June 2011

Stone America Announces Licensing Agreement for New Science Toys

Stone America Licensing has announced a multiyear licensing agreement between educational science toy manufacturer Edu-Science (H.K.) Limited and Scientific American, an authoritative publication for science in the general media. Edu-Science will launch the collection of educational science toys at the Hong Kong Toy Presentation and Fall Toy Preview in Dallas in October. The Scientific American-branded toys range from “Science Fair Projects” to “How Things Work Today.”

Scientific American continues to seek licensees in categories including, but not limited to, consumer electronics, exploration equipment, publishing, gadgets, desktop accessories, and additional merchandise categories.

Nintendo DSiWare to release House M.D. – Globetrotting

Gamers can now test out their own medical and sleuthing skills in the new game being released on Nintendo DSiWare, House M.D. – Globetrotting. Based on the popular T.V. series, House M.D. – Globetrotting is the first of five episodes, featuring all eight stars from the show. New game episodes will be released monthly.

Players will be plunged into the world of Dr. House and his team as they are asked to solve mind-bending puzzles and mini-games to uncover valuable information about the patient’s hidden life.

NBC Universal, Legacy Interactive and Glyphic Entertainment, LLC will co-publish the game software.

Legacy Interactive Developing “Pysch” Game

Legacy Interactive has signed a licensing agreement with Universal Partnerships & Licensing to create a new video game based on the popular television series Pysch. This game will be the newest addition to Legacy’s “Hollywood Hits” game series, which includes House M.D. and Criminal Minds.

Pysch blends light adventure game play with challenging hidden object searches modeled after the character Shawn Spencer, who uses his own finely tuned observational skills to solve police cases. The game, featuring two all-new episodic cases, will be carried by top retailers nationwide and will be available for download to a PC or Mac at www.legacygames.com. Gamers can also find a free 30-minute trial of the game at www.characterarcade.com.

Skechers Signs Deal with Street Flyers

Skechers USA, Inc. has signed a licensing agreement with Street Flyers, LLC to produce sporting goods and safety gear collections for children and young adults. Both collections are scheduled to launch in toy and mass-market retailers throughout the U.S. and Canada next spring.

Under the agreement, Street Flyers will design, produce, and distribute Skechers-branded bicycles, skateboards, scooters, skates, and safety gear. The children’s collection will incorporate designs and images from Skechers’ Zevo-3 animated television series and Skechers Kids characters. Each character will represent a uniquely branded Skechers Kids footwear collection, such as Twinkle Toes by Skechers, Sporty Shorty by Skechers, and more. In addition, Skechers footwear branding will be used for the young adult collections.

Skechers is currently negotiating with additional licensees and continues to seek partnerships and opportunities.

Spin Master Set to Launch Redakai Line

Spin Master is launching its new boys’ action property, Redakai, at hobby and specialty stores June 4, followed by a mass retailer launch nationwide in August. Redakai features fresh, strategic gameplay and Blast3D technology. A new ”stack to battle” gaming advancement automatically tracks players’ progress and allows them to see the damaging effects of their attacks.

Starting on launch day, kids will be able to play Redakai through Official Redakai Organized Play programs. Organized Play kits will contain everything needed to run league events and tournaments, including prize cards, training materials, and game accessories. Redakai Organized Play will be fully supported at Redakai.com, including nationwide leaderboards and achievements. Redakai: Conquer the Kairu airs on Cartoon Network.

Regulators Approve Walmart’s Massmart Deal

According to the Associated Press, regulators approved Walmart’s $2.4 billion bid to buy a controlling share of South African retail chain Massmart. The AP reports that the deal followed “a fierce debate over protectionism in the country with the continent’s most promising economy.”

Under the ruling, government agency the Competition Tribunal said Walmart and Massmart could not lay off any workers for two years, must respect Massmart’s existing labor agreements for three years, and must invest in training South African suppliers. The AP reports that the company had already pledged to spend $14 million over the next three years to help farmers and other South African suppliers.

Walmart CEO and president Doug McMillon said he expected the transaction to be completed in a few weeks..

Big Idea Entertainment Adds New Partners to Veggie Tales Licensing Program

Veggie Tales will expand its presence in consumer products by forming new licensing partnerships with companies, including Box Creations, Primary Leisure Global, and Brewster Home Fashions.

Build Your Imagination with Bob and Larry is a tabletop cardboard play set from Box Creations that is scheduled to hit stores this fall. Primary Leisure Global is bringing a new toy to the States—GigglePOD, which allows children to interact in a small video booth while parents are engaged through an external monitor. The Veggie Tales GigglePOD will launch this summer.

Brewster Home Fashions also partnered with the successful series to create Veggie Tales Lessons Really Stick, a Veggie Tales-themed assortment of wall stickers and appliques.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon, The Next Chapter in 3-D

Transformers: Dark of the Moon doesn’t hit theaters until June 29, however a 20-minute preview I attended proved that it will be one of the summer’s biggest releases. The 3-D team behind Avatar worked on this film, which is the first in the Transformers franchise to be shot in 3-D. Michael Bay, the director, says that this team is the best in the 3-D medium.

The first five minutes of the film is a bit of a history lesson. According to the film, the U.S. government thought that something launched by the Russians landed on the moon and that was what put the space race into gear. The film featured real shots of President Kennedy plus other historical footage, paired with modern 3-D clips, which was unexpected to me. Think of it as being in the style of Forest Gump, but the added 3-D technology made the scenes feel much more real.