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.
On January 27, 2012, In Adults in mind, Edutainment, Electronics, Figures and Dolls, by peter jenkinson
On December 6, 2011, In Adults in mind, Board Games, Boys Toys, Deal of the Day, Electronics, Family fun, Get Involved, Girls Allowed, Uncategorized, by peter jenkinson
Utterly pointless toy of the year prize is awarded to this, Air Table Tennis. Toy you’re most likely to consider buying this week or sticking down as an entry on your Santa List award goes to this, Air Table Tennis. With no ball needed, it’ll not get lost, with no table needed you can satisfy your Ping Pong whims wherever and whenever you want. FLick the switch and make your serve, and marvel at the satisfying “clonk” sound eminating from the bat, then the sound of the ball hitting a table thats not there, the opponent (that’s the one, that’s not there) returns the shot “tock” and now it gets tricky, this isn’t just a sound efffects machine! You must now judge the speed of their shot from the time it takes to bounce on your side of the table and match the timing with a return hit and another, deeply satisfying “thwock” as you return the ball, and repeat – Your virtual opponent varies the speed of the return, this is getting addictive now and we’re only reading about it. This way please.
The latest installment of the Toyology slot on Funkidslive radio is all about “tech for tots” – This way for our five fab gadgets aimed at keeping the kids jam ridden mitts away from your shiny device.
On November 17, 2011, In Adults in mind, Boys Toys, Electronics, Family fun, Featured, Figures and Dolls, Get Involved, by peter jenkinson
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 your opponent backwards, disabling them for several seconds
- Banana: ‘Shoots’ the kart behind and pushes it backwards
- Star: Causes your opponent to lose control
Added sound effects make this about the best non-pixellated based racing system around. Head over here for yours.
On November 16, 2011, In Adults in mind, Deal of the Day, Electronics, Family fun, by peter jenkinson
The Angry Birds merchandise machine has had an eggxellent year and so it is no surprise that Farmville ownersZynga want a pieece of the plush (and much more) pie. As of 25th November Best Buy will offer eight exclusive FarmVille collectible plush toys, including a pig, goat, cow, sheep, chicken, duck, horse and rabbit, all dressed in seasonal winter clobber. They’re US only for now but, if you really want one for Yule in the UK try this way. Each plush comes with ten free Farm Cash tokens and a digital code that can be used in FarmVille to collect a limited-edition, in-game version of the plush toy – Players who collect all eight animals will receive an in-game Super Orchard in FarmVille.
On November 8, 2011, In Adults in mind, Boys Toys, Collectables, Electronics, Family fun, Figures and Dolls, Get Involved, Girls Allowed, by peter jenkinson
With over half a billion, yes that’s right, 500 million Angry Bird downloads completed as of earlier this week, a plethora of merchandise and even a dedicated shop in China, it seems we’ve all caught the Avian bug of late. These strange looking creatures are attempting to jump on-board the bird loving craze and, unlike the Angry Bird plushes that make the on-screen noise, this lot can carry a message, think carrier pigeon fashion. Record a message of up to 30 seconds then lob it over to your intended recipient who can then release it’s utterings, from your deepest feelings , words of wisdon, freindly advice or mild abuse. On pre-order now each Chuckimal is up for £11.95 this way
On November 7, 2011, In Adults in mind, Boys Toys, Electronics, Family fun, Get Involved, by peter jenkinson
With the annual celebration of Mr Fawkes failings now passed Firework fanatics will have only the odd annoying skyward bound explosion to satisfy their pyromaniac tendencies. This planetarium looking device is devoted to the indoor display of the colourful crowd pleasers, projecting a variety of disc based shows onto your ceiling. There are even accompanying sound FX, plug it into your external speakers and you’ll be acheiving opening ceremony style affairs. Select your show from the single firework mode so you can set one off at a time or from one of six different show-modes, it’ll set you back £130 but begin those comparisons to the real thing and you’ll be making savings overall, especially if you charge for attendance. Head this way for your whoosh, bang machine.
On November 7, 2011, In Board Games, Boys Toys, Electronics, Film Fun, Uncategorized, by Features Ed
We will be honest here. Upon opening the box for our Appmates toy we were thrown into a dilemma. New exciting toy we want to play with vs preserve the screen of the beloved tablet computer. Perhaps not surprisingly the urge to play won.
The way it works is simple. Download the free Cars 2 Appmates app, grab your little model cars and get playing.
You have to hold the side windows to operate your vehicle, but then you simple move it across the screen and the background moves along with you from a birds eye view, while you complete the various levels.
There are a range of options too which you can win as you progress through the game such as different tyres, headlights and weapons. And with the cast of cars to play with you can explore different parts of the game depending on your character of choice.
While our only concern is that the fiddly aspect of keeping hold of the side windows to make the car work might prove a touch too much for tiny hands, we’re pretty certain that whether you’re worried about scratches on your screen or not, you’re not going to be seeing it any time too soon if the young’uns get ahold of it.
Have a looksee at the Cars 2 appMATes demo here
If you failed that woodwork type class at school and now have a point to prove about what a DIY whizz you’ve turned into, well here is your chance.
No it’s not a wood workshop kit, that would be way too obvious and you know that we like a tenuous link here at Toyology…
What we have here is the Dr Who Cybernetics set.
The basic premise is that that mischievous Dr Who, what, why, when, how has blown up some Cybermen and you need to reanimate them by joining circuit boards and suchlike, with options of infra-red sensitivity – which can be activated with your TV remote control, object sensitivity – where it senses movement, and light sensitivity – which doubles up as a pretty good security guard.
This might take a bit more patience than we possess, but at just £24.99 here from Firebox, it’s a must have for hardcore fans.
On September 26, 2011, In Adults in mind, Boys Toys, Electronics, Family fun, Get Involved, Girls Allowed, Interviews, Music, Outdoor Escapades, Pit Stop, Playground Crazes, Pocket Money, Puzzles, Retro Road, Tales from Toytown, by peter jenkinson
They’re a very visual lot those playthings aren’t they, but we thought we’d try out a media platform where toys weren’t getting an airing. We approached the UK’s leading parent and kid focused radio station to ask for a Toyology slot. The lovely people at Fun Kids radio said we could have tuesdays at 6:45pm and we said YEEEEEEEES. There are over 300,000 people across the UK tuning in every month on their DAB radios and also online and it infally confirms our status bestowed upon us by a few individuals of having “faces for radio” – FOr you 80′s kids check out this link to the Donna Summer classic tune that’s ben in our heads since securing our place on-air.
