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On Mon, Jul 07, 2003 at 03:20:34PM -0700, Ed Skinner wrote:

> McDonald's Happy Meals now come with a real-live video game.
>=20
> Unfortunately, my grandaughter snatched hers back when I started
> trying to unscrew the back of hers with my car keys so I can't tell
> you too much of what's inside. But there's a tiny LCD (64x64?) with
> a clear plastic "color" overlay, two buttons for "up" and "down" and
> a power switch on the back (but no compartment door to replace the
> battery).

I just thought that I would point out that the LCD is not a 64x64
grid display.  It is a 5x5 (approximately, I haven't counted) display
featuring graphics for the elements instead of pixels.

I am not sure exactly how they implement the game, but I would guess
(based on the games) that they designed a simple electronic circuit
with a very basic concept of state (i.e., no computing power or
anything resembling a processor).  In other words, no hopes of porting
Linux. :-P

They are very similar to the fantastic Tiger Electronics games I used
to buy when I was younger.  I am not exactly sure why the battery is
not user serviceable, but it irks me on the "everything shouldn't be
disposable" level.

I would be extremely surprised if these units cost more than $0.75
apiece when manufactured in bulk.  I will agree, though.  Much fancier
than what I grew up with. :-)

--=20
                                                           Voltage Spike
      ,,,
     (. .)
--ooO-(_)-Ooo--

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