These little toy robot kits from Japan do one thing and one thing only. They beat the crap out of each other.
Tamiya’s Robocraft boxing robots come in a kit that’s easy enough to assemble if you know your way around a screwdriver.
Each robotic boxer operates on a wired remote, which lets you control each of two gearboxes which drive the robot’s punches and movements. The same gears drive the punching action and forward/backward movement, making them a bit wobbly and unpredictable - both excellent traits for a boxer. Just as Mickey Rourke.
A simple adjustment lets you switch between two punch types: upper-cut and straight jab.
Tamiya USA sells individual blue boxing ‘bots (along with a little punching bag) for $37 USD, and pairs (in colorful pink and yellow so you can tell ‘em apart) for $67 USD.
Back when I was a kid, I tried to get on a skateboard a couple of times. But just about every time I did, I couldn’t manage to build up enough momentum to ride for more than a few seconds without wiping out. Up until now, there was no other choice for me but to pick up a video game controller and live vicariously through Tony Hawk.
Then along came Altered with their crazy self-propelled electric skateboards.
With models ranging from the off-road capable Green Machine 2.0 to the more traditional looking zebrawood Big Dream, each board has a unique personality.
Most models run on a hefty 36-volt rechargeable battery pack, which powers a belt-driven electric motor. While you’re in motion, you can adjust your speed using a wireless handheld throttle control.
The high-end (600-watt) models can hit 19 to 20 MPH without breaking a sweat, while the entry-level Wombat (250-watt) tops out at 12 MPH.
Prices range from $599 to $799 for the beefy 600-watt models, with the 250-watt Wombat selling for just $399. Altered just recently took the wraps off their 2009 editions and expects to start shipping most models before the holidays. You can check out the full line over at Altered Electric Skateboards.
I don’t know if I should really be sharing this dorky tidbit, but back when I was just a pup, I was a serious bad-ass on the miniature golf course. I actually won a couple of shiny plastic trophies, and even an official gold-plated Jack Nicklaus putter from the neighborhood Putt-Putt.
Over the years, my time on the course diminished, and eventually I ended up as a completely sub-par (er actually, way above par) golfer as an adult. So when I saw this kit that lets you set up a mini golf course just about anywhere, I got the wild idea that maybe I could get my putting game back in check.
Just mow your lawn, throw down the obstacles on the ground, and get to putting. Since each piece is completely standalone, you can constantly create new challenges for yourself. And of course, there’s nothing stopping you from setting up a virtual putting green in the middle of your office or living room.
Designed by George Pal and Hannes Weber of defacto.GmbH, the MyMiniGolf portable mini golf course comes with a variety of ramps, loops, jumps and cups. The kit includes 13 plastic obstacles in an oversize nylon carrying bag, along with a putter, a couple of balls and a score pad.
In the beginning, there was the roller skate, then came the skate board and later the Rollerblade. So what’s the next conveyance that we’ll be strapping to our feet to roll around the street?
image via core77.com
Orbitwheels move sort of like inline skates, but a wheel rotates around your feet, instead of under them. The large donut-shaped wheel whirls around sideways, letting you do all sorts of crazy tricks and spins with relative ease.
Unlike Rollerblades or skates, you just step into the Orbitwheels, so you don’t need to tie any laces or fasten any buckles to get going. Of course with any sporting good that has you hurdling down the sidewalk willy-nilly, protective pads and a helmet are a probably a good idea unless you plan on breaking some bones.
Orbitwheels are available for pre-order now from NewDaVincis for $159.99 a pair.
I don’t get a chance to play table tennis all that often, but chances are I would kick your ass. At least until I had a few drinks, at which point I’m liable to start pushing tables together and get more people in on the game. My drinking aside, that’s sort of the idea behind the Table Tennis Triples, a modular Table tennis system.
It’s developer Guenter Arndt wanted a way for three people to play simultaneously on a circular table. It allows 1-12 or more players to play. It all adds up to reduced waiting times, greater shot range and a fairer scoring system. The prototype system has already won an international patent and soon you’ll probably be able to buy this at a local sports store. It’s not your father’s Tennis Table.
If you happen to be in Las Vegas this weekend, you might want to check out the 2008 USA Rock Paper Scissors League Championship on June 20 in Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The Champion with the best hand skills will win a $50,000 prize and a ticket to compete in Beijing,China during the Summer Olympics, where they will represent the U.S. in the inaugural International Rock Paper Scissors Federation Championship.
I’ve never been entirely clear on the official rules. It always gets tricky with rock against paper. Paper can wrap around a rock and strangle it, but on the other hand, rock can beat paper to a pulp. Check out the video below. It’s strangely mesmerizing.
While this doesn’t really qualify as a techie gadget or a video game, I came across this quirky game and thought it was just too good to pass up.
Instead of knocking over some ordinary pins with this bowling game, you knock over a bunch of little plastic lawn gnomes. The set comes with 6 colorful plastic garden gnomes (10-inches tall each) and a couple of bright plastic bowling balls (one blue, one red) to knock ‘em down with.
While you could sneak around your block stealing your neighbors’ lawn ornaments and bowling them down with a regular bowling ball, this set lets you gnome bowl without breaking any laws. You can grab the set over on I Want One of Those for about $50.
This is probably not the best mouse to use gaming-wise. But Golf fans will have fun hitting a tiny ball in the hole either with the mouse that resembles a squished golfball or included putter. It even comes with the mousepad, looking like the green, and a flag.
Great for getting some game play in on those rainy days where you would otherwise get hit by lightning. The mouse, not content with being an ordinary flattened ball, will also light up in several colors. No word on price, but I’m guessing it won’t cost very much, since it won’t actually improve your skill.
