Frequently asked questions

Games

• I want to install new games on my Swinxs
  If you would like to install games on your Swinxs, you must connect your Swinxs to the website. Follow the steps below:
  
  1) Turn on your Swinxs by pressing the white button on your Swinxs for one second. You will hear your Swinxs switch on.
  
  2) Connect your Swinxs to your computer using the USB cable provided. The first time you do this, the SwinxsLink software will be downloaded, and will be installed on your computer. If the SwinxsLink software has been installed successfully, you will see the Swinxs-shaped SwinxsLink icon at the bottom right of your screen in the System tray.
  
  3) As soon as the SwinxsLink icon turns green, the website will be opened and your personal homepage will appear. You can use this page to manage your Swinxs, and add music or games, for example.
  
  These tips might also be relevant:

  • How can I install music on my Swinxs?
  • Installing SwinxsLink
  • Why do I need SwinxsLink?
• What does the ‘recycle’ icon mean?
  On the overview link on the ‘My Swinxs’ page, you can also add games or update existing ones. You will recognise games for which an update is available by their grey ‘recycle’ icon.
• Not enough space for a new game
  If you don’t have enough space on your Swinxs, you should first check to see if there are languages installed that you’re not using. Swinxs comes equipped standard with several languages, and normally you only use one.
  
  To delete languages, first connect your Swinxs to your computer. In the menu item 'edit your profile' on your personal Swinxs page (My Swinxs), you will find an overview of the languages available on your Swinxs. You may add or delete languages here.
• How do I select a game on my Swinxs?
  The fastest way to select a game is to press the red button for one second. Swinxs will then list all of the games that may be played with the players who have signed on. If Swinxs mentions a game that you would like to play, press the green button. If you press and hold the red button, Swinxs will suggest the next game.
  
  A minimum number of players applies to some games. Relay, for example, is only possible with four or more players. Most of the games also have a maximum number of players. In order to know the minimum or maximum number of players for a game, connect your Swinxs to your computer. This will allow you to see the number of players required for the games you have installed.
  
  If you have the Swinxs basic cards and you have installed one or more card games on your Swinxs, you may select a card game by holding a Basic card in front of the Swinxs. Each time you hold a Basic card in front of the Swinxs, you will hear the next card game. Press the green button to start the game. If you press the red button, Swinxs will list the regular games.
  
  This tip might also be relevant:

  • Choosing a card game
• Choosing a card game
  Switch on your Swinxs the way you normally would, by pressing the white button for one second. Next, the players must each hold their XS in front of the Swinxs to sign on. To choose a card game, hold a Basic card in front of the Swinxs. You can start the card game by pushing the green button. If you want to hear the next card game quickly, hold a Basic card in front of the Swinxs again.
  
  Some card games are only offered for a minimum number of players. For example, you need at least two players for the Animal Battle game. Swinxs will only suggest those games for which enough players have signed on.
  
  This tip might also be relevant:

  • How do I select a game on my Swinxs?
• How can I install music on my Swinxs?
  Connect your Swinxs to your computer. You can add or delete music files via 'The personal Swinxs page'. Under the item 'Music', you can see how many music files you already have on your Swinxs. By pushing the 'Add music' button, you will see a user dialogue box where you can select a music file.
  
  Some games such as Tag use the music files you have on your Swinxs. You can always play your music via the Jukebox ‘game’.
  
  Under the item 'Music', you can see how many music files you already have on your Swinxs. By pushing the 'Add music' button, you will see a user dialogue box where you can select a music file.
  
  This tip might also be relevant:

  • I want to install new games on my Swinxs
• Can I create games for the Swinxs myself?
  Yes, you can! Download the SwinxsSDK. This (English) Software Developers Kit is used to develop all of the Swinxs games. There is a special site for developers containing short films, tutorials and a forum.

Using Swinxs

• I would like to use Swinxs outside. Is this possible?
  Yes, this is possible. Just make sure that Swinxs can’t get wet. It is better not to use Swinxs outdoors during bad weather conditions, with a chance of rain or snow, for example. Also make sure that the area is safe. Always ask your parents/guardians if Swinxs is in a safe location.
• Switching Swinxs on
  Normally, all you have to do is press and hold the white button on your Swinxs for a few seconds.
  
  If this doesn’t work, the following might help:
  
  - First turn the Swinxs off manually by pushing the red and white buttons simultaneously, holding them for eight seconds;
  
  - Connect the Swinxs to the power supply (supplied with Swinxs), wait a few minutes, and try to switch the Swinxs on again while it's still connected to the power supply. If your Swinxs does switch on now, then the battery was apparently flat.
  
  These tips might also be relevant:

  • Shutting Swinxs off
  • How long can you play with the Swinxs?
• Shutting Swinxs off
  Normally, to switch Swinxs off, all you have to do is press and hold the white button for a few seconds. The light will be white and you can release the button.
  
  If this doesn’t work, you can always switch the Swinxs off manually. Do this by pressing the red and white button at the same time and holding them for about eight seconds.
  
  This tip might also be relevant:

  • Switching Swinxs on
• How long can you play with the Swinxs?
  If the batteries are fully charged, you should be able to play with Swinxs for two hours uninterrupted. In practice however, you can usually play with the Swinxs for four hours and sometimes even longer.
  
  When you charge the Swinxs’ batteries, make sure that the Swinxs stays connected to the power supply for at least 12 hours to ensure the batteries are fully charged. If the Swinxs battery is suddenly flat, you can always continue to play by connecting the adapter provided.
  
  There are no batteries in the XS wristbands. The reason for this is that the RFID technology used for these does not require batteries.
• Connecting Swinxs using the cable
  The Swinxs comes with a USB cable. Insert the flat plug (A connector) into your computer and the squarer plug (B connector) into your Swinxs.
• I would like Swinxs to speak a different language.
  You may set the language Swinxs speaks as follows:
  1) Make sure that your Swinxs is switched off.
  2) Press the white button to switch Swinxs on.
  3) As soon as Swinxs starts making sounds, press the red button, keeping it pressed until you hear the language selections.
  You should be able to set the language Swinxs speaks now. Swinxs explains how to do this.
  
  You must have at least two languages set for Swinxs, otherwise you will first have to download the desired language from the website.
  
  This tip might also be relevant:

  • I want to install new games on my Swinxs
• Do you need a computer to use the Swinxs?
  No, Swinxs works fine even if it’s never been connected to a computer. However, if you would like to install your own music or other (free) games on your Swinxs, you must connect it to a computer.
  
  These tips might also be relevant:

  • I want to install new games on my Swinxs
  • How can I install music on my Swinxs?
  • Installing SwinxsLink
  • Why do I need SwinxsLink?

XS wristbands and players

• What is the maximum number of players for playing a game ?
  This depends on the game. Most of the games have a maximum of 10 players. Some of them, such as Relay, may even be played with as many as 40 players. On the website, there is an indication of the number of players required for each game.
  
  These tips might also be relevant:

  • Can you play with several XS wristbands of the same colour?
  • Some games are suitable for more players. Where can I get extra XS wristbands?
• Can you play with several XS wristbands of the same colour?
  Yes, this is not a problem. If you play a game with several XS wristbands of the same colour, Swinxs will invent alternative names to prevent confusion. For example, ‘white’ and ‘snow-white’.
  
  The wristbands are available in 10 different colours: Red, green, yellow, blue, orange, grey, pink, purple, white and black.
  
  These tips might also be relevant:

  • Some games are suitable for more players. Where can I get extra XS wristbands?
  • Where can I buy the Swinxs, extra wristbands or the basic cards?
• Some games are suitable for more players. Where can I get extra XS wristbands?
  The extra XS wristbands are for sale in available on our webshop or via various retail outlets. They are sold in sets of three.
  
  These tips might also be relevant:

  • Can you play with several XS wristbands of the same colour?
  • Where can I buy the Swinxs, extra wristbands or the basic cards?

SwinxsLink

• Installing SwinxsLink
  Open a web browser such as Internet Explorer or Firefox and go to the downloads page on www.swinxs.com and follow the instructions you find there.
  
  If SwinxsLink has been installed successfully, connect the Swinxs to your computer, and turn the Swinxs on by pressing the white button. You will then see your personal page for managing your Swinxs.
  
  These tips might also be relevant:

  • Switching Swinxs on
  • Connecting Swinxs using the cable
• Why do I need SwinxsLink?
  SwinxsLink is necessary to install new games on your Swinxs, or add music files. This is a free software program which you can download from the download page and install. As soon as you connect your Swinxs to your computer, SwinxsLink will automatically open the website and will make sure that you can install everything you like to your Swinxs.
  
  This tip might also be relevant:

  • Installing SwinxsLink
• What does the icon colour mean?
  If the SwinxsLink software has been installed successfully, you will see the Swinxs-shaped SwinxsLink icon at the bottom right of your screen in the System tray. This icon will either be grey, red or green.
  
  - Grey means that the SwinxsLink is running, and that Swinxs was not found on your computer;
  - Red means that SwinxsLink has found Swinxs, but hasn't opened the site yet;
  - As soon as the SwinxsLink icon turns green, the website will be opened and your personal homepage will appear. You can use this page to manage your Swinxs, and add music or games, for example.
  
  This tip might also be relevant:

  • SwinxsLink doesn’t recognise my Swinxs
• SwinxsLink doesn’t recognise my Swinxs
  When you have installed the SwinxsLink you will see the Swinxs icon in the taskmenu below right. As soon as you dock your Swinxs and turn it on, SwinxsLink will recognize your Swinxs and open the website for you.
  
  When the SwinxsLink icon remains gray, try the following:
  1) Check whether you have installed the most up to date version of SwinxsLink;
  2) Check whether your Swinxs appears in Windows Explorer as a disk with its own drive letter.
  3) Undock all other USB appliances (except for your mouse and keyboard) and dock your Swinxs directly directly into your computer. Make sure there is no USB hub in between.
  4) Try it on a different computer, it will often work then.
  
  When the SwinxsLink icon turns red that means your Swinxs is recognized but unable to open the website. Possible solutions:
  1) Check whether you are online by for example trying to go to the Swinxs website.
  2) Temporarily turn off your virusscanner, spamfilter and/or firewall to see whether it will work then.
  
  In case none of this works please report this problem to us.
  
  These tips might also be relevant:

  • Connecting Swinxs using the cable
  • Installing SwinxsLink
  • What does the icon colour mean?

Website

• Where can I buy the Swinxs, extra wristbands or the basic cards?
  You can buy the Swinxs, extra wristbands (XS) or the Swinxs basic cards at the better retail toy stores. You may also order the Swinxs via our webshop.

Swinxs Troubleshooter

• If I press the white button, nothing happens. What could be the problem?
  Check to make sure the batteries are charged. Connect your Swinxs to your computer using the USB cable and the charging plug to the power outlet. Charge the batteries for at least one minute. Now try to switch the Swinxs on again.
  
  These tips might also be relevant:

  • Switching Swinxs on
  • Connecting Swinxs using the cable
  • Swinxs is jammed and not responding; what should I do?
• Swinxs is jammed and not responding; what should I do?
  Reset the Swinxs by pressing and holding both the red and white buttons for eight seconds. Wait eight seconds before switching the Swinxs on again with the white button.
  
  These tips might also be relevant:

  • Switching Swinxs on
  • Shutting Swinxs off
• Resetting the Swinxs
  Reset your Swinxs as follows:
  1) Make sure that you have installed the newest version of SwinxsLink ;
  2) Check to see if SwinxsLink has started (if it has, you will see a grey Swinxs icon in the bottom right of the Taskbar);
  3) Switch your Swinxs off;
  4) Connect Swinxs to your computer using the USB cable;
  5) Switch Swinxs on.
  Now you should see the website. Go to your personal settings, and click ‘Reset Swinxs’. Resetting Swinxs will take a little while. You can monitor the progress on the site.
  
  If this does not work on an Apple computer, switch your Swinxs on first before connecting it to your Mac.
  
  If you cannot get your Swinxs to work no matter what you try, contact the retail outlet where you purchased your Swinxs.
  
  These tips might also be relevant:

  • Switching Swinxs on
  • Shutting Swinxs off
  • SwinxsLink doesn’t recognise my Swinxs
• After I switch it on, my Swinxs switches off again
  Use the adapter and connect this to the Swinxs to eliminate the possibility that the battery is the problem:
  
  These tips might also be relevant:

  • Switching Swinxs on
  • Connecting Swinxs using the cable
• The Swinxs sound is pretty low. How can I turn up the volume?
  Turn up the volume on Swinxs by briefly pressing the white button. There are three settings: low, normal and high. The Swinxs speaker is located at the top of the device, under the cover with holes in it. Make sure this cover isn’t covered up.
• What does the colour of the light on top of my Swinxs mean?
  Swinxs uses the light in a variety of ways during games. Usually, the colour has a special significance:
  
  - Flashing green: Swinxs is talking;
  - Flashing dark blue: Swinxs is asleep, shake him to wake him up to continue playing. Swinxs will switch itself off after a little while;
  - Flashing light blue: Swinxs is connected to your computer.
  
  There are also several situations in which Swinxs’ light will not be flashing:
  - Blue when switched on: Swinxs has been switched on, but can’t start up. Reset Swinxs via the website if the light stays blue;
  - White when switched on: Swinxs is starting up, or has just been switched off;
  - Green when switched on: Swinxs is starting up, but the basic files are missing. Reset Swinxs via the website;
  - Red: Swinxs wants to be connected to your computer to download the new system software; follow the instructions on the screen.
  
  These tips might also be relevant:

  • Resetting the Swinxs
  • When I switch on the Swinxs, the light turns blue but nothing happens
• When I switch on the Swinxs, the light turns blue but nothing happens
  If you can’t play with the Swinxs because Swinxs only turns on the blue light during start-up, you must reset the Swinxs via the website.
  
  This tip might also be relevant:

  • Resetting the Swinxs

Do you have a problem or question? Ask us now !