The Neocube
The Neocube
This is a collection of 216 miniature magnetic spheres called “The Neocube.“ It makes a 6 x 6 x 6 cube as pictured, and the set also includes 8 extra spare magnets that form a 2 x 2 x 2 sphere. Its tagline is “the future of puzzles.” However, it’s actually a novel (and superb) stress relief/construction toy, since there is no clear objective. Various shapes that can be formed are shown on the website.
It’s spawned at least one imitator: the Zoomdoggle Buckyballs, named after the hollow spherical carbon molecules, just happens to be 216 miniature magnetic spheres. However, the Buckyballs don’t have the 8 spare balls, the instructions, and are $10 more expensive ($30, vs. $20 for the Neocube). What it does have is a carrying case, and no cheesy video of a woman dancing to a Neocube techno song (see the Neocube site).
You an also purchase 100 miniature magnetic spheres for $8 from Deal Extreme in Hong Kong. I’m not sure they are nearly as strong, since the picture doesn’t show them in the types of shapes formed by the Neocube or Buckyballs. What’s amazing is that Deal Extreme offers free international shipping, even for their items that are around $2.
I got a Neocube for my cousins 2 Christmases ago, and they really enjoyed playing with it.
