Light Up Your Creativity With EA's Lite-Brite

Electronic Arts has teamed up with Hasbro to bring one of their most enjoyed children's toys to the iOS platform. LITE-BRITE for iPhone and iPod touch takes the classic toy, which uses colored, semi-transparent pegs illuminated by a backlight to create vibrant and unique artwork, and brings it into a much more efficient and portable package. LITE-BRITE was released back in the '60s. The product was a hollow metal enclosure with a black perforated front. Inside was a regular incandescent light bulb. You could use a blank sheet of black paper or one that had a pre-designed image to it. You'd attach the black paper to the perforated front surface. Those designed to have images would have a bunch of small white letters on them, corresponding to basic colors. The object was to use different colored, semi-transparent plastic pegs and 'punch' through the paper on the letters with the indicated color. The end result would be a simple, colorfully lit image. EA's reconstructed digital version of LITE-BRITE updates this classic to a much cheaper, convenient and portable form. No need to keep purchasing special paper templates, no need to use extra power, no need to move around and store an extra toy, and no need to locate an AC outlet -- unless your iDevice is running low, of course. LITE-BRITE for iPhone and iPod touch features cool animations and graphics, fun sounds, twenty templates (images), Time Attack and free draw modes for templates, a free draw mode, plenty of colored peg choices with many more unlockable ones, undo and redo, LITE-BRITE backlight on and off, iPod integration, and the ability to share your final creations with Facebook, email, or to your Camera Roll. Controls are easy but can get a little clumsy when you're trying to rush in the timed mode. Access and change your peg color, options, and tools by tapping on the small indicator at the bottom left. 'Punch' pegs in by tapping your finger on a hole or letter, or using a swiping motion to insert multiple pegs. Tap on an already inserted peg to remove it. Pinch and un-pinch to zoom out and in. Two finger simultaneously swipe to pan around a zoomed screen. That's really all there is to it. Definitely a classic that's fun for all ages. LITE-BRITE is available in the App Store with a nearly unbeatable price tag of $.99. [gallery link="file" columns="4"]

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