Anki Drive: digital reality slot cars

Slot cars are cool. Video games are fun. Blend the two and you're looking at Anki Drive, an evolutionary competitive game that merges the two in what could herald the beginning of a new era in interactive entertainment.

Unlike regular slot cars though, you don't need to build a track, there are no grooves and the car's robotic brains drive themselves.

Priced at $US199, the starter kit includes two race cars, a vinyl race 'mat', car battery chargers and a tyre cleaner. Up to four cars can be raced simultaneously, and extra cars cost $US69 each.

Once players pair their Apple iOS device to control a car, it's game on. And the idea is simple -- win the race by any means necessary. Even if it means using weapons to gun down opponents.

The cars feature some basic robotic artificial intelligence and left to their own devices will just race around the track, lap after lap, thanks to small cameras underneath that navigate their way around the track.

Players can tilt their iPhone to make the cars take wider or tighter lines around the track, but there's also weapons and other items available, such as tractor beams to slow other cars, and even projectile weapons. Activating these adds an element of strategy to the racing and if you score a direct hit on another car it will be momentarily out of action.

Anki doesn't require several players either. While up to four human players can race, only one player is required as the other car/s can be controlled by AI.

Of the four different cars, two are classified as defensive and two are strikers. Each has different top speed, acceleration and cornering statistics. But the interesting part is that the vehicles can be upgraded via points earned from winning races. And once the upgrades are applied, they last forever, wherever the car is taken or raced.

The creators of Anki say this customisation will make racing more intense and that very few cars will be identical.

The cars themselves are powered by two small electric motors -- one for each rear wheel, which allows them to steer. The cars also have a 50Mhz microprocessor to make them steer, dodge and attack, and are recharged in their small carry cases.

We were hoping to add it to the Christmas gift list at motoring.com.au's HQ, but last time we checked the Anki Drive website it was sold out. Clearly, it's the coolest toy in town!