Magnetix icoaster - one of the coolest toys this holiday season
When I was a kid, my brothers and I grew up playing with all kinds of building toys. There were logo blocks and tinker toys. But back then, it was always plastic and wooden toys. Times really have changed. Now there is the coolest building toy to come along in quite some time. The Magnetix I-Coaster
The principle is quite simple. It is a rollercoaster made from metal and plastic pieces. But the amazing part is that the metal ball is driven by magetism. That allows this roller coaster to be configured to do some amazing and gravity defying stunts. This means you can make the traditional loops and corkscrews but you can also make it do levitation tricks and jumps.
Don't believe me? Well, why not have a look at this video showing you all the cool tricks it can do.
What do you get in the box?
The iCoaster comes with 17 tracks, 6 stunt pieces and 10 adjustable towers. The combination of all these parts can be use to construct 10 unique and very fun roller coasters. And once your child masters the 10 listed in the manual, they will begin to learn how to design their own creation. In fact, most children immediately want to build a new design once they have mastered how to use the toy.
It also comes with 2 light up sensors and 10 magnetic rider balls (these 15 mm balls are the 'car' for the roller coaster). And finally, the kit also comes with the Sound FX Music Studio. This is another very fun aspect to the toy. It has 4000 distinct musical and sound effect combinations. And if there is not the perfect sound for you, an mp3 player can be plugged into the Sound FX Music Studio so you can listen to your own tunes.
Cool video showing the icoaster in action
What parents need to know about the icoaster
The first is the choking hazard. If you have children under the age of 3, never let them play with the metal balls that come with the magnetix icoaster because they could swallow them and choke.
Second, the coaster works best on a flat smooth surface. Some people reported have a hard time getting it to work well on a carpet. This means if you entire house is carpeted, you might need to place a wooden or plastic mat down before setting up the i-coaster.
Third, getting one in time for Christmas is probably very important. Now, Amazon.com does have an excellent price but the number of units are limited. So, my advice is to order it sooner than later before they run out of stock.
Lastly, even though Magnetix rates the game as suitable for children age 6 and up, Amazon recommends it suitable for children 8 and up. Some customers with children aged 7 and 8 have remarked that their child has been able to learn how to use the toy easily.
What other customers are saying about the iCoaster
At Amazon, the icoaster is rated 4 out of 5 stars. There are a small number of reviews, probably because this toy is so new. Here are some comments from parents who have bought the icoaster already.
"There are lots of pre-designed structures to copy in the instruction book, but also very clear instructions on how to design your own coaster. Kids just have to look at the number on each piece of track to see how far of an incline the piece can handle. GREAT for free play in physics!! Lots of scientific inquiry comes from this toy!"
"My 8 year old received this toy for his birthday. At first, this track is somewhat complicated to put together and actually work right. My son over time got the hang of it. He plays with it for hours. At times the balls fly off the track, but he is understanding the mechanics of pitch and speed. He applies those concepts and realizes that by adjusting the height of the tracks he can slow the balls down, which keep the balls on the track."
There are a bunch more that you can read here.
