Tipster

$50, Smart Toy

Teaches: remote controls, balance, robotics

CTR Review

Tipster is a robot that can play, move around, spin, and tip. There are five play modes, a remote, and activities that include balancing, stacking and counting. Games include: Tippy Tunes - see how much you can build on Tipster before the music stops; Dizzy Builder - build on Tipster as he spins around and counts down from 10, with three rounds that increase in difficulty; Tipster Takedown - Tipster tells you exactly what to put on his trays, then you grab the remote control and drive him around until everything falls off; Tipster Trix - place Tipster on his RoboBarrel, and watch him keep his balance atop it, then drive him around and see if you can make him tip; and Free Play - use the remote control to drive Tipster around, and listen close for building cues. Features include: motions via a single motor; can move forward & backward; can spin; two wheels in front, two wheels in back; RC remote with three buttons; mode indicator switch/slider on right ear; additional button on left ear for starting games; cylinder that holds five ladders and ten mini-robots; knows when there is something on his right or left hand, and leans to side accordingly; hinge in waist (parent/child can enable or disable it for easy/harder play); and eyes animate via LED display. Requires: 4 x AA & 3 x AAA batteries (not Included).