Normally all product reviews go through me (the mom behind amomsreview.com) but I wanted a father’s opinion to go along on this one. This Net Jet review is provided by techdaddy and our two little testers, ages 3 & 6.

The NETJET is Hasbro’s latest instant online gaming system for kids.

The NETJET was a breeze to setup. I simply plugged the controller in the USB port and NETJET done the rest. There was no searching for driver cd’s or no punching in long serial numbers. NETJET connects to the internet, then downloads and installs everything you need to get started gaming. It took less than a minute for NETJET to set everything up. After that I was promptly presented with the NETJET online interface full of games, to my surprise there was no ads, no pops, and no spyware.

The interface looks intuitive and sleek. All my games were categorized in easy to read menus, with each game providing a screenshot and a description. I was really impressed with the demos available online. How many systems out there let you test drive every game they offer without paying for them? Many times I have purchased games at retail stores, only to get it home and the game would be absolutely terrible. You don’t have to worry about purchasing a game you don’t like with NETJET. Try it out before and play it a full 30 minutes before you buy it.

Another thing I liked about the interface was that I didn’t have to use my mouse to navigate it. The NETJET uses a proprietary technology called QiGO that allows rapid and seamless communication between the controller and the internet. In simpler terms, I was able to kick back in my recliner and just play. No reaching for a mouse and pressing keys on the keyboard. I didn’t have to get up and change games. The controls and responsiveness during game play was perfect. To change games I simply hit the start button on my controller and exited back to the NETJET Arcade Interface. All my games were contained within the NETJET interface, all accessible with a press of controller button. Below is a screenshot of the NETJET interface.

The NETJET features a classic dogbone style controller with a modern day analog thumb stick built in. I am a fan of the classic style controllers. The feel of the controller resembles the feel of the Super Nintendo NES controller with added analog support. Very comfortable for gameplay!

If you are like me and have young children that enjoy playing games then you need NETJET. No longer will you have to worry about your children scratching up game disks. The games are stored in digital format on your computers hard drive. You can either purchase full versions of deluxe games from the online NETJET interface or you can purchase an access keys at local retailers that are inserted into the NETJET controller that allow you to unlock the full version of the game. The games retail for around $20 dollars each. These access keys look similar to a SD card and can be attached to a key ring. These access keys allow you to download and play your NETJET games from any computer.

There is nice variety of family oriented games available to satisfy all gamers, regardless of age. My 6 year old really enjoys games like Spongebob’s Pizza toss, Fairly Odd Parents Roach Rampage and Shirley’s revenge (A game featuring Jimmy Neutron). As for me, a 30 year old dad, I really enjoy playing games like Minigolf, Peak Performance Snowboarding, Mission Paintball and Kool Kart racing is the absolute blast. None of the games are violent so you don’t have to worry about your kids playing violent video games. There is a wide variety of games from sports to word search puzzles. I am confident every family member will find games they will enjoy. Below you will find a screen shot of me playing Kook Kart Racing.. GREAT GAME!

All the games I have played feature rich and colorful 3d graphics. The games graphics are comparable to games found on a Nintendo 64, Gamecube, Playstation 2, and XBOX consoles. The graphics are not as sharp and detailed as some on newer $400 and $500 dollar systems such as XBOX 360 and Playstation 3. Those systems are targeted more towards adult gamers anyway. Overall, I have to say I was presently surprised with the graphics this little NETJET system pumped out. The price tag of $24.99 is really a bargain. BTW, the sound quality was superb as well.
Since the entire system is contained within the controller it makes for easy portability. My kids take it along with them to their friends and relatives. There is no adult supervision needed when setting it up. My six year old doesn’t have any trouble plugging the controller into the USB port. The system truly is plug and play.To find out more about NETJET, hardware requirements and to view game play videos visit http://www.hasbro.com/tiger/netjet/