Wednesday, December 12, 2012

The Unique, Interactive, Intelligent Gaming System that Fits in Your Hand: Sifteo Cubes {Review & Giveaway}

Sifteo logo
Whether it's my overzealous competitiveness or just that my subconscious feels completely crushed when I lose, I'm in general not a huge fan of games. Is that strange?

Board games, computer games, outdoor games, video games, it doesn't matter. I'll give my brain a break by playing a round or two of solitaire on my laptop every now and again, but that's about it. What can I say? They're just not my thing.

Therefore, it should tell you quite a bit about the uniqueness and all-out entertainment value of a game when I say that, from the day I opened the box, I sat on the floor and played with it for hours. And then took a break. Only to pick it up again not too long later and play until my husband nearly forced it out of my hands so that I would go to sleep.

That, my friends, is the utter addictiveness of Sifteo Cubes.

Sifteo Cubes

A combination of video games, building blocks, puzzles and board games into a set of award-winning cubes that can fit in the palm of your hand, Sifteo Cubes are a mix of technology, interactivity and... I'm pretty sure there's some magic in there, too.

This intelligent electronic game system is made up of a starter set of three cubes (single add-on cubes can be purchased separately to increase the play up to 12 cubes) that communicate wirelessly with each other and respond to each other as well as the user. Simply tap on the colorful touchscreen, place the cubes next to each other, or tilt, shake or move them to play the various games.

As I had had a quick glimpse and a minute or two of play with Sifteo Cubes when I attended BlogHer this past summer, I couldn't have been more excited to really try them out when they arrived here at home.

Sifteo Cubes set

Designed for ages 7+, the starter set not only had the three 1.7" cubes, but the Sifteo base (the "brain" of the system that controls the power as well as the sound), a USB cord, a soft drawstring pouch and four pre-installed games: Chroma Splash, Cube Buddies, Code Cracker and Word Caravan.

Sifteo Cubes review

Simply pull each piece out of the box, install the AAA batteries (included) and press the power button on the base. Once the cubes automatically pair with the base, one displays a menu to allow you to select between the games. Just tilt the cube back and forth to select and you're ready to play!

Chroma Splash: Utilizing different color chromits (circles with shapes), Chroma Splash starts out basic and, level by level, progressively gets more difficult. The concept itself is easy, however, as you simply match the colors from one cube to those on another by tilting and neighboring each of the cubes... all the while ensuring that you don't leave any chromits behind.

Sifteo Cubes Chroma Splash

Word Caravan: This scrambled word game involves finding and making words using the lettered tiles that appear on each cube. By tilting the cubes, the letters switch places, allowing you to create more and more words as you rearrange them in multiple ways.

Sifteo Cubes Word Caravan

Cube Buddies: Involving a variety of creative, monster-like characters, this game involves three methods of play that involve the different facial features getting mixed up and in need of sorting.

Simply swap an eye for an ear by neighboring the cubes together and passing them from one to the next. As you solve more, you unlock more content... and the more cubes that you add, the more crazy characters that are involved!

Sifteo Cubes Cube Buddies

Code Cracker: A math-based game that initially seemed far too easy, I found that it didn't take long before I was struggling to complete the math sentences to solve the codes.

With three difficultly levels (Easy involves addition and subtraction, Intermediate also includes multiplication, and Difficult brings in division), I appreciate that Code Cracker is adaptable for all ages.

Sifteo Cubes Code Cracker

Sandwich Kingdom: A bonus game that is currently free to download (typically new games are $8 - $12 each) with your Sifteo purchase, I have yet to make it through all of the realms of the Sandwich Kingdom and I'm obsessed with the idea of doing so.

This adventure story involves princess Pearl finding her way through winding tunnels, ruined temples, mysterious gardens, desolate deserts, uncovering clues, utilizing bombs to create new passageways, wearing lava-proof footwear and much more as she attempts to collect the ingredients for the perfect sandwich to save her kingdom.

Sandwich Kingdom is my favorite game so far, as each unique level is followed by another and you never know what surprises or danger awaits. Plus, it is such a great use of the Sifteo Cubes, as you simply keep moving them around to see the pathway magically appear in any direction!

Sifteo Cubes Sandwich Kingdom

A unique, intelligent, challenging, easy-to-use gaming system, Sifteo Cubes involve logic, thought, reasoning, and creative problem solving skills in a way that keeps you wanting to come back over and over again. I have never played anything like these interactive, colorful little squares and I don't think that I could find them any more entertaining!

It doesn't take long at all to pick up how to play any of the games, as each one starts out easy (and with a mini tutorial) and gets progressively harder as you play. By the time you're feeling more and more challenged, you'll be long acquainted with the tapping, shaking, tilting, sliding, rearranging, twisting and more needed for that game!

So far each of the Sifteo Cubes (and the base) have proven to be extremely durable and high quality and really only require a small amount of flat space to pull them out. As they come with their own portable storage pouch, you're able to pop them into your purse or bag to easily bring them along to just about anywhere.

You can bet that at our future dentist or doctor appointments, waiting for food in a restaurant or anytime that we have time for fun at home or on the go that I'm going to be reaching for these cubes!

Sifteo Cubes pouch

A fantastic gift for any casual gamers in your life, Sifteo Cubes truly are a game that the entire family can enjoy. While they are designed for ages 7 and up, my girls are both slightly on the young end to fully understand all of the games, but they have still had a great time contributing to Sandwich Kingdom or playing Cube Buddies and Code Cracker!

Sifteo Cubes game system

A basic set of three Sifteo Cubes retails for $129.95, with additional cubes selling for $29.95 each, and can be purchased directly from Sifteo or on Amazon. As well as extending the game play with more cubes, each one that you add to the mix allows you to save more chromits, make longer words, solve more puzzles and more!

Utilizing the download option right on the Sifteo website allows users to set up Sifteo Sync for adding more games to the system. It only took me a few minutes to have my computer set up and my account made so that I'll be all set to use the USB cord to ensure that my cubes are always ready to keep me on my toes in the future!

Even though the Sifteo price tag is higher than traditional games, I highly recommend them because I don't know if I could love them more than I do! To find out more about these incredible cubes and see them in action, visit Sifteo.com and connect with them on Facebook and Twitter. You've just got to try them once and you'll be hooked!

Thanks to the generosity of Sifteo, one person will soon be able to start their own touchscreen technology obsession as well, because...

One lucky person will win a starter set of three Sifteo Cubes
(including base, batteries and storage pouch)!

Sifteo Cube giveaway


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A big thank you to Sifteo for providing a starter set and an additional cube for me to review as well as a starter set of Sifteo Cubes for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

162 comments:

Monica said...

Code Cracker.

Thanks

Unknown said...

I want to try Word Caravan first

Favorite Little Princess said...

Code cracker...I love brain games.

d schmidt said...

I would like to try Cube Buddies

(d schmidt in widget)

Sandy VanHoey said...

I think my grandson would enjoy the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Kristen said...

I suspect someone might have to pry these out of my hands too!

I'd like Word Caravan.

Audra Weathers said...

I like the Word Caravan game.

bettycd said...

Love to try the Word Caravan game - we love scrabble here.

carole said...

cube buddies sounds good

Jenny Stanek said...

Code Cracker

orangestar17(at)hotmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I'd love to try the Code Cracker Game. This looks like a ton of fun!

Leslie Galloway (LesGalloway //at// hotmail //dot// com) www.facebook.com/GallowayLeslie

wigget said...

i'd like to try chroma splash

Satsuki Rebel said...

Sandwich Kingdom

Seyma Bennett Shabbir said...

Word caravan and Teenage ninja mutant turtles
seyma_bennett@hotmail.com

Savor The Days said...

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!
kim(at)kimberlychance(dot)com

sandra davis said...

i think i would play cube buddies

Alli Dryer said...

I want to play Cube Buddies!

Frisco Del Rosario said...

I want to develop.

Shasta Looper said...

Word caravan

Shasta Looper said...

Word caravan

jek9880 said...

I want to try Ninja slide first!

jek9880 at gmail dot com

ken ohl said...

I would love to play cube buddies. Thankyou, Ken pohl19@comcast.net

Daniel M said...

word caravan looks fun - regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com

Unknown said...

I'd like to try Word Caravan

Cathi said...

I would most definitely like Word Caravan but I have a feeling my grandsons would like the Ninja Turtle's Ninja Slide. ;)

DEBIJOT said...

cube buddies looks like fun

peg42 said...

I'd love to play the Word Caravan game.
Thanks so much and Happy HOlidays
rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com

Karen said...

Code Cracker :)

ktgonyea at gmail.com

Carrie Phelps said...

I think Ninja Slide would be fun with my grandsons.

carol roberts said...

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!

Debi H. said...

I like word games so I would try Word Caravan first.

Bethany C. said...

I like word caravan.

jbmthill said...

word caravan
https://www.sifteo.com/games

like2sweep@gmail.com

Susan said...

These look pretty cool, and I'm like you when it comes to games.

Gina F. said...

I would like to try the Cube Buddies Game first.

ginaferrell3 at yahoo dot com

SueZH said...

I would like Cube Buddies.

bison61 said...

Cube Buddies sounds fun

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

Ann Fantom said...

I would like to play the Code Cracker game.

abfantom at yahoo dot com

Ann Fantom said...

Google+ and GFC ids: abfantom fantom

abfantom at yahoo dot com

Mary Payment said...

Code Cracker sounds like a good one!

Paol Trenny said...

Cube Buddies ----- Paul T/Pauline T aka Paul Tran ..... emscout9 at Hotmail dot com

Paol Trenny said...

Followed on GFC …as Paul T / Pauline T(Paul Tran…pls use emscout9 at hotmail dot com instead of gmail to contact me)
Followed on RSS…Google reader subscriber …as Paul T / Pauline T (Paul Tran…pls use emscout9 at hotmail dot com instead of gmail to contact me)
Followed on Google +… .... as Paul T / Pauline T (Paul Tran …pls use emscout9 at hotmail dot com instead of gmail to contact me)

natalie rose machowski said...

My little brother would love the code cracker

Lina said...

I'd like to play Cube Buddies!

casaflamingos said...

word caravan for me

Mom 2 Many said...

Word Caravan

Unknown said...

cube buddies are cool thanks
gabbflabber at live.com

Unknown said...

I think Chroma Splash would be fun! I tried to click on them to see what the games are about but can't get it to work. Cover looks fun though!

thanks!

ejrichter60 at gmail dot com

Kim said...

Oh, it would have to be Word Caravan. I'd be concerned if I started with Code Cracker my 7 year old niece would just leave me in the dust. :-)

Dave said...

word caravan

trisha said...

Code Cracker sounds fun

Cserafini said...

Chroma splash.

Mimi N said...

My boys would love the TMNT game!

Sarah MomE25 said...

Code cracker looks like one our family would like.

Wendy said...

Code cracker first for sure

Anonymous said...

LOL Teenage mutant ninja turtle game!! TOO FUNNY.. I think this system looks awesome, the kids and I would love it.

Tracy said...

TMNT ninja slide :) my son would love that one

Linda W. said...

word caravan.

Denise said...

Sandwich Kingdom.

Anonymous said...

Cube Buddies

pattifritz2000 at yahoo dot com
thank you

christina o said...

I would like to try word caravan

Unknown said...

I want to try Chroma Splash.

Finamoon said...

Sandwich kingdom

Bran said...

I wide love to try Code Breaker

Caitlin A. said...

My siblings and I would love to try Sandwich Kingdom!

Thanks for offering!

Kristen said...

Code Cracker Game

Kaila said...

Word Caravan

Mark Osborne said...

sandwich kingdom

kim burnett said...

code cracker

Donnie said...

Definitely the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ninja Slide cubes.
Donnie W
ki4ggs(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I would love to try the Sandwich Kingdom

Jessica B said...

word caravan!!

Karen said...

I would like to play word caravan.
Thanks!
Karen
lemontart5kb at gmail dot com

LauraLaura said...

omg these are so cute!

Hoa said...

I would play chroma splash first.

alittlepieceofheaven777(at)yahoo(dot)com

sucotronic said...

sandwich kingdoms definetivelly is my favourite

Unknown said...

I would like to try sandwich kingdom first it looks like diner dash!

Chelsea said...

I'd love to try the Cube Buddies game :)

Robin @ Mom Foodie said...

Word Caravan

Unknown said...

sandwich kingdom

Renee said...

I like Word games/puzzles, so Word Caravan looks like it'd be fun!

Unknown said...

My 2 Grandsons would love Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!

Unknown said...

The Code Breaker game!

Sylvia said...

Ninja slide looks like fun!

Unknown said...

Word Caravan
martywharris@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Sandwitch kingdom :)

Unknown said...

Word Caravan :)

sarah79harding said...

Teenage mutant ninja turtles ninja slide

Roy F. said...

I want to try Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ninja Slide first

Yona Williams said...

Word Caravan

Sweeter the berry said...

I'd try word caravan first.

CD distributor said...

This is an all-in-one game. I liked the sifteo cubes' set.

Unknown said...


Ninja Slide is the one i like

Unknown said...

cube buddiesss

Sarah S said...

I would like to try Code Cracker first. s2inamug at aim dot com

polly said...

cube buddies looks relly fun!

corey1971 said...

Word Caravan looks good. (Corey Olomon)

Anonymous said...

I want to try Word Caravan first.

sflickinger at rocketmail dot com

Unknown said...

Word Caravan would be first on my list!

sherri419 at gmail dot com

Nknouse22 said...

Cube cracker

AnnaZed said...

Bleep! looks fun.

michelle gilliland mcafee said...

word caravan...

Polly said...

I'm Polly. I'd like the word caravan. It intreges me that they go to different places besides just playing a word scramble game.

Francine Anchondo said...

word caravan

Cheryl said...

I would like the Word Caravan.

jodi lasher said...

word caravan looks like a game i would love...

Derek Timm said...

Ninja Slide!

Unknown said...

Ninja slide! Reminds me of the good ole days

brich2222 said...

teenage mutant ninja turtles

brich22@earthlink.net

Unknown said...

Word Caravan

Paula Michele Hafner

Debra said...

i like word caravan

tavernie said...

Id like to play Code Cracker!
ptavernie at yahoo dot com

Clarke & Lewis said...

chroma splash sounds intriguing

Alison said...

As an 80's child, I have to go for TMNT Ninja Slide!

amos122902 said...

Sandwich Kingdom

Charlene S. said...

I'd like to try Cube Buddies :)

Melanie Montgomery said...

I like the code cracker

Unknown said...

Teenage mutant ninja turtles. Ninja slide.

skipthelaundry said...

Bliss bomb.
Amber Porter

Kathy P said...

id love word caravan

tina page said...

ninja slide
trixie420247 at yahoo dot com

Ariel said...

Word Caravan looks fun

Candice said...

Definitely the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Ninja slide
thank you

tlcfromtn said...

I'd like to try sandwich kingdom

cman said...

TMNT.

esldiane@gmail.com said...

Code cracker game please
Diane Baum
esldiane@gmail.com

Valerie Taylor Mabrey said...

B!eep sounds fun to me!~

Unknown said...

Word Caravan is the game I'd play first.

Jmstrunk said...

I want to try Sandwich Kingdom.

mike baker said...

Code Cracker

Kayla said...

Word Caravan!

Unknown said...

brain games

Anonymous said...

I would like to play chromo splash wilcarvic
[at]gmail[dot]]

mtbears819 said...

Code Cracker Game would like to try first-Dorothy Deakyne

M said...

I would like to try b!eep!

rosannepm said...

I'd like to try Ninja slide

michedt said...

Word Caravan. Thanks for the giveaway.
Michelle Tucker

Melissa Shirley said...

The game Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ninja Slide.
melissalucky43@yahoo.com

Jenny Q. said...

My son would love ninja slide prepaid game card!

Anonymous said...

I would like to try b!eep first.

christina said...

code cracker

Anonymous said...

teenage mutant nija turtles

Unknown said...

Chroma Splash

Unknown said...

Word Caravan

Unknown said...

Word caravan

Unknown said...

gfc- jessica.goodwill

lisa_s said...

I would like to try Cube Buddies

thescribbler said...

Word Caravan would be a good first choice.

jules mcnubbin (buttmuffin) said...

b!eep looks fun

Tim A said...

Word Caravan sounds challenging

Cálaeb Temple said...

i would love to try code cracker!

bac1 said...

Cube Buddies

susansmoaks said...

bleep looks like a lot of fun
susansmoaks at gmail dot com
tony l smoaks on rafflecopter

Unknown said...

I would like to try the chroma splash

Christie said...

I would like word caravan.

Dawn Reid said...

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
mightynaynay(at)cs.com

Tylerpants said...

I'd like to play The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game. tylerpants(at)gmail.com

Unknown said...

Word Caravan looks fun!

Sand said...

I would like to try Code cracker.

Unknown said...

I would like to try Chroma Splash. garrettsambo@aol.com

Unknown said...

I'd like Ninja Slide.

sam said...

I think Chroma Splash would be fun! I tried to click on them to see what the games are about but can't get it to work. Cover looks fun though!