Then, as your cars travel down the track, you put your game pieces down on the table or launcher, where the camera can see them. The app recognizes the cars and starts up the race. In the app, you’ll have some options for choosing a track, and then each player puts their chosen car on the launcher. The game pieces are small discs with various icons on them and are used for various effects during the game. The Osmo base sits on top of the tunnels, and the app is designed so that as the cars drive into the tunnels, they appear to drive onto the screen of the game. Pushing the button sends them down the ramp on the track, and into two tunnels (and then out the sides of the tunnels). The launcher looks like the start of a Hot Wheels track-the two cars sit side by side in their launching stations at the top of a small ramp. Right now only these six cars can be used with the app, though if the product does well I imagine there will be more cars added later. Yep, there are real Hot Wheels cars included-these six were chosen to have a range of car types and personalities. You’ll need an Osmo base to play, as well as the free app, available from the Apple App Store. (iPad not included) Image: Osmo What’s Includedįirst up, here’s what’s included in the MindRacers package, which will retail for $59 (without the base) or $79 (with base): I had a chance to talk to Pramod Sharma, CEO and co-founder of Osmo, about the new game. It’s a game that brings Hot Wheels cars to virtual life.

Today, Osmo introduced a new product in partnership with Mattel: MindRacers. Using that camera, the software is able to recognize various accessories that you put on the table surface in front of the iPad, allowing you to play games that teach math, drawing, programming, music, and more. In case you’re not familiar with Osmo already, there’s a base that holds your tablet upright and a small mirror that attaches to the front-facing camera.

Osmo has been one of my favorite tech toy companies in recent years, combining digital and analog play in clever ways.

Download mindracers