Anki DRIVE: The Next Level in Car Racing Games

The upcoming release of Anki DRIVE has stirred up some excitement among progressive gameheads, car lovers and video geeks alike. Combining man’s first loves (with the exception of food), Anki has managed to marry cars, games and tech into one smartphone app-operated, electric-powered motorcar racing game. Developed by PhD-level robotics students at Carnegie Mellon (Boris Sofman, Mark Palatucci and Hanns Tappeiner), Anki Drive is where artificial intelligence meets slot-car racing. The game starter kit at $199 USD consists of two speedy cars and a 102-inch wide by 42-inch long by .02-inch deep vinyl racing track that is easily portable. Each additional car costs $69 USD each. Anki’s cars are the work of Harald Belker whose designs number among the ’90s Batmobiles and automobiles in Minority Report, TRON: Legacy and Total Recall (2012). The four models have different traits that can evolve with play, just like characters in an RPG. The cars are controlled using a free iOS app compatible with the iPhone (4S or later), iPad (third generation or later) and iPod touch (third generation or later). Find out more at Anki.