Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. announced today that it will release its newest trading card came, Absolute Powerforce Special Edition, with super rare copies of Dandylion and Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon, to retail and hobby outlets on March 30.

The Absolute Powerforce Special Edition includes three Absolute Powerforce booster packs and one super rare variant card. Absolute Powerforce Special Edition makes it easy for Duelists to get their own super rare copies of Dandylion and Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon. These monsters have only been available as magazine subscription promotional cards, and have never been available in stores until now.

The 3-in-1 M&M’S Christmas Candy Gift Set comes with a working M&M’S watch, Etch-A-Sketch, and Sticker Stamper, as well as three fun size packs of M&M’s candies. ($10.99)

Red sits atop of a nicely wrapped present in the M&M’S Ornament Dispenser Christmas Gift Set. When you pull his arm, candies dispense out of the bottom of the gift. The gift set includes an M&M’S ornament, available in red or green, and a fun size pack of M&M’S. ($8.99)

The M&M’S Christmas Tree is a light-up miniature Christmas tree that comes with a toy train conducted by Red, which circles the tree base when the button is pressed. The tree includes two fun size packs of M&M’S. ($14.99)

The M&M’S Christmas Triple Dispenser holds and easily dispenses M&M’S. Red, Yellow, and Blue are each positioned on top of a chamber, dressed in Santa hats. The dispenser comes with three fun size packs of M&M’S. ($14.99)

Blue takes the wheel in the M&M’S Military Jeep. Red sits in the passenger seat, while Yellow holds on for dear life under the hood. M&M’S candies fit under the hood and dispense out of the bumper when you pull Red’s arm. The Jeep makes car sounds and has working lights. The Jeep includes a 5.30 oz bag of M&M’S, and will be available year-round starting Christmas 2010. ($24.99)

Featuring a new collection of weapons and characters, the Bakugan Season 3: Gundalian Invaders toy line gives true warriors the opportunity to act out the adventures of Dan, Marucho, and Shun, as they attempt to save Earth from the evil Twelve Orders, as seen on Bakugan’s TV series, Bakugan Battle Brawlers: Gundalian Invaders, airing this Spring.

The Season 3 Bakugan line marks a new era in Bakugan battling with the launch of an all new, and free, Bakugan online game – Bakugan Dimensions. Every Season 3: Gundalian Invaders Bakugan and Bakugan Battle Gear will come equipped with a new heat-activated online access code that appears by rubbing it with your finger. Once the code has been unveiled, players may enter it online, where that specific Bakugan character will appear in Bakugan Dimensions so kids can battle online against people from around the world. Players can also create and personalize their own Bakugan brawler, chat with friends, show off their Bakugan collection, and more.

Starting April 1, all Season 3: Gundalian Invaders access codes entered online will automatically be entered to win one of four Bakugan Season 3: Gundalian Invaders prize packs.

The Bakugan Season 3: Gundalian Invaders toy line is available at retailers across North America now.

Snifty has unveiled a new line of scented pens based on sweet ice cream flavors. The eco-friendly scented pens and pencil toppers from the company are made with Auracell, a natural plastic that allows the items to feature a long-lasting scent. The scents can be found on the tip and grip of the pen, as well as the pencil topper. Each limited-edition scent will be available for a six-month period.

I Made a Maqet!

My associates at The Toy Book recently passed along a pretty cool website, and asked me to test it out.

At Maqet’s website, you get to pick from their selection of different cartoony characters, ranging from a perplexed-looking squid (there’s a phrase I never thought I’d use) to a fashion forward kitty-human. Then you get to choose your character’s color, pose, outfit, and more. Then the even cooler part happens.

Once you’ve designed your Maqet, you can order it and they will ship it to you in the form of an awesome little plush, in small or large.

Overall, I think this is a great concept. Why buy a stuffed animal from a store display with hundreds of others just like it sitting right next to the one you will buy and love, when you can make your own just the way you want it? The fun of designing your character, the anticipation of waiting to see it in the flesh (in the plush?), and then owning and showing off something you created all make this way cooler than other plush, and I think kids will enjoy it for longer, and in more ways, than their other stuffed animals.

The website is still improving, with more character choices and a help video to come, which I think will be very helpful. I plan on checking back soon and often, and you should too!

–Jen Sinclair, Senior Editor, The Licensing Book

Kidtoons and AG Properties, a division of American Greetings, have premiered the new Strawberry Shortcake movie, Berryfest Princess, in nearly 150 theaters nationwide. Showing exclusively at Kidtoons theaters throughout the month of March, The Berryfest Princess Movie features Strawberry Shortcake and her berry best friends in another CGI adventure.

Berry Bitty City is preparing for the annual Spring Festival and Strawberry Shortcake has just been appointed Berryfest Princess. Strawberry Shortcake and her friends must work together to ensure the festival and parade are the sweetest events Berry Bitty City has ever seen. The movie aims to teach that teamwork, friendship, and hard work pay off.

Participating theaters include Carmike, National Amusements, Abingdon Cinemall, Atlas, Emagine, Marquee, Neighborhood, Cinedigm’s Pavilion Theatre, Rave Motion Pictures, Republic Theatre Group, Showplace, and UltraStar. Also, look for Strawberry Shortcake doll giveaways and contests throughout the month of March at all Kidtoons theaters.

At National Amusements Theaters, The Berryfest Princess Movie will be playing one weekend only, March 13 and 14. At all other theaters look for Strawberry Shortcake every weekend in March. Check participating theaters for times online.

Six new Sesame Street titles are available for download to computers and mobile devices at Moving Picture Books. Each $1.99 story includes bonus educational material featuring Bob from the children’s show.

The new titles (Elmo Loves You, Rise and Shine, The ABCs of Cookies, Grover’s 10 Terrific Ways to Help Our Wonderful World, What Makes You Giggle?, and Elmo Visits The Dentist) can be viewed with or without the read-along text displayed on the screen. Each book is eight to 10 minutes long and includes interactive questions and activities for viewers.

Moving Picture Books’ Sesame Street titles will also be available for download through iTunes starting April 5.

MGA Entertainment has announced plans to enter the world of specialty toy products with the launch of its own specialty division, MGA Entertainment Specialty. The company is currently hiring sales representation groups across the U.S. that will service specialty retailers at store level. MGA Entertainment Specialty will offer a vast assortment of unique toys and gifts derived from its portfolio of brands, including Little Tikes, Moxie Girlz, Zapf, Rescue Pets, and more.

Sales industry veteran Terri Maccarrone has been tapped to helm MGA Entertainment Specialty. With a background that includes roles at Small World Toys, Michel & Company, and Applause, Terri is poised to lead the way in widening the scope of retail outlets that carry MGA brands.