Santa to Bring High-Tech Gadgets, Familiar Favorites to Children This Holiday Season

November 27, 2012 By

Children’s wish lists this holiday season are full of the latest gadgets such as Apple iPads and the Nintendo Wii U, but there’s still demand for some classic gifts like Lego blocks, dolls, and toy cars, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF)’s 2012 Top Toys Survey, conducted by BIGinsight.

A surprise item in this year’s top ten is Furby, which ranked No. 3 on girls’ wish lists and No. 9 on boys’ lists. Furby became a must-have item and child favorite in the late 90s but has since undergone a digital makeover complete with LCD eyes and compatible iPad apps. Video games also appeared on both lists this year. According to NRF’s holiday survey, 45.1 percent of consumers plan to buy toys this holiday season.

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HIT Entertainment, Discovery Bay Games Announce Thomas & Friends Steam Team Station App, Accessory for iPad

November 13, 2012 By

HIT Entertainment and Discovery Bay Games have announced a new game and accessory for iPad: Thomas & Friends Steam Team Station. This Thomas & Friends-branded Duo accessory is compatible with the new Thomas & Friends Steam Team Station Duo App, available now on the App Store.

Thomas & Friends Steam Team Station gets kids jumping, skipping, and racing with all of their engine friends. The app comes with three games: Steam Engine Relay, Sodor Spot-It, and Seek & Find Adventure. Six engine cards, including Thomas, Percy, and James, along with other engine favorites, interact with Steam Team Station.

Designed for children ages 3 and up, the Thomas & Friends Steam Team Station accessory is now available at Apple Stores and Apple.com, Amazon, Target, and Toys”R”Us. The Thomas & Friends Steam Team Station Duo App is available for free from the App Store.

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MGA Entertainment Sees Accelerated Growth in 2012

November 1, 2012 By

MGA Entertainment, the largest privately held U.S. based toy company, posted 41 percent dollar growth in Q3 2012 versus a year-ago, according to The NPD Group.

Within the U.S., retailers continued to see explosive growth with Lalaloopsy, a global toy powerhouse driven by robust product, entertainment, and licensing programs.  Interest in the brand continues to develop as seen with the strong sales of Lalaloopsy Silly Hair Star: Harmony B Sharp, the first-ever talking, singing, and dancing Lalaloopsy doll.

This summer, MGA debuted Bratzillaz and Novi Stars.  Bratzillaz takes girls’ imagination on a supernatural flight of imagination to reveal their own special powers. Novi Stars combines cosmic adventure with cutting edge toy features never before seen in doll play.

Outside of girls’ toys, broader support for Little Tikes helped drive sales.  Little Tikes hottest retail sellers include Little Tikes Pillow Racers and iTikes, a new line of pre-school toys that can be enhanced through the technology of Apple iDevices.

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Little Tikes Pioneers Technology-Enhanced Educational Toys

August 15, 2012 By

This month, Little Tikes launches the iTikes line of pre-school toys. Designed to be enjoyed on their own, iTikes also have extended capability through free iTikes Apps. iTikes products are suitable for kids three years old and up. The following iTikes products will debut this month:

  • The iTikes Canvas comes with a classic magnetic doodle board. With the App, kids can draw with the conductive pen, play interactive learning games, and press the shapes on the sides to magically stamp images. Compatible with iPad, iPad 2, and the New iPad.
  • The iTikes Piano teaches kids how to actually play and read music, with four songs built in that can be played in four modes: Freeplay, Stepper, Solo, and Playback. With the App, kids can learn pitch training, sight-reading, and music theory. Compatible with all Apple mobile digital devices.
  • The iTikes Map includes a smart-pen that recognizes images on the map. Through the device camera and Augmented Reality, the map virtually turns into a lifelike playground. Compatible with all iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, 4s and iPod touch 3 and 4.
  • The iTikes Microscope lets the child use a real lens-based microscope to examine and interact with 36 actual specimens. With the App, the specimens come to life with interactive 3D images and animated facts. Compatible with all Apple mobile digital devices.

All iTikes Apps can be downloaded for free on iTunes.

This post was originally written by Ali Mierzejewski and published by ToyBook.com. For more news, visit www.toybook.com, follow The Toy Book on Twitter, and like The Toy Book on Facebook. The Toy Book is a bimonthly trade magazine covering the toy industry, published by Adventure Publishing Group.

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Lego Goes Digital with Life of George

November 3, 2011 By

Recently, Lego announced the release of Life of George, its first product to combine digital and physical play for a hands-on Lego gaming experience.

Life of George is a 12-level game that can be played in novice or expert mode. Featuring patent-pending brick recognition software powered by EyeCue, the game challenges players to build models and place them on a play mat that captures the image, then players receive a score.

George is a software engineer by day and adventurer by night, and his hobbies include travel, photography, and numbers. Players can follow and engage with George via his Facebook page.

The Lego Life of George set is available for $29.99 from Lego stores and online. A free Apple iOS application is also available for download.

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New Product: Appmates Toys for the iPad

September 30, 2011 By
Cars 2 Appmates for the iPad

Disney and Spin Master have introduced its Appmates Mobile Application Toys, a new toy line that comes to life digitally when used with an Apple iPad, turning the tablet’s screen into a virtual play mat.

Developed in collaboration between Disney Consumer Products (DCP) and Disney Mobile, and featuring patent-pending technology, the Appmates toy line features miniature Disney·Pixar Cars 2 vehicles with sensors on the base of each toy. Users download the free Cars 2 Appmates app from the iTunes app store (available in mid-October), place the Appmates toy character on the screen, and play. By guiding the Appmates vehicle on the screen, kids can experience the world of Radiator Springs via the iPad, and also race against World Grand Prix opponents.

Each toy unlocks different features and content within the app, specific to the character. Fans can download and test the app using their fingers, but the play experience is optimized with the Appmates toy vehicles.

The Disney Appmates toys, by Spin Master, will launch October 1 at retailers nationwide. Available will be Lightning McQueen, Tow Mater, Finn McMissile, and Holley Shiftwell, with Francesco Bernoulli and Shu Todoroki launching in November (exclusively through Apple stores).

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Angelina Ballerina Premieres New App for iPad

June 17, 2011 By

Callaway Digital Arts and Hit Entertainment have debuted its new Angelina’s New Ballet Teacher App for iPad is now available on Apple’s App Store.

The Angelina’s New Ballet Teacher App brings the dancer to life with narration, animation, puzzles, paint, and video. Each page of the story magically transforms into a painting page or interactive puzzle with the simple tap on the screen.

The app is available for $0.99 from the App Store, rolling out in the rest of the world early this summer.

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Introducing… Playmobil’s Apple Store Playset

April 1, 2011 By

Apple’s latest product is as simple as a toy! Playmobil and the technology giant have teamed up to produce the Apple Store Playset, equipped with tiny iPhones, Macbooks, iPads, and its own Genius Bar.

Kids can place “Steve Jobs” in the Keynote Theatre and brainstorm new inventions. Or, buy the Line Pack and simulate a product launch. Is that Woz on a Segway? You bet!

The set includes the store, an Apple Store staff, and more than 60 accessories. The ground floor features product demo tables, software shelves, and a kids’ corner. The top floor includes the Genius Bar and a Keynote Theater with a mini Steve Jobs figure. Those with an iPhone 4 can download a presentation from the Playmobil website, and use it as a screen behind Jobs.

For more information on the Apple Store Playset from Playmobil, click here, and watch the video above. Pictures after the jump.

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