There's a little known feature out at The Star in Frisco that begs for more attention: The video screens on the west side of the Tostitos Championship Plaza are interactive.
That's right, you can play video games out there at the world headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys.
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First up is the QB Challenge, which tests how far you throw the ball. Just line up with the camera mounted above the screen, wave your arm and follow the directions. John Keating, an avid football fan and Frisco City Council member who clued us in to the screens, launched an impressive 54.3-yard pass.
Fellow council member Brian Livingston tested out the next level. The target practice requires a bit more skill, though. Keep practicing, Livingston.
Another video board offers the RB Chase. "Think you can be the Cowboys' next running back?" the screen asks. Players must dodge between cones and other obstacles, racking up points as they collect Cowboy stars on their way toward the finish line.
If you're nervous, don't be. Coach Jason Garrett appears on-screen after a test run with some encouragement. "Great job. You got this!" he says.
A third screen offers a timed trivia challenge. You better know your 'Boys, though: The questions aren't for the casual fan.
The fourth interactive screen lets you plot your hometown on the Cowboys Fan Map, which at last check had 1,478,887 fans hailing from 71 countries. You also get to vote for your favorite Cowboys player of all time as well as your current favorite player.
The video boards have been up since last fall but don't seem to get much use. Fans streaming out of the Ford Center on Monday after training camp practice didn't give them a second look.
Leaderboards for the interactive games are still blank. That feature -- part of the mobile app for The Star -- hasn't been activated yet.
I took a turn with the running game, then gladly stepped aside to watch some pros. Ty Ingram, Austin Arbelaez and Finn Cupps play for the Red Raiders in an Arlington football league. And at 7 years old, the trio knows a thing or two about video games. They ducked out of school early to come to Monday's Cowboys practice with their coach, David Arbelaez, who had nothing but good things to say about their afternoon at the one-of-a-kind development that's home to the NFL team.
How 'bout them Cowboys.
