The Best Toys of 2006 – School-aged
Spy Gear
- Butterscotch
- Crayola Color Explosion
- Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
- Speed Stacks
- Spy Gear
- Zizzlingers
More Toy Reviews
Manufacturer: Wild Planet
Ages: 6 and up
Suggested Retail Price: $13 - $160
What it is
Wild Planet's Spy Gear line of electronic gadgets and gizmos has consistently introduced new items that utilize technology commonly found in sophisticated adult tools and instruments.
The latest additions to the line include the remote-controlled Spy Video Car, with a video camera and headset screen; the Digital Spy Camera, a small camera that secures to your sunglasses; and the Alarm Kit to protect your possessions while you're out gathering evidence. All three items will be available beginning this fall for the 2006 holiday season.
Why it's fun
Some of the most popular children's cartoons revolve around real or imaginary spies and their hi-tech, under-cover gadgets. This is a play pattern that kids really enjoy and Spy Gear provides the equipment that makes this mission-based play fun.
All of the Spy Gear items are fun, but perhaps the coolest is the Spy Video Car. The car's camera is mounted to the hood, which makes remote driving of the vehicle easy to master. The video from the camera is transmitted to a small monitor, which is worn over the eye like glasses. The range is about 75 feet and the camera angle is adjustable so you can drive into a room and look up at the people in that room. There is even a night-vision option for spying on dark rooms.
Who's going to love it
Spy Gear is most likely appeal more to boys than girls, however, girls also have their own secret agent cartoon characters, such as Kim Possible, so they might be just as in to Spy Gear as boys. Boy or girl, the toys are suited to individual customization.
The Digital Spy Camera and Alarm Kit will probably appeal to a slightly younger age group than the car, which even adults think is cool.
What to be aware of
The Digital Alarm Kit features two units that easily attach to a door, drawer or similar open-and-close structure. When aligned properly, an invisible signal is sent between the two units, which when interrupted, sets off the alarm.
All three items are sold separately and require batteries, which are not included.
The Digital Spy Camera comes with software and USB cable for downloading images onto a Windows based PC.
