Transformers TRB Beam Bots

Beam Box is a cool concept in an age of overdone technology for kids. This simple device connects via (RCA Type) video and single audio line to the inputs on your TV. You insert the physical character into the "chamber" and then press down on the top where it does a half spin and the figure spins to the back where it cannot be seen. This "beams" the character into the TV where the child (or adult) can then control the game selection and play different mini-games to earn medals (Gold, Silver, and Bronze) based on how well they did.The games are simple enough that 4-5 year olds seems to get it with a little coaching at first. There is only a 4-directional pad and a single "Action" button so the games and controller are just right for kids.The Remote is wireless and infrared so the BeamBox needs to be in the line of sight where it will be played from. In watching my 5 year old play he swings his arms around and moves quite a bit so make sure there is enough space for them to move around in and still have line-of-sight to the device.On another note, the main Beam Bot does come with 1 character but at the low cost of a few bucks for each other character we got the whole set and he really enjoys just switching them in and out of the device.

fun toy...after reading the reviews I was concerned about it being glitchy or poor quality but we are delighted. Great little starter "video game" for 3-6 year olds. My 3 year olds are just managing some of the basic skills... my 5 year old plays the games well...I think it would be too basic for older children. it was VERY easy to plug into the TV, where the dvd player usually goes. And change the input on the TV to AV (I could not find this in the booklet...maybe I was tired and missed it) Make sure that the rescuebot guy "Clicks" into place before pressing the button down to make him disappear or he will get stuck. At my house mommy does that part and the children (3 and 5) take turns to press and hold the button. They DELIGHT in the appearance of the character on the TV. The unit is battery operated so make sure you have batteries on hand to avoid disappointment. The control is very simple and manageable for toddlers, with some practice. I cant say that its educational...more like watching TV in a more interactive way. The whole family get excited and cheer the player on. It just "guilty pleasure" fun for toddlers.

I got this for my twin pre-K boys recently because they love Transformers Rescue Bots. They're too rough on things (like my Kindles), so I bought this because it was inexpensive and the games were aimed at their age group. They got so excited the first time that they were able to make Optimus Prime disappear and beam into the TV! They're a great simplicity to this. It uses batteries. The only cables are an audio and a video jack that go to the tv. It doesn't use HDMI or anything like that. It works perfectly on the old tube TV we've got in their playroom. The controller is wireless, so no getting tangled or tripping over cables. The only problem they have (and it's probably because they don't really play console games) is that they hold the controller backwards sometimes and it makes them think the game has frozen up. Other than that, it's perfect. The game comes with an Optimus Prime "cartridge" and that's got plenty of games to keep them busy for now. I also bought the other game "cartridges" available for this but put them away for once the basic game has lost its luster. It's just a shame that this platform seems to have been abandoned. I got this as a clearance item here on Amazon (normally about $50 but I paid less than $20).

We purchased this for our 3 year old son who loves Rescue Bots. It's not a gaming system that is going to challenge older kids, but it's perfect for our family. He will play with the different characters, have fun with the speaker/TV interactions, and I think I've seen the remote get tossed all the way around the room the one time he didn't get Bumblebee through the maze...Pros:Value gaming system. Gets pricey with the different characters - look for them as Add-ons here on Amazon to save $$Easy to set up and use. Plugs into the A/V.Runs on batteries - we use Rayovac Rechargeables for the system and the controller.No controller cords [note ability to chuck said remote at others or the TV rather easily however]Cons:Not really good for older kids. Our 5 year old son gets bored with the games pretty fast.Batteries don't last very long. With normal use [under 30 minutes per day] it lasts about 1 week.When we first got the system, the primary recipient was in our bedroom every day for a month at 4am in the hopes of getting extra playing time. The novelty has worn off, we're getting more sleep, and he's still having fun. We'd definitely purchase this system again.

This is about what you might expect. The games are clunky but passable. The "badge" system and map for navigating missions is nicer polish than I expected.The biggest weakness of this product is that the Beambox requires AA batteries to run. You have to remember to turn it off whenever it's not in use. This would be an annoyance even for an adult, but is basically throwing away money when it's a kids' product. Since the only way to use this is with a TV, it doesn't even make sense to be battery-powered.