FanGirl Friday: Active Gaming for Kids

If you have ever looked at my website before than you should know I am a pretty big gamer. I love all forms of gaming and so do my girls (like mother, like daughters, right?). One thing that you lose with most gaming is being active. Sure there are interactive games using the Wii and XBOX Kinect but you still have to be in front of a screen while playing. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with gaming like this for kids – it should just be spaced out in my opinion. They shouldn’t be sitting in front of the TV all day and night. Of course, they could use their imaginations and run around playing with friends or siblings but there are other fun and active options too! That is why I think Active Gaming for kids is super important. Read about a couple of options that are coming soon below.

The first one I want to talk to you about is Playmation. Playmation is the next step in the evolution of play, where “digital gets physical and imagination becomes real”. This system uses smart technology in their wearables for kids and empowers their imaginations, as they become the hero or heroine of stories from Disney, Marvel and Star Wars. Playmation Marvel’s Avengers is the first in a series of new franchise-based systems in development, which uses familiar technologies including wearables, wireless technology, motion sensors and more, but applies them in ways that are completely new, to create an experience that’s never been possible before. The Repulsor Gear connects with the Power Activators and Smart Figures to take you on a variety of adventures through locations around the Marvel Universe. Playmation is purposely not tethered to an Internet connection so players can run around and explore each adventure from anywhere they want – a bedroom, living room or yard. Also available at launch, is the AvengersNet app where you can register Avenger Gear to see progress, explore additional locations and characters, and get access to new missions. Playmation Marvel’s Avengers will hit shelves this October. Star Wars and Disney Frozen systems are currently in development for 2016 and 2017, respectively. Each will use a range of technologies to create a system based on the different ways that kids play and experience their favorite stories and characters from that franchise. I am so excited that I will learning more about this next week at the D23 Expo! This is right up my alley. I imagine myself playing right along with the girls – or even by myself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXFz5tUDY38

Connect with Playmation on social media:
YouTube.com/MyPlaymation
Facebook.com/Playmation
Twitter: @Playmation

      

Another awesome option is Boda Borg. Now, you would have to be local to the Boston area (or willing to travel) at this point but it really sounds like it is worth the trip if you ask me! Boda Borg is a reality gaming experience that hails from Sweden and has been popular there for 25 years. It is about time this comes to the US. Think 5 Wits but different. You are basically thrown in to a room and you know nothing. You have to look around to find your way out and you have no clue how many quests or rooms you have to complete to get out. It is a little bit like that new show Race to Escape (so good – watch it!) but they know they have 5 puzzles to complete and they can even get hints if they are stuck. With Boda Borg you can actually fail and have to restart. I cannot wait to try this out with my husband and the girls. It is sure to be fun for the entire family. Lucky for me, I have a cousin that lives in the town it is coming to (Malden, MA) so I am hoping to schedule a trip out there soon. The thing that I love about Boda Borg is the lack of instructions. There will be a lot of asking yourself what looks different, what can I interact with.  There are different levels (green, red, and black) as well so you can find something that the kids will have fun doing – but that are not too easy for the adults either. Green Quests contain mental or dexterity challenges and are handicap accessible; red Quests require some physical strength for climbing and crawling; black Quests are highly physical. All Quests are like living in a video game – non-linear, non-narrated, based on achieving success through failure – without the virtual reality or screen time.

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