NFC-compatible Hot Wheels cars keep an eye on the fastest



[ad_1]

Hot Wheels has done a lot in recent years to reinvent itself as a brand that goes beyond small molded cars. We've seen remotely operated vehicles, augmented reality racing and even cars that you build yourself. The next step for the brand is to return to its roots on the 1/64 scale, but with a decidedly modern twist. Hot Wheels iD look like normal cars, but each has a small NFC chip in the bottom that tracks the time and speed of each car. Now, when kids claim that their car is the fastest, they have the data to back it up.

On its own, a Hot Wheels iD vehicle looks like a miniature car. And it runs like any other Hot Wheels vehicle: simply place the car in a punt launcher attached to a track and repeatedly press the big button to propel it without running away. But the track itself is now full of technologies, mainly an NFC player that counts the number of times each car passes on. This data is sent back to the new iD app for Android and iOS via Bluetooth LE, calculating statistics such as the number of laps, the maximum speed and the total distance traveled.

<img alt = "Hot Wheels iD" data-caption = "Hot Wheels iD" data-credit = "Engadget" data-credit-link-back = "" data-dam-provider = "Engadget" data-local-id = "local-4- 9325106-1560377194294" data-media-id = "b3d47396-92e0-499a-bc36-97339f68511b" data-original-url = "https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images / 2019-06 / f0579c30-8d59-11e9-bbfe-980bd17ebc46 "data-title =" Hot Wheels iD "src =" https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?resize=2000%2C2000%2Cshrink&image_uri=uri_https % 3A% 2F% s% 2Fos% 2Fcreatr-Upload-Images-% 2F2019-06% 2Ff0579c30-8d59-11e9-bbfe-980bd17ebc46 & customer = a1acac3e1b3290917d92 & signature = e699bdcb2f96835fad1

You register cars with the app by tapping the vehicle against the NFC reader of your device. Or, if your phone or tablet does not have a player, the smart track piece "race portal" can also do the trick. And the track itself is actually smart: the thick and sturdy pieces connect to each other via USB, so that they can tell the application what parts are being used and what the track looks like , while helping to guide children through the building process, step by step. Standard track pieces (read: mute) of standard Hot Wheels sets can also be attached, although the system can not import data on them. The application is not obliged to play with cars every time; the race portal will store the data in the meantime and will simply transfer the next time it will be synchronized with a device.

But the application is not just about keeping an eye on your collection and helping you create tracks. It will launch race challenges to complete – make X laps or reach a certain speed – and then distribute rewards as you finish them. Rewards for what, you say? In addition to the actual game of cars and tracks, there is also a game in the application where you drive virtual copies of your collection on virtual tracks. The rewards consist of bonuses that can be used to supercharge your cars in the game, as well as to unlock exclusive content in the game, such as additional vehicles.

<img alt = "Hot Wheels iD" data-caption = "Hot Wheels iD" data-credit = "Mattel" data-credit-link-back = "" data-dam-provider = "" data-local-id = " local-1-2357944 -1560448418183 "data-media-id =" 4c0c6b57-a60b-4efb-9387-4079d9a17e77 "data-original-url =" https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/ 2019-06 / 1e24c390 -8e04-11e9-b53f-103e5f32fec9 "data-title =" Hot Wheels iD "src =" https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?resize=2000%2C2000%2Cshrink&image_uri=https%3 3A% 2F% 2F% 2Fs .yimg.com% 2Fos% 2Fcreatr-the-images-sent% 2F2019-06% 2F1e24c390-8e04-11e9-b53f-103e5f32fec9 & customer = a1acac3e1b3290917d92 & signature = f49303be9389e9859359159.

It is a fast but basic racing game, in which you steer by pressing left or right on the screen, with a double support activating the available power-ups. And it's free, like a lot of mobile games for kids. And, as in many of these games, it has in-app (boo) purchases and a recharge period where you can not do anything. But instead of forcing kids to pay to keep playing, Hot Wheels iD sends them to the toys themselves. When someone plays with his cars in the real world, he reloads the car for more races in the virtual world.

The idea is to ensure that children continue to play with the toys even with all the interesting features of the application. After all, the heart of the Hot Wheels brand is to create a collection of cool cars. And Hot Wheels iD has a lot to offer in this regard: it will launch eight vehicles initially, but you will finally have the choice between 51 different cars, including real models such as the Corvette C7R and the Aston Martin One-77. with fantastic designs like the Motosaurus and the Batmobile.

<img alt = "Hot Wheels iD" data-caption = "Hot Wheels iD" data-credit = "Engadget" data-credit-link-back = "" data-dam-provider = "Engadget" data-local-id = "local-2- 2545983-1560377001033" data-media-id = "1c753031-44ae-4eec-820a-2a57d0a09833" data-original-url = "https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images / 2019-06 / f0b2db90-8d59-11e9-aff2-ecf30426e1a1 "data-title =" Hot Wheels iD "src =" https: 2Fs.yimg.com% 2Fos% 2Fcreatr-Upload-Images-% 2F2019-06% 2Ff0b2db90- 8d59-11e9-af2-ecf30426e1a1 & customer = a1acac3e1b3290917d92 & signature = c439eb9295c201402814vive

Unfortunately, amassing a collection will not be cheap. Each NFC-compatible vehicle will cost $ 7, though they're better built than the $ 1 blister packaged cars that you'll often find in the bins of your local toy store. The race portal, which allows you to scan and track cars, will be sold alone at $ 40 with two exclusive vehicles included. But if you really want to travel the distance with Hot Wheels iD, the Smart Track Kit comes with all the parts connected by USB, as well as two exclusive vehicles, and you will earn $ 180. It even comes in a box that has been designed to be used for long-term storage.

You can grab them all on the Apple Store today, as well as download the iOS app on the App Store. Android users will have the opportunity to participate in iD next month on the first day of launching the app on Amazon and Google Play. People who prefer to buy this in a physical store will also have a shot when it reaches the target from the fall.

[ad_2]

Source link