ANIMAL RACERS
The prototype Animal Racer: Henry the Turtle


Have you ever enjoyed the excitement of racing matchbox cars? Do you enjoy taking care of a Tamagotchi? Do you feel the compelling need to defeat your friends in everything you do?
If so, an Animal Racer is the toy for you. This game combines the strategy of taking care of a pet and the thrill of a live-action race... All within a handheld toy for less than $50 dollars.


The Basic Gameplay:
  • You take care of the animal... feed it, keep it warm, train it (exercise it), and don't let it be lonesome.
  • Then when you meet up with your friend you can set it to race mode and race it against your friend's Animal Racer... Who will win depends on who trained their animal the best.
  • The animal will generate random needs, such as food, sleep, need for petting/affection, etc.
  • Control is determined by 5 buttons... 4 buttons denoting which region of the LCD to select (all menus will have 4 options) and 1 button to return to the last menu.


Selecting the Food menu Three available foods to eat:
  • Water: Must drink enough water every day
  • Meat: Needs meat in his diet so much per week
  • Chips: Fun snack, source of fat, salt
  • ...or select the next food menu...
Three more foods available to eat:
  • Candy: fun snack, quick boost of energy
  • Salad: Source of vegetables in his diet
  • Pasta: Source of carbohydrates in his diet
  • ...or an option for the previous menu
Selecting the Play menu Three available games to play:
  • Chess: Builds the mind for training
  • Fetch: Fun game of fetch, but also is cardiovascular and helps feet-eye coordination
  • Swim: Turtles love to swim, but also good exercise
  • ...or select the next play menu
 Three more games available to play:
  • TV: Sometimes the turtle just needs to unwind
  • Dance: On weekends its always good to get down
  • Ski: Nothings better than a Colorado getaway, but also good exercise
  • ...or an option for the previous menu
Selecting the Training Menu Four available workouts:
  • Run: Distance running, works the endurance
  • Lift: Builds strength
  • Fast: Works on sprinting ability
  • Skip: Skip rope and other cardiovascular activities
  • All have multiple positives and negatives
Selecting the Race Option... time to rumble Screen seen while racing... press "BACK" button to stop
Here one can see the light sensor and microphone on the turtle.
The lights sensors is used to detect the ambient light to determine when to sleep, when to wake up, or even if its being ignored if left dark for too long. The microphone also detects ambient sounds to see if it in kept near the owner (ie. there is conversation now and then) or if it is left all alone.


Here one can see the two dorsil touch sensors, as well as the LCD and gameplay buttons.
The two touch sensors are blended into the shell to maintain the turtle shell appearance and is designed to detect when the animals is being pet, as a sensor to see if the animal is being loved, etc.


Here one can see the bottom of the turtle with the wheels, the center heat sensor, and two ventral touch sensors
The touch sensors provide the same function as above. The heat sensor allows the turtle to sense if it is warm or cold to see if it is being taken care of. The wheels allows the turtle to move during a race and other activities.


Here you can see two turtles racing.
***MANY MORE ANIMALS TO COME... INCLUDING: DOGS, CATS, MICE, BEARS, LIONS, AND MORE!


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The author can be reached for comment at cwo4@columbia.edu