Current Affairs

keeping one amused

We're unlikely to see the veritable amount of tat that surrounded the Royal wedding last year, we're hoping that celebratory and commemorative kit will all attempt to be as classy as this chess set (over optimistic perhaps). Each piece is handpainted, it truly is a glorious piece of kit that's certain to find favour with those who refer to parts of their abodes with terms such as East and West wing. It'll set you back almost £300 HERE for those interested parties.

Star Wars slot sets – At last

We've been treated to a fair few Scalextric licences over the years, James bond ones were pretty good, Toy Story didn;t float our slot-car racing boat, this pair of beauties has us grinning from ear to ear. Why we've had to wait for so long to get Star Wars and Scalexctric to tema up Darth only knows, and frankly we don;t give a Yoda because it's finally happening - Exactly when we're no sure. So, we have the Micro 1:64 scale Death Star Attack set with a Lord Vader Tie Fighter battling a Luke Skywalker X-Wing, the spaceships have working ...

Cherry picker is a sweet build

It took us a while getting around to building our LEGO Technic Bucket Truck, that’s cherry picker to most of us or elevated platform to those perhaps allergic to cherries or very posh indeed. It’s the machine used to rig up local Christmas lights or fix street lights, very clever vehicles they are too. Just like its real life ride this Bucket Truck has a set of gears to raise and rotate the platform on the back, two more gears let you deploy the outriggers at the side of the vehicle to keep it stable when the platform is fully ...

Off-screen action with Mario

In our scramble to put as many crossover category toys to the test this year (think Skylanders, Wappydog, Angry Bird plush etc) we'd somehow almost missed this plumber based box of racing good ness. The Mario Kart Battle pack features a Mario and Yoshi sat in their rides and an assortment of track accessories for you to establish where your hairpins and chicances should be placed. whilst you race the lights on the nift RC unit have lights which each represent an action you'd find on the console version, Mushroom: Gives a speed boost Green Shell: Sends your opponent hurtling backwards Lightning: Sends ...

Remember the posh Fox?

The upper class fox was at his very best in the eighties, close to the cuff humour for kids TV, often ridiculing his guests and co-hosts, quality Telly. Now you can own your own Basil Brush handpuppet, give him a squeeze and he'll let out his grin inducing laugh topped off with a legendary "Boom Boom" at the end. At just £12.99 seems like a no-brainer.

Calling Fruit Ninja fans

On January 20, 2012, In Adults in mind, Board Games, Boys Toys, Current Affairs, Eats and Treats, by admin

The smash Apple iOS and Android Fruit ninjas comes to life with this fab bit of fruit lopping fun. The real life version of the game see’s you take hold of one mini ninja sword and attack the 20 pieces of plastic fruit. Pick up a mission card and select your target fruit then get chopping. This is definitely the year of the “appcessorie” and this is definitely the place to discover the latest on release. London Toy Fair press releases so far have us a list of almost 20 to share with you next week. If you’re a fan of the app, but not so much this game then perhaps a real life Fruitg Ninja plush is for you, complete with squelchy sound FX. BUY!

Tagged with: fruit • news • ninja • toys

Head count underway at London Zoo….

On January 4, 2012, In Adults in mind, Boys Toys, Collectables, Current Affairs, Edutainment, by peter jenkinson

The annual stocktake is underway at London Zoo today, we’d not mind being in charge of elephants/giraffes or sloths – easy enough but what about those poor folk who have to do the reptile house? Anyroad, here’s a mini display of Zoo life that’d make a great toy for the kids or even a boardroom homage to all of Noahs friends….If we hear of an undercount in the lion/tiger enclosure we’ll let you know.

Tagged with: animals • london • news • play • toys • zoo

Monstro City double decker

On December 12, 2011, In Adults in mind, Current Affairs, Get Involved, Girls Allowed, Outdoor Escapades, by peter jenkinson

Presenting the most magnificent, magical and Mosterrific MoshiBus! – It’s going on tour this Christmas to Bluewater shopping centre and at The Trafford Centre. Climb on board and the kids can draw and colour monsters at the art and craft sessions, enjoy clay buddy modelling and trade Moshling cards, There will also be Moshi giveaways, quizzes and competitions to win Moshi merchandise, including a special “Busling” Topps trading card. And of course you’ll be able to buy your favourite Moshi merchandise in the Mobile Moshi Monsters Store on the top deck. When it’s time to leave jump on the slide that’ll take you back to the ground floor! Check out www.moshibus.com for the latest Moshi bus news.

Tagged with: bus • decker • monsters • moshi • news • tour • toys • trafford

A very Disney christmas

On November 6, 2011, In Current Affairs, Eats and Treats, Family fun, Tales from Toytown, by Features Ed

This week was the official Disney store Christmas launch, and us lucky so and so’s at Toyology were lucky enough to go along for a bit of celebrity spotting and to make some last amendments to our Christmas list.

Working with some 55 charities this year, including Great Ormond Street, those festive folks at Disney are going to be donating over 7,000 cuddly toys to children who would otherwise not be getting any pressies this year.

We went down to the flagship store on Oxford Street to join in the festive fun.

We drank: Prosecco, pomegranate cordial

We ate: risotta in parmesan crisps, turkey roulade on potato rosti

We made: a festive biscuit in the shape of a snowman (cleverly utilising a marshmallow as the hat might we add)

We saw: Peter Andre and family, Tamsin Outhwaite and Duchess of Kent (oo er!) amongst others

We liked: Everything! But we took home a wintery Minnie Mouse complete with ice skates.

Tagged with: christmas • disney • great ormond street • news • review • store • toyology • toys

Love lists? Read on……

On October 27, 2011, In Adults in mind, Board Games, Boys Toys, Collectables, Current Affairs, Deal of the Day, Edutainment, Figures and Dolls, Film Fun, Get Involved, Girls Allowed, Music, Outdoor Escapades, Pit Stop, by peter jenkinson

Since back in June (thanks Tesco) we’ve been inundated with top tens (lots of them), fab fifteens (fewer of those), eclectic eights, super sixes etc etc……then yesterday, the one which the media come out in force to see, is the annual Toy Retailers Associations announcement of their Dream Dozen. It’s an eclectic round up of 12 toys across many categories that the organisation, which represents 75% of Toy retailers in the UK, reckon are going to be the hottest property this Yule, so, laydees and gentlemen without further ado, here they are :

Doggie Doo, John Adams, RRP £22.99
Fijit Friends, Mattel, RRP £54.99
Fireman Sam Pontypandy Rescue Set, Character, RRP £29.99
Kidizoom Twist, Vtech, RRP £49.99
LeapPad Explorer, Leapfrog Toys, RRP £79.99
Lets Rock Elmo, Hasbro, RRP £69.99
Milky the Bunny, Flair, £59.99
Monster High Lagoona’s Hydration Station, Mattel, £39.99
Moshling Tree House, Vivid, RRP £18.99
Nerf Vortex Nitron Blaster, Hasbro, RRP £44.99
Ninjago Fire Temple, Lego, RRP £91.99
Star Wars Ultimate Force Tech Lightsaber Assortment, Hasbro, RRP £39.99

This year there were two new award categories, the Kid’s choice and Mum’s choice awards, tested and voted by the people who really matter, read on for those results :

(more…)

Tagged with: awards • bunny • hot • milky • new • reviews • top • toys • xmas

Calling Deadly 60 fans – creepy toys incoming!

On October 19, 2011, In Current Affairs, Tales from Toytown, by peter jenkinson

We’ve been wandering about at the Licencing show this morning, picking up free keyrings, hoping for better stuff to secrete about our person, lets you know how we get on later. just heard that Character Options, the outfit with some of the finest toy licences in the UK (Peppa Pig, Fireman Sam, Postman Pat, ZhuZhu, Dr Who etc) have bagged a deal with the BBC to produce playthings based on the ever popular show Deadly 60. For those unaware of the program it is fronted by Steve Backshall who travels to globe looking for animals to put into his Deadly 60 list, if they are dangerous but are not performing on-screen he usually antagonises them, all for our entertainment, and we love him. We’ll see Micro Deadlies hit the shelves in Spring 2012 and five play-sets,also in developmentare construction blocks and mini figures for January with role-play toys (?) and action figures further down the two year agreement line.

Tagged with: bbc • deadly • licence • news • toys

Skylanders launch party anyone?

On October 3, 2011, In Comps, Current Affairs, by admin

Opening up the working week with a competition is the way we like it, and we have a fantastic opportunity for you to attend the exclusive launch party of the amazing new console game Skylanders. We’ve got TWO VIP ticket packages for the Skylanders Magical Morning at Hamleys toy store, London on Sunday 09^th October! The lucky winners will be invited to attend the Skylanders launch event party where they will be treated to a yummy buffet breakfast, enjoy a host of Skylanders themed magical activities, meet some very special guests, and be one of the first in the UK to play Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure before it hits the shops, all whilst having the finest toy store in the world to themselves! To top it off, you’ll be gifted with an exclusive goody bag containing a Skylanders t-shirt, Skylanders poster, a magazine and sweets. Just tell us the name of the main character in Skylanders? comps{at}toyology.co.uk – Best of luck and remember Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure launches on Friday October 14^th! – Keep reading for boring terms and conditions.

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Tagged with: competition • halmeys • news • reviews • skylanders • toys • win

Thundercats are back….

On September 20, 2011, In Current Affairs, by peter jenkinson

Helping with the re-launch of a new look, after two decades away from our screen the promotion machine from Cartoon Network decided that Peaches Geldof morphed into as Cheetara, the expert combat fighter, would get the show noticed. We’d perhaps have preferred a male sidekick in the shot, say Hugh Jackman as Lion-O (despite his Wolverine connection) or perhaps you’ve better suggestions? The Red haired Lord of Third Earth could be a relation to Rumpelstiltskin from Shrek Forever After. Bandai are releasing a whole raft of figures from £7.99 up to this 14 inch model which will set you back £39.99 HERE

Heaaavvvvve!

On September 12, 2011, In Adults in mind, Board Games, Current Affairs, Get Involved, by Features Ed

Let’s own up, we were all waiting to see if England actually stood a chance in the world cup this year before we started making our patriotic purchases. Well one game in (SPOILER ALERT) and it’s looking good so time to quickly order the official Rugby World Cup game we reckon.

Complete with little rugby men figurines and a wall chart so you can document the real thang too, we’re glad to see that the rugby board game authorities didn’t just opt for the easy option of creating a rugby type subbuteo game but instead have gone for something a bit more original, which bears more than a passing resemblance to Pass the Pigs. You chuck your team down on the pitch and see how the chaps are laying (on their sides, on their backs, on top of each other etc) to score points and hopefully get the best combination.

Not too dissimilar to the game itself really…

Tagged with: asobi • board game • five men standing • news • reviews • rugby • toy • toyology • world cup

Virtual Insanity

On September 1, 2011, In Adults in mind, Current Affairs, Uncategorized, by Features Ed

It is the dawn of a new era. Sony has unveiled the first ever 3D head mounted visor virtual reality experience.

Our first experience of such a gizmo was way back in the 90s when we were partial to a game of Sims (remember them? They were cool. Yes they were. Uh huh). Our Sims used to get uber excited by their virtual reality console, if they’d had a bad day it was a sure fire way to gaining some happiness points quick sticks. That’s slightly beside the point though.

The HMZ-T1 is a 3D helmet targeted at people who enjoy a solitary entertainment experience (and also have £480 to burn).

Now for the technical bit: it uses two 0.7″ HD displays using the latest (of course) organic LED technology, offers surround sounds and, claims Sony, simulates a 750 degree cinema.

In short it’s new, shiny, high tech, expensive and awesome.

And it’s not even too long until it hits our shelves. Due to go on sale in Japan by 11 November, rumour has it may be with us in time for christmas.

Of course if you haven’t got 59,800 yen to burn, remember there is always the Sims version.

Tagged with: 3d • helmet • hmz • news • reviews • sony • toy • toyology • virtual reality

Previous Entries

keeping one amused

Star Wars slot sets – At last

Cherry picker is a sweet build

Off-screen action with Mario

Remember the posh Fox?

Calling Fruit Ninja fans

Head count underway at London Zoo….

Monstro City double decker

A very Disney christmas

Love lists? Read on……

Calling Deadly 60 fans – creepy toys incoming!

Skylanders launch party anyone?

Thundercats are back….

Heaaavvvvve!

Virtual Insanity

Toughest reviews from the

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keeping one amused

Star Wars slot sets – At last

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