The Rising Popularity of the Nex Playground

Last year, if someone had claimed that the Nex Playground would exceed the sales of Microsoft's Xbox, I would have found it amusingly unlikely.

This gaming device is small, just three inches in size, and arguably has less computing power than a typical smartphone. It functions using a solo camera to monitor body movements and is limited to a collection of pre-approved, kid-friendly games.

Although it's often likened to both the Nintendo Wii and Microsoft's Kinect, it's notably less effective in terms of motion tracking.

The Cost and Game Selection

At a price of $250 initially, plus an $89 annual fee or $49 every three months for extensive access, it's not inexpensive. Buying individual games isn't an option, and several of the games barely rise above basic quality and visual appeal; they lack the charm found in Nintendo titles or highlights of Apple Arcade.

Family Interaction and Entertainment

Even when my five-year-old was under the weather with a mild fever, she was eager to engage with the games. The allure of virtual bowling even attracted Grandpa, who wanted to join the fun.

My older daughter, at nine, persistently asked to have another go after her virtual flight met a virtual disaster. Their enjoyment wasn't dampened by the simplicity of the games. They loved the ease of jumping right in, no controllers needed, using the large display to have fun. The physical activity of dancing, jumping, and arm swinging contributed to their enjoyment, even as they laughed at my efforts in sync.

Regrettably, not all experiences with the games brought about laughter.

Technical Limitations of the System

Decades ago, the Nintendo Wii offered innovations with its built-in camera and accelerometer, allowing it to track simple body movements. Microsoft’s Kinect advanced this by mapping your body in three dimensions using infrared technology.

The Nex Playground takes a different approach. It uses a single wide-angle camera, relying on USB-C and HDMI connections at the back, devoid of multi-dimensional depth tracking. It aims to deduce body positions from two-dimensional visuals.

This can be impressive at times, with six joint markers allowing for straight or curved bowling actions. However, without true depth sensing, confusion arises. For instance, when my nine-year-old was seated and my youngest was playing, the console mixed up their limbs, causing distress when their turns were inadvertently swapped.

Challenges in Game Play Experience

Occasionally, my children grew frustrated due to these technical constraints, such as when a swing was misread or a needed gesture didn't register properly. Many guidelines exist to optimize gameplay, like wearing specific clothing or maintaining a certain room brightness, but these aren't always practical.

Even with adequate preparation, the game response sometimes lagged behind, which I noticed even on a top-quality OLED TV with reduced latency settings.

Nevertheless, certain games remained a source of joy, especially those that capitalized on simple interactions and amusing effects, engaging the children in playful activities like striking poses or creating fantastical imagery on-screen.

Is It Worth the Investment?

With countless simple and repetitive games, deciding on the console’s value becomes difficult. Some games are either overly simplistic or disproportionately challenging due to the lack of depth perception. Though the platform boasts notable children’s brands, my kids quickly lost interest in many of their offerings.

Ultimately, while the console might not deliver premium-quality games, it achieves an intangible delight factor, reminding us that sometimes the thrill of gameplay is about the experience, not the execution.