G-Spot

Star Treatment

by Phil the Gadget Guy

I've got movies on my mind.

The 16 films that make up the Deep Focus Film Festival rule the roost at the Arena Grand Theatre this weekend. Then, what's sure to be the blockbuster movie of the summer—Spider-Man 3—debuts May 4.

When I watch a movie, many times I can see myself in the lead role. Take Spider-Man 3, for instance—I can see myself writing a gadget column for the Daily Bugle rather than Alive. I can imagine Joseph "Robbie" Robertson, editor-in-chief at the Daily Bugle, being every bit the mentor as our own editor Brian Lindamood here at Alive.

Frankly, I can see myself hiding my identity under the red and blue Spider-Man costume and jumping from building to building. I can absolutely visualize taking out a bad guy or two.

This isn't some hallucination I'm talking about. I simply send my name, photo and $39.95 to kideo.com for my very own "I Am The Amazing Spider-Man" 26-minute DVD. Kideo.com, a division of PixFusion, then produces a personalized cartoon adventure with my likeness as the character under the mask battling such villains as Lizard and Electro.

Make one for your child or the child within you. Or you can be the cool uncle by making one for other kids in your family.

The quality of the production is surprisingly good. You can see a sample video clip at kideo.com.

Kideo can also make personalized DVDs that establish you as a cartoon co-star to such drawn-out heavyweights as Dora the Explorer, the Care Bears, Arthur or as a musical character joining the cast of Baby Genius in some very famous nursery rhymes.

PixFusion doesn't stop at their Kideo video line. The company also offers personalized phone calls.

Through a deal with Nickelodeon, Dora the Explorer or SpongeBob can call your favorite youngster on his or her birthday.

Through a deal with Sesame Street, Elmo can call your favorite toddler to celebrate the first time he or she goes to the "potty" all by themselves (no kidding—hear it at kideo.com/other.asp in Elmo's own words).

Through a deal with Mattel, even Barbie will take the time from her busy day to call with a holiday song.

When it's time to shine the spotlight on you or a loved one, kideo.com has the right technology to create a "star."

Got a gadget question or a high-tech toy to recommend? E-mail gspot@columbusalive.com

April 19th, 2007