We're going to do something a little different on the blog today. Normally, I reserve this space for people who are already pretty Myachi-savvy; we talk about new series, new tricks, strategy for various Myachi games, new developments in the Myachi Movement, etc. But today I'm going to be writing for a different audience. Today I'll be talking to those people who aren't familiar with the game and are, perhaps, hearing about it for the first time.
We've been getting a ton of calls recently at HQ from parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents who want to buy Myachis for their kids, nieces, nephews or grandchildren, but they aren't sure what to buy. We figured we could help these enlightened shoppers quite a bit by addressing some of the most frequently asked questions we've been hearing on those calls.
If, after reading the buying guide below, you still have some unanswered questions, fear not. We have Myachi experts waiting to help you at HQ from 9-5 est at (516) 801-4949 so feel free to call us or email us at orders@myachi.com and we'll help you pick out the perfect gift for the Myachi lover in your life.
So without further ado, here are the eight most frequently asked questions:
What is the right age for Myachi?
When you see someone throwing down with a Myachi, it's logical to wonder if the if it might be too advanced for the young athlete in your life. But the beauty of Myachi is that there are challenges for all ages and all levels of coordination. There are tricks that the younger kids can learn and have fun with, but there are also plenty of tricks to challenge a veteran juggler.
Obviously, there is a lower age limit on the game. Children under the age of six generally lack the coordination to learn the tricks, but even an athletic five year old can have fun tossing and catching with an older sibling or mom and dad.
We recommend Myachi for anyone 6 and up. There is no upper limit here, as the game is popular with a lot of college kids and makes a great office game (and stress reliever) as well. It's a great gift for those hard to buy for ages that are too old for traditional toys but not too old to play.
Is it a game for boys and girls?
In a way, I hate this question, but I suppose I understand it. Most games and toys do seem to break down on a gender basis and even within the industry toys are often referred to as "Boy's toys" and "Girl's toys". I suppose this is appropriate for some toys, but I've always felt like fun is fun regardless of your gender.
That being said, Myachi is a great game for anyone who is active or in need of more coordination. While the game tends to be more popular with boys, there are thousands of female Myachi Maniacs out there as well. The best determination of whether someone will like Myachi is their existing hobbies. If they're athletic or enjoy skill toys like yo-yo, Fushigi and frisbee, odds are that they will really enjoy a Myachi in their stocking.
What should I buy for someone new to the game?
Many people are looking for the perfect gift for a Myachi fanatic, and we'll talk about some great gift ideas for them, but what about the person who hasn't seen the game before? Many a Myachi shopper is concerned that even if the game is awesomely fun (and it is), that doesn't matter if they don't know what it is. What if they open it and don't know how to have fun with it?
Luckily, between the Myachi website and the numerous instructional videos on You-Tube, it's remarkably easy to find good info on how to play the game. That being said, the easiest way to get into the game is through our official Myachi instructional DVD. It breaks the game down, shows you how to do dozens of tricks (starting easy and slowly upping the difficulty) and even shows a couple of the different Myachi "disciplines", ways to use the game to improve your sports-skills.
For people new to the game, we recommend the Myachi 2-pack, which includes the instructional DVD. It gives you everything you need to get started and includes a second Myachi so that you can get a friend into the game, work on complex doubles tricks or have a spare in case the first one winds up on the roof somewhere. The 2-pack retails for $9.99 and you can find them by clicking here.
What should I buy for someone who already has a Myachi?
The Myachi Movement has been going strong for over a decade now and many of the kids who got into the game early are now adults that are still into the game now. The never-ending series of challenges that Myachi provides makes it a game that you don't discard after a few days. Many Myachi Maniacs play for years. So what if you're looking for a gift for somebody who loves Myachi, but you don't want to just buy them another Myachi?
Luckily, this year we have the answer for you. Brand new in 2012, the Myachi Battle Paddles are the latest, greatest addition to the Myachi family. They take the game to the next level by allowing you to do long distance and big air catches that turn the game into more of a team sport. At the same time, they'll make some of the hardest tricks in the game far easier to master.
For people who are already fans of the game and already have one or more Myachis, we recommend the Myachi Battle Paddles. They're super adjustable and designed to fit hand big and small so the same pair can be used by a 16 year old, a 10 year old or a 6 year old. They come in packs of two so that two friends can play together and include an exclusive Myachi, available only in the Battle Paddle pack. The Battle Paddle Set retails for $19.99 and you can find them by clicking here.
What should I buy for a Myachi collector?
In many ways, this is the most difficult question to answer. Myachis make a great, inexpensive gift for anybody who doesn't have a Myachi, but what if you're buying for somebody who already has not just one Myachi, but a bunch of them? How can you be sure that you aren't buying them something they already have?
Well, obviously one way is to get a list of the Myachis they have and comb through the "Retired Sacks" section of our online store (which you can reach by clicking here) until you find one that they don't have. This is effective, but it's pretty time consuming and it requires an easily accessible list of all the Myachis in your collectors collection.
Another great option is to check out our new line of "Wacky Sacks". These limited edition sacks are must-haves for collectors and since there were only 150 of each design made, there's a pretty strong chance that your favorite Myachi Maniac doesn't have them yet and won't have many more opportunities to pick them up. So, for that reason, for Myachi collectors, we recommend the new Wacky Sack series. You can find all the choices by clicking here, and you can pick one up for only $10.
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| One of the many cool designs of the limited edition Myachi "Wacky Sacks" |
Where can I find a particular Rare Myachi?
Many Myachi Maniacs have their eyes on a particular rare Myachi and they can drive their parents, grandparents and various loved ones crazy looking for some of them. Unfortunately, many of the rare Myachis that every collector wants are all but impossible to buy at this point. Many of them were retired as much as a decade ago and they have long since sold out.
I recently received a desperate email from the mother of a Myachi Maniac who presented me with a list of incredibly rare sacks that I don't even have in my personal collection and I had to tell her that there was no way I was aware of to find any of them.
Sometimes rare Myachis show up on E-Bay and sometimes you can find them at locally owned toy stores that have them from years ago, but if your favorite Myachi player is looking for a really rare Myachi, there may be no way to satisfy that request. Feel free to contact Pinky at the Myachi home office at (516) 801-4949 to find out if the retired sack they want is still available for mail order, but be forewarned that of the several hundred Myachis that collectors are looking for at any time, only a handful will be available.
Can I get a discount if I buy several?
Myachis make great stocking stuffers and good office gifts for people trying to stretch their budget. At just $5, a Myachi is a perfect gift for almost anyone on almost any budget. But if you're trying to stretch those dollars a little further (and who isn't?), consider making a bulk purchase and crossing a bunch of names off the list at once.
Both the Myachi Original Handsack and the new Myachi Battle Paddles are available on the website with steep discounts for large orders. You can check out some of our deals by clicking here and if you'd like to buy more, feel free to call our Headquarters at (516) 801-4949 for a quote.
Is Myachi a good gift for an adult?
In the interest of full disclosure, I should remind everyone that I'm a paid employee of Myachi and one of the company's founding members, so I'm not exactly going to recommend against getting a Myachi for anyone, but the fact that I am an adult and speak from experience should also count for something.
Everybody wants something to play with on Christmas morning. When we outgrow toys, we start hoping for complex electronic gadgets or games. Sure, we all appreciate a practical gift like a new hat or a warm pair of gloves, but once all the presents are opened, it's nice to have something fun to goof around with amidst the rising tides of spent wrapping paper. And what better toy than something that the whole family can play together?
Remember, it's not the we quit playing with toys when we get old, it's that we get old when we quit playing with toys.
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Happy Holidays from the whole Myachi team. May you find yourself warm and safe and surrounded by people that love you.
this might be my favorite blog post in a while!
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