musicology where you build songs by repeating sequences that Loopz™ gives you. If you can successfully repeat five sequences, you win, and Loopz™ will play all of the sequences layered on top of each other, creating a song. (This is where I noticed the sound quality most, but my testers still danced.)

If you’d rather challenge your reflexes:

• Reflex Master wants to see how many lights you can “tag” before time runs out. This game can accommodate up to four players, so bring on the competition!
• Rhythm and Flow requires you to keep a song going by keeping up with the lights as the speed increases.

Say you’re feeling creative and don’t want to play by too many rules:

• Music Studio allows you to play Loopz™ like an instrument composing your own electronic tune.  Once you pick the sound, you pick the pitch and the beat by waving your hands through the loops.
• Freestyle DJ provides 10 tracks and you provide the mix, complete with screeches and the all important “yeah!” Don’t worry, your friends will let you know when you’re ready to go pro.

Each game was fun and, dare I say, addictive if you tend to be a perfectionist. (I’ve been known to fall into that category.) Here’s a little taste of a couple games for your viewing pleasure:

One thing to note, you need to completely cover the sensor in each loop in order for Loopz™ to respond. You can see a couple of places in the video where the sensor didn’t register my hand because I was reaching and didn’t have my angle correct or I had my fingers spread out too far.  Just so you know, it’s a lot easier to cover the sensor when you are not trying to film and play at the same time.

Tester Response

What can I say, my testers loved this.  It was fun, engaging and challenging. I had people from 8 to 47 years play with Loopz, and everyone had a great time.

In a Nutshell

Fun for one to four players, Loopz™ is a hit.  The price and age range are right on, and our testers gave it a thumbs up.  We give it:

5 out of 5 stars

Blue and Orange VTech V.Reader

Overview

The V.Reader was one of the most memorable tech toys from Toy Fair 2010.  (Although, I should note that when I saw it at Toy Fair, the V.Reader was named the FLiP, but it’s still the same impressive device with a few design updates and a new name.)  With this toy, VTech has created an interactive reading experience for kids based on their skill level while combining educational games that reinforce letters, sounds/phonics, reading comprehension, and logic.

The reader retails for $60 and comes in two color schemes: blue/orange and pink/purple.  I reviewed the blue and orange device as it is packaged for sale as well as an additional e-book cartridge, “Mr. Messy and the Missing Sock.”

Out of the Box

The V.Reader comes with a story cartridge, a USB cable to connect to your computer for downloads, a cleaning cloth, and an owner’s manual. It also sports a “V.Reader Pen” or stylus. The reader itself is designed to look and feel  like a book, and the clear plastic “book cover” doubles as a screen and button protector.

Open V.Reader with Included Accessories

The V.Reader has a whole list of features, including:

• headphone jack
• SD card slot (card not included, but insert your own and you can store downloaded data)
• V.Reader pen/stylus
• touchscreen capability
• 2.25 x 3.75 inch screen with surprising clarity
• brightly colored buttons with pictures that even pre-readers can easily interpret
• a protective cover
• QWERTY keyboard which reinforces standard key locations
• port for an AC adapter (adapter not included)

V.Reader Jacks and Stylus

Other accessories for the V.Reader include a carrying backpack, an AC adapter, a car charger.

VTech has licensed may favorite characters for the reader including Mickey Mouse, Disney Fairies, Disney Princesses, Shrek, Toy Story 3, Mr. Men and Little Miss, Cars and Dora. Cartridges featuring some of these characters are available now, with others waiting in the wings.  It’s worth noting that the included cartridge features a puppy named Rufus of their own creation and not a licensed character.

After installing the 4 AA batteries (VTech recommends alkaline), I was ready to go.

Back of V.Reader and Battery Compartment

Using the V.Reader™

The V.Reader is designed so that it can be held like a book or you can flip the cover all the way back behind the unit and it becomes a tablet. Personally, I found that holding the reader like a tablet suited me, but one of my testers loved the fact that “it feels like a book!” when he held it in two hands with the cover open.

Additionally, the V.Reader has touch-screen capability, or you can use the included stylus. I preferred to use the stylus because then I didn’t get the screen all smudgy, but the cleaning cloth came in handy for my testers who wanted to use their fingers.  One child actually held the stylus in one hand and used her pointer finger on her other hand and navigated through the book using both.  Regardless of the technique, the menus, books, and games are easy to navigate, and the screen and keyboard were equally responsive.

One thing I should mention before I go on is that the on/off button must be held down for about 2 seconds before the reader will toggle successfully. At first this was frustrating since I tapped the button quickly and nothing happened.  But, then I realized that this was actually a helpful feature since the button would have to be depressed for a period of time and not just bumped by a child or the side of a backpack or purse before turning the player on or off.  Additionally, I found that the player will conserve battery by turning itself off after 10 minutes if it is not used.

The first time I started up the V.Reader, I was prompted to enter my name and to pick an avatar. Subsequently, the “Hello!” greeting message would appear and then the display would go to the main menu screen.

V.Reader Menu Screen

The main menu is really cute.  It looks like a cork board with tacks sticking pictures to it.  There are five icons leading to options as well as an identification tag with the user’s name and avatar. (I thought it was appropriate for KidsTechReveiw to have a robot )

• Backpack — the backpack is where a user will find his or her downloads (more on that later).
• Setup — when I touched the Setup icon, I was taken to a screen where I could change my name, my avatar, or customize the start-up message. However, I could not add more than one user profile on the reader.  I don’t know if that will be a available as a feature in the future, but I think it would be useful for parents of multiple children or in a classroom setting.
• E-Book Title – if there is a cartridge in the reader, the book title will appear in the center of the menu screen.  Touching the book title allows a user to hear and read the story, explore the book dictionary, play the games on the cartridge, or “free play” in the book (more on that later).
• Game — the game controller icon navigates to the included game, “Word Whacker.” It’s kindof a Whack-A-Mole concept where children touch the mole carrying the correct letter or letters to complete a word.  There are three levels of difficulty, and the reader keeps track of high scores.
• Certificates — frankly, I couldn’t figure out what the certificates section was supposed to do. I assume it has to do with downloads, but since the download library is not available, yet, I can’t be sure.

At any time, a user can press the Menu, Game, or Backpack button located between the screen and the keyboard and the reader will navigate there.  Also, users can toggle the background music on or off, adjust the volume, and change the screen brightness from anywhere in the program.

Beyond the basics, the functionality of the reader on it’s own is very limited.  The only program actually loaded on the machine is the Word Whacker game.  However,  the reader comes with one e-book cartridge, “What’s That Noise?,”  which contains a full-length child’s e-book and eight games that pertain to the story and it’s content. The one cartridge was enough to keep my testers happy for a long time.

Cartridge in V.Reader

A note about the cartridge, while it slipped into the player easily, it was a bit difficult to remove.  Several of my testers needed help taking out stuck cartridges.  However, I don’t necessarily think this is a negative since it will cut down on lost cartridges, and I’d imagine that the more the child plays with the reader, the looser the cartridges will become.

One fun feature of each cartridge is the ability to “free play.” While reading a story or playing a game, a child can touch the screen to stop or restart the narration, see animations, hear word definitions, or hear fun sounds and voices. My testers had a lot of fun trying to discover the free play hot spots on each page of the story.

The video below shows the included story being read and some of the free play items that users can touch on the screen. (Please note that the screen is much clearer than the video shows merely because my video camera had trouble focusing on the screen.)

Additional e-Books and Downloads

Additional cartridges containing e-books and games can be purchased for around $20.  Those currently available include:

• The Little Engine That Could
• Olivia
• Shrek
• Disney/Pixar Toy Story 3
• Mr. Men and Little Miss
• Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

After reading the e-book that comes with the reader and one additional, they seem to be age appropriate and the games are engaging and fun.  There is enough built in to each cartridge that they held my tester’s attention and interest.

In addition to cartridges, VTech has targeted mid-summer to have a download-able library available with over 100 books. The online library is not available at the time of this review, so I am not able to review this functionality nor do I know the pricing.  However, VTech has said that there will be some free downloads available. Still, if the downloads are anything like the included cartridge, they will keep a child busy.

Tester Reactions

Truly, I think the reactions speak for themselves. “It was all really cool!” effused one user.  Referring to the Mr. Messy and the Missing Socks cartridge another said, “I like it when I can make the pictures do funny things, like the water spilling out of the clothes washer onto Mr. Bump.”

In a Nutshell

The V.Reader from VTech is quite cool. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s available on the web site. At $60, it’s a sturdy and engaging toy, and I’m happy to give it:

5 out of 5 stars

“We asked parents what they look for in online experiences for their children,” said Craig Hendrickson, senior vice president and chief product officer, “and parents said safety, fun, and education. In response, we are excited to launch LeapWorld, an online space that not only addresses these three criteria, but also sets a new standard for the innovative, personalized play that is possible only in the combined online and offline experiences LeapFrog offers.”

Using their Leapster2 hand held devices, children can earn tokens that they can use to create a character and build their own home online in LeapWorld. Then, as they explore the world and customize their space, children can play games that emphasize math, reading and science as well as social and life skills. The games automatically adapt to challenge children according to their individual skill levels.

The free Learning Path software allows parents to monitor progress and see what their children are learning both on the Leapster2 and in LeapWorld. Even more parent-friendly is the fact that LeapWorld and it’s web-based games and activities are available at no cost to Leapster2 owners.

LeapFrog Enterprises announced its Leapster Explorer Learning Experience device. Designed for kids ages four to nine, it features a high-resolution touch screen display, downloadable applications, a click-in camera accessory, and 3D graphics.

The Leapster Explorer is the most powerful gameplay device the company has offered to date. When the device launches in July it will offer 12 cartridge games and 18 Leapster Learning Apps; by the end of this year, LeapFrog said it will offer more than 40 total.

The games offer a variety of learning experiences; Disney-Pixar Toy Story 3 helps literacy skill-building, Wolverine and the X-Men helps children practice phonics, and Disney Fairies and The Penguins of Madagascar help build mathematics skills.

The Leapster Explorer can be connected to LeapWorld, LeapFrog’s online learning playground only accessible through the LeapFrog Connect Application. Parents will be able to use the LeapFrog Learning Path, where they can see what their children are learning.

The Leapster supports downloadable Leaplet Learning Apps, e-books, and video playback. Children can even create and take care of their own personal pet.

Availability
The LeapFrog Explorer Learning Experience will be available on July 15 from major retailers for MSRP $69.99 in green or pink. Cartridge games are $24.99; a two-pack of Leaplet Learning App download cards are MSRP $14.99.

Leapster Explorer Webpage

VTech has launched its MobiGo handheld learning device featuring an interactive touch screen and QWERTY keyboard. Designed for children ages 3 – 8, it features early learning games that help develop skills in math, language, and logic. Parents can plug the MobiGo into their PC or Mac and download progress reports.

The touch screen interface allows kids to tap, flick, pat, and drag & drop. There is also a slide-out QWERTY keyboard.

The MobiGo is durable and is designed to be used on-the-go. It has built-in headphone jacks.

An online store for MobiGo featuring downloadable games and progress reports for parents will launch in July. The standard included cartridge holds seven games; there will be 11 initial licensed MobiGo games, including Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 3 and Shrek and Disney Princesses:

• Ben 10 Ultimate Alien
• Disney Fairies
• Dora the Explorer
• Mr. Men & Little Miss
• Shrek 4
• Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 3
• Disney/Pixar’s Cars
• Disney Princesses
• Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
• NASCAR
• Super Hero Squad

The MobiGo is available now in Toys R’ Us stores and will be available nationwide in August at key retailers, www.amazon.com for SRP $59.99.

Deluxe Thomas with Annie & Clarabel In Box

Deluxe Thomas with Annie & Clarabel Back of Box

Overview

The Deluxe Thomas with Annie & Clarabel looks just like the train used in the Thomas and Friends TV show and videos.  Look at him, and you are instantly transported to the Island of Sodor, waiting for Sir Topham Hat to come around and send the little engine on a “special delivery.” That said, I absolutely do not recommend letting any very young children touch, much less play with the train.  Based on working with the model, Bachmann’s recommended age of 8+ should be taken very seriously. But, more on that later.

Our Favorite Number One Engine

Things to note about the train:

• The track is 5′4″ x 4′3″, so it takes a substantial amount of space
• Thomas is about 16.5″ l x 7.5″ h x 4″w
• Annie and Clarabel are each about 16.5″ l x 5.5″ h x 4″ w
• The carriage roofs lift off, revealing storage and transport space roomy enough for blocks, Legos, Hexbug Nanos, stuffed toys . . .
• Thomas’ eyes move which freaks out dogs but delights children
• The train is compatible with other Bachmann large scale trains and track
• The track and train pieces fit easily and securely back into the box for storage

The train comes with the following pieces:

• Thomas, Annie and Clarabel
• 12 pieces of metal curved track
• 2 pieces of metal straight track
• track clips (to hold the pieces together)
• a wall power pack with plug in wire
• track power connector/electrical terminal clip
• speed controller
• loop to knuckle coupler conversion piece (to connect Thomas with other large scale Bachmann trains)
• spare loop couplers with springs and assembly screws
• Big Haulers instruction DVD
• written instruction book

Deluxe Thomas with Annie & Clarabel Pieces

Out of the Box

There is a lot to love about Thomas with moving eyes pulling his coaches full of Legos from station to station. However, after playing with the train, there are some serious considerations if you want to avoid confusion and delay.

Setup

Since the train is intended for children 8 and up, I handed the box to my 8-year-0ld train enthusiast son and stepped back to watch.  After about 2 seconds, I received a plea for help with extracting the large scale train from it’s large scale box (the box measures about 19″x32.5″).  After we got the package open and the Styrofoam insert out, my son was off to the races.  He had built the track and had the train running in less than 20 minutes.

Setup

The track was relatively easy to assemble, and the clips hold the pieces securely in place.

Fitting Bachmann Large Scale Track

The train was easy to align on the tracks, and the couplings were very simple to manipulate both to connect and disconnect the cars and the engine.

Engine to Carriage Coupling

Even the power supply setup was very straightforward and required only a quick look at the instructions to verify that things were properly connected before we turned the power on.

Speed Control

Instructions

The written instruction materials are adequate, though I personally found them light on help since this was my first time setting up a Bachmann large scale train. Still, they were written in language that my 8-year-old could figure out when he needed to. I found the DVD to be cheesy but more helpful when it came to setup and troubleshooting, and I’d highly recommend watching it if you are a large scale novice, even if you have experience with other scale trains.

Instructions - Pictures of Track Connection

Instructions - Text for Track Connection

Durability

The engine and the coaches stood up to recreations of some of my son’s favorite scenes from the PBS TV series and videos. Falling Lego trees and crashing through paper “snow,” didn’t seem to leave Thomas any worse for the wear. He continued to run smoothly, even at high speeds, and didn’t derail during the whole first hour of constant play.

However, we did discover the hard way that any metal (be it a wedding ring or track) that touched the roof of the coaches left a serious mark that didn’t rub off.  So, Annie and Clarabel started showing signs of age after just a few minutes.

Marks on Annie's Roof

As for the track, well this is where the real issues lay. My son had friends come over one afternoon and the track was accidentally kicked.  It was no more abuse than the track would have received having been put together and taken apart several times, but suddenly, two of the pieces didn’t fit together quite right which clearly threw off the entire system, and from that time, Thomas has been off the rails repeatedly.

Slipped Rail Connection

Furthermore, after having set up the train and taken it down just twice, several track pieces don’t fit properly together and appear to be bent causing all kinds of running problems.  Additionally, the metal rails “slide” over the plastic ties causing the connections to become uneven so the pieces won’t fit properly to form a continuous current.  In order to resume operation, we had to find the gap and slide the rails back into their proper position.  On some pieces this was much easier said than done and took some manipulation.

Left Slipped Rail, Right Correct Rail

In their defense, Bachmann’s instructional DVD which setup and troubleshooting tips. The problem is that the care and maintenance is geared toward a more mature train enthusiast even though this is a Thomas train. Frankly, the delicate track is a major disappointment from a train that started off so smooth and retails for over $300. I would imagine that the track would hold up better if it were secured to a table and not moved or if it were not used by any small children.

Play/Use

Thomas with Annie & Clarabel was very easy to run. The speed dial is straightforward and well labeled.  The train ran smoothly when the tracks were connected well.  It’s also worth noting that this is a relatively quiet train.  In fact, even on the wood floor, it was significantly quieter than my son’s Lionel, and we could easily carry on a conversation without shouting.

Probably one of the most fun features of this train is that the coaches are very roomy and can hold many Legos, cars, blocks and Hexbug Nanos as they speed from station to station.

Thomas and Annie on the Way to Tidmouth Station with Cargo

Loaded Carriage

A Word About Purchasing

Price Differences — when we received the Deluxe Thomas with Annie & Clarabel, we were told that the list price was $299.  However, after a quick Internet search, we found prices ranging from $180 to a whopping $395 on the official Bachmann web site (and, yes, we did match the product IDs to make sure we were comparing apples to apples). So, as with any toys, the take home message is to shop around before you buy.

Age Recommendations — because it’s Thomas, Annie and Clarabel, you might be tempted to purchase this cute train for a small child or toddler. We strongly recommend that you do not give in to that impulse! This is a hobbyist train and will quickly be destroyed by anyone too young to treat it with the respect that it requires.  While it may be a good train for around a Christmas tree, it should not be operated by young children.  Take Bachmann’s 8+ age recommendation seriously, or you run the risk breaking a very expensive investment piece.

In a Nutshell

Things we liked:

• Speed – Thomas is fast and runs smoothly at top speed
• Relatively quiet, even on hard wood
• Coaches roofs lift off to store and transport toys
• Thomas’ eyes move as he rolls
• Train itself is durable and stood up to minor crashes, speed, a cow on the line and several excited children
• Power box is easy to hook up and operate, even for an 8-year-old

Things we didn’t like:

• Track is easily bent, even when using great care
• The finish on the coach roofs marked easily after being set on the tracks during a cargo changeover
• List price anywhere from $300 to $395, though found as low as $180
• Despite the fact that it is Thomas, this is really a hobbyist train rather than a toy, which is confusing to small train lovers
  

So, while Thomas, Annie and Clarabel are adorable and have some fun features, as a “toy” they lose points for having track that just didn’t hold up to any type of play and for being priced so high.  In light of that, we give Bachmann’s Thomas and the girls:

2.5 out of 5 stars

LeapFrog has not officially announced the product, but company investors got the scoop from CEO Jeffrey Katz who confirmed that the Explorer will be on market shelves “around the first of July.”

Loopz Memory Game

Loopz™ challenges players to remember a pattern of lights and sounds or follow the leader by putting their hands through four semi-circular rings, or “loopz.”  Players can compete against each other or play alone.  And, as play continues, the games become more challenging.  Fortunately, Loopz™ has it’s own internal counter to track time and completed levels.  For ages 7+, Loopz™ is available June 2010 for $29.99.