Product Description

Build your own thrill-filled coaster. Watch the 10MM spheres go through cool loops and pass by the magic Magnetixbridge. Use the iMixer to create your own background music. Choose from 10 different beats and over 20 sampletracks. Requires 4 "C" batteries, not included.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #31 in Toys & Games
• Brand: Mega Brands
• Model: 29305U
• Dimensions: 24.00" h x 4.00" w x 14.00" l, 6.57 pounds

Features

• Plug and play your MP3 player and watch the LED lights synch with the beat (beat detection)
• Kid powered fun¿
• 8 incredible stunts including the intersection and magnetic swing
• Awesome for stimulating imagination and creativity
• Excellent way to enhance assembling and building skills

Amazon.com Review
Experience fast-paced magnetic fun with the MagNext iCoaster from Mega brands. With lights, sound and the ability to plug your iPod into it and customize the background beat, this 64-piece set features a stunt-packed track that can be configured 10 different ways. This construction set provides a creative outlet for kids aged six and up. Small pieces make it inappropriate for small children who require constant supervision.

Seven stunt pieces add drama to each iCoaster ride. View larger.

A magnetic elevator takes metal rider balls back to the top of the coaster. View larger.

What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Track can be reconfigured for long-lasting fun The Bad: Small parts may get lost In a Nutshell: The iCoaster is a unique building set for action-loving kids. At a Glance Ages: 6 and up Requires: Four C batteries

Ten Extreme Configurations
The 64-piece iCoaster set comes with a booklet that illustrates 10 extreme roller coaster layouts to choose from. With 10 towers and seven hyper stunt track pieces, the possibilities seem endless. Each piece is identified by a symbol at both ends so that assembly is a straightforward process that encourages little engineers to be precise in building the suggested tracks. When they've mastered these layouts, they can unleash their creative instincts and invent new ones.

Once a coaster has been constructed, five 15-millimeter magnetic rider balls act as cars, zipping around the track, providing a serious adrenaline rush. Before the action starts, an adult will need to use a Philips head screwdriver to install four "C" batteries, which power the lights, sounds and cool magnetic elevator.

Lights, Music and Speed
Stunts that can be incorporated into the track include a bounce jump, vertical loop and magnetic slide. One of our favorite features was the sleek, magnetic elevator that transported each metal ball back to the top of the iCoaster at the end of a ride. Two flashing lights can be placed in any tower to complement the neon track pieces and add visual interest every time a ball goes whizzing by.

The plug & play control box features 10 music backgrounds, 10 sensor beats/sound effects, and a jack where you can plug your iPod or other MP3 player in and customize the sounds behind your roller coaster. You need to provide your own connector cable and music player to take advantage of this feature.

Durable and Educational Design
The plastic pieces seemed quite durable, and they snapped apart just as easily as they snapped together. Our only concern about the iCoaster was the potential for losing or damaging small connector pieces, but even these held up well in our construction and reconstruction of the track.

It's easy to see why the previous iCoaster was recognized by The National Parenting Center and Parents Magazine as an incredible building toy. This version retains all the great qualities of its predecessor and is bigger, stronger and faster.

The construction oriented iCoaster encourages kids to build with determination, helping enhance their ability to focus and their fine-motor skills. It also promotes understanding of magnetism, inspires creativity and helps kids develop problem-solving skills, adding an innovative dimension to play.

What's in the Box
Magnetic elevator, 10 towers, 10 tower bases, 11 track pieces, 7 stunt pieces, 17 connector pieces, 2 light-up sensors, plug & play control box with speaker, 5 15-millimeter magnetic metallic rider balls, and illustrated instruction booklet.

From the Manufacturer
iPark is the only magnetic multi-sensory amusement park that synthesizes kids’ growing desire for tech toys with the magic of magnetic building to create breakthrough creations.

Customer Reviews

New 2008 version is great!
My son wanted this toy for awhile and finally got it this past week. We have read the negative reviews and he was worried that it would not be worth the money, but he really wanted to try it. The new version doesn't seem to have any of the problems that the older version has. The track now snaps together and is does not fall apart- he even applied pressure on purpose. The music player still needs an extra attachment ire, but that was not his biggest draw to this toy. The music box sounds are sufficient. All-in-all, it has been worth the money.

iCoaster 2008
My 6 year old received this for Christmas - and I have to say - it turned out to be better than I expected. We've definitely enjoyed playing with it - but building the tracks has been difficult for him. I do have a few comments:

1. Like other reviewers have mentioned, unless you have an adapter for your MP3 player, you won't be able to use that feature of this toy.

2. You're obviously going to need a lot of space to put this together. Uncarpeted is best, too.

2. You have to be able to follow "picture" instructions --there are no written instructions with this. The pages are about the size of two 8 1/2 X 11 pages, so the pictures are easy to see - however, ours came with 'corrections' on ALL 10 different track configurations - on black and white 8 1/2X11 pages - making it much harder to 'read'- you're always having to flip back and forth b/w the corrections and the large pictures.

One final suggestion, - wait for it to go on sale. Our local stores have had this on sale MUCH lower than the Amazon price - Full price is too much to pay for the iCoaster, even with it's improvements. Oh - and I can't remember if it's on the box - but you're going to need 4 "C" batteries to make it work.

My son says AWESOME!
We bought this toy for our 9 year old son. He, as well as the rest of the family, has completely enjoyed it! He has only made one from the book but has designed his own coaster 3 times. I rated this high for education for a simple fact. My son has some disabilities and problem solving and frustration is one of them. The has really given him a challenge and learning with problem solving. He is also learning to work with and listen to others ideas.
It is a little flimsy and can ruin the run with a simple bump, but it's easily fixed. The toy overall is a great joy.