Summer toys for grown-ups -- the indoor edition!
It's a fundamental injustice of the universe that kids get all the toys. Let's amend the situation.
In our previous feature, Outdoor summer toys for the big kids, we sampled some recreational options for grown-ups who never quite outgrew the idea of toys. Now it's July, the thermostat is getting ornery, and we figured it's time to move the fun indoors. Air conditioning, after all, was invented for a reason. It's a fundamental injustice of the universe that kids get all the toys. We seek to amend the situation.
UE Roll Bluetooth Speaker — $99.99
Indoor fun is always better with music and one of the great benefits of living in the modern world is the ability to keep your entire record collection in your pocket -- then pipe audio from your phone to a wireless speaker. It wasn't that long ago that getting decent sound at home meant a tangle of wires, a stack of stereo components, and a shelf full of vinyl LPs. There are hundreds of wireless speaker options out there, but UE Roll Bluetooth Speaker is a both a good bargain and an interesting piece of design. The UFO-shaped speaker is completely waterproof, and you can lay it down flat or use the integrated bungee cord to hang it wherever -- the shower head, say. The speaker isn't built to rock a block party, but it's perfectly fine for background music.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — $60
Modern video game consoles have become the go-to indoor toy of choice for an entire generation of grown-ups -- a few generations now, actually. Gamers typically stick with their favorite genres — sports games, shooter games — but occasionally a title comes along that's so exceptional that every serious gamer should consider it. Such is the case with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, a swords-and-sorcery style RPG that offers literally hundreds of hours of top-notch gameplay for a one-time investment. Based on a series of European novels, the game features surprisingly sophisticated storytelling along with high-end technical specs that rival anything else out there. The game looks and sounds gorgeous, leveraging the powerful hardware of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Be prepared to set aside several months of discretionary time.
Monty Python Fluxx — $20
Card games have been keeping adults occupied for more than a thousand years now. No kidding, the earliest playing cards have been dated to the 9th century in China. If you're in the market for a new kind of card night with friends and family, consider the Fluxx line of fast-and-furious games. Created by independent game developer Looney Labs, the Fluxx games have a unique design in which the rules and conditions for any given game change as the cards are played. Hence the "flux." The company has released dozens of themed variations on the game celebrating various corners of pop-culture fandom: Pirate Fluxx, Zombie Fluxx, Batman Fluxx, Oz Fluxx … even Monty Python Fluxx. Half the fun is enjoying the often very funny writing and illustrations featured in each new theme pack. Highly recommended.
Dromida Kodo UAV Quadcopter — $52.95
For some of us grown-ups, the delights of remote-controlled vehicles didn't end when we were given access to, you know, actual vehicles. In the new millennium, the best and most versatile remote-controlled vehicles are the flying contraptions commonly referred to as drones. Also known as UAVs or quadcopters, they're typically designed for outdoor use, but ultra-mini drones like the Dromida Kodo UAV Quadcopter are specifically designed for indoor fun. The newer models of the Kodo feature lightweight rubber bumpers around the rotors -- for bouncing off walls, furniture, dogs, what-have-you. In the case of severe collisions, both the bumpers and the rotors are detachable and replaceable. It's the integrated micro-camera that provides the most fun, though, as you pilot the Kodo around to capture extemporaneous surveillance footage of whatever's happening. Fun for parties, and no assembly required, either.
Knight Rider K.I.T.T. USB Car Charger — $29.99
Sometimes you're indoors even when you're outdoors, and that's where the Knight Rider K.I.T.T. USB Car Charger comes in. Veterans of the 1980s will remember Knight Rider, the NBC adventure show in which our hero Michael Knight fought crime with his sentient and evidently indestructible Firebird Trans Am. It was -- what's the word? -- awesome. This officially licensed USB charger from the mad geniuses at ThinkGeek replicates the in-car dashboard voicebox from the show, along with 11 different audio phrases from the archives. The charger fits into your 12-volt charger (the old cigarette lighter) and the two ports are compatible with anything that charges via USB. Red LEDs provide the voice equalizer visuals and a flexible arm attachment lets you place the voicebox wherever fits best. Note from the official product description page: 1982 Pontiac Trans Am not included.
