Saturday, May 10, 2008
More than 100,000 playthings on display at the American International Toy Fair in New York City last month, and somebody had to check them all out. (We know -- lucky!)
Kids weren't allowed in, but KidsPost was there for you, sorting through about 7,000 new toys and games to find the hottest, the coolest and the most awesome things coming out this year. Here are some favorites:
Earthopoly
An eco-friendly Monopoly-like game with pieces made from bamboo, lima beans, black walnuts, crystals, shells and glass. By Late for the Sky, $25, age 8 and older.
Exago
Place four of your tiles in a row to win in this latest family game from a Holland-based company that also makes Rolit. By Goliath Games, $30, age 9 and older. Available in spring.
H2Go
A hydrogen-powered, radio-controlled car that zooms up to 6 miles per hour and will run eight to 10 minutes. It takes just seconds to power up. The solar-powered charger also will work with other electronics. By Corgi, about $130, age 10 and older. Available in fall.
Comic Book Creator 2
Making your own comic book has never been easier -- you don't even have to draw. One version of this software allows you to make your life story or scrapbook in comic-book form. Others, with licensed tie-ins, let you create comics with Speed Racer or Marvel superheroes. Print your finished product or post it on the Internet. By Planetwide Media, $50, age 10 and older.
'ME2'
A 3-D, 360-degree video game powered by you. Your on-screen avatar's strength and accessories depend on how much activity you log with a pedometer. Want to buy a virtual-world jet ski? That will cost you about 2,500 steps in the real world. By iToys, $35, age 8 and older. Available in August.
Dazzle It
Add charms to your clothes without puncturing the fabric or getting locked into one design. Part of a Girl Zone line of craft kits that replicate the look of fashion magazines. By iToys, about $20, age 7 and older. Available in August.
You Gotta Be Kidding!
A gross card game of "would you rather . . ." with interesting but unappealing choices: Would you rather eat a bucket of apple stems or 20 banana peels? By Zobmondo, $25, ages 7 to 12.
Air Hogs Zero Gravity Micro
A radio-controlled car that races up walls and even on the ceiling. By Spin Master, $30, age 8 and older. Available in fall.
Struts
Plastic ponies! With fashion accessories! What's not to like? By Playmates, $15, age 6 and older.
Slap Wacky!
A frantic five-minute card game in which players rush to put together shape patterns and claim points. By Morning Star Games, $12, age 7 and older.
Domo
A brown, furry box with arms, legs and a gaping red mouth. Already a hit in Japan, and the subject of thousands of fan sites. By Play Along Toys, $6 to $40, all ages.
Hexbug
Micro-robotic creatures respond to sound and sense when obstacles are in front of them. Crab and inchworm models are due later this year. By Innovation First, $10, age 8 and older.
Hexbugs
Ruin
A ruthless version of Sorry! in which players can change the game board on every turn. By Buffalo Games, about $30, age 8 and older.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Check out the nominees in various categories
Every year, the Toy Of The Year Awards are presented in various categories to the brightest, the best and the most promising toys of the year. The Toy of the Year awards are held in New York at the American International Toy Fair. This year, 2008, the top toys in various categories including infant/preschool toy of the year, girl, boy toy of the year, game of the year, property of the year and many others are being honored with this prestigious award. Here is the list of the nominees for the best toys of 2008, from the Toy Industry Association.
Brightlings™ Exploration Station – LeapFrog Enterprises
Cook n’ Learn Interactive Kitchen Set – Little Tikes
iPlay Lift Off Rocket – International Playthings, Inc.
Moon Sand Adventure Island – Spin Master Ltd.
"T.M.X."™ Friends – Fisher-Price
GIRL TOY OF THE YEAR
Barbie Girls™ – Mattel, Inc.
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Hannah Montana Singing Dolls – Play Along®, a division of JAKKS Pacific
High School Musical 2 Two-Pack Gabriella & Troy Dolls – Mattel, Inc.
Littlest Pet Shop: Display & Play Round & Round Pet Town Playset – Hasbro, Inc.
Troop Groovy Girls – Manhattan Toy
BOY TOY OF THE YEAR
Air Hogs Havoc Heli Laser Battle™ – Spin Master Ltd.
Cars Mega Mack Playtown – Mattel, Inc.
Nerf N-Strike Disk Shot – Hasbro, Inc.
Pokemon Action Figures – JAKKS Pacific
Transformers Movie Deluxe Figures – Hasbro, Inc.
GAME OF THE YEAR
Cranium WOW – Cranium, Inc.
Flippin’ Frogs – Mattel, Inc.
Hyper Dash – Wild Planet Entertainment, Inc.
Rubik’s Revolution – Techno Source
The Cat in the Hat, I Can Do That! – I Can Do That! Games
OUTDOOR TOY OF THE YEAR
ESPN® Better Batter Baseball – Fisher-Price
RipStik® Caster Board – RipStik USA
Sidewalk Paint Sprayer – Crayola
Super Splash Water Park – Little Tikes
Ultimate Family Wagon – Radio Flyer
EDUCATIONAL TOY OF THE YEAR
Bananagrams – Bananagrams LLC
ClickStart™ My First Computer – LeapFrog Enterprises
EyeClops Bionic Eye – JAKKS Pacific
I Can Play Guitar™ – Fisher-Price
Smart Cycle™ Physical Learning – Fisher-Price
ACTIVITY TOY OF THE YEAR
Color A Messenger Bag – ALEX
Digital Arts & Crafts Studio – Fisher-Price
Fashion Design Studio – Creativity for Kids/Faber-Castell
LEGO City – LEGO Systems, Inc.
Rose Art Smart Easel – MEGA Brands Inc.
ELECTRONIC ENTERTAINMENT TOY OF THE YEAR
American Idol Talent Challenge – KID Design, Inc.
Easy Link™ Internet Launch Pad – Fisher-Price
Power Tour Electric Guitar – Tiger Electronics
Rescue Pets Myepets.com – MGA Entertainment
U.B. Funkeys – Mattel, Inc.
MOST INNOVATIVE TOY OF THE YEAR
Air Hogs Havoc Heli Laser Battle - Spin Master, Ltd.
DynaCar – SeeToys
EyeClops Bionic Eye – JAKKS Pacific
FLY Fusion™ Pentop Computer – LeapFrog Enterprises
Smart Cycle™ Physical Learning – Fisher-Price
SPECIALTY TOY OF THE YEAR
Bananagrams – Bananagrams, LLC
Fashion Design Studio – Creativity for Kids/Faber-Castell
Karito Kids World Collection – KidsGive, LLC.
Rok Jr. – Rokenbok Toy Co.
Snap Circuits – Elenco
PROPERTY OF THE YEAR
Hannah Montana – Disney Consumer Products
High School Musical – Disney Consumer Products
Pokemon – JAKKS Pacific
Star Wars – Lucas Film
Transformers – Hasbro, Inc.