If you have been around Ablegamers for a while, then you will no doubt have read about the various companies who are developing technologies that use your mind to control and manipulate objects on  your computer screen. We got to meet many companies at GDC08 that were attempting to sell mind control to the mass market.

Fast forward to this Christmas 09 and the ToysRUs Big Toy Book. Every year I let my daughter look through and circle the things she likes. Low and behold, this year she has circled something called Mindflex and StarWars Science The Force Trainer. I hadnt heard about either of them, but they look like they could be interesting so I go to the internets to find out more.

It turns out that NeuroSky helped to develop both of these games. We got a chance to meet them back at GDC08 and they were truely very nice people. We were shown computer games that used mind control back then so Im a little surprised to see that they have been able to cross that technology over into table top games. Mattel makes the Mindflex and Uncle Milton Industries makes The Force Trainer. Both games are mass market and widely available, which is quite an accomplishment for NeuroSky. Congrats to them!

I was a little disapointed to see that the Mindflex actually requires you to use your hand to move the little ball left and right after you elevate it with the power of your mind. I guess we are moving  in baby steps as far as mind control, but at least maybe we are moving in the right direction.  The Force Trainer looks like it might be a good toy for kids especially if they like StarWars.  As far as I can tell, its no hands required.

As a side note here, I want to mention the fact that StarWars The Force Trainer totally rips off Michelle's name and idea for our GDC08 session Game Accessibility Arcade: Or How to Do the Jedi Mind Trick, during which we had demonstrations of mind control devices. I think they owe you some money Michelle! :)

See them in action here

The Force Trainer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMznvnMw-ys

Mindflex

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5NQrr5xj3U