Blobo Gaming Console Unveiled in Finland

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I don’t know about you guys but I’m waiting for a good excuse to stop playing Wii games altogether. And I haven’t played that many of them in the first place. I certainly have arguments to back up my decision. Like the crappy graphics of the Wii or the fact that its follower, the Wii 2, isn’t going to offer us any significant changes! Add to that the fact that both Microsoft and Sony are adding motion sensing support to their console next year and you’ll understand why I’m more and more determined to ditch the Wii.

With all that in mind I’ll tell you from the beginning that the Blobo doesn’t look like the next console I’d want to purchase. Because that’s what the Blobo is. A gaming console the size of a golf ball. I certainly appreciate the ingenuity of the device as it sure isn’t easy to squeeze a console into such a small device like a ball.

What I don’t appreciate is the fact that the Blobo could not have been made possible without the Wii. It basically clones the whole motion controlled gaming idea and I don’t want to play another series of sports games and experience not-so-good graphics. And I wouldn’t want my kids to get hurt while trying to beat each other at running inside the house. Because that’s basically what the Blobo will target. Kids and teenagers interested in virtual sports. Shouldn’t they run outside if given the chance?

So how does the Blobo work? Well the whole mechanism is remarkable and I see a future for it as long as the manufacturers decide to come up with other games which will offer us a better gaming experience. The Blobo can sense the changes that occur in the magnetic field around it as well as changes in direction, acceleration, air pressure inside the ball and other physical characteristics. It then sends the information through a wireless Bluetooth connection to the display and the magic occurs. All your actions are translated into actions on the screen. Doesn’t the Wii and its Wiimote do that already?

The Blobo costs €54.90 or about $80 but I wouldn’t really recommend it. At least, not yet! I like the entire tech behind the concept but I’m still waiting to see other titles arrive from Blobo. And when that happens, be sure I’ll tell you all about it.