Review: Spy Gear: All Good in the Name of Pretend

This is the latest version of our goggles.  I guess they are always updating their products.  photo: Wild Planet

   
WHAT: Spy Gear Viper-Blaster  and Night Go
DOES:  Excellent pretend play
INVEST: $13- $15  depending on retailer
TOOLS: More Make Believe Please,  Foment Love of Language (you are making up and telling stories), My Body Needs to Move (this pretend play item requires walking around your house)

Review & Giveaway: Mine Shift: You're the Master of Your Domain

Mine Shift won the Mensa Select award yesterday!  This game is non-stop strategic action.  photo: Mindware

WHAT: Mine Shift by Mindware
DOES:  flexes skills in schematic and strategic thinking, you can practice thinking ahead using visual-spatial skills; kids are moving pieces around constantly- lots of action!
INVEST: $19.99 MSRP
TOOLS:  Lose and Win Gracefully (kid testers showed little frustration and more anticipation to play again); My Body Needs to Move (your body doesn't move much but movers/shaker kids will very likely love this game; Think Like a Scientist/Engineer (you are building skills and refining your technique). Flexibility is My Superpower

Recast the Spotlight: Tetris Link: Where a Diversity of Smarts Can Flourish

Improve skills in flexibility, moving objects with your mind's eye, and good ol' fashioned arithmetic  photo courtesy: Techno Source

WHAT: Tetris Link  (NOT a video game- for real)
DOES: capitalize on your strengths as you improve any of the following skills: being flexible, mentally moving objects before moving them in real life, and math skills
INVEST: $26.99 MSRP
TOOLS: Lose and Win Gracefully, Social Scene Helper (if you are great at this game and like teaching), Think Like a Scientist/Engineer (for thinking spatially)



Why the spotlight on Tetris Link?  Today it was announced as one of the five Mensa Select Award winners for 2012.   I have another Mensa Select award that I just love and will be reviewing in the near future with the help of two experts- not just one which is what we usually aim for here ('cause it was a Mensa winner and I was intimidated.)  Additionally, tomorrow's new review will feature a newly named Mensa Select award for 2012.  It must be a Mensa week here. 
So far, my experience with the Mensa Select awardee games has been very positive.  First, I don't see their gold sticker label pasted everywhere and that helps me because I get overwhelmed when there is too much on the menu.  Quite honestly, I haven't seen the list of all their games but it might be safe to say that until yesterday, I only owned one recent awardee game and we really love that one.  But as of today, we own three and I have to say, we really love all three!   Soon we'll publish our next review of a game that you will JUST LOVE and just happens to have been selected too.   And we're going to be giving it away so that will be fun!

Until then, in case you missed it, here is the Tetris Link review.  As I read it over, I can't believe I found this winner on Black Friday floating around in a lone Pennsylvannia toy store without a shelf for a home... probably because they had all been snatched away.......