Disney Cars AppMATes for iPad

When I recently heard about Disney Cars AppMATes for the iPad (while searching on Disney Cars in the iTunes store), I had to find out more about it. I thought Little Brandon would love to try this. The app is free to download. Watching the introductory video, I thought it was quite interesting. The game comes to life digitally with miniature Cars 2 vehicles and allows kids to use the iPad as a virtual play mat. The cars have sensors on the base of each toy that are recognized as a footprint by an app with no cable or Bluetoothe connection required. If you don't have a AppMATes toy character, you can choose "paper car" in the app.

We don't have any of the AppMATe Cars character and I haven't seen it at our local toy stores here in Canada. I do know Toys-R-Us and Target in the States have them available. I'm planning to get one for Brandon. For now, we just use the virtual one.

Cars 2 Appmates features include:

~ Exploration – Drive around the world of Radiator Springs to discover landscapes and hidden secrets by simply placing the Cars toy character on the screen and turning it in any direction. Drive through mud and up ramps, visit friends at Flo’s V8 Café or check out your Car’s reflection, showing off your latest gear and gadgets.

~ Directed Game Play – Perform missions unique to each character. Completed missions – like helping bring a tow hook back to Mater – gain hubcaps, the virtual currency. Collect enough hubcaps to personalize each car with special features like a unique horn sound, customized tire tracks, and cool gear like a rocket launcher or spy vision goggles.

~ Racing – Rev up the action by racing against World Grand Prix opponents and your Radiator Springs friends. Five racetracks are available at launch. Race around Willy’s Butte, jump off Carburetor Mesa and roar through downtown Radiator Springs earning hubcaps in day or night races.

Each toy unlocks different features and content within the app specific to the character, allowing kids to come back over and over to enjoy an imaginative, open-ended play experience using the Appmates toys. Fans can download and test the app by simply using their fingers to drive a virtual car through the world, but the play experience is optimized to come to life with the Appmates toy vehicles.

Created in collaboration with Spin Master, Disney Appmates toys are available starting Oct. 1 at national retailers, Apple Store, Apple Store online, Disney Store and DisneyStore.com with vehicle two-packs (SRP $19.99) featuring four characters including Lightning McQueen, Tow Mater, Finn McMissile, and Holley Shiftwell. Two additional characters – Francesco Bernoulli and Shu Todoroki – will launch in November and be available exclusively through Apple Store and Apple Store online.