LEGO Building Blocks Are Still Solid
December 28, 2009 by Chris Whitmore
Filed under Building Toys
When I was growing up, almost every kid I knew had LEGOs. We all enjoyed building different objects, letting our imaginations do the work. There were instructions to follow, but individual creations were always more fun. And with the LEGO Ultimate Building Set, it seems that the trend is still going strong today.
10 Most Popular Toys for Christmas 2009
December 18, 2009 by Chris Whitmore
Filed under Hot Toys
Well, it’s that time of the year again. Families are getting together and spending time with one another, showing how much they care for each other. And of course, there is Christmas shopping. Yes, it’s that time of year when stores are packed, traffic goes on for miles, and you just can’t figure out what to get for everybody on your list.
To the rescue: Here is a list of 10 of the most popular toys for the 2009 holiday season. Christmas is less than two weeks away, so if there are still some empty spaces under the tree that you’d like to fill, the following suggestions are for you.
Screature is a Dinosaur Lover’s Dream
December 17, 2009 by Chris Whitmore
Filed under Toys
Products like the Screature Interactive Dinosaur bring me back to early ’90s, when the movie Jurassic Park was released. After that, dinosaur toys were everywhere. Every kid at school loved the movie and loved dinosaurs. And if there were toys like the Screature when I was was that age, anybody that had it would be the most popular kid in class.
Mattel’s Mindflex Showcases the Power of the Brain
December 15, 2009 by Chris Whitmore
Filed under Science & Discovery Toys
Technology never ceases to amaze me. At times, there are products that seem years ahead of their time, making what once seemed impossible a reality. Recently, Mindflex has been released and already is making new advancements in the entertainment industry.
Connect 4 x 4 Expands upon Classic Game
December 10, 2009 by Chris Whitmore
Filed under Board Games
Classics are classics for a reason. Products that have the most lasting impressions do so because they can stand the test of time. There is nothing particularly childish or grown-up about it; it’s just fun for everyone. There are many family games with this quality: Monopoly, Sorry, and Settlers of Catan come to mind.
New Toy Law May Hurt Small Toy Companies
December 9, 2009 by Chris Whitmore
Filed under Toy Industry News
In the last year, Congress has passed a new law concerning toy safety. After the recall of 45 million toys imported from China, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act was passed in August 2008. when it goes into effect in February 2010, extensive testing will need to be done by all toy companies, big and small, to ensure that their products are 100% safe.
Star Wars The Clone Wars – Republic Heroes Review
November 6, 2009 by Chris Whitmore
Filed under Video Games
Star Wars is one of the most praised and successful franchises in history, and for good reason. While the newer iterations of the series haven’t exactly had the same impact as the original film trilogy, it’s great that younger generations have the chance to be exposed to it. Last year, a computer-animated Star Wars show on Cartoon Network began called The Clone Wars, which details the next chapters of the saga.
Hot Costume tips for Halloween
October 22, 2009 by Chris Whitmore
Filed under Toys
Halloween is just around the corner. If you’re unsure about what outfit you’d like to wear on October 31st, there are many popular choices that are sure to make the other kids jealous and ensure that the maximum amount of candy is acquired.
One of the most popular recent phenomena has been the Harry Potter franchise. Appropriately, there are Harry Potter Halloween costumes for people of all ages. Dressing up as your favorite witch or wizard from Hogwarts is guaranteed to be a success. And hey, if Gryffindor isn’t your thing, there are plenty of Slytherin costumes to go around.
A look at Zhu Zhu Pets
October 17, 2009 by Chris Whitmore
Filed under Stuffed Animals
Most kids just want pets to play with and don’t understand the responsibility that comes with having a pet. Zhu Zhu Pets is a new toy line that has become very popular and solves that problem. It is essentially a hamster play set, but instead of real hamsters, there are battery operated ones.
Even though they aren’t real, the toys behave so realistically that they might as well be real.
Bye Bye Blackbird. The Beatles: Rock Band Review
September 30, 2009 by Chris Whitmore
Filed under Video Games
The music genre has been one of the most popular game types in recent years, and for good reason. It has allowed gamers of all skill levels to come together and live out the fantasy of rock superstardom. Guitar Hero started the craze with virtual axe-shredders. Later, Rock Band added drums and vocals to create a full band experience.
