Toys were simple back in the good ol' days. A set of wooden building blocks or an unfurnished doll house were respectable holiday gifts. Heck, even the pet rock somehow managed to become popular. Nowadays, it's technology or nothing -- and if it doesn't run on batteries, your kids probably won't want it.
Disney's AppMATes combines both of those worlds. Inspired by the film Cars 2, AppMATes is an app that turns the screen of your iPad into a virtual mat for toy cars. The app lets you play as a variety of characters from Cars 2; games include racing, collecting items and exploring new territories.
The app is free to download from the iTunes Store. The corresponding set can be purchased from the AppMATes website, and includes a pair of two-inch, plastic cars from the film -- Lightning McQueen and Holley Shiftwell.
You can purchase additional levels to explore through the website, like Tokyo ($2.99), Space Escape ($1.99) and Gridlock ($0.99), among others. Additional car characters can also be purchased for $0.99 or $1.99.
AppMATes is compatible with all iPads with iOS 4 or higher, and is recommended for children four and older.
Price: $22.50
See some gameplay shots in the video below.