Mind Control Games

Mattel's newest gaming sensation, and this year's "must-have" Christmas gift is called Mindflex. Mindflex is the current heavyweight in the bleeding edge genre of MInd Controlled Gaming and a smash hit with consumers. We're calling it this year's Wii and it's popularity is sure to make it one of this holiday season's hard to find uber-gifts.

The Mindflex game itself consists of two main components: a user designed, fan-powered, floating ball obstacle course and a wireless control headset, which looks a bit like what you would expect to see an airline pilot wear.

The Mindflex headset is able to read the player's brain activity and detect whether a player is concentrating or relaxing. Mindflex reacts to this input by changing the fan speeds on the obstacle course, allowing the player to control the movement of the "floating" ball through the obstacle course, without actually touching any of it. How cool is that?

Since they haven't come up with a game that simulates X-Ray Vision, the Power of Flight, or Super Strength yet, we think Mindflex is about as close as a person can get to feeling like they really have super powers!

Not bad for under $100 . . .

Here's a list of what Mattel is including:

Game Console (1)
Headset (aka. Mindset) (1)
Sponge Balls (4)
Ring Towers (3)
Rings (5)
Maze Cages (2)
Wall Panels (2)
Shelf Panels (4)
Funnel (1) (3 pieces)
Cannon (1) (3 pieces)
Teeter-Totter (1)
Propeller Wheel (1)

The Mattel's Mindflex console uses 4 C batteries and the Wireless Headset uses 3 AAA batteries - and as you might have guessed, they are not included.

. . . more info about Mindflex.

Uncle Milton Industries' Star Wars Science: Force Trainer uses the latest in Mind Controlled Gaming technology to create a cool and intuitive Jedi themed toy that entertains, fascinates and sparks the imagination.

The Force Trainer's basic setup is similar to Mattel's Mindflex, in that it consists of a console and wireless headset and the object is to control a ball held aloft by a varying speed column of air.

Same, but different.

The Star Wars Science: Force Trainer's wireless headset detects and differentiates between four different types of brainwaves, each of which indicates a certain level of concentration. As the user becomes more focused and more attuned with The Force, the floating ball on the game's console rises to a new measurement. The player will learn to advance from Padawan to Jedi Master conquering 15 levels of difficulty..

We are declaring the Star Wars Science: Force Trainer the toy most likely to replace a sold out Mindflex at Christmas time. And hey, it won't be a bad substitute for the game the kids probably asked for.

. . . more info about the Star Wars Science: Force Trainer.

The OCZ NIA - Neural Impulse Actuator or "Brain Mouse" " has got to be one of the coolest pieces of equipment for gamers to hit the market in a long time. Space age carbon nanofiber based sensors, among other edge defining technologies, come together to take gaming to the next level.

The Brain Mouse is not intended to replace your mouse, but to work with it. The device can take the place of keyboard hot keys, allowing you to use your body and brain to control on-screen actions, cutting reaction times down by up to 50%! Imagine the difference that kind of speed would make in a PVP game situation like WOW, or Halo!

The NIA is compatible with any PC game that uses keyboard input, it'll work perfectly with all your old favorites, as well as all the newest, most advanced games. It also comes with several predefined profiles, so there's hardly any setup time. This definately brings us all a big step closer to true virtual reality. A very cool must-have, in our opinion.

What looks like an Airline Pilot's headset, but can read your mind? Why, it's NeuroSky's Mindset, of course!

The Mindset utilizes a series of internal neuro-impulse sensors to detect the intensity and type of the users brainwaves. These signals are then translated into interface commands inside the 'puter, which, in essence, allows the gamer to use their brains, instead of a mouse and keyboard.

NeuroSky has been working on finding and keeping a development partner since back in '05, but recent industry interest may help make 2010 their year.

Interestingly, the Mindset's technology is also being tested in various real world applications. Someday soon your car will know when you're cold and turn on the heat, or know when you can't see and turn on the lights. That's what we call brainwaves for better living!

Japanese publisher Square Enix is in development on one of the world's first Mind Controlled Video Games, known as "Judecca". The theme of this groundbreaking brain game is a zombie killing thriller that requires the player to focus their concentration before they can even see their Amygdala-munching foes. Getting into the correct state of mind, allows the user to open their "Devil's Eye", kill Zombies, even walk through walls. Sounds interesting - but might be best played in a dark, quiet place!

Judecca is designed for use with the NeuroSky Mindset, but unfortunately no release date has yet been announced for the game.

We'll let you know as soon as we know anything more.

The good folks over at Emotiv have been promising the Epoc for quite some time now. Apparently there are some development issues that are taking quite awhile to work through (the first we saw of the Epoc was sometime in early 2008). The latest word about the Epoc from Emotiv's PR guys is "sometime in '09", citing the need to make sure the device works as planned.

Wow. A company that waits to release their new technology until they are sure it's going to do what is advertised? You'll never make it to the top with that attitude Emotiv! ;)

We only have one question: do they come in size 7 3/8?