Anki DRIVE
© 2014 Anki
Anki DRIVE is an expensive racing game centered around solid, well crafted race cars that attempt to combine two worlds: digital and physical. The $150 kit includes a large, thick vinyl track that you can roll out on the floor. The entire kit can be stored inside a thick cardboard tube. The track has no physical boundaries... the cars stay on the road using an innovative optical sensor. After you roll out your track and charge your cars, you must download the free app on an iOS device. The cars must then be synced to your iOS device. You must have one device per car; and up to four total cars can be supported. If no other players are around, the other cars drive themselves. The Starter Kit includes two Anki cars (Boson and Kourai), two charging cases plus a power cord, a 3.5' x 8.5' Starter Track and a tire cleaner. Additional cars cost $70 each, and expansion tracks are $100 each. The more you race, the more money you win which you can use to customize your cars. For example, if you choose a speed boost, your car will drive faster. Our testers found the cars fun at first, but the novelty wore off after a few days and the extra steps involved with downloading the app, charging and syncing the cars eliminated spontaneous play.
$150, iPod 5, iPad 3 or newer, iPad Mini, iPhone 4S or newer
Teaches: driving, fine motor development, collaborative play
CTR Rating: 72%