{"id":6274,"date":"2024-03-25T21:47:57","date_gmt":"2024-03-26T02:47:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/?p=6274"},"modified":"2024-03-25T21:47:57","modified_gmt":"2024-03-26T02:47:57","slug":"review-wowcube-space-invaders-cubed-edition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/2024\/03\/25\/review-wowcube-space-invaders-cubed-edition\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: WOWCube Space Invaders Cubed edition"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_6275\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-diagnostic-mode-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6275\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-6275\" src=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-diagnostic-mode-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-diagnostic-mode-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-diagnostic-mode-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-diagnostic-mode-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-diagnostic-mode-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-diagnostic-mode-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-diagnostic-mode-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-diagnostic-mode-120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-6275\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">WOW Cube Diagnostic mode &#8211; possibly the coolest screensaver.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>This was a pre-order that I paid $249 for on 6\/6\/2022 [For the WowCube System Starter Pack].<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/6ZEVIjRVies?si=dbE89j4HXg6QsUc4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>In the two years since, they had shipped some cubes, had some issues, got some feedback, and went to a lot of trade shows.<\/p>\n<p>Now it looks like they have taken delivery of a big batch of cubes and are starting to deliver. They &#8220;upgraded&#8221; me to the Space Invaders Cubed edition (I suspect this is the only edition they are currently producing, or have stock in.) and I paid my $19.75 shipping fee on March 3rd 2024 and it was delivered on March 8th 2024. (Yep, 21 months later&#8230;.hey, at least I got it&#8230;I&#8217;m looking at you Peachy Printer, CST, and Yomee yogurt Kickstarters&#8230;.)<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>I am happy\/impressed with the hardware. The cube looks and works relatively well. [The only issue I have is that the accelerometer based &#8220;tap detection&#8221; requires you to hit the cube harder than I&#8217;d like&#8230;]<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_6279\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-aquarium-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6279\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-6279\" src=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-aquarium-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-aquarium-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-aquarium-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-aquarium-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-aquarium-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-aquarium-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-aquarium-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-aquarium-120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-6279\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Aquarium screensaver<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The software appears to be solid, but basic. [There are 24 screens, but I could only find 5 widgets I wanted to add to the cube&#8230;] They have enough games and applications so the app store doesn&#8217;t feel barren, but it&#8217;s not yet a thriving ecosystem. And due to the 3 screens per module, 8 modules per cube, and custom OS&#8230;.every piece of software has to be written specifically for the cube.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_6277\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-widgets.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6277\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-6277\" src=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-widgets-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-widgets-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-widgets-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-widgets-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-widgets-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-widgets-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-widgets-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-widgets-120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-6277\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">4 of the 5 widgets I installed. (21 screens to go!)<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The charging bases have issues. They include two in the pack, and one of mine has already broken. Apparently you are not supposed to slide the switch from &#8220;charge&#8221; to &#8220;store\/reboot&#8221; while the green light is on (Everyone got an email about that about 5 days after one of mine broke&#8230;I&#8217;m not sure if that was why it broke, but it sure could have been&#8230;) I&#8217;ve seen them make an announcement about a &#8220;new improved&#8221; charging base with a &#8220;reboot button&#8221; (instead of a slider switch), so perhaps that will get fixed in the future.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_6276\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-steamcubes-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6276\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-6276\" src=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-steamcubes-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-steamcubes-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-steamcubes-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-steamcubes-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-steamcubes-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-steamcubes-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-steamcubes-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-steamcubes-120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-6276\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Steam Pipes game<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Do I recommend you order one? At the current $500+ price point, only if you are rich and don&#8217;t have something better to do with your money. At $250 (in 2022 dollars) +20 S&amp;H I&#8217;m happy to have one to play with, but it is definitely a toy \/ collectable display piece.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-timer-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-6278\" src=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-timer-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Timer application\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-timer-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-timer-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-timer-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-timer-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-timer-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-timer-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/wowcube-timer-120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>As an engineering marvel, it&#8217;s very cool, and a unique piece of computing hardware I&#8217;m happy to own, but from a cost benefit analysis, a Nintendo Switch or Oculus 2 will give you much more entertainment for your bucks. [And possibly be less fragile?]<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3PDdAcb\">WowCube Store on Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n<p>WowCube main website: <a href=\"https:\/\/wowcube.com\/\">https:\/\/wowcube.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This was a pre-order that I paid $249 for on 6\/6\/2022 [For the WowCube System Starter Pack]. In the two years since, they had shipped some cubes, had some issues, got some feedback, and went to a lot of trade &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/2024\/03\/25\/review-wowcube-space-invaders-cubed-edition\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6274","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6274","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6274"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6274\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6280,"href":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6274\/revisions\/6280"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6274"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6274"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6274"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}