Swypeout Racing Starter Set

• Swypeout is a unique game and collector card card system that allows kids to battle their friends online
• The Swype garage cards allow kids to upgrade their rides, add battle features, and cool accessories
• Pick your track and try out your battle racing skills online
• Computer Requirements: 1.7Ghz Pentium 4, 64 MB Ram video card, 256 MB Ram, Windows XP (No Mac), 2GB free hard drive space, compatible with Windows Vista
• Starter kit includes Swypetech scanner, five cards, installation disc and instruction booklet

Amazon.com Product Description:
Drivers, start your online engines! Swypeout is an interactive racing game that combines online gaming with the world of collectible trading cards. This Battle Racing set comes with a card scanner that attaches to your computer via a USB port, five digital cards to swipe, installation software, and an instruction booklet. First go to www.swypeout.com to set up an account and get a tutorial, then swipe your cards through the scanner to get upgrades, add-ons, and weapons for your vehicle. What you see as a two-dimensional image on the card becomes a customizable, 3-dimensional thing once uploaded to the racing world. Once you think you have the hang of things, you can go out to the community, pick a track, and get ready to race against your friends around the corner or competitors around the world. As you win races you earn credits, which you can then redeem for more upgrades and weapons. (You can also buy additional booster packs of cards for swiping through your scanner anytime.) Upgrades can be anything from a new paint job, decals, and rims to weapons like the Ice Blaster, Alien Abductor, and Pigeon Mortar. This set includes a USB card scanner, five digital cards, installation software, and an instruction booklet. The Swypeout website is a safe and fun community experience. They keep things kid-friendly by limiting the words that can be used to create profile names and the phrases racers can send to other drivers. The site is also chock full of battle races, tournament play, statistics, product information, and more. Adult assistance may be needed for initial installation. Not compatible with the Mac OS. System Requirements Windows XP operating system 1.7 GHz Pentium 4 processor 256 MB RAM 2 GB free hard disk space USB port 64 MB video card

Fun Game:
Bought this for my little cousin and he absolutely loves it. He likes to race around and smash into things. I'm not that really into games or computers, but I played it a few times and it was fun. I didn't think it would be for adults, but I really liked it. The weapons are cool and it's nice that it's a little bit cartoonish for the kiddies. We didn't have any problems setting it up with his computer and, like I said before, I am not really into computers. We just plugged it in.

Skip this one:
My son had to have this and spent his birthday money on it. The card reader didn't work. I tried to call customer service three times and was left on hold for quite some time, never actually getting someone to talk to. I tried the corporate office and was sent to someone's voicemail. I do not usually write reviews but had to on this one. Skip this toy - it's going into the trash - what a waste of money!

Would be fun if it worked!:
This seems like a great toy. My son would have loved if it had worked. We tried to load it multiple times on 2 different computers. Then we got a replacement and was able to load the game but could not get it to race. It was very dissappointing to my son. It looked really cool...but he was let down twice! I would not waste your money trying this game out!

Worst user experience ever!:
Absolute junk. Avoid it at all costs. If someone gives you one, return it unopened. Seriously, the disappointment you'll see in the eyes of the recipient of this useless hunk of plastic & cardboard will bring tears to your eyes. Unless you're cruel, and you give it to that nephew that you don't like much. The experience start with a visit to the web site to get the installer. "You need javascript and flash", you're told. Fine, except that I happen to have flash installed and javascript enabled. Well, that's OK - let's try the link that says "Download Swypeout". You'd think that might work right? Of course not. "Server not found". Luckily, there's a CD in the package. Let's try that. Ha ha, you eternal optimist you. Pick the "Default Install". Hey, maybe this thing will work! "Uninstall Complete". Uh, sorry, weren't we installing? Never mind that, let's see if there's anything installed. Oh look, we have an icon for the program! Double click, and hope for the best. You held onto your bubble stocks until they were worthless, didn't you? There's a brief flash, then an error: You need an upgrade, but your computer isn't hooked to the internet! Bet you didn't know that, did you? Except that it is, and so you're only option at this point is to go to amazon and try to warn others away. But don't worry. If this company isn't bankrupt now, it will be shortly.