"There are unique markings on each track piece that identify the type of the piece and allow the cars to determine their locations," Mark Palatucci, the co-founder and chief product officer of Anki, explained. The technology is part of the fun, and it's fascinating to watch in action: The cars go around the turns and you can watch their sensors build a virtual image of the track on your phone. The cars have to do a quick test lap of the track to figure out its configuration before each race, and after that they always stay on the track, although you can change "lanes" by tilting your phone left or right. The pieces lock together via strong magnets, which makes track creation and destruction a fun, and refreshingly simple, task. That allows you to create eight different track configurations, and changing the track layout is as easy as pulling the pieces apart and clicking them back together in a different order. Overdrive is an updated version of the platform, and the $150 starter kit now comes with a modular track made up of four straight pieces and four turns. Not the least of which was that price, but the original track also came printed on a single sheet of vinyl. There were a few shortcomings with the product, however. It was a neat idea: Marry smart devices with slot car racing and layer on video game-style mechanics for something that felt brand new. What is going on?Īnki Overdrive is a sequel to the Anki Drive platform that came out in 2014 for $200. But what you get is a rather amazing mixture of classic play and video games. The "game" I'm playing is a mix of classic slot cars and Mario Kart, and the starter kit costs a rather steep $150 and requires the use of two iOS or Android devices to pilot the cars. I hit the button on my phone to fire my tractor beam, and the other car slows down until it's in range of my main weapon, and I fire, causing the second car to stop completely. Check here for the best prices on the Anki Overdrive Starter Kit as they’ll keep going down through the holiday season.The toy car on the plastic track is talking to me, explaining the mechanics of the game. If you can put your hands on this set, do so immediately. Anki is doing just that, and there is little doubt that Anki Overdrive represents the RC toy racing of the future. It has been some time since a toy company has really taken a big step forward with track-based remote-controlled racing. Anytime you combine racing with weapons, children will flock to it, and this is no different. Think of Anki Overdrive as a real-life version of Mario Kart, and you will be some way towards appreciating just what a fantastic idea this is. Extra track pieces can be added for even more fantastical racetracks while additional cars will only make for more mayhem and more fun. What Anki hopes, and what your children will want, is that you build your collection further. Keep in mind – this is just a starter pack, with two distinct supercars. With many different types of play, the possibilities here are endless. Again, these weapons can be upgraded over time. Similarly, each car has its own special weapon that can be fired at the opponent. Each car has its own character and its own features, much like with a computer game. However, the real genius of Anki Overdrive is not just that your phone is now your controller, but of how much more functionality this provides you with. Put simply, you are racing toy cars around a magnetic track, but instead of using a remote control, you are using your smartphone and an app. The concept for Anki Overdrive is actually quite simple – it’s the execution that takes your breath away. Is the Anki Overdrive Starter Kit Worth Buying?
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