Board Games Mindflex

This was the hit of the holidays (and at the currently reduced price, it is a STEAL!)After reading some of the negative reviews, this was studier than expected, and the game options work well for both single player and dual player fun. Be sure to check out the instructions for how to reduce the volume level. (The default volume is too loud.)It's amazing to see how different mental states can raise and lower the ball, or push the ball back and forth horizontally. And as others have said, playing with two is fantastic because not only do you need to concentrate yourself, but you can play around with ways to distract your opponent at the same time. Just too fun!It is really interesting to see how your mind can be used to play this game, and one of my kids would add that you can only play for so long because it's hard work to concentrate!GAME PLAYThe game "board" is made up of a horizontal track, and along the track travels an air jet which suspends a 1" inch blue ball with a stream of forced air. You wear a headband which captures information about your mental state, and the game translates that into more or less power to the air jet to raise and lower the ball. Depending on the game mode, the air jet then travels back and forth across the board. You can attach various pieces to the game board through which you then try and maneuver the blue ball by changing height and traveling horizontally across the board. With two players, you can "push" each other back and forth with your minds. It's like mental jousting.NOTEThis really does require some control over mental states and you get better with practice; the first few minutes or so can be rather confusing because you've probably not done anything like this before. The practice mode in the game really does help, or at least we found it helpful.Hope this helps with your decision making.

I initially bought this for my stepdaughter because she had been telling me about the "Mindflex" she saw on tv. When I happened across the Dual, I decided on it instead of the original simply because it was geared towards 2 players and we and the kids love playing games together. I was SO SKEPTICAL about whether anyone would actually be able to control the ball, but the game has really impressed me.I read some reviews of people saying they use it for meditation and to improve concentration for kids with ADD. My oldest daughter has Asperger's and had been having some anxiety issues. When she played this game, she was struggling to lower the ball (you are supposed to STOP thinking to drop the ball), so I told her to try pretending to sleep (close her eyes and breathe deep). It worked immediately for her. The next week, the school nurse called saying that my daughter was having a racing heartbeat and was nauseous. I spoke with her on the phone and told her "I want you to drop the ball, just like on Mindflex. Close your eyes, breath deep." Because of her Asperger's, she is a "concrete" thinker and being able to envision herself playing the game makes the difference for her. She calmed down immediately, and she now uses the "relaxation" technique for herself.This game is fun for the whole family. Our kids are 19, 13, 8 and they all love it. One night, my mom came over to hang out with the girls, and they even got her playing it. What a blast!P.S. For those reviewers who say they cannot control the ball (no predictability), that's the problem. The more you try the worse you will do. You need to be able to clear your mind, relax, and focus only and calmly on the ball. If you're angry or excitable, it is not likely to work well. It's a shame to have your Mindflex collecting dust!

This unit allows for competition. It works just fine, but it insults the “loser” of the competition. I was familiar with the single player unit. I had never played this one before. I should’ve! I used it for my observation because the lesson was about brain waves, analyzing, and concentration. I did tell the class that I had played the other game (which was one a desk), but I had never played that game.I tried it, and I lost. It told me that I was “shameful “! Later, it commented on a losing student, “ How many neurons are you firing on today?”I thought that I was going to die- right there on the spot! It will be interesting to hear what my evaluator has to say for my post observation conference!

I ordered this game as the big Santa gift for our son. Upon opening it to assemble it late Christmas eve, we found the foam balls to be missing from the box. A major oversight, as the game is useless without the foam balls. Amazon will or can do nothing to help on these issues so our only option was to email the manufacturer directly. I emailed customer service with my issue - letting them know that my son would awaken the next morning to be hugely disappointed - only to receive an automated reply, two days later, letting me know that the missing items would be sent within a week. I received no apology, no expedited delivery, no acknowledgement of the inconvenience. Perhaps it is only because this toy sat, unable to be used, for a week under our tree but, since the balls arrived, my son has played once or twice and seems underwhelmed by the game. He doesn't seem excited or inclined to play with it with friends. Maybe he'll pull it out as a drinking game in college, as a previous reviewer does, but it has been a big disappointment for our kids.