DigiBLAST Kids' Game Handheld Announces Plans

Author: by David Jenkins, Simon Carless

New details have been released regarding the hitherto obscure Australian-developed digiBLAST kids' game handheld, which was designed by Grey Innovation and is intended to target the European childrens' market. Now, due to a deal with British firm Vivid Imaginations, Dutch company Nikko and GP Group, according to newspaper The Australian, the Linux-based handheld, which includes an optional add-on MP3 player and 1.3 megapixel camera, will sell 200,000 units into Europe this Christmas season, at a price point of 79 euros ($92). The digiBLAST will ship alongside licensed games such as Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4, Pitfall, X-Men, Spider-Man, and Rayman 3, as well as video cartridges for the Sonic X and SpongeBob SquarePants television shows, and also comes with the ability to hook the handheld up to a television and play games and watch video on a bigger screen. Grey Innovation also plans to ship the handheld in America at a later date for a price point of $89.95, and managing director Jefferson Harcourt commented to The Australian: "This occupies a slightly different segment of the market (than PlayStation)... It's cheaper than the Game Boy Advance and it appeals to a slightly younger age group. There was a hole in the market."