62 replies to this topic

[kisrael]

So McDonalds and Sega are teaming up to provide a series of six games in their happy meals:
DailyGame has some more info, including some images.

The six games are:
Sonic's Speedway, Shadow Grinder, Knuckles Soccer, Sonic Action Game, AiAi Banana Catch, Tails Sky Patrol

I'm not sure about Grinder and Action Game (both of which seem to feature only one button...) but the other 4 all seem to be good old dodge things or catch things LCD gameplay. I'm really curious about those two, actually, I've always had an interest in games that are playable with a single button...

So here's my review of the first:
Sonic's Speedway:

Hardware
The game is very toylike and robust feeling, with a blue and purple two part case (with SEGA, Sonic, and a checkered flag, and some cars engravd on it,) big red buttons, a power switch on the back (haven't seen too many of those in the Game+Watch influenced world of LCDs), and a tiny LCD screen-- like, an inch wide, 3/4 of an inch high. It makes little bleeps and bloops (and there is no mute button). Actually, the screen is better protected than usual, you can press your finger into it and get those cool rainbow patterns.

Software
The game is a traditional 'dodge the cars' driving game, arching to the right, with some interesting minor gameplay differences. For one thing, the game has an ending: there are 4 laps, each one faster than the last, and you get a little flag at the end of each of the first 3, and then a small game celebration at the very end. The player can take up to five hits before the game is over. I actually think overall this improves the game; it's not entirely trivial to beat, I usually take 2 hits or so by the time the thing is over, so I imagine a young kid will have to work a little bit to be able to finish. (The cars are more densely packed than I remember for this kind of game, with often only a single opening in a row, and sometimes you have to quickly doubletap to scoot from one side to the other.)

You can make out Sonic's head in the car at bottom, so it's not just a case modification from an older game...

Food (Wetware?)
Good god, I had forgotten how bad a Happy Meal is. (Besides the fact it didn't come in a box, just a not-even-Sega-themed bag.) I wonder if the sound could have been better, even if it was just a piezzo speaker, like if they threw in a little meoldy or something. (It's a little annoying as it is, since it beeps everytime you pass a car.) And I'm not saying this as someone who dislikes fastfood; I'll definately have a Whopper Jr now and then, or Taco Bell. But the bun on this burger...man, like cardboard, and the gross hunk of american cheese not melted at all, and then the fries are so awful and tasteless, like little edible scoops for ketchup is all...

Overall
Overall this was a pretty decent little game. I think they improved the gameplay of an LCD classic. Unfortunately I'm going on a nutrition/detoxification/weightloss diet so unless they let you buy the toys seperately, I won't be seeing too much else in this series.

[MegaManFan]

Do you know when they started this promotion, and how long it's running for? I may just get up the gall to go to my local McD's and tell them screw the Happy Meals, just sell me all the games. If they say no dice then I'll go fine, sell me one of each happy meal with one in it.

[kisrael]

According to that link, from today 'til July 24th or so.

Dunno if they'll sell seperate or not...I think they will, but I"m not sure. The problem is traditionally only one type of toy is available at a time I think, so you have to keep hitting the store...correct me if someone knows better.

[King Atari]

I know Wendy's frowns upon selling toys seperately, but they'd still do it, considering you talked to the right person (Yes, I know, I had to get all of their Mario toys!).

[ubersaurus]

I played Shadow's Grinder, too. It wasn't as good. mostly a matter of timing jumps to get over the holes in the rail. Still, fun way of killin a couple minutes.

[Ze_ro]

Anyone know if these are going to be available in Canada? I'd really love to get all of these, despite the fact that I hate getting food at McDonalds.

--Zero

[Brad2600]

Wow.

I live right next to a McDonald's..LOL.

Maybe I'll inquire into these games.

[chrisbid]

i think its amazing to what can manufactured for virtually no cost. while these games are on the easy side, have tiny 1 inch screens, and do not keep score, its amazing that a full fledged video game can be cheaper than a rubber pool ball that one finds in a gumball machine

[NE146]

You don't have to buy food. Just ask them to buy the toy. Piece of cake

[Zloch]

[quote="kisrael"]...

Food (Wetware?)
Good god, I had forgotten how bad a Happy Meal is. (Besides the fact it didn't come in a box, just a not-even-Sega-themed bag.)

That's odd. I got 2 from 2 diff McD's and they both came in Sega boxes with Sonic on one side and AiAi on the other.

Sean

[Inky]

[quote="Zloch"][quote=kisrael]...

Food (Wetware?)
Good god, I had forgotten how bad a Happy Meal is. (Besides the fact it didn't come in a box, just a not-even-Sega-themed bag.)

That's odd. I got 2 from 2 diff McD's and they both came in Sega boxes with Sonic on one side and AiAi on the other.

Sean[/quote]

I used to work at a McD's, and we ran out of the Happy Meal boxes ALL the time. Apparently the store manager wasn't good with the concept of 'inventory'

[NE146]

I don't know what y'all are complaining about.. I dig the happy meal food. Gimme dat cheeseburger!

[kisrael]

InkyAtari said:

I used to work at a McD's, and we ran out of the Happy Meal boxes ALL the time.  Apparently the store manager wasn't good with the concept of 'inventory'

Yeah, but on the FIRST day?

This was a goofy little thing in a mall food court.

Could the toys have arrived before the boxes?
Or maybe they don't do boxes...the court already has
a bit more trash than it can handle at lunchtime.

[Mock]

For the curious...

I got a Knuckles Soccer by the way...lol

Mock

[kisrael]

Thanks for the picture, I was indeed wondering a bit.

[Mock]

here is the other side...

[jhd]

Happy Canada Day!

Ze_ro said:

Anyone know if these are going to be available in Canada?

Apparently so... my local McD's has the 5-6 models in the "toys" display case (at child eye-level). I didn't inquire if they can be purchased seperately.

[King Atari]

I want that Sonic Action Game, one button should be pretty interesting.

I was surprised at how addictive Sonic's Speedway was. It can't top most of the Game and Watches, or even really good Tiger LCDs, but it was fairly fun.

[MegaManFan]

Okay this settles it. Tomorrow I'm going to get a Happy Meal so I can get that box to go along with the game!

[eric_ruck]

I was wondering if anyone else found these? I scored a Sonic Grind for $1 over the cost of a Crispy Bacon salad (surprisingly good for McD's).

Eric

[Brian R.]

You don't have to buy the meal to get the promotional item. A while back McDs had a Transformers promotion going on, and I picked up two of 'em without buying the meal. Just went in and asked what they had and bought 'em. They usually had more than one kind available, don't know if that's the same for this.

[NE146]

It is the same and that has always been the case.. like I said earlier:

NE146 said:

You don't have to buy food. Just ask them to buy the toy. Piece of cake

[GaryH917]

I bought Speedway last week and find it quite challenging! The only prob is that they haven't gotten a new game to choose from... Maybe this week! I feel my belly getting bigger than it already is...

[Inky]

Brian R. said:

You don't have to buy the meal to get the promotional item. A while back McDs had a Transformers promotion going on, and I picked up two of 'em without buying the meal. Just went in and asked what they had and bought 'em. They usually had more than one kind available, don't know if that's the same for this.

They started selling the toys seperately after the Teenie Beanie Babies fiasco.

Man, the McD's by me had a line 2 blocks long when those ungodly monstrosities were released.

[Ze_ro]

Sweet! The Canadian McDonalds are definitely selling these... I picked up the Sonic Action Game just today. It's actually pretty good. Sonic runs forward the whole time, and you press the button to jump onto platforms. The game gradually speeds up too, although I was able to beat the whole game the first time I played it...

Pretty cool. Looks like I'll be going to McDonalds quite a bit for the next while! Anyone know how long these promotions usually last? I remember when I was trying to collect Dragonball Z figures from Burger King (Back when I used to watch the show quite a bit), and I only managed to get two before they quit selling them At least I got Goku and Krillin...

These games seem kind of cheaply made, but I guess that's pretty much the point. The screens are REALLY small, and it doesn't look like you can ever replace the battery (although I doubt you'll need to anytime soon), since it uses goofy triangular screws.

--Zero