Microsoft's new gaming interface, dubbed Project Natal, takes the concept of Nintendo's Wii (much loved in our household) a step further by eliminating the controller altogether and enabling the interface to track 11 different points on the player's body. It's pretty incredible, as you can see:



Not sure about a game designed simply to have you flailing, but the potential for this interface is pretty exciting. - Jeremiah

Every time I see this show, I have to wonder... Isn't there a way this could be adapted for children's birthday parties?

At any rate, your child will love you for introducing it to them.



- Jeremiah

Say hello to LeapFrog's new Learning Path, an online accompaniment to LeapFrog's suite of kids' electronic teaching aids. Those gadgets are a story in themselves, and LeapFrog has been rolling them out at a steady pace - the Leapster II [LeapFrog | Amazon]; the Didj, a new educational gaming handheld for six- to ten-year-olds [LeapFrog | Amazon]; the Tag Reading System (ages 4-8), which we reviewed earlier this year; and the Crammer, a handheld "study aid" for eight- to fourteen-year-olds [LeapFrog | Amazon]. The LeapFrog Learning Path is a free online tool to upload and track your child's educational gains using these systems, allowing you not just to better understand what your child is learning, but prepare you for (and even suggest) next steps in learning - many of which are then downloadable to the device in the form of customized lessons your child will play in game form. You can see a demo video of the LeapFrog Learning Path in action here.

To celebrate the launch of the LeapFrog Learning Path, the company is sponsoring Punnybop for two weeks and has asked us to host a fantastic giveaway of their interactive line of electronic educational toys. Here's what's up for grabs:

1. One Didj Custom Gaming System and the winner's choice of game


2. One Leapster II and a game of the winner's choice


3. Tag Reading System and two books of winner's choice

Here's how it works:

Visit LeapFrog's website and decide which of these systems you'd like most, and browse their selection of games or books for that product. Comment on this post with the name of the system you'd like to enter to win, and the name of the game or books you'd choose to go with it. You can only enter once, but we'll give away one of each of the three device/media combos, meaning that you choose which one you'd like to have a chance to win. (There's also no reason a spouse couldn't enter themselves for the same, or a different item - the rule is one entry per person, and that entrants must be 18 or older.)

We'll accept entries until 1 p.m. CT Friday, Oct. 24.

Thanks to LeapFrog for stepping forward as the first official sponsor of Punnybop! Their innovative platform games and interactive books fit in nicely with the daily kids' books, movies, music, and games we recommend here on Punnybop, and we're tickled to have them on board. If your company would like to sponsor Punnybop to help get your brand and its products in front of ZRecs Network readers, get in touch with us at editors (at) zrecs (dot) com.

Official Rules: One entry per person. Entrants must be 18 or older and reside in the U.S. Entries which do not accurately match a product system with a game or two books that can be purchased for the platform will be considered invalid. Entry deadline is 1 p.m. CT Oct. 24, 2008; a winner will be selected on or around Oct. 25, 2008. Winner will be contacted via provided email address and announced on PRIZEY Winners; failure to respond within five business days will result in forfeiture of prize and selection of an alternate.

P.S.! If you are a blogger who has signed up as a member of PRIZEY and have elected to receive mailings from us, stay tuned for an announcement of a special giveaway for members who help spread the word about this giveaway! - Jeremiah