DaGeDar Review

Remember the good folks at Cepia?  They're the company that did Zhu-Zhu Pets...the robotic hamster things?  Well, they've come up with a new toy that we got to try out last weekend called DaGeDar (pronounced DAH-geh-DAAR).  Here's some background on DaGeDar:

"DaGeDar™ (pronounced DAH-geh-DAAR) collectible supercharged battle balls have a special feel and weight that almost demand to be raced! Each DaGeDar™ battle ball boasts a graphic design that reflects the true energy contained within. More than 240 different DaGeDar™ ball graphics are planned for release this year, with varying degrees of rarity. Each ball carries a special code number that when registered on the DaGeDar™ website (www.dagedar.com) will reveal the true spirit contained within the DaGeDar™ ball, as well as its hidden powers, which can assist in racing strategy and let kids unleash the power within!

Racing DaGeDar™ balls requires skill, practice, agility and finesse. Players must control the speed and velocity of DaGeDar™ balls in order to propel them through thrilling loops and turns without forcing the balls off the tracks. Exciting tricks and stunts can be refined by whirling DaGeDar™ balls in Spinners or loading several balls into Battle Launchers to unleash them with supercharged battle play."

They seem a little simplistic at first, I mean really they are nothing but steel bearings encased in foam rubber stuff with some really cool looking designs on them.  But...put them in the hands of little boys and add some tracks to race them on, suddenly they are amazing to watch and play with!
  

I could not believe how much they enjoyed these things!  I heard nothing but constant laughter and strategizing for 2 solid hours!  It took the boys some time to figure out different ways to spin and launch their DaGeDar balls to get them to stay on the track and to make them go faster, but  after some practice they got much better results on the track.  I love that the balls encourage creative and analytical thinking, as well as some agility and coordination.  The boys love the collectible feature and since last week have spent almost every day comparing and trading their DaGeDar balls with friends and neighbors who recieved some of their own at our DaGeDar launch party.  The track comes out almost daily during playtime now, it is quick to set up and break down, and the boys haul it around the neighborhood to various friends' houses to race.

DaGeDar was just launched this month in the Phoenix area, so look for them in select Phoenix area Wal-Mart and Toys R Us stores. The price ranges from $4.99 for a DaGeDar ball to $19.99 for various racing and launching components and sets.  Don't forget to check out the DaGeDar website for some AWESOME videos and really interesting facts! 

Kung Zhu Pets Are...Totally Ninja!

A while back Mom Select and Cepia LLC gave my family the opportunity to try out Zhu Zhu Pets before they hit the stores.  They were a hit, to be sure, and so were my boys because we got to check out the Hamsters before they were even in stores! 

This year we were again honored and grateful to be able to check out the newest line of Hamsters.  They're called Kung Zhu pets and can I just say?  They really rock!  I am so glad that Cepia took the time to actually think about what boys like and need in the way of play.  Because while they really enjoyed the original Zhu Zhu pets?  Khung Zhu pets immediately brought out the "boy" in them and they took a whole new interest in the robotic hamsters! 

So why are Khung Zhu pets so much more attractive to the boys?  Take a look:

Cool boy colors

ninja body armor

wicked armored combat vehicles

and an amazingly challenging training course!

Oh yeah...and the battle arena!!   

I mean seriously...if I'm a boy?  What's not to like!?   Big Brother, my military guy,  gets to strategize and make battle plans and work out his aggressions in the battle arena with some really cool looking little hamster dudes.  Kung Zhus come in two groups:  Special Forces and Ninja Warriors.  Big Bro always, ALWAYS takes Special Forces and makes his little brother be the Ninja.   He figures out which armor works best with which hamster warrior and experiments with different training course designs.  Little Man gets to know each hamster's quirks and personalities and he loves to find out which part of the obstacle course works best for each hamster.  He gets to know each Kung Zhu's speech pattern and often tries to get our cat involved in his play, hoping Blackie Chan will pull some sweet Ninja moves himself. 

So we had a neighborhood party and invited some good friends over to help us try out Kung Zhu Pets and see them in action!  I let the kids put the track together this time.  All by themselves.  No help from the adults.  And they did it.  Then after the obstacle course was put together (took 4 boys about an hour), everybody joined in the fun, taking turns racing their Kung Zhus through the course and then having the Battle of all Battles in the Battle Arena. 

As you can see, the entire set is quite large, so you need a space where it can kind of stay once it's put together.  I just left mine in what was supposed to be the formal living room since we have no real  furniture in there right now anyway.  It's actually becoming more of a game room I guess.  The good thing is you can purchase the accessories separately and kind of  grow into the set one piece at a time.  Our Kung Zhu course gets rearranged weekly, depending on which friends are over, so I guess it's good they have lots of space to redesign!  Future Engineers of America!!  

Cepia LLC has done a great job re-engineering the original Zhu Zhu pet to create something that appeals to boys. Kung Zhu definitely made a big impression in my neighborhood...so much so that we had almost a whole summer with no "Star Wars" talk!  I know!  So thanks, Cepia.  You've helped me out on sooooo many levels!  

**Disclosure:   I was not compensated monetarily for this post.  I did receive Kung Zhu Pets and an obstacle course from MomSelect and Cepia LLC in order to host a Kung Zhu party and facilitate this review.** 

Go Go Pets Engineers are Wicked Cool Dudes

Okay...don't you just love it when people and companies do the right thing for their consumers? I KNOW! ME TOO! It's such a rarity these days that when a company does step up to fix a problem, it's almost shocking. Like..."Really? You're actually gonna take care of my issue without a huge fight?!"

Well, that happened to me today. I KNOW! How great is that? And I didn't even have to ask for the help. The company actually took the time to track me down! I KNOW!!! And because Cepia, LLC was so awesome? I have to share it. Because I want people to know that good companies with good people working for them still exist. I want my readers to know that they can have confidence in Cepia toys, because their engineers actually listen to what consumers say about their products and the issues that come with them. And then - get this - the engineers actually go and fix the issue. I KNOW!! HOW FREAKING AMAZING IS THAT?!!

So here's the whole story...we recieved a Go Go Pets Hamster to review, along with the little Adventure Trail thing for the Hamsters, which included a little ball that you put them in that they roll around the house. Well, if you read my review (which you could do NOW), you would already know that the ball thing kept coming apart, which was frustrating, so I Super Glued it, which left ugly little Super Glue marks everywhere, but it worked.

Today I got this email:

Mrs. Boymom,

We noticed your post regarding the Hamsters and saw that you were having trouble with the Adventure Ball. That was a clever solution to use super glue.

We have lengthened the locking posts on the Adventure Ball to address any problems with the ball popping apart and I would love to know how this ball compares to the one you have now.

If you are interested in checking it out, I could ship one to you. I would just need a shipping address.

Thanks,
(Wicked Cool Engineer Dude who loves to address Consumer Concerns)

That's not his real name, of course, but I think that is what I will call him from now on. And I was clever for using Super Glue, wasn't I? And how fun is it that he addressed me as Mrs. Boymom?!! I think I'm gonna officially change my name to that now! And how lame is it that all my vernacular for really great stuff is total 90's? Ima hafta up my game when it comes to killa phat slang! Or something like that.

Anyway...So why I am so excited about this? It took me a minute to figure it out too. It's because it is really refreshing to find a company who actually holds itself accountable for its products! I guess I can be somewhat negative as a comsumer...remember - I'm still working on overcoming the glass half empty thing. It's just that we all work hard for our money and when it is spent on junk that falls apart and the company who sells it doesn't wanna make it right? Well, it stinks! And seriously, how many of us have had our fill of those kind of cruddy experiences with toy manufacturers that could care less about a disappointed kid and a consumer's wasted money?

Cepia has restored a bit of my faith! Wicked Cool Engineer Dude took the initiative to address my problem. That never happens. At least not to me.

So yeah...I'm shocked and excited and grateful and happy to share my Cepia LLC experience with other moms and dads. I hope you will consider their products (like Go Go Pets Hamsters)when you are looking for new play items for your kids. Tell 'em Boymom sent you. They won't know what that means and you won't get anything for free. But it made me feel really cool to say that just now. Like maybe it could mean something to someone...someday.

UPDATE!!!
I received the new Adventure Ball last week and after initial assembly and numerous tests, the new ball is holding up extremely well, without the use of Super Glue! Wicked Cool Engineer Dude (and his wicked cool associates) did a good job with the changes they made to the design. The ball holds together well and even managed a quick trip on the treadmill. I also noticed the improved version came with a little stabilizer thing that attaches to the hamster to help it keep from tipping over while it's rolling the ball all over the house. The stabilizer thing worked pretty well and eliminated all but the occasional tip over. I want to thank Cepia for taking the time to listen to their consumers and make adjustments to products to ensure that their customers are getting their money's worth!