NOW CLOSED blobo testers feedback thread

[NewGirlHelenMumsnet]

This thread is for the 10 MNers who have been testing blobo with their child(ren). Everyone who adds feedback on this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one winner will get a £100 M&S voucher.

Below are some questions to get you started. Please feel free to add your own comments as well. Please add in the age and gender of your child(ren) with your response.

1. Overall, how did you and/or your partner (if applicable) find the blobo to use? What did you like best about it? What didn't you like, and why? How did you find installing the blobo software on your PC/Mac? Did everything run smoothly or did you have any difficulties?

1. Was it easy or difficult to connect the blobo to your PC/Mac and charge it up?

1. How did you find setting up an avatar and creating other characters? Did you have any difficulties or was it all ok? Was there anything that you didn't manage to set up?

1. With all of the technical set up etc mentioned above, did you/your partner do most of it or did your child(ren)? At what sort of age do you think child(ren) would be able to do this for themselves?

1. How did you find the games to play? Was the controller sensitive enough to your movements?

1. What did your child(ren) think of blobo? What did they like and dislike about it? Which game did they like the most? Was there anything they thought could be improved?

1. How did your child(ren) find the challenges? Did they have a go at both? If so, which one did they prefer and why?

1. Do you think blobo is good value for money (currently on offer for £39.99)? If so, why? If not, why not?

1. If it came up in conversation, do you think you would recommend blobo to your friends with children? If so, why? If not, why not?

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw,
MNHQ

1. Overall, how did you and/or your partner (if applicable) find the blobo to use? What did you like best about it? What didn't you like, and why? How did you find installing the blobo software on your PC/Mac? Did everything run smoothly or did you have any difficulties? Installation was a right pain tbh, no matter what we did the blobo s/w kept saying turn on the bluetooth when it was on so was v annoying even dh (IT techie) couldnt get it to work so we ended up having to put in on the kids pc using the dongle which was ok but as others have said this then prevents is being used outside!

1. Was it easy or difficult to connect the blobo to your PC/Mac and charge it up? See above! Charging very easy.

1. How did you find setting up an avatar and creating other characters? Did you have any difficulties or was it all ok? Was there anything that you didn't manage to set up? This was easy - kids did it without help. Think calling them avatars is somewhat building their part tho!

1. With all of the technical set up etc mentioned above, did you/your partner do most of it or did your child(ren)? At what sort of age do you think child(ren) would be able to do this for themselves? We did initial installation (eventually) but kids did everything else (they are 9 & 11).

1. How did you find the games to play? Was the controller sensitive enough to your movements? Yes no problems.

1. What did your child(ren) think of blobo? What did they like and dislike about it? Which game did they like the most? Was there anything they thought could be improved? They liked it apart from when dd karate chopped the desk! I was disappointed that the basketball game is simply throwing the ball in the air and catching, it not very realistic.

1. How did your child(ren) find the challenges? Did they have a go at both? If so, which one did they prefer and why? They liked setting up the avatars!

1. Do you think blobo is good value for money (currently on offer for £39.99)? If so, why? If not, why not? I think its ok, not a wii but then not as much money so you get what you pay for really.

1. If it came up in conversation, do you think you would recommend blobo to your friends with children? If so, why? If not, why not? I wouldnt not recommended it iykwim but its not the best toy ever - ok for the price and with other games might be better.

Sorry for the delay in adding feedback - holidays and back to school have intervened!

I have 3 girls, aged 6, 8 and 10.

1. Overall, how did you and/or your partner (if applicable) find the blobo to use? What did you like best about it? What didn't you like, and why? How did you find installing the blobo software on your PC/Mac? Did everything run smoothly or did you have any difficulties?

*I was confused as to how it could be used anywhere else but in front of a PC especially since in front of a PC isn't ideal for athletic style activities.

Installing was straightforward but the program crashed a couple of times during use and had to be re-started.*

1. Was it easy or difficult to connect the blobo to your PC/Mac and charge it up?

Connecting and charging were easy but the blobo itself doesn't seem to stay charged very long and took a long time to charge - by which point the kids had lost interest.

1. How did you find setting up an avatar and creating other characters? Did you have any difficulties or was it all ok? Was there anything that you didn't manage to set up?

Straightforward - the kids managed it themselves. They liked the graphics a lot.

1. With all of the technical set up etc mentioned above, did you/your partner do most of it or did your child(ren)? At what sort of age do you think child(ren) would be able to do this for themselves?

I did all the setup for them but that was by choice. I expect the oldest one (10) could have done it herself.

1. How did you find the games to play? Was the controller sensitive enough to your movements?

The girls enjoyed the games but found them pretty basic and it was a bit of a 9 day wonder.

1. What did your child(ren) think of blobo? What did they like and dislike about it? Which game did they like the most? Was there anything they thought could be improved?

They liked the graphic style and the range of personalisable options for the avatars. They struggled with the games a little and then I think got bored rather quickly with them. They compared it unfavourably to the Wii in that respect.

1. How did your child(ren) find the challenges? Did they have a go at both? If so, which one did they prefer and why?

Yes both but no preference. They basically tried out everything and to date have not asked to have another go.

1. Do you think blobo is good value for money (currently on offer for £39.99)? If so, why? If not, why not?

Not really as it will probably become another toy put away in a cupboard for a rainy day rather than an essential item played with a lot.

1. If it came up in conversation, do you think you would recommend blobo to your friends with children? If so, why? If not, why not?

Probably not. Too limited. A nice gimmick but not really a games platform which is how it is billed. As a stocking filler if the price was a lot lower.

Thanks to everyone who added their feedback - we've done the prize draw and the winner of the £100 M&S voucher is arfur - congratulations!