G-Ken

[GbH]

I see news of the G-Ken has appeared on the BKA site today - http://www.goodsfromjapan.com/product/product-details.php?pID=0&cID=187&pdID=1260

So, does anyone own one of these yet?  If so, are the actually fun to use?

[The Void]

Looby has a DigiKen, which I've had a brief play with. It's over-sized, and feels chunky, yet also light (especially the ball). The G-Ken looks (from watching that video) nearer to the size of a competition kendama, but still a touch larger.

When I played with it, we hadn't quite worked out how to set the different modes (or exactly what they were), but the "follow the leader" mode required a little concentration. Certainly nowhere near the satisfying 'feel' of using the wooden toy. I believe Looby worked the modes out in the end, so he can probably elaborate.

Im not sure if I'd recommend a purchase (especially if shipping one from the US to Europe), but if you're curious and have a couple of tenners burning a hole in your pocket, then maybe.

[GbH]

A couple of days ago, I got the chance to acquire one of the new(?) G-Ken electronic kendamas.  Having been aware of the existence of the older Digiken models, yet never actually seen one, I was quite intrigued to see how it might work and whether it would be at all interesting to experienced kendama enthusiasts.
Once out of its sizeable packing, the G-Ken itself turns out to be roughly similar in shape to a standard competition kendama, although it is slightly larger.  As for weight, it's slightly heavier than a SunRise 2, but lighter than a Mugen, if that's of any help.  The string can only be threaded on one side, but as the big and small cups are very similar in size, it probably won't make a lot of difference to most people.  Actually, a spare string is included in the packaging - you have to unscrew a little side plate to actually change it.

Both the ken and the tama are made from transparent plastic and each have their own battery pack hidden within.  Within each section are various lights which flash on and off, according to what you're doing.  Also, the ken contains a small speaker, which emits beeps, tunes and a voice will sometime bark status and encouragement messages at you.  Surprisingly, the spoken text is in English.  The battery compartments have little tabs sticking out, which is slightly annoying, but doesn't seem to get in the way too much.  The ken functions by having mechanical sensors in each of the three cups, whilst the spike has clever little sensor wings at its base.  Sadly, anyone hoping for an electronic response when trying Birds, Slip Grips Specials and the like are going to be disappointed, as there are obviously no sensors for that.  Actually, beyond the basic four positions, the G-Ken really isn't really a lot of use, as it's generally too slippy for other positions to work well.  The instructions do seem to demonstrate the lighthouse position, but I had trouble even just putting it in a lighthouse using my hand.  I'm not sure how sturdy the whole thing is - I'd suggest that doing spacewalks over concrete would not be a good plan!

For the electronics, there are three buttons on the ken, all flush with the edge.  One is simply an on/off switch, whilst the others deal with mode setting and selections respectively.  Instructions are supplied which break down how it all works - but they're almost entirely in Japanese.   So, I've had to take a guess at what it all does.

As far as I can tell, there are five separate modes of operation - Melody Mode, Moshi Kame Mode, Challenge Mode, G-Kente (or something that sounds like that!) Mode and, finally, something that may or may not be called Step-Hop mode.   Melody Mode just requires you to land tricks in order to play each note of a melody.  If you complete the melody, it gives a little victory jingle.  There are several different melodies, if you can figure out how to select them.  Moshi Kame mode just seems to make noises when you do moshi kame - I'm probably missing something here!  Challenge mode give you the chance to select from 12 different tricks, ranging from a simple pull up into big cup to Around The World.  Again, I might be missing something, but this one isn't greatly interesting if you already know all of the tricks.  G-Kente mode (or, whatever it's really supposed to be!) is good, though.  You have to do the same 12 tricks as in Challenge mode, but in sequence.  If you mess one up (no second chances...), you have to start again.  Get to the end and you get another victory jingle.  Finally, erm, Step-Hop mode seems to play a background rhythm, whilst you jam around making various noises.  If you stick with it, the noises seem to change.  Maybe, as ever, I'm missing something more here?  I suspect that there might still be a bit more to figure out. 

Of these, I guess it's the (ahem...) G-Kente mode that will offer the most interest.  Although the tricks are firmly in the 'basic' category, it's still a reasonable challenge to get through them all intact.  Of course, there's nothing stopping you imposing furthing rules to make it more challenging still.   For instance, you could do it just in sara grip, or with your weak hand, or in the dark, perhaps?

So, would you like to see one in action?  To demonstrate, I filmed my butler, Arthur, attempting to complete the G-Kente challenge :0) .  You can see it at:



So, what do I think?  Well, for anyone that plays kendama regularly, this is only ever likely to be a curiosity, rather than something that you'll use and practice with regularly.  I could see beginners and children (what??? children playing with a kendama!!!) getting a lot out of it, though, and it does encourage the development of basic skills that should transfer accross to traditional models.  Although it obviously feels a bit different from a regular wooden model, it's actually close enough to enable you to use at least some of your skills comfortably and interchangably.  I've certainly played with non-electronic models that are much worse.   Occasionally, one of the sensors won't trigger immediately, so you have to give the unit a little wiggle to get it going.  Also, if you jerk the ken around too much, you can sometime trigger a sensor without landing anything on it.  But generally, though, the sensor system actually does work reasonably well.  Obviously, it's a shame that the instructions aren't also in English - particularly as English is used on and within the device itself.  As such, I do suspect that I'm missing at least some of what it can offer.

Anyhow, should you buy one?  If you're a beginner and the idea of it appeals to you, then I think you'll enjoy it.  Also, I guess it's something that collectors will enjoy owning and I guess that there may be occasions when even walk-about entertainers might be able to get some value from it.  Just don't expect it to be any kind of replacement for your proper competition model though, nor something that is going to give an advanced player a challenge, because it sure isn't that.


Guy

[The Void]

Nice one Guy. Cheers for the review, and it's nice to see Arthur is as up for a challenge as ever.
Hopefully someone will be able to clear up the details of the other modes at some point.

[AlexSmith]

Nice review, it actually moved the G-ken up from a 'silly novelty' to something that may be worth spending a few dollars on, just for the fun of it.

I admit rather than wishing the instructions were in English I would like to have the g-ken bark at me in Japanese (though I wouldn understand a word of it :p)

[sunnyD]

Arthur needs to go on holiday and chill with some old friends.....
Perfect place for the Gkente-mode and and an innocent game of pass the parcel using the Gken then doing the trick.
Darkness, a little alcohol and a bunch of friends make this thing work when other kendamas fail.