Hours of fun, 20 Nov 2008
Helicopters are inherently difficult to fly. Silverlit has made things a lot simpler to give you hours of fun. As you might expect you cannot do all the manoeuvres a normal helicopter could do. The helicopter stays flat most of the time and turning is controlled easily but a dedicated switch on the remote.
The durability of this product is phenomenal. After many hard landings at the early stages of the learning curve it's still working and behaving like new. For the price, you might as well buy one even if you 're not a big fan of the genre.

Fun, but it'll break, 17 Nov 2008
Now I know that no one will read this and there will be a millon sold by January, but they're very very easy to break! I had mine for just 3 days, i din't crash it....much, I was just hovering about in the lounge when it began spinning uncontrolably. I had a look at it and found that the tail had come slightly loose and was wobbly. Therefore, I recommend buying the dual-rotor model which might.....might get rid of the problem. I gave it a 2 for educational values because it takes some doing to master this thing! Happy flying!

ZRH

fun, challenging and fragile!, 14 Nov 2008
I bought a twin pack of these helicopters for my son last Christmas. At first they were great fun, and actually rather challenging even for adults to control. However, if crashed at the "wrong" angle (and believe me - you WILL crash them) the small downward pointing section at the end of the tail breaks.
Both of my son's helicopters have broken tails and will no longer fly properly. The part is so small it can't be fixed even with super glue.
They are too light to fly outdoors (we got one stuck in the neighbours tree!) and you need a large space to fly them indoors. They move so quickly when on a full charge that in a small room they crash into the walls or ceiling almost straight away. As the charge runs down they get easier to manouvre, and with a lot of practice my son learned to fly them well (though I never did!).

Fantastic! Easy to control, Durable and Lightweight!, 25 Oct 2008
This was definitely the best buy ive ever made. The price is amazing for what you get. I would highly recommend this for any children between 8 and 14 :)

Simply amazing!, 12 Oct 2008
The picooz is the most fun i've had in ages. I bought it knowing it was good and it is. Its great value for money and when they say its durable they mean it. It only takes a few flights to learn what your doing. However read the instrutions and make sure to trim. If youre going to buy it for a kid make sure there mature enough. The design is great it has a built in LED (light) so you can have night flights. If yout going to fly it outdoors make sure there is no wind or direct sun. A brilliant buy reccomended!!!

As you know, we are science experts. We have never placed much faith in the mystical babblings of so-called 'telepaths'. Hard fact and empirical evidence are what we need - and this clever device gives you an awful lot of both. Quite simply, 20Q is a wonder of modern science. Using the latest AI technology it is a handheld game that guesses what you're thinking - usually in less than 20 questions (making it a great deal cleverer than some people). But it doesn't do it using basic guesswork or what others might call 'magic'; no, it is powered by the latest in AI (artificial intelligence) technology. Here's how it works:In the best traditions of the classic 'yes/no' parlor game, 20Q asks a series of questions and then, using the AI technology, guesses the object that the player is thinking of. It does this through a neural network of neron-like nodes, mirroring the structure of a simple human brain - no, I'm not referring to you. Please don't be touchy.

Hours of fun, 20 Nov 2008
Helicopters are inherently difficult to fly. Silverlit has made things a lot simpler to give you hours of fun. As you might expect you cannot do all the manoeuvres a normal helicopter could do. The helicopter stays flat most of the time and turning is controlled easily but a dedicated switch on the remote.
The durability of this product is phenomenal. After many hard landings at the early stages of the learning curve it's still working and behaving like new. For the price, you might as well buy one even if you 're not a big fan of the genre.

Fun, but it'll break, 17 Nov 2008
Now I know that no one will read this and there will be a millon sold by January, but they're very very easy to break! I had mine for just 3 days, i din't crash it....much, I was just hovering about in the lounge when it began spinning uncontrolably. I had a look at it and found that the tail had come slightly loose and was wobbly. Therefore, I recommend buying the dual-rotor model which might.....might get rid of the problem. I gave it a 2 for educational values because it takes some doing to master this thing! Happy flying!

ZRH

fun, challenging and fragile!, 14 Nov 2008
I bought a twin pack of these helicopters for my son last Christmas. At first they were great fun, and actually rather challenging even for adults to control. However, if crashed at the "wrong" angle (and believe me - you WILL crash them) the small downward pointing section at the end of the tail breaks.
Both of my son's helicopters have broken tails and will no longer fly properly. The part is so small it can't be fixed even with super glue.
They are too light to fly outdoors (we got one stuck in the neighbours tree!) and you need a large space to fly them indoors. They move so quickly when on a full charge that in a small room they crash into the walls or ceiling almost straight away. As the charge runs down they get easier to manouvre, and with a lot of practice my son learned to fly them well (though I never did!).

Fantastic! Easy to control, Durable and Lightweight!, 25 Oct 2008
This was definitely the best buy ive ever made. The price is amazing for what you get. I would highly recommend this for any children between 8 and 14 :)

Simply amazing!, 12 Oct 2008
The picooz is the most fun i've had in ages. I bought it knowing it was good and it is. Its great value for money and when they say its durable they mean it. It only takes a few flights to learn what your doing. However read the instrutions and make sure to trim. If youre going to buy it for a kid make sure there mature enough. The design is great it has a built in LED (light) so you can have night flights. If yout going to fly it outdoors make sure there is no wind or direct sun. A brilliant buy reccomended!!!

Rubbish!, 09 Oct 2008
I was interested in buying this and saw one out for demonstration, so i thought i'd test it out before i bought it. Lucky i did! I thought of a racoon and began the game. It began promising, asking sensible questions, then went totally off the point. It never got it in 20 questions and only got it on the 25 question, which i felt was a bit of a cheat. I tried again with something simple, but this time, it never got it. I was glad when the words "you win" came up on the screen and it turned itself off, probably because it was embarrassed! At that point, i had to leave, which i felt glad to do, and was very glad i tried it before i bought it. Some of my friends, who were unable to try it, felt disapointed they couldn't and have since got rid of them. It's a good idea, pity about the actual product. It's cheaper (and a lot more fun) to play this game using real people than a computer which can't even guess the item you're thinking of is a pen.

Family fun for a short time, 28 Aug 2008
I got this for Christmas for the whole family to play with and it is fun and amazingly works most of the time unless you pick something really obscure. The only real problem with this is that it can grow old very quickly and within about ten minutes the 20Q will be collecting dust in the corner. Not so good if you have a short attention span.

Get outta my mind!, 28 Jul 2008
...says a bloke on the current 20Q TV advert. And yes, it appears for most of the time this little round gadget is reading my mind, as long as I'm thinking simple thoughts...

Okay, this little beastie tries to guess what someone is thinking about by asking a series of questions that can be answered by a simple yes/no/maybe. After 20 questions it tries to guess what you thought of with varying degrees of success. For example, think of cola and it might guess a can or a bottle; which to be honest isn't too far from the truth.

Personally, I think it's one of those "coffee table" objects; something that would sit on a table and maybe once in a while you'll try it out. Mind you, the expressions on people's faces when it guesses correctly is priceless!

Mind reader?? Er...nope!, 09 Jul 2008
I bought the Harry Potter version of this for my son and we really enjoyed it for a while, then it kind of lost its appeal and we could outwit it most of the time. So I thought I'd get this and see how we got on. The first ten items I thought of it didn't guess!! And they were pretty obvious things... picture frame, domino, sweetcorn, golf club etc I was trying to answer them very obviously but some of the questions it asked were pointless and we were really disapointed. I don't think the aim of this is to try to thin of things it WILL get rather than what it WON'T! Big disapointment I'm afraid after the Harry potter one!

stocking filler?, 27 Jun 2008
Quite a clever little toy! Its fun for a while and will amuse the kids but gets boring within an hour or two. Makes for a good little present for someone who likes silly thing :)

Hours of fun, 20 Nov 2008
Helicopters are inherently difficult to fly. Silverlit has made things a lot simpler to give you hours of fun. As you might expect you cannot do all the manoeuvres a normal helicopter could do. The helicopter stays flat most of the time and turning is controlled easily but a dedicated switch on the remote.
The durability of this product is phenomenal. After many hard landings at the early stages of the learning curve it's still working and behaving like new. For the price, you might as well buy one even if you 're not a big fan of the genre.

Fun, but it'll break, 17 Nov 2008
Now I know that no one will read this and there will be a millon sold by January, but they're very very easy to break! I had mine for just 3 days, i din't crash it....much, I was just hovering about in the lounge when it began spinning uncontrolably. I had a look at it and found that the tail had come slightly loose and was wobbly. Therefore, I recommend buying the dual-rotor model which might.....might get rid of the problem. I gave it a 2 for educational values because it takes some doing to master this thing! Happy flying!

ZRH

fun, challenging and fragile!, 14 Nov 2008
I bought a twin pack of these helicopters for my son last Christmas. At first they were great fun, and actually rather challenging even for adults to control. However, if crashed at the "wrong" angle (and believe me - you WILL crash them) the small downward pointing section at the end of the tail breaks.
Both of my son's helicopters have broken tails and will no longer fly properly. The part is so small it can't be fixed even with super glue.
They are too light to fly outdoors (we got one stuck in the neighbours tree!) and you need a large space to fly them indoors. They move so quickly when on a full charge that in a small room they crash into the walls or ceiling almost straight away. As the charge runs down they get easier to manouvre, and with a lot of practice my son learned to fly them well (though I never did!).

Fantastic! Easy to control, Durable and Lightweight!, 25 Oct 2008
This was definitely the best buy ive ever made. The price is amazing for what you get. I would highly recommend this for any children between 8 and 14 :)

Simply amazing!, 12 Oct 2008
The picooz is the most fun i've had in ages. I bought it knowing it was good and it is. Its great value for money and when they say its durable they mean it. It only takes a few flights to learn what your doing. However read the instrutions and make sure to trim. If youre going to buy it for a kid make sure there mature enough. The design is great it has a built in LED (light) so you can have night flights. If yout going to fly it outdoors make sure there is no wind or direct sun. A brilliant buy reccomended!!!

Rubbish!, 09 Oct 2008
I was interested in buying this and saw one out for demonstration, so i thought i'd test it out before i bought it. Lucky i did! I thought of a racoon and began the game. It began promising, asking sensible questions, then went totally off the point. It never got it in 20 questions and only got it on the 25 question, which i felt was a bit of a cheat. I tried again with something simple, but this time, it never got it. I was glad when the words "you win" came up on the screen and it turned itself off, probably because it was embarrassed! At that point, i had to leave, which i felt glad to do, and was very glad i tried it before i bought it. Some of my friends, who were unable to try it, felt disapointed they couldn't and have since got rid of them. It's a good idea, pity about the actual product. It's cheaper (and a lot more fun) to play this game using real people than a computer which can't even guess the item you're thinking of is a pen.

Family fun for a short time, 28 Aug 2008
I got this for Christmas for the whole family to play with and it is fun and amazingly works most of the time unless you pick something really obscure. The only real problem with this is that it can grow old very quickly and within about ten minutes the 20Q will be collecting dust in the corner. Not so good if you have a short attention span.

Get outta my mind!, 28 Jul 2008
...says a bloke on the current 20Q TV advert. And yes, it appears for most of the time this little round gadget is reading my mind, as long as I'm thinking simple thoughts...

Okay, this little beastie tries to guess what someone is thinking about by asking a series of questions that can be answered by a simple yes/no/maybe. After 20 questions it tries to guess what you thought of with varying degrees of success. For example, think of cola and it might guess a can or a bottle; which to be honest isn't too far from the truth.

Personally, I think it's one of those "coffee table" objects; something that would sit on a table and maybe once in a while you'll try it out. Mind you, the expressions on people's faces when it guesses correctly is priceless!

Mind reader?? Er...nope!, 09 Jul 2008
I bought the Harry Potter version of this for my son and we really enjoyed it for a while, then it kind of lost its appeal and we could outwit it most of the time. So I thought I'd get this and see how we got on. The first ten items I thought of it didn't guess!! And they were pretty obvious things... picture frame, domino, sweetcorn, golf club etc I was trying to answer them very obviously but some of the questions it asked were pointless and we were really disapointed. I don't think the aim of this is to try to thin of things it WILL get rather than what it WON'T! Big disapointment I'm afraid after the Harry potter one!

stocking filler?, 27 Jun 2008
Quite a clever little toy! Its fun for a while and will amuse the kids but gets boring within an hour or two. Makes for a good little present for someone who likes silly thing :)

The classic mathematical puzzle of this planet., 28 Nov 2008
Rubik's Cube came out around 1980, about 30 years ago.

People were far more intelligent back then.

There is very little point anyone today bothering with a Rubik's Cube. Just forget it and get back to reality TV and txtng each other.

For people over 40: The physical mechanism of these 2000 era cubes is probably not as good as the old ones: at any rate, they are a little different. Obviously the platonic cube is unchanged.

There are now various idiotic cubes with flashing lights, etc - suitable for Today's People.

Good toy, lasts all of a day..., 23 Oct 2008
I bought a Rubik's cube from a seller on Amazon. I was disappointed to see it wasn't an original Rubik's Cube, but a cheap rip-off.

Despite this, the cube seemed to move nicely, there weren't stickers but coloured pieces of plastic, so the trouble of the stickers peeling off was non-existent.

However, after about a week of solving it again, again and again, one of the centre pieces fell out. It just... fell out.

So I proceeded to pop it back in again, which it did with a satisfying 'click'.

Later that day I realised the piece was started to become loose. It fell out again. On my second time of replacing it, it shattered.

Now I have a cube with a piece missing.

Great.

The Rubik's cube are not as good as the 80's models, 31 Aug 2008
I first got a Rubik's cube when they came out in the early 80's and absolutely loved it. I used the first one so much that I had to buy a replacement within a couple of years. The action for these cubes was fantastic. 'Clicky' 'tight' but so easy and smooth to turn. Even though I could eventually solve the puzzle in a couple of minutes, I've never tired of it.

I was really pleased when they started to produce the cube again and was keen to buy a new one. I bought a new cube and was dismayed to find that the action and build quality was terrible. I actually dug out my remaining original cube to try and see what the difference could be and saw that the original design had little areas where the inner surfaces had open pockets or gaps. I think this was what helped to reduce the drag when turning the faces.

I ended up exchanging several e-mails with the main 'Rubik's Cube' website and after trying to say that their product was as good as the original, they eventually admitted that their new cube was different. They said that they had stopped leaving these little gaps/pockets due to the risk of small children sticking their fingers in and thereafter being hurt. I personally think that this is utter nonsense.

Anyway, I ended up checking out cubes on ebay and managed to get an original 80's cube in mint condition for under ten pounds. When it arrived, it really was like being introduced to an old friend. 'Tight' 'Clicky' but smooth as silk. A total contrast to the terrible ones that are being sold as the official cube.

I've actually just ordered another 'Rubik's Cube' from another site which says that they get their cubes from a factory in Hungary which is still under the control of the inventor Mr. Erno Rubik. I am very hopeful that it will be as good as his original cube was.

Andrew Lyon



good fun but the rubik's cube was slimy, 22 Aug 2008
i found the rubik's cube a little slimy i had to wash my hands after i play with it plus the cubes are hard to move you got to line them im or it won't move and its only goes one way it can go the other way but its much stiffer the packages was a bit crp coz it came in a little plastic bag im not sure mabe it was just my one.

Great puzzle - low on durability, 23 Jul 2008
I bought this recently to take on holiday........it gave me a challenge for a week and something to do on the beach whilst soaking up the sun. I owned one in the 80's but was never able to do it, so thought now I'm a bit older I'll give it another go......and am now pleased to say after a weeks practice, driving my girlfriend mad and memorising certain moves and following the solve guide that comes with it........I can now complete it in under 2 minutes. It is a great challenge, incredibly addictive and a cool party trick.....dumbfounding people with a seemingly impossible task to solve.
There is a mention on here from one reviewer that the last step in the solution booklet doesnt work. I thought this at first, but it does work....its just not explained very well. So tip: Once you have all the all the last layer corners in the right place but not flipped, pick a face to be your front face....I always choose red. Hold the front face facing you and now JUST TURN THE TOP LAYER and get the piece that needs to be flipped in the top right hand corner. Execute the move R(anticlockwise) D (anticlockwise) R (clockwise) D (clockwise). Make sure when you turn your D face you turn it the correct way.....imagine you are looking directly at D face you are turning. (It is easy to turn it clockwise, not anticlockwise if you are not looking at it directly.) After executing this move 2 or 4 times the corner that needed to be flipped will be completed. What it DOESNT explain in the booklet is that once you have flipped one corner IT WONT GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL STATE YOU STARTED WITH........it still looks all messed up.......don't worry about it. keep going. Still holding your chosen front face facing you, turn the top layer again so the next corner piece that needs to be flipped is in the top right hand corner. Execute the move again. Keep turning the top layer, so the piece that needs to be flipped is in the top right hand corner, and execute the alogorithm. On the last corner piece.......as if by magic...all the colours line up and just twist the individual layers and you've done it! Hope this helps......
The downside of this cube is, and much the same as the other reviews....after much twisting and turning the stickers start to peel away from the edges. A great gadget that is hard to put down, its just a shame they dont make it more durable.

The original party animals! Try your luck using pigs for dice. Will you roll a sider or start makin bacon? This game remains an all time classic game to be played anywhere, by anyone. 8 Years +

Hours of fun, 20 Nov 2008
Helicopters are inherently difficult to fly. Silverlit has made things a lot simpler to give you hours of fun. As you might expect you cannot do all the manoeuvres a normal helicopter could do. The helicopter stays flat most of the time and turning is controlled easily but a dedicated switch on the remote.
The durability of this product is phenomenal. After many hard landings at the early stages of the learning curve it's still working and behaving like new. For the price, you might as well buy one even if you 're not a big fan of the genre.

Fun, but it'll break, 17 Nov 2008
Now I know that no one will read this and there will be a millon sold by January, but they're very very easy to break! I had mine for just 3 days, i din't crash it....much, I was just hovering about in the lounge when it began spinning uncontrolably. I had a look at it and found that the tail had come slightly loose and was wobbly. Therefore, I recommend buying the dual-rotor model which might.....might get rid of the problem. I gave it a 2 for educational values because it takes some doing to master this thing! Happy flying!

ZRH

fun, challenging and fragile!, 14 Nov 2008
I bought a twin pack of these helicopters for my son last Christmas. At first they were great fun, and actually rather challenging even for adults to control. However, if crashed at the "wrong" angle (and believe me - you WILL crash them) the small downward pointing section at the end of the tail breaks.
Both of my son's helicopters have broken tails and will no longer fly properly. The part is so small it can't be fixed even with super glue.
They are too light to fly outdoors (we got one stuck in the neighbours tree!) and you need a large space to fly them indoors. They move so quickly when on a full charge that in a small room they crash into the walls or ceiling almost straight away. As the charge runs down they get easier to manouvre, and with a lot of practice my son learned to fly them well (though I never did!).

Fantastic! Easy to control, Durable and Lightweight!, 25 Oct 2008
This was definitely the best buy ive ever made. The price is amazing for what you get. I would highly recommend this for any children between 8 and 14 :)

Simply amazing!, 12 Oct 2008
The picooz is the most fun i've had in ages. I bought it knowing it was good and it is. Its great value for money and when they say its durable they mean it. It only takes a few flights to learn what your doing. However read the instrutions and make sure to trim. If youre going to buy it for a kid make sure there mature enough. The design is great it has a built in LED (light) so you can have night flights. If yout going to fly it outdoors make sure there is no wind or direct sun. A brilliant buy reccomended!!!

Rubbish!, 09 Oct 2008
I was interested in buying this and saw one out for demonstration, so i thought i'd test it out before i bought it. Lucky i did! I thought of a racoon and began the game. It began promising, asking sensible questions, then went totally off the point. It never got it in 20 questions and only got it on the 25 question, which i felt was a bit of a cheat. I tried again with something simple, but this time, it never got it. I was glad when the words "you win" came up on the screen and it turned itself off, probably because it was embarrassed! At that point, i had to leave, which i felt glad to do, and was very glad i tried it before i bought it. Some of my friends, who were unable to try it, felt disapointed they couldn't and have since got rid of them. It's a good idea, pity about the actual product. It's cheaper (and a lot more fun) to play this game using real people than a computer which can't even guess the item you're thinking of is a pen.

Family fun for a short time, 28 Aug 2008
I got this for Christmas for the whole family to play with and it is fun and amazingly works most of the time unless you pick something really obscure. The only real problem with this is that it can grow old very quickly and within about ten minutes the 20Q will be collecting dust in the corner. Not so good if you have a short attention span.

Get outta my mind!, 28 Jul 2008
...says a bloke on the current 20Q TV advert. And yes, it appears for most of the time this little round gadget is reading my mind, as long as I'm thinking simple thoughts...

Okay, this little beastie tries to guess what someone is thinking about by asking a series of questions that can be answered by a simple yes/no/maybe. After 20 questions it tries to guess what you thought of with varying degrees of success. For example, think of cola and it might guess a can or a bottle; which to be honest isn't too far from the truth.

Personally, I think it's one of those "coffee table" objects; something that would sit on a table and maybe once in a while you'll try it out. Mind you, the expressions on people's faces when it guesses correctly is priceless!

Mind reader?? Er...nope!, 09 Jul 2008
I bought the Harry Potter version of this for my son and we really enjoyed it for a while, then it kind of lost its appeal and we could outwit it most of the time. So I thought I'd get this and see how we got on. The first ten items I thought of it didn't guess!! And they were pretty obvious things... picture frame, domino, sweetcorn, golf club etc I was trying to answer them very obviously but some of the questions it asked were pointless and we were really disapointed. I don't think the aim of this is to try to thin of things it WILL get rather than what it WON'T! Big disapointment I'm afraid after the Harry potter one!

stocking filler?, 27 Jun 2008
Quite a clever little toy! Its fun for a while and will amuse the kids but gets boring within an hour or two. Makes for a good little present for someone who likes silly thing :)

The classic mathematical puzzle of this planet., 28 Nov 2008
Rubik's Cube came out around 1980, about 30 years ago.

People were far more intelligent back then.

There is very little point anyone today bothering with a Rubik's Cube. Just forget it and get back to reality TV and txtng each other.

For people over 40: The physical mechanism of these 2000 era cubes is probably not as good as the old ones: at any rate, they are a little different. Obviously the platonic cube is unchanged.

There are now various idiotic cubes with flashing lights, etc - suitable for Today's People.

Good toy, lasts all of a day..., 23 Oct 2008
I bought a Rubik's cube from a seller on Amazon. I was disappointed to see it wasn't an original Rubik's Cube, but a cheap rip-off.

Despite this, the cube seemed to move nicely, there weren't stickers but coloured pieces of plastic, so the trouble of the stickers peeling off was non-existent.

However, after about a week of solving it again, again and again, one of the centre pieces fell out. It just... fell out.

So I proceeded to pop it back in again, which it did with a satisfying 'click'.

Later that day I realised the piece was started to become loose. It fell out again. On my second time of replacing it, it shattered.

Now I have a cube with a piece missing.

Great.

The Rubik's cube are not as good as the 80's models, 31 Aug 2008
I first got a Rubik's cube when they came out in the early 80's and absolutely loved it. I used the first one so much that I had to buy a replacement within a couple of years. The action for these cubes was fantastic. 'Clicky' 'tight' but so easy and smooth to turn. Even though I could eventually solve the puzzle in a couple of minutes, I've never tired of it.

I was really pleased when they started to produce the cube again and was keen to buy a new one. I bought a new cube and was dismayed to find that the action and build quality was terrible. I actually dug out my remaining original cube to try and see what the difference could be and saw that the original design had little areas where the inner surfaces had open pockets or gaps. I think this was what helped to reduce the drag when turning the faces.

I ended up exchanging several e-mails with the main 'Rubik's Cube' website and after trying to say that their product was as good as the original, they eventually admitted that their new cube was different. They said that they had stopped leaving these little gaps/pockets due to the risk of small children sticking their fingers in and thereafter being hurt. I personally think that this is utter nonsense.

Anyway, I ended up checking out cubes on ebay and managed to get an original 80's cube in mint condition for under ten pounds. When it arrived, it really was like being introduced to an old friend. 'Tight' 'Clicky' but smooth as silk. A total contrast to the terrible ones that are being sold as the official cube.

I've actually just ordered another 'Rubik's Cube' from another site which says that they get their cubes from a factory in Hungary which is still under the control of the inventor Mr. Erno Rubik. I am very hopeful that it will be as good as his original cube was.

Andrew Lyon



good fun but the rubik's cube was slimy, 22 Aug 2008
i found the rubik's cube a little slimy i had to wash my hands after i play with it plus the cubes are hard to move you got to line them im or it won't move and its only goes one way it can go the other way but its much stiffer the packages was a bit crp coz it came in a little plastic bag im not sure mabe it was just my one.

Great puzzle - low on durability, 23 Jul 2008
I bought this recently to take on holiday........it gave me a challenge for a week and something to do on the beach whilst soaking up the sun. I owned one in the 80's but was never able to do it, so thought now I'm a bit older I'll give it another go......and am now pleased to say after a weeks practice, driving my girlfriend mad and memorising certain moves and following the solve guide that comes with it........I can now complete it in under 2 minutes. It is a great challenge, incredibly addictive and a cool party trick.....dumbfounding people with a seemingly impossible task to solve.
There is a mention on here from one reviewer that the last step in the solution booklet doesnt work. I thought this at first, but it does work....its just not explained very well. So tip: Once you have all the all the last layer corners in the right place but not flipped, pick a face to be your front face....I always choose red. Hold the front face facing you and now JUST TURN THE TOP LAYER and get the piece that needs to be flipped in the top right hand corner. Execute the move R(anticlockwise) D (anticlockwise) R (clockwise) D (clockwise). Make sure when you turn your D face you turn it the correct way.....imagine you are looking directly at D face you are turning. (It is easy to turn it clockwise, not anticlockwise if you are not looking at it directly.) After executing this move 2 or 4 times the corner that needed to be flipped will be completed. What it DOESNT explain in the booklet is that once you have flipped one corner IT WONT GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL STATE YOU STARTED WITH........it still looks all messed up.......don't worry about it. keep going. Still holding your chosen front face facing you, turn the top layer again so the next corner piece that needs to be flipped is in the top right hand corner. Execute the move again. Keep turning the top layer, so the piece that needs to be flipped is in the top right hand corner, and execute the alogorithm. On the last corner piece.......as if by magic...all the colours line up and just twist the individual layers and you've done it! Hope this helps......
The downside of this cube is, and much the same as the other reviews....after much twisting and turning the stickers start to peel away from the edges. A great gadget that is hard to put down, its just a shame they dont make it more durable.

I love this game!, 10 Dec 2007
This has to be the best and most addicting game ever! I love it. It reminds me when I was younger (about 8-10 y.o) when I used to go to the pub with my dad and his friend, I'd make them play it with me all the time and 'bet' money, because I was only young, I obviously had no money, so if they won they got nothing, but whenever I won, they'd give me 50p, I used to leave the pub about a tenner up, haha. I've been trying to find this game for ages, could never find it anywhere, never thought to look on Amazon! So happy I've found it again.

Everest and back, 24 Oct 2007
We have had this game for many many years and have taken it where ever we go. It is indeed highly addictive, we have played it on a ferry from Miami to the Bahamas and had a gang of children join in and most recently we took it on a trek to Everest Base Camp, the evenings are quiet unless you have something to do. We, our guide and porter played this every evening and had many others watching. As our guide and porter (who were fantastic) loved this game so much we gave it to one of them and so now am ordering another to be sent to the other and of course one for ourselves.

Nostalgia!, 13 Nov 2006
I'm now 20 years old, and remember very fondly the Christmas afternoons spent on my grandfather's knee playing Pass the Pigs with the rest of my family when I was just two or three years old even. Before I was old enough to calculate the scores or even understand fully, I would be involved in "passing" the pigs. Then, as I grasped the concept I was taught to help add up the scores.

As an individual who played the game in my early years I recognise both the fun and educational value of the game. Of course, as a child, you are learning to add up without even realising you're learming! Certainly a benefit, making education fun.

It's also a valuable tool in bringing the family together. A perfect Christmas day game, where everyone can get involved.

Highly recommended.

Ah the days of Pass the Pig...

Pass the Pig, 05 Nov 2005
Pass the Pig is a brilliant game for all the family. It is simple to play and learn, easy and small to transport where
ever you go. You can play it anywhere, with as little or as many people as you like. It teaches children to add up quickly and is a lot of fun.

Absolutely excellent, 28 Aug 2005
I have just bought this (and haven't even received it yet) but I've now tried the online Java version that can be found on the net. Incredibly addicting, and much more tactical than one might think. Should you cash in your points, or try to win just a few more?
I also like the fact that it plays quickly, you could just play a few rounds in 5 min.
I bet my son will love it.

Hours of fun, 20 Nov 2008
Helicopters are inherently difficult to fly. Silverlit has made things a lot simpler to give you hours of fun. As you might expect you cannot do all the manoeuvres a normal helicopter could do. The helicopter stays flat most of the time and turning is controlled easily but a dedicated switch on the remote.
The durability of this product is phenomenal. After many hard landings at the early stages of the learning curve it's still working and behaving like new. For the price, you might as well buy one even if you 're not a big fan of the genre.

Fun, but it'll break, 17 Nov 2008
Now I know that no one will read this and there will be a millon sold by January, but they're very very easy to break! I had mine for just 3 days, i din't crash it....much, I was just hovering about in the lounge when it began spinning uncontrolably. I had a look at it and found that the tail had come slightly loose and was wobbly. Therefore, I recommend buying the dual-rotor model which might.....might get rid of the problem. I gave it a 2 for educational values because it takes some doing to master this thing! Happy flying!

ZRH

fun, challenging and fragile!, 14 Nov 2008
I bought a twin pack of these helicopters for my son last Christmas. At first they were great fun, and actually rather challenging even for adults to control. However, if crashed at the "wrong" angle (and believe me - you WILL crash them) the small downward pointing section at the end of the tail breaks.
Both of my son's helicopters have broken tails and will no longer fly properly. The part is so small it can't be fixed even with super glue.
They are too light to fly outdoors (we got one stuck in the neighbours tree!) and you need a large space to fly them indoors. They move so quickly when on a full charge that in a small room they crash into the walls or ceiling almost straight away. As the charge runs down they get easier to manouvre, and with a lot of practice my son learned to fly them well (though I never did!).

Fantastic! Easy to control, Durable and Lightweight!, 25 Oct 2008
This was definitely the best buy ive ever made. The price is amazing for what you get. I would highly recommend this for any children between 8 and 14 :)

Simply amazing!, 12 Oct 2008
The picooz is the most fun i've had in ages. I bought it knowing it was good and it is. Its great value for money and when they say its durable they mean it. It only takes a few flights to learn what your doing. However read the instrutions and make sure to trim. If youre going to buy it for a kid make sure there mature enough. The design is great it has a built in LED (light) so you can have night flights. If yout going to fly it outdoors make sure there is no wind or direct sun. A brilliant buy reccomended!!!

Rubbish!, 09 Oct 2008
I was interested in buying this and saw one out for demonstration, so i thought i'd test it out before i bought it. Lucky i did! I thought of a racoon and began the game. It began promising, asking sensible questions, then went totally off the point. It never got it in 20 questions and only got it on the 25 question, which i felt was a bit of a cheat. I tried again with something simple, but this time, it never got it. I was glad when the words "you win" came up on the screen and it turned itself off, probably because it was embarrassed! At that point, i had to leave, which i felt glad to do, and was very glad i tried it before i bought it. Some of my friends, who were unable to try it, felt disapointed they couldn't and have since got rid of them. It's a good idea, pity about the actual product. It's cheaper (and a lot more fun) to play this game using real people than a computer which can't even guess the item you're thinking of is a pen.

Family fun for a short time, 28 Aug 2008
I got this for Christmas for the whole family to play with and it is fun and amazingly works most of the time unless you pick something really obscure. The only real problem with this is that it can grow old very quickly and within about ten minutes the 20Q will be collecting dust in the corner. Not so good if you have a short attention span.

Get outta my mind!, 28 Jul 2008
...says a bloke on the current 20Q TV advert. And yes, it appears for most of the time this little round gadget is reading my mind, as long as I'm thinking simple thoughts...

Okay, this little beastie tries to guess what someone is thinking about by asking a series of questions that can be answered by a simple yes/no/maybe. After 20 questions it tries to guess what you thought of with varying degrees of success. For example, think of cola and it might guess a can or a bottle; which to be honest isn't too far from the truth.

Personally, I think it's one of those "coffee table" objects; something that would sit on a table and maybe once in a while you'll try it out. Mind you, the expressions on people's faces when it guesses correctly is priceless!

Mind reader?? Er...nope!, 09 Jul 2008
I bought the Harry Potter version of this for my son and we really enjoyed it for a while, then it kind of lost its appeal and we could outwit it most of the time. So I thought I'd get this and see how we got on. The first ten items I thought of it didn't guess!! And they were pretty obvious things... picture frame, domino, sweetcorn, golf club etc I was trying to answer them very obviously but some of the questions it asked were pointless and we were really disapointed. I don't think the aim of this is to try to thin of things it WILL get rather than what it WON'T! Big disapointment I'm afraid after the Harry potter one!

stocking filler?, 27 Jun 2008
Quite a clever little toy! Its fun for a while and will amuse the kids but gets boring within an hour or two. Makes for a good little present for someone who likes silly thing :)

The classic mathematical puzzle of this planet., 28 Nov 2008
Rubik's Cube came out around 1980, about 30 years ago.

People were far more intelligent back then.

There is very little point anyone today bothering with a Rubik's Cube. Just forget it and get back to reality TV and txtng each other.

For people over 40: The physical mechanism of these 2000 era cubes is probably not as good as the old ones: at any rate, they are a little different. Obviously the platonic cube is unchanged.

There are now various idiotic cubes with flashing lights, etc - suitable for Today's People.

Good toy, lasts all of a day..., 23 Oct 2008
I bought a Rubik's cube from a seller on Amazon. I was disappointed to see it wasn't an original Rubik's Cube, but a cheap rip-off.

Despite this, the cube seemed to move nicely, there weren't stickers but coloured pieces of plastic, so the trouble of the stickers peeling off was non-existent.

However, after about a week of solving it again, again and again, one of the centre pieces fell out. It just... fell out.

So I proceeded to pop it back in again, which it did with a satisfying 'click'.

Later that day I realised the piece was started to become loose. It fell out again. On my second time of replacing it, it shattered.

Now I have a cube with a piece missing.

Great.

The Rubik's cube are not as good as the 80's models, 31 Aug 2008
I first got a Rubik's cube when they came out in the early 80's and absolutely loved it. I used the first one so much that I had to buy a replacement within a couple of years. The action for these cubes was fantastic. 'Clicky' 'tight' but so easy and smooth to turn. Even though I could eventually solve the puzzle in a couple of minutes, I've never tired of it.

I was really pleased when they started to produce the cube again and was keen to buy a new one. I bought a new cube and was dismayed to find that the action and build quality was terrible. I actually dug out my remaining original cube to try and see what the difference could be and saw that the original design had little areas where the inner surfaces had open pockets or gaps. I think this was what helped to reduce the drag when turning the faces.

I ended up exchanging several e-mails with the main 'Rubik's Cube' website and after trying to say that their product was as good as the original, they eventually admitted that their new cube was different. They said that they had stopped leaving these little gaps/pockets due to the risk of small children sticking their fingers in and thereafter being hurt. I personally think that this is utter nonsense.

Anyway, I ended up checking out cubes on ebay and managed to get an original 80's cube in mint condition for under ten pounds. When it arrived, it really was like being introduced to an old friend. 'Tight' 'Clicky' but smooth as silk. A total contrast to the terrible ones that are being sold as the official cube.

I've actually just ordered another 'Rubik's Cube' from another site which says that they get their cubes from a factory in Hungary which is still under the control of the inventor Mr. Erno Rubik. I am very hopeful that it will be as good as his original cube was.

Andrew Lyon



good fun but the rubik's cube was slimy, 22 Aug 2008
i found the rubik's cube a little slimy i had to wash my hands after i play with it plus the cubes are hard to move you got to line them im or it won't move and its only goes one way it can go the other way but its much stiffer the packages was a bit crp coz it came in a little plastic bag im not sure mabe it was just my one.

Great puzzle - low on durability, 23 Jul 2008
I bought this recently to take on holiday........it gave me a challenge for a week and something to do on the beach whilst soaking up the sun. I owned one in the 80's but was never able to do it, so thought now I'm a bit older I'll give it another go......and am now pleased to say after a weeks practice, driving my girlfriend mad and memorising certain moves and following the solve guide that comes with it........I can now complete it in under 2 minutes. It is a great challenge, incredibly addictive and a cool party trick.....dumbfounding people with a seemingly impossible task to solve.
There is a mention on here from one reviewer that the last step in the solution booklet doesnt work. I thought this at first, but it does work....its just not explained very well. So tip: Once you have all the all the last layer corners in the right place but not flipped, pick a face to be your front face....I always choose red. Hold the front face facing you and now JUST TURN THE TOP LAYER and get the piece that needs to be flipped in the top right hand corner. Execute the move R(anticlockwise) D (anticlockwise) R (clockwise) D (clockwise). Make sure when you turn your D face you turn it the correct way.....imagine you are looking directly at D face you are turning. (It is easy to turn it clockwise, not anticlockwise if you are not looking at it directly.) After executing this move 2 or 4 times the corner that needed to be flipped will be completed. What it DOESNT explain in the booklet is that once you have flipped one corner IT WONT GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL STATE YOU STARTED WITH........it still looks all messed up.......don't worry about it. keep going. Still holding your chosen front face facing you, turn the top layer again so the next corner piece that needs to be flipped is in the top right hand corner. Execute the move again. Keep turning the top layer, so the piece that needs to be flipped is in the top right hand corner, and execute the alogorithm. On the last corner piece.......as if by magic...all the colours line up and just twist the individual layers and you've done it! Hope this helps......
The downside of this cube is, and much the same as the other reviews....after much twisting and turning the stickers start to peel away from the edges. A great gadget that is hard to put down, its just a shame they dont make it more durable.

I love this game!, 10 Dec 2007
This has to be the best and most addicting game ever! I love it. It reminds me when I was younger (about 8-10 y.o) when I used to go to the pub with my dad and his friend, I'd make them play it with me all the time and 'bet' money, because I was only young, I obviously had no money, so if they won they got nothing, but whenever I won, they'd give me 50p, I used to leave the pub about a tenner up, haha. I've been trying to find this game for ages, could never find it anywhere, never thought to look on Amazon! So happy I've found it again.

Everest and back, 24 Oct 2007
We have had this game for many many years and have taken it where ever we go. It is indeed highly addictive, we have played it on a ferry from Miami to the Bahamas and had a gang of children join in and most recently we took it on a trek to Everest Base Camp, the evenings are quiet unless you have something to do. We, our guide and porter played this every evening and had many others watching. As our guide and porter (who were fantastic) loved this game so much we gave it to one of them and so now am ordering another to be sent to the other and of course one for ourselves.

Nostalgia!, 13 Nov 2006
I'm now 20 years old, and remember very fondly the Christmas afternoons spent on my grandfather's knee playing Pass the Pigs with the rest of my family when I was just two or three years old even. Before I was old enough to calculate the scores or even understand fully, I would be involved in "passing" the pigs. Then, as I grasped the concept I was taught to help add up the scores.

As an individual who played the game in my early years I recognise both the fun and educational value of the game. Of course, as a child, you are learning to add up without even realising you're learming! Certainly a benefit, making education fun.

It's also a valuable tool in bringing the family together. A perfect Christmas day game, where everyone can get involved.

Highly recommended.

Ah the days of Pass the Pig...

Pass the Pig, 05 Nov 2005
Pass the Pig is a brilliant game for all the family. It is simple to play and learn, easy and small to transport where
ever you go. You can play it anywhere, with as little or as many people as you like. It teaches children to add up quickly and is a lot of fun.

Absolutely excellent, 28 Aug 2005
I have just bought this (and haven't even received it yet) but I've now tried the online Java version that can be found on the net. Incredibly addicting, and much more tactical than one might think. Should you cash in your points, or try to win just a few more?
I also like the fact that it plays quickly, you could just play a few rounds in 5 min.
I bet my son will love it.

Not Original Scrabble, 14 Jan 2008
This might call itself Scrabble Original, but it isn't. The Scrabble sets I played on as a lad all had wee holes in the board and pegs on the tiles so that the game wouldn't be ruined by the slightest knock. Sadly no more. It also comes in a stupidly huge box to make storage unnecessarily awkward. Disappointing.


a very ordinary scrabble set, 25 Sep 2007
To misquote a well known ad - it isn't what it says on the box.

It's called Scrabble Original - it claims to be an upgrade - there's a contradiction already - and it isn't an upgrade.

Some smart alec in the marketting department thinks that if they make the box bigger that will make people think that what is in it is better. Well - all the increased size of the box does is make it harder to store.

As for this being any better - the only real change is that there is no scorepad in this version - this really is a petty, penny pinching change.

The game of Scrabble itself is of course great, but Mattel have not done themselves proud here - this comes across as a rather grubby bit of marketting.

My three stars reflect the worth of this Edition - not Scrabble itself.

Thirty years on and still going strong, 17 Apr 2007
I've played Scrabble for the past 30 years and to date, it still has retained its charm. It's the ultimate game of wits. Even a MA in English means that you are not likely to become a Scrabble great; however, an eye for strategy will be far more helpful. The best Scrabble players are not usually the highest scorers but are more likely to be the better blockers and have a good knowledge of all or most of the two letter words.For example, a word such as XI in the right place can be worth as much as the bonus for 7 letters i.e 50 points. Make sure that you have the official Scrabble dictionary as this a good dispute resolver especially when one plays a contentious word.

Scrabble, 05 Nov 2006
This is a classic game and with good reason. It's simple to play, but with infinite levels of game play for all ages and ability. Not only is it fun, but it stretches your vocabulary and mind as well. You'll have many a happy hour if you buy this. Highly recommended.

Best present Ever!!, 15 Feb 2006
My 8 year old son wanted this game for Christmas. He loved it and we all enjoy playing this game. Bring back Traditional Games!!!

Extract and blend your own secret formula heavenly scents! Then experiment to grow Scented Crystals, gross out Mum with sublime Burp Slime, and make Forest Pourri, scented notepaper and much more! 8 Years +

Hours of fun, 20 Nov 2008
Helicopters are inherently difficult to fly. Silverlit has made things a lot simpler to give you hours of fun. As you might expect you cannot do all the manoeuvres a normal helicopter could do. The helicopter stays flat most of the time and turning is controlled easily but a dedicated switch on the remote.
The durability of this product is phenomenal. After many hard landings at the early stages of the learning curve it's still working and behaving like new. For the price, you might as well buy one even if you 're not a big fan of the genre.

Fun, but it'll break, 17 Nov 2008
Now I know that no one will read this and there will be a millon sold by January, but they're very very easy to break! I had mine for just 3 days, i din't crash it....much, I was just hovering about in the lounge when it began spinning uncontrolably. I had a look at it and found that the tail had come slightly loose and was wobbly. Therefore, I recommend buying the dual-rotor model which might.....might get rid of the problem. I gave it a 2 for educational values because it takes some doing to master this thing! Happy flying!

ZRH

fun, challenging and fragile!, 14 Nov 2008
I bought a twin pack of these helicopters for my son last Christmas. At first they were great fun, and actually rather challenging even for adults to control. However, if crashed at the "wrong" angle (and believe me - you WILL crash them) the small downward pointing section at the end of the tail breaks.
Both of my son's helicopters have broken tails and will no longer fly properly. The part is so small it can't be fixed even with super glue.
They are too light to fly outdoors (we got one stuck in the neighbours tree!) and you need a large space to fly them indoors. They move so quickly when on a full charge that in a small room they crash into the walls or ceiling almost straight away. As the charge runs down they get easier to manouvre, and with a lot of practice my son learned to fly them well (though I never did!).

Fantastic! Easy to control, Durable and Lightweight!, 25 Oct 2008
This was definitely the best buy ive ever made. The price is amazing for what you get. I would highly recommend this for any children between 8 and 14 :)

Simply amazing!, 12 Oct 2008
The picooz is the most fun i've had in ages. I bought it knowing it was good and it is. Its great value for money and when they say its durable they mean it. It only takes a few flights to learn what your doing. However read the instrutions and make sure to trim. If youre going to buy it for a kid make sure there mature enough. The design is great it has a built in LED (light) so you can have night flights. If yout going to fly it outdoors make sure there is no wind or direct sun. A brilliant buy reccomended!!!

Rubbish!, 09 Oct 2008
I was interested in buying this and saw one out for demonstration, so i thought i'd test it out before i bought it. Lucky i did! I thought of a racoon and began the game. It began promising, asking sensible questions, then went totally off the point. It never got it in 20 questions and only got it on the 25 question, which i felt was a bit of a cheat. I tried again with something simple, but this time, it never got it. I was glad when the words "you win" came up on the screen and it turned itself off, probably because it was embarrassed! At that point, i had to leave, which i felt glad to do, and was very glad i tried it before i bought it. Some of my friends, who were unable to try it, felt disapointed they couldn't and have since got rid of them. It's a good idea, pity about the actual product. It's cheaper (and a lot more fun) to play this game using real people than a computer which can't even guess the item you're thinking of is a pen.

Family fun for a short time, 28 Aug 2008
I got this for Christmas for the whole family to play with and it is fun and amazingly works most of the time unless you pick something really obscure. The only real problem with this is that it can grow old very quickly and within about ten minutes the 20Q will be collecting dust in the corner. Not so good if you have a short attention span.

Get outta my mind!, 28 Jul 2008
...says a bloke on the current 20Q TV advert. And yes, it appears for most of the time this little round gadget is reading my mind, as long as I'm thinking simple thoughts...

Okay, this little beastie tries to guess what someone is thinking about by asking a series of questions that can be answered by a simple yes/no/maybe. After 20 questions it tries to guess what you thought of with varying degrees of success. For example, think of cola and it might guess a can or a bottle; which to be honest isn't too far from the truth.

Personally, I think it's one of those "coffee table" objects; something that would sit on a table and maybe once in a while you'll try it out. Mind you, the expressions on people's faces when it guesses correctly is priceless!

Mind reader?? Er...nope!, 09 Jul 2008
I bought the Harry Potter version of this for my son and we really enjoyed it for a while, then it kind of lost its appeal and we could outwit it most of the time. So I thought I'd get this and see how we got on. The first ten items I thought of it didn't guess!! And they were pretty obvious things... picture frame, domino, sweetcorn, golf club etc I was trying to answer them very obviously but some of the questions it asked were pointless and we were really disapointed. I don't think the aim of this is to try to thin of things it WILL get rather than what it WON'T! Big disapointment I'm afraid after the Harry potter one!

stocking filler?, 27 Jun 2008
Quite a clever little toy! Its fun for a while and will amuse the kids but gets boring within an hour or two. Makes for a good little present for someone who likes silly thing :)

The classic mathematical puzzle of this planet., 28 Nov 2008
Rubik's Cube came out around 1980, about 30 years ago.

People were far more intelligent back then.

There is very little point anyone today bothering with a Rubik's Cube. Just forget it and get back to reality TV and txtng each other.

For people over 40: The physical mechanism of these 2000 era cubes is probably not as good as the old ones: at any rate, they are a little different. Obviously the platonic cube is unchanged.

There are now various idiotic cubes with flashing lights, etc - suitable for Today's People.

Good toy, lasts all of a day..., 23 Oct 2008
I bought a Rubik's cube from a seller on Amazon. I was disappointed to see it wasn't an original Rubik's Cube, but a cheap rip-off.

Despite this, the cube seemed to move nicely, there weren't stickers but coloured pieces of plastic, so the trouble of the stickers peeling off was non-existent.

However, after about a week of solving it again, again and again, one of the centre pieces fell out. It just... fell out.

So I proceeded to pop it back in again, which it did with a satisfying 'click'.

Later that day I realised the piece was started to become loose. It fell out again. On my second time of replacing it, it shattered.

Now I have a cube with a piece missing.

Great.

The Rubik's cube are not as good as the 80's models, 31 Aug 2008
I first got a Rubik's cube when they came out in the early 80's and absolutely loved it. I used the first one so much that I had to buy a replacement within a couple of years. The action for these cubes was fantastic. 'Clicky' 'tight' but so easy and smooth to turn. Even though I could eventually solve the puzzle in a couple of minutes, I've never tired of it.

I was really pleased when they started to produce the cube again and was keen to buy a new one. I bought a new cube and was dismayed to find that the action and build quality was terrible. I actually dug out my remaining original cube to try and see what the difference could be and saw that the original design had little areas where the inner surfaces had open pockets or gaps. I think this was what helped to reduce the drag when turning the faces.

I ended up exchanging several e-mails with the main 'Rubik's Cube' website and after trying to say that their product was as good as the original, they eventually admitted that their new cube was different. They said that they had stopped leaving these little gaps/pockets due to the risk of small children sticking their fingers in and thereafter being hurt. I personally think that this is utter nonsense.

Anyway, I ended up checking out cubes on ebay and managed to get an original 80's cube in mint condition for under ten pounds. When it arrived, it really was like being introduced to an old friend. 'Tight' 'Clicky' but smooth as silk. A total contrast to the terrible ones that are being sold as the official cube.

I've actually just ordered another 'Rubik's Cube' from another site which says that they get their cubes from a factory in Hungary which is still under the control of the inventor Mr. Erno Rubik. I am very hopeful that it will be as good as his original cube was.

Andrew Lyon



good fun but the rubik's cube was slimy, 22 Aug 2008
i found the rubik's cube a little slimy i had to wash my hands after i play with it plus the cubes are hard to move you got to line them im or it won't move and its only goes one way it can go the other way but its much stiffer the packages was a bit crp coz it came in a little plastic bag im not sure mabe it was just my one.

Great puzzle - low on durability, 23 Jul 2008
I bought this recently to take on holiday........it gave me a challenge for a week and something to do on the beach whilst soaking up the sun. I owned one in the 80's but was never able to do it, so thought now I'm a bit older I'll give it another go......and am now pleased to say after a weeks practice, driving my girlfriend mad and memorising certain moves and following the solve guide that comes with it........I can now complete it in under 2 minutes. It is a great challenge, incredibly addictive and a cool party trick.....dumbfounding people with a seemingly impossible task to solve.
There is a mention on here from one reviewer that the last step in the solution booklet doesnt work. I thought this at first, but it does work....its just not explained very well. So tip: Once you have all the all the last layer corners in the right place but not flipped, pick a face to be your front face....I always choose red. Hold the front face facing you and now JUST TURN THE TOP LAYER and get the piece that needs to be flipped in the top right hand corner. Execute the move R(anticlockwise) D (anticlockwise) R (clockwise) D (clockwise). Make sure when you turn your D face you turn it the correct way.....imagine you are looking directly at D face you are turning. (It is easy to turn it clockwise, not anticlockwise if you are not looking at it directly.) After executing this move 2 or 4 times the corner that needed to be flipped will be completed. What it DOESNT explain in the booklet is that once you have flipped one corner IT WONT GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL STATE YOU STARTED WITH........it still looks all messed up.......don't worry about it. keep going. Still holding your chosen front face facing you, turn the top layer again so the next corner piece that needs to be flipped is in the top right hand corner. Execute the move again. Keep turning the top layer, so the piece that needs to be flipped is in the top right hand corner, and execute the alogorithm. On the last corner piece.......as if by magic...all the colours line up and just twist the individual layers and you've done it! Hope this helps......
The downside of this cube is, and much the same as the other reviews....after much twisting and turning the stickers start to peel away from the edges. A great gadget that is hard to put down, its just a shame they dont make it more durable.

I love this game!, 10 Dec 2007
This has to be the best and most addicting game ever! I love it. It reminds me when I was younger (about 8-10 y.o) when I used to go to the pub with my dad and his friend, I'd make them play it with me all the time and 'bet' money, because I was only young, I obviously had no money, so if they won they got nothing, but whenever I won, they'd give me 50p, I used to leave the pub about a tenner up, haha. I've been trying to find this game for ages, could never find it anywhere, never thought to look on Amazon! So happy I've found it again.

Everest and back, 24 Oct 2007
We have had this game for many many years and have taken it where ever we go. It is indeed highly addictive, we have played it on a ferry from Miami to the Bahamas and had a gang of children join in and most recently we took it on a trek to Everest Base Camp, the evenings are quiet unless you have something to do. We, our guide and porter played this every evening and had many others watching. As our guide and porter (who were fantastic) loved this game so much we gave it to one of them and so now am ordering another to be sent to the other and of course one for ourselves.

Nostalgia!, 13 Nov 2006
I'm now 20 years old, and remember very fondly the Christmas afternoons spent on my grandfather's knee playing Pass the Pigs with the rest of my family when I was just two or three years old even. Before I was old enough to calculate the scores or even understand fully, I would be involved in "passing" the pigs. Then, as I grasped the concept I was taught to help add up the scores.

As an individual who played the game in my early years I recognise both the fun and educational value of the game. Of course, as a child, you are learning to add up without even realising you're learming! Certainly a benefit, making education fun.

It's also a valuable tool in bringing the family together. A perfect Christmas day game, where everyone can get involved.

Highly recommended.

Ah the days of Pass the Pig...

Pass the Pig, 05 Nov 2005
Pass the Pig is a brilliant game for all the family. It is simple to play and learn, easy and small to transport where
ever you go. You can play it anywhere, with as little or as many people as you like. It teaches children to add up quickly and is a lot of fun.

Absolutely excellent, 28 Aug 2005
I have just bought this (and haven't even received it yet) but I've now tried the online Java version that can be found on the net. Incredibly addicting, and much more tactical than one might think. Should you cash in your points, or try to win just a few more?
I also like the fact that it plays quickly, you could just play a few rounds in 5 min.
I bet my son will love it.

Not Original Scrabble, 14 Jan 2008
This might call itself Scrabble Original, but it isn't. The Scrabble sets I played on as a lad all had wee holes in the board and pegs on the tiles so that the game wouldn't be ruined by the slightest knock. Sadly no more. It also comes in a stupidly huge box to make storage unnecessarily awkward. Disappointing.


a very ordinary scrabble set, 25 Sep 2007
To misquote a well known ad - it isn't what it says on the box.

It's called Scrabble Original - it claims to be an upgrade - there's a contradiction already - and it isn't an upgrade.

Some smart alec in the marketting department thinks that if they make the box bigger that will make people think that what is in it is better. Well - all the increased size of the box does is make it harder to store.

As for this being any better - the only real change is that there is no scorepad in this version - this really is a petty, penny pinching change.

The game of Scrabble itself is of course great, but Mattel have not done themselves proud here - this comes across as a rather grubby bit of marketting.

My three stars reflect the worth of this Edition - not Scrabble itself.

Thirty years on and still going strong, 17 Apr 2007
I've played Scrabble for the past 30 years and to date, it still has retained its charm. It's the ultimate game of wits. Even a MA in English means that you are not likely to become a Scrabble great; however, an eye for strategy will be far more helpful. The best Scrabble players are not usually the highest scorers but are more likely to be the better blockers and have a good knowledge of all or most of the two letter words.For example, a word such as XI in the right place can be worth as much as the bonus for 7 letters i.e 50 points. Make sure that you have the official Scrabble dictionary as this a good dispute resolver especially when one plays a contentious word.

Scrabble, 05 Nov 2006
This is a classic game and with good reason. It's simple to play, but with infinite levels of game play for all ages and ability. Not only is it fun, but it stretches your vocabulary and mind as well. You'll have many a happy hour if you buy this. Highly recommended.

Best present Ever!!, 15 Feb 2006
My 8 year old son wanted this game for Christmas. He loved it and we all enjoy playing this game. Bring back Traditional Games!!!

its ok , 03 Oct 2008
I bought this for my 8 year old daughter and she liked it - mind you it only lasted for a day or so and the scents were not much to write home about. I cant help thinking that a good ol go with some rose petals and water has about the same educational level. i think that it could have had more scents in it - and more interesting ones too. These packs never have enough stuff in them and once they are gone they are gone. Mind you my daughter did enjoy doing it but beware - you may have to wear rose and mint perfume!

what a stink!, 13 Sep 2008
bought this for my 6 year old daughter who's just discovered the fun of scientific experiments and she loves it. It's basic and simple - and could be put together from bits around the house, but with the vials and potions in this kit they can just get on and have a go mixing and making; learning how to measure and follow instructions in the process.

Making Perfume, 12 Aug 2008
I bought this product for my 10 yr old cousin for her Birthday. As soon as she opened the present she couldn't wait to start blending the different scents to make her own Perfume. I was concerened that there didn't seem very much in the kit, especially for the size of the box, however, several scents were made along with slime and pourri. Overall a fantastic product and educational.

small but interesting, 22 Jun 2008
I brough this as a present for my little sister. And naturally had to open it up and have a look.

You dont get all that much in the set. a syringe, tweezers, cotton wool, colouring, selection of scents, some sublime slime mix and gel popuri mix, and a selection of vials with stickers for labels.

Either way its a fantastic gift and fun to play with, just a shame it doesn't come with more ingrediants.

Have good clean fun with this exciting science kit. Make your own scented Bath Bombs, Phunny Phoam, Magic Tricks and much, much more! Fantastic, Fizzy and Fascinating! 8 Years +

Silverlit SKY CHALLENGER PICOO Z 2 HELICOPTER GAME SET. Radio controlled 2 micro helicopter challenge game shoot down the other guy before he gets you. A fully three dimensional interactive game to outsmart your opponent in the air, by using your flying skills and integral Laser Beam to temporarily disable the other Helicopter, accompanied by an audible sound effect . By Silverlit PICOOZ Only 17cms long and weighing just 11 grams, these two tiny Sky Challenger Game version of the PicooZ are remarkably robust, and incorporate an auto stability system to make them easy to operate both indoors and outside in calm conditions. Completely ready-to-fly with pre-installed two channel proportional wide beam infra red control systems, each lightweight Lithium Polymer flight battery will provide flights of up to 10 minutes between charges driving two powerful micro motors, yet can be recharged in less than half an hour by plugging into the recharge connector on the transmitter hand sets provided. Technical Specification Individual Product Dimensions: Main Rotor Diameter 130mm (5.25"). Length 170mm (6.5") excluding rotors. Rear Rotor diameter 30mm (1.25"). Individual Product Weight: Only 11g, integral Charger: Integral Transmitter/Charger supplied with LED indicator/Auto shut off. Plug in and charge, with easy to use connections. Charging Time: 20-30 minutes for full charge. Flight Duration:5-10 minutes between charges. Control Specification Supplied completely assembled Range: Up to 10m,30ft. Frequency: Infra Red Control System Dual Bands Allow both Models to be flown together, with interactive Laser Beams.Instruction Manual included: Providing tips for the new Helicopter Pilot. FANTASTIC GAME

Hours of fun, 20 Nov 2008
Helicopters are inherently difficult to fly. Silverlit has made things a lot simpler to give you hours of fun. As you might expect you cannot do all the manoeuvres a normal helicopter could do. The helicopter stays flat most of the time and turning is controlled easily but a dedicated switch on the remote.
The durability of this product is phenomenal. After many hard landings at the early stages of the learning curve it's still working and behaving like new. For the price, you might as well buy one even if you 're not a big fan of the genre.

Fun, but it'll break, 17 Nov 2008
Now I know that no one will read this and there will be a millon sold by January, but they're very very easy to break! I had mine for just 3 days, i din't crash it....much, I was just hovering about in the lounge when it began spinning uncontrolably. I had a look at it and found that the tail had come slightly loose and was wobbly. Therefore, I recommend buying the dual-rotor model which might.....might get rid of the problem. I gave it a 2 for educational values because it takes some doing to master this thing! Happy flying!

ZRH

fun, challenging and fragile!, 14 Nov 2008
I bought a twin pack of these helicopters for my son last Christmas. At first they were great fun, and actually rather challenging even for adults to control. However, if crashed at the "wrong" angle (and believe me - you WILL crash them) the small downward pointing section at the end of the tail breaks.
Both of my son's helicopters have broken tails and will no longer fly properly. The part is so small it can't be fixed even with super glue.
They are too light to fly outdoors (we got one stuck in the neighbours tree!) and you need a large space to fly them indoors. They move so quickly when on a full charge that in a small room they crash into the walls or ceiling almost straight away. As the charge runs down they get easier to manouvre, and with a lot of practice my son learned to fly them well (though I never did!).

Fantastic! Easy to control, Durable and Lightweight!, 25 Oct 2008
This was definitely the best buy ive ever made. The price is amazing for what you get. I would highly recommend this for any children between 8 and 14 :)

Simply amazing!, 12 Oct 2008
The picooz is the most fun i've had in ages. I bought it knowing it was good and it is. Its great value for money and when they say its durable they mean it. It only takes a few flights to learn what your doing. However read the instrutions and make sure to trim. If youre going to buy it for a kid make sure there mature enough. The design is great it has a built in LED (light) so you can have night flights. If yout going to fly it outdoors make sure there is no wind or direct sun. A brilliant buy reccomended!!!

Rubbish!, 09 Oct 2008
I was interested in buying this and saw one out for demonstration, so i thought i'd test it out before i bought it. Lucky i did! I thought of a racoon and began the game. It began promising, asking sensible questions, then went totally off the point. It never got it in 20 questions and only got it on the 25 question, which i felt was a bit of a cheat. I tried again with something simple, but this time, it never got it. I was glad when the words "you win" came up on the screen and it turned itself off, probably because it was embarrassed! At that point, i had to leave, which i felt glad to do, and was very glad i tried it before i bought it. Some of my friends, who were unable to try it, felt disapointed they couldn't and have since got rid of them. It's a good idea, pity about the actual product. It's cheaper (and a lot more fun) to play this game using real people than a computer which can't even guess the item you're thinking of is a pen.

Family fun for a short time, 28 Aug 2008
I got this for Christmas for the whole family to play with and it is fun and amazingly works most of the time unless you pick something really obscure. The only real problem with this is that it can grow old very quickly and within about ten minutes the 20Q will be collecting dust in the corner. Not so good if you have a short attention span.

Get outta my mind!, 28 Jul 2008
...says a bloke on the current 20Q TV advert. And yes, it appears for most of the time this little round gadget is reading my mind, as long as I'm thinking simple thoughts...

Okay, this little beastie tries to guess what someone is thinking about by asking a series of questions that can be answered by a simple yes/no/maybe. After 20 questions it tries to guess what you thought of with varying degrees of success. For example, think of cola and it might guess a can or a bottle; which to be honest isn't too far from the truth.

Personally, I think it's one of those "coffee table" objects; something that would sit on a table and maybe once in a while you'll try it out. Mind you, the expressions on people's faces when it guesses correctly is priceless!

Mind reader?? Er...nope!, 09 Jul 2008
I bought the Harry Potter version of this for my son and we really enjoyed it for a while, then it kind of lost its appeal and we could outwit it most of the time. So I thought I'd get this and see how we got on. The first ten items I thought of it didn't guess!! And they were pretty obvious things... picture frame, domino, sweetcorn, golf club etc I was trying to answer them very obviously but some of the questions it asked were pointless and we were really disapointed. I don't think the aim of this is to try to thin of things it WILL get rather than what it WON'T! Big disapointment I'm afraid after the Harry potter one!

stocking filler?, 27 Jun 2008
Quite a clever little toy! Its fun for a while and will amuse the kids but gets boring within an hour or two. Makes for a good little present for someone who likes silly thing :)

The classic mathematical puzzle of this planet., 28 Nov 2008
Rubik's Cube came out around 1980, about 30 years ago.

People were far more intelligent back then.

There is very little point anyone today bothering with a Rubik's Cube. Just forget it and get back to reality TV and txtng each other.

For people over 40: The physical mechanism of these 2000 era cubes is probably not as good as the old ones: at any rate, they are a little different. Obviously the platonic cube is unchanged.

There are now various idiotic cubes with flashing lights, etc - suitable for Today's People.

Good toy, lasts all of a day..., 23 Oct 2008
I bought a Rubik's cube from a seller on Amazon. I was disappointed to see it wasn't an original Rubik's Cube, but a cheap rip-off.

Despite this, the cube seemed to move nicely, there weren't stickers but coloured pieces of plastic, so the trouble of the stickers peeling off was non-existent.

However, after about a week of solving it again, again and again, one of the centre pieces fell out. It just... fell out.

So I proceeded to pop it back in again, which it did with a satisfying 'click'.

Later that day I realised the piece was started to become loose. It fell out again. On my second time of replacing it, it shattered.

Now I have a cube with a piece missing.

Great.

The Rubik's cube are not as good as the 80's models, 31 Aug 2008
I first got a Rubik's cube when they came out in the early 80's and absolutely loved it. I used the first one so much that I had to buy a replacement within a couple of years. The action for these cubes was fantastic. 'Clicky' 'tight' but so easy and smooth to turn. Even though I could eventually solve the puzzle in a couple of minutes, I've never tired of it.

I was really pleased when they started to produce the cube again and was keen to buy a new one. I bought a new cube and was dismayed to find that the action and build quality was terrible. I actually dug out my remaining original cube to try and see what the difference could be and saw that the original design had little areas where the inner surfaces had open pockets or gaps. I think this was what helped to reduce the drag when turning the faces.

I ended up exchanging several e-mails with the main 'Rubik's Cube' website and after trying to say that their product was as good as the original, they eventually admitted that their new cube was different. They said that they had stopped leaving these little gaps/pockets due to the risk of small children sticking their fingers in and thereafter being hurt. I personally think that this is utter nonsense.

Anyway, I ended up checking out cubes on ebay and managed to get an original 80's cube in mint condition for under ten pounds. When it arrived, it really was like being introduced to an old friend. 'Tight' 'Clicky' but smooth as silk. A total contrast to the terrible ones that are being sold as the official cube.

I've actually just ordered another 'Rubik's Cube' from another site which says that they get their cubes from a factory in Hungary which is still under the control of the inventor Mr. Erno Rubik. I am very hopeful that it will be as good as his original cube was.

Andrew Lyon



good fun but the rubik's cube was slimy, 22 Aug 2008
i found the rubik's cube a little slimy i had to wash my hands after i play with it plus the cubes are hard to move you got to line them im or it won't move and its only goes one way it can go the other way but its much stiffer the packages was a bit crp coz it came in a little plastic bag im not sure mabe it was just my one.

Great puzzle - low on durability, 23 Jul 2008
I bought this recently to take on holiday........it gave me a challenge for a week and something to do on the beach whilst soaking up the sun. I owned one in the 80's but was never able to do it, so thought now I'm a bit older I'll give it another go......and am now pleased to say after a weeks practice, driving my girlfriend mad and memorising certain moves and following the solve guide that comes with it........I can now complete it in under 2 minutes. It is a great challenge, incredibly addictive and a cool party trick.....dumbfounding people with a seemingly impossible task to solve.
There is a mention on here from one reviewer that the last step in the solution booklet doesnt work. I thought this at first, but it does work....its just not explained very well. So tip: Once you have all the all the last layer corners in the right place but not flipped, pick a face to be your front face....I always choose red. Hold the front face facing you and now JUST TURN THE TOP LAYER and get the piece that needs to be flipped in the top right hand corner. Execute the move R(anticlockwise) D (anticlockwise) R (clockwise) D (clockwise). Make sure when you turn your D face you turn it the correct way.....imagine you are looking directly at D face you are turning. (It is easy to turn it clockwise, not anticlockwise if you are not looking at it directly.) After executing this move 2 or 4 times the corner that needed to be flipped will be completed. What it DOESNT explain in the booklet is that once you have flipped one corner IT WONT GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL STATE YOU STARTED WITH........it still looks all messed up.......don't worry about it. keep going. Still holding your chosen front face facing you, turn the top layer again so the next corner piece that needs to be flipped is in the top right hand corner. Execute the move again. Keep turning the top layer, so the piece that needs to be flipped is in the top right hand corner, and execute the alogorithm. On the last corner piece.......as if by magic...all the colours line up and just twist the individual layers and you've done it! Hope this helps......
The downside of this cube is, and much the same as the other reviews....after much twisting and turning the stickers start to peel away from the edges. A great gadget that is hard to put down, its just a shame they dont make it more durable.

I love this game!, 10 Dec 2007
This has to be the best and most addicting game ever! I love it. It reminds me when I was younger (about 8-10 y.o) when I used to go to the pub with my dad and his friend, I'd make them play it with me all the time and 'bet' money, because I was only young, I obviously had no money, so if they won they got nothing, but whenever I won, they'd give me 50p, I used to leave the pub about a tenner up, haha. I've been trying to find this game for ages, could never find it anywhere, never thought to look on Amazon! So happy I've found it again.

Everest and back, 24 Oct 2007
We have had this game for many many years and have taken it where ever we go. It is indeed highly addictive, we have played it on a ferry from Miami to the Bahamas and had a gang of children join in and most recently we took it on a trek to Everest Base Camp, the evenings are quiet unless you have something to do. We, our guide and porter played this every evening and had many others watching. As our guide and porter (who were fantastic) loved this game so much we gave it to one of them and so now am ordering another to be sent to the other and of course one for ourselves.

Nostalgia!, 13 Nov 2006
I'm now 20 years old, and remember very fondly the Christmas afternoons spent on my grandfather's knee playing Pass the Pigs with the rest of my family when I was just two or three years old even. Before I was old enough to calculate the scores or even understand fully, I would be involved in "passing" the pigs. Then, as I grasped the concept I was taught to help add up the scores.

As an individual who played the game in my early years I recognise both the fun and educational value of the game. Of course, as a child, you are learning to add up without even realising you're learming! Certainly a benefit, making education fun.

It's also a valuable tool in bringing the family together. A perfect Christmas day game, where everyone can get involved.

Highly recommended.

Ah the days of Pass the Pig...

Pass the Pig, 05 Nov 2005
Pass the Pig is a brilliant game for all the family. It is simple to play and learn, easy and small to transport where
ever you go. You can play it anywhere, with as little or as many people as you like. It teaches children to add up quickly and is a lot of fun.

Absolutely excellent, 28 Aug 2005
I have just bought this (and haven't even received it yet) but I've now tried the online Java version that can be found on the net. Incredibly addicting, and much more tactical than one might think. Should you cash in your points, or try to win just a few more?
I also like the fact that it plays quickly, you could just play a few rounds in 5 min.
I bet my son will love it.

Not Original Scrabble, 14 Jan 2008
This might call itself Scrabble Original, but it isn't. The Scrabble sets I played on as a lad all had wee holes in the board and pegs on the tiles so that the game wouldn't be ruined by the slightest knock. Sadly no more. It also comes in a stupidly huge box to make storage unnecessarily awkward. Disappointing.


a very ordinary scrabble set, 25 Sep 2007
To misquote a well known ad - it isn't what it says on the box.

It's called Scrabble Original - it claims to be an upgrade - there's a contradiction already - and it isn't an upgrade.

Some smart alec in the marketting department thinks that if they make the box bigger that will make people think that what is in it is better. Well - all the increased size of the box does is make it harder to store.

As for this being any better - the only real change is that there is no scorepad in this version - this really is a petty, penny pinching change.

The game of Scrabble itself is of course great, but Mattel have not done themselves proud here - this comes across as a rather grubby bit of marketting.

My three stars reflect the worth of this Edition - not Scrabble itself.

Thirty years on and still going strong, 17 Apr 2007
I've played Scrabble for the past 30 years and to date, it still has retained its charm. It's the ultimate game of wits. Even a MA in English means that you are not likely to become a Scrabble great; however, an eye for strategy will be far more helpful. The best Scrabble players are not usually the highest scorers but are more likely to be the better blockers and have a good knowledge of all or most of the two letter words.For example, a word such as XI in the right place can be worth as much as the bonus for 7 letters i.e 50 points. Make sure that you have the official Scrabble dictionary as this a good dispute resolver especially when one plays a contentious word.

Scrabble, 05 Nov 2006
This is a classic game and with good reason. It's simple to play, but with infinite levels of game play for all ages and ability. Not only is it fun, but it stretches your vocabulary and mind as well. You'll have many a happy hour if you buy this. Highly recommended.

Best present Ever!!, 15 Feb 2006
My 8 year old son wanted this game for Christmas. He loved it and we all enjoy playing this game. Bring back Traditional Games!!!

its ok , 03 Oct 2008
I bought this for my 8 year old daughter and she liked it - mind you it only lasted for a day or so and the scents were not much to write home about. I cant help thinking that a good ol go with some rose petals and water has about the same educational level. i think that it could have had more scents in it - and more interesting ones too. These packs never have enough stuff in them and once they are gone they are gone. Mind you my daughter did enjoy doing it but beware - you