573. Bright Idea: the Fusion Dining Pool Table February 26, 2008
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Furniture, Game, Product.3 comments
I don’t know about you folks, but my wife and I use our dining table about 3 times a year, when we get around to having a dinner party. Otherwise, we eat on our kitchenette every night.
So that is why I think this dining table, which converts into a pool table, is a Bright Idea. Finally use your dining room more frequently. Add a ping-pong tabletop addition, and you will use that room even more. Check all the versions out HERE; via BornRich.
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484. Bright Idea: Track & Field Challenge August 31, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Product.add a comment
I loved the old school Track & Field game that required your rapid button tapping abilities. This new version for the Wii comes with a two-player foot controller mat. So, get some exercise as you challenge your friend to ten different events. Buy it HERE
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471. Bright Idea: BrainBall August 28, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Product.add a comment
Forget meditation classes. Try relaxation as a competitive sport. In BrainBall, the headbands monitor each players’ brain waves (which are also graphically displayed for the audience). Relaxing produces alpha and theta waves, pushing the ball towards your opponent. Get the ball to enter your opponent’s goal to win.
The trick is to not get excited as you get close to winning (which would result in the tide turning). Place hefty wagers on each game for a true test of your self-discipline. Read more about it HERE.
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456. Quickie Web: Game: Paintball August 23, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Quickie Web.1 comment so far
No paintball shooting here, this fun and different game requires you to paint/draw white lines to get your red bouncing ball to the red square goal. Play it HERE; via RGS.
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452. Quickie Web: Game: Bomb Wars August 20, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Quickie Web.add a comment
For an engaging challenge, use the arrow keys and space bar to lob bombs at your opponent. Play a round HERE; via GameLife.
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450. Bright Idea: MyMinigolf August 20, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Plaything, Product.add a comment
Set up a putt-putt course anywhere you want with MyMinigolf. Imagine these 9 holes around your office suite, your neighborhood block, or throughout a dorm hall or condo (with each room/unit pairing a hole with a different beverage that you can only sample if you make par). Check out their website HERE; via Core77.
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440. Quickie Web: Game: Thor Towers August 16, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Quickie Web.2 comments
This game is incredibly simple, but unusually compelling, at least for a few moments. Press the space bar to drop each swaying block, attempting to stack as straight and stable a tower as possible. After several attempts and getting as high as 25 blocks, I eventually lost interest. Give it a try HERE; via GameLife.
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408. Bright Idea: Qolf July 26, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Video.add a comment
Work on your putting and chipping skills in this family activity. Qolf is an indoor/outdoor game that is a cross between croquet and golf. I haven’t tried it, but I think that any new way to play is a Bright Idea. Watch the 1 minute commercial below. Their website HERE ($40).
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403. Quickie Web: Game: Statetris July 25, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Quickie Web.add a comment
Fun game + Education = Bright Idea.
Slide the states into place Tetris-like. This game is probably more relevant/interesting for my US readers. Let’s hope for the World version will soon be produced (or separate continent versions, excluding the Australian version, obviously). Play a round HERE; via Neatorama.
P.S. Here are the versions for Europe and Africa.
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400. Bright Idea: Speedminton July 25, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Product, Video.add a comment
I just ordered this hyped-up version of badminton that requires no net (I need to start exercising). Play it anywhere you have space to. Buy it HERE
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398. Quickie Web: Game: Cursor Invisible July 24, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Quickie Web.1 comment so far
Break the incoming plates without seeing where your mouse is pointing (hence the title, Cursor Invisible). An original twist on a common game play mechanic. Play a few rounds HERE; via GameLife.
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396. Quickie Web: Video: Pop ‘n Music July 24, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Person, Video.add a comment
This game and prodigy are very similar to those in my Dance Dance Revolution posting (here). Like DDR, this game requires timing the right beats and notes to music (DDR requires feet; Pop ‘n Music, hands). The guy in this clip is incredible, even savant-like. It actually made me marvel at the vast capabilities of the human mind and dexterity. This 1.5 minute clip is via Neatorama.
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382. Quickie Web: Game: Star Shine July 17, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Quickie Web.add a comment
Like the calming bear below, this game is soothing, as well as a relatively original puzzle game. With pleasant piano music in the background, shoot your star to cause the others to light up in a chain reaction. It gets quite difficult after a few stages. Play it HERE; via RGS.
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367. Quickie Web: Game: Orb July 11, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Quickie Web.add a comment
Orb is another original and exciting game. The balls will race towards your mouse pointer, but don’t let them touch you. Instead, maneuver them so they crash into the boxes. Trust me: it’s fun. With pumpin’ music. Play it HERE; by Kalinium; Via RandomGoodStuff.
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365. Bright Idea: BongoPong July 10, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Product.2 comments
Bongo Board + Pong = Bongo Pong. Get off the couch and use dexterity and balance to control your paddle on the classic video game, Pong.
This Bright Idea is not in production, but maybe could/should be, if it is not super difficult. This is a very sparked hack, with my respect going to the creator (his website HERE). Via Make.
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358. Quickie Web: Game: Bloxorz June 25, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Quickie Web.1 comment so far
Bloxorz is a brilliant and fun puzzle game. Tumble your rectangular unit to the escape hole without falling off of the playing surface. Higher levels incorporate varied additions to the challenge, like gates with switches, fragile surfaces, and teleportation. Play it HERE; via GameLife.
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356. Bright Idea: Tag Ball June 21, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Plaything, Product, Video.2 comments
Tag Ball is the poor person’s Paint Ball. Despite having to wear velcro everywhere, this seems like a pretty Bright Idea. I also prefer this single-shot challenge over the expensive and lazy rapid-firing typically found with Paint Ball. Check out their website HERE. The clip is a 30 second commercial.
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353. Quickie Web: Game: Flute Hero June 20, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Quickie Web.10 comments
Last night, my good friend Ben was telling me how much fun he and his wife were having playing Guitar Hero 2. For those of us who don’t own an XBox 360, here is a free and similar game: Flute Hero.
Use your keyboard’s number keys to synchronize with the indicated musical notes. HumBugg: there should only be 8 notes, since thumbs are awkward to use when playing. Well-produced, fun, and frustrating. Play it HERE; via GameLife.
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340. Quickie Web: Game: Shuffle June 11, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Quickie Web.2 comments
Here is a quick and fun amusement. Use your red balls to knock all the yellow balls off the table. Sounds simple and boring, but it is quite playable, with some potential for strategy and depth, and makes me want to play a non-computer version against a friend. In a bar. With the loser buying drinks. Play it HERE; Via GameLife.
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332. Quickie Web: Game: Crazy Ladybugs June 4, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Quickie Web.add a comment
Try this entirely original game. There are various ladybugs are rotating at different speeds. Holding down your mouse button makes them all stop spinning and crawl forward. The Goal: make the bugs bump into each other (and disappear), leaving only one bug left, without letting any fall off the stump (i.e. the playing surface).
OK, it sounds a little silly, but see if you can complete the game (about a dozen rounds). Bonus: great sound effects. Play it HERE; via GameLife.com.
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322. Quickie Web: Game: Deflector May 22, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Quickie Web.add a comment
Here is another web game that is original, fun, addicting, quick and easy to learn, and requires a good deal of skill. Simply click and drag your mouse to draw a force shield to protect yourself and deflect incoming missiles back at the enemy. That’s it. Highly recommended. Try it out HERE. Via Neatorama.com.
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315. Bright Idea: Giant Connect 4 May 15, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Product.add a comment
Here is the classic game, but for large outdoor gatherings. Buy it HERE; via OhGizmo!; play the online version HERE.
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314. Quickie Web: Game: Red Team Game May 15, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Quickie Web.add a comment
Test both your ambidexterity and you ability to parallel process (literally) in this quick and original game. Use the Up and Down arrows to control your bottom team member, and the A and Z keys to control the top one, simultaneously. Avoid the obstacles. Potentially very frustrating.
It will take a couple of levels to begin to get challenging. Passwords are also available to save your spot. Prepare for a few annoying ads. Play it HERE. Via GameLife.com.
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300. Quickie Web: Game: Angry Faic April 26, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Quickie Web.add a comment
Here is some original game play to help kill a few minutes. This web game is also potentially therapeutic for those folks who are generally annoyed with emoticons.
Instructions: Keep your large falling grimace ball in the air by bouncing it on the smaller emoticons using your arrow keys. Eventually, change the color of your ball to match the various target balls. Play a few rounds HERE. Via GameLife.com.
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270. Bright Idea: Bossaball April 2, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game.add a comment
I love it when people come up with new ideas in games and play. Bossaball is a mix of volleyball, takraw, and Slamball (which also uses trampolines). Check out some of this video to get the idea. Via Videosift.com.
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245. Quickie Web: Game: Boomshine March 23, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Quickie Web.3 comments
Not only does this game have a cool name, but it has pretty music (really, it’s pretty) and is actually quite enjoyable to play.
The goal is to cause a chain reaction of dots expanding. Take a few moments to give it a shot and to try to make sense of what I am trying to say here (since there are no instructions), and you will see that it is very much worth playing. Try it out HERE, via GameLife.
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238. Quickie Web: Game: Balls! March 20, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Quickie Web.add a comment
This diversion is simple and fun. Use the arrow keys to keep your white ball on the black surface, as the dark balls fly around and knock you about. Your score keeps increasing the longer you stay on.
The first time I played this game, I got a score of 1319: make that the score to beat for your first time. Play it HERE, Via GameLife.
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227. IdeaSpark*: Kite Bombing March 16, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, IdeaSpark*, Product.1 comment so far
During an evening walk yesterday, I saw a young girl and her father flying a kite. It looked enjoyable, but the experience hasn’t yet enticed me enough to actually buy one during the last decade. I am afraid my ADD-ed self would get bored in ten minutes. So I then ideated something to liven up the kite-flying experience (like these pictured razor-bladed kites fighting)…
IdeaSpark*: A kite-attached box device that dispenses little paint-ball like bomblets onto a target below. Using the attached pull-string trigger version (or the pricier remote-control version), you compete against others by trying hit a target bullseye on the ground.
Bright Idea (The Kite Camera Rig): Attach a pocket camera to your kite for aerial photography. Click on for two photos…
222. Quickie Web: Game: PLANned March 14, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Quickie Web.2 comments
PLANned is a simple, thoughtful, and original puzzle game that I highly recommend. It requires, as the name suggests, planning and foresight.
The rules are simple and the goal is to sequentially expand each square to form a connected network. Sounds a little dull, perhaps, but it is a fun way to exercise your brain. Give it a try HERE (via JayIsGames.com).
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211. Quickie Web: Game: Formation March 9, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Quickie Web.2 comments
Incredibly enjoying in its intuitive simplicity, this interactive interlude will get you focused and engaged, at least for a few moments.
The title of this little game is “Formation” (play a quick 23 second game HERE). The basic rule is simple: keep your rotating four-dot formation from colliding with other falling dots. Go to the Instructions page for two more abilities.
Via Wired’s GameLife.
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SparkBugg.com 