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I recently had the honor of being invited to attend Time To Play Magazine’s Holiday Showcase here in New York.
I was super psyched about the event, and being able to get a sneak peek into this year’s must haves. I love having insider knowledge, so this totally made me feel cool- I’m not going to lie ;)
Time To Play Announced their “Top 16″ most wanted toys for this year’s holiday season (16′s an odd # right? I know I thought that too!)
Some I agreed with, some I was perplexed by… but hey, who am I to judge?
(Though I will at a later date issue my very own Hot for Holiday list, that you too can check out and critque…though Im SURE my toy picks are truly “The cream of the crop”… so stay tuned.)
One item that did not make their list, but I initially found intriguing was Mattel’s Mind Flex.
It’s a game that through telekinetic powers allows you to move a small ball. The PR woman asked me if I wanted to try it out to which I answered “HELL YES!” .. ok I didn’t, I was more professional about it.. but I did quickly say YES!
She explained that all you had to do was put on this headband with sensors on your temples and then these other sensors clipped to your ear lobes. Once you were all geared-up, the only thing you had to do was concentrate on the ball. Sounds easy enough right?
Well here is what is suppose to happen:
Here is what did happen:
You see the difference? …yes I know this is just a picture and not a video, but believe me the video of my experience may as well have been a picture.
So the woman tells me- maybe you should think about something you did to day… just concentrate. and I thought.. ok, I can do this.
… and still nothing.
She says “Well maybe if you count.. sometimes people count and that helps them focus”
… and still nothing.
“Stupid toy!”, I thought.
“It’s trying to make me look stupid!…. Or maybe its my undiagnosed ADD? Maybe I lack the ability to concentrate… O no! should I see a doctor? I’m so freakin’ complicated the toy doesn’t even want to play with me!”
And I continued to concentrate harder.
Now mind you, there’s top media all over this joint, and a photographer was SNAP SNAP SNAPPING my picture as I unsuccessfully tried to use this child’s toy.
Check the NY Times, WSJ or Forbes, I’m pretty sure somewhere there is a large picture of me looking like this:
With a non-levating ball infront of me.
At this point, the poor Mattel girl is sweating bullets. “Hmm, um.. you know its been used a lot today… maybe the batteries are dead, uh.. why don’t we try something else.
Mind you this was 20 minutes into the event, how could the batteries be dead? Clearly the game was just another way life was proving to me that I am just all over the place, complicated and crazy.
We moved on to other toys that were more my level simpler, Toddler Toys .. I asked some questions, found some cool ones and went a long my way.
FLASH FORWARD to Lunch….
I’m sitting with my fine Editor of The NY Metropolista, Carol who turns to me and says “Did you see that cool levitating ball game at the Mattel table?”
“What??… it worked for you!?!”
“YEAAA! That thing is awesome!… I was levitating that ball like a pro, asking questions and still keeping the ball levitated. The Mattel guy was impressed I was able to concentrate and conduct an interview”
“SHOW OFF!” I thought
Then the rest of the table started talking about how cool the game was.
Greeeaatttt!
So clearly it was just me.
Clearly, this is the coolest FREAKIN’ game ever….
Allowing you to be David Freakin’ Blane without ever having to freeze yourself in ice, or bury yourself alive…
and CLEARLY, my kid will not be allowed to get it cause it makes mommy feel stupid.
Yea I’m insecure like that, so what?
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