Alternative Comic Conference in San Francisco
September 30, 2008 by dungan
Filed under Toy Industry News
Comic-Con International is hosting its annual Alternative Press Conference this year in San Francisco from November 1 – 3. Known affectionately as APE, the conference is widely expected to be the biggest venue in the US for indie comics, graphic novels, zines and original small press art.
This year’s special guests include: Read more
Razor Powerwing Recall Announced
September 29, 2008 by dungan
Filed under Toy Recalls and Safety
Razor has agreed to a voluntary recall of 100,000 of their popular Razor® PowerWing™ Three-Wheeled Scooters last week. The reason for the recall is the apparent laceration hazard on the underside of the scooter due to sharp metal edges.
Toy Hall of Fame Nominees Announced
September 25, 2008 by dungan
Filed under Toy Industry News
The first week of autumn is a signal to start looking back, reminisce over the good ole days, and remember what really matters. And, right on schedule, the Strong National Museum of Play has announced 12 nominees for this years induction into the Toy Hall of Fame.
Only two of the twelve nominees will make the final cut, but they will be in good company with the best toys of all time.
LEGO Batman Video Game Coming Soon
Robin's highlights never looked so.... chunky
The much anticipated video game LEGO Batman will momentarily rest on the shelves on September 28. We say “rest” because the game is widely expected to be a sell-out.
This is the third LEGO series adventure game, so it has some big shoes to fill: LEGO Star WARS and LEGO Indiana Jones. Like these other games, expect some tom-foolery and unexpected hijinks that simultaneously spoof the Batman enterprise and bring it to new vistas. Read more
Webkinz Polar Bear Announced as December Pet of the Month
Ganz has announced that the Webkinz Pet of the Month is the Webkinz Polar Bear. That sounds about right for the chilly holiday season!
So, when you adopt the polar bear, be prepared to win some additional prizes too. These prizes are always kept a secret, but don’t worry: there’s a pet of the month every month.
Melissa and Doug Monster Puppet Ready for Halloween
September 19, 2008 by dungan
Filed under Melissa and Doug
Halloween is getting closer – do you know what your costume is yet? Don’t worry, there’s still plenty of time. But expect things to get downright ghoulish around here for the next two months.
Scare up a puppet that you design!
Snow Tails Boardgame Coming To Shelves Soon
September 18, 2008 by dungan
Filed under Board Games
Popular board games are ones that balance risk, skill, and chance. This “magic bullet” for board games seems to be in order for The Lamont Brothers’ upcoming release: Snow Tails.
The game is for ages 12 and up, and playing time averages 45 minutes. That’s also perfect for keeping the kids occupied while someone is in the kitchen making dinner.
MGA Refutes Settlement with Mattel over Bratz
September 17, 2008 by dungan
Filed under Baby Dolls & Doll Houses
In an interesting turn of events, Isaac Larian, the CEO of MGA, denies that they will be sharing revenue with Mattel to end the infringement case over the popular Bratz dolls. We reported two weeks ago that the Bratz dolls were subject to heavy pay-outs, but according to Reuters, the matter is still to be decided. Read more
ABC Kids Expo Wrap Up
We didn’t get a chance to attend the ABC Kids Expo last week in Las Vegas, but initial reports are out that the event had a lot of creative new toy manufactures, …. as well as a sluggish attendance.
For a great review of some of the most innovative products, check out Lisa Casinger’s review. She writes that,
As for news tidbits–I learned that Kaloo is now making all of its furniture in Canada rather than China; Fisher Price has another complete line developed exclusively for independent retailers; Netto is planning on expanding into toddler furniture and a bunk bed in 2009; Crown Craft has the license for Major League Baseball for toddler bedding; LaJobi is moving away from drop side cribs; and more companies are adding organic or eco-friendly products.
Harry Potter Game Shelved until Summer 2009
the Half-Blood Prince will have to wait
Fans of Harry Potter will be disappointed to learn that the sequel to their favorite magic n’ action video game has been shelved until Summer 2009. The decision is not too surprising, as Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince the movie was postponed two weeks ago.
According to the LA Times, Warner Bros. decided to delay the movie because Summer 2009 is looking pretty skimpy due to the effects of this year’s writer’s strike. That’s a big opportunity for Harry Potter franchise, which has mostly banked on holiday releases. Read more
