Toyology

It’s almost like there are some kind of British and sport themed events ahead this year the way toys of these themes keep popping up… Still, we have a soft spot for retro simple toy Carddies anyway, so we forgive them.

If you’re not familiar with the award winning toy, it’s easy peasy: characters are printed onto card, littl’uns colour ‘em in, stand them up and presto – play time begins. As most parents will no doubt recognise, from Christmas mornings spend putting together horrible fiddly electronic crazy gizmo type toys before realising that their offspring prefers the box it came in, simplicity can often win out, and that is the secret of the success with this range.

With the new British and Sports themed sets released just in time for well, you know, new additions can play with old favourites and your child expands their Carddies collection, which already includes Cavemen, School and Knights sets among others. And as an added bonus they’re only £8.99 making them a pocket friendly treat for those extra bank holiday days off when it’s no doubt chucking it down with rain. Cynical, us? Never. You can get them here and also here.

Tagged with:
 

 

 

Heroine Katniss sports a bow and arrow, and does plenty of damage with her accuracy in the UK release of the blockbuster Hunger Games today. Since opening in the US kids (of all ages) have been signing up for lessons at Archery clubs, that’s far too faddy for us, just pick up the finest toy bow/arrow kit around in the shape of the fine Z-Curve launcher and have yourself some grin inducing fun. A couple of round-nosed projectiles that easily reach 80 feet and a sucker dart that’ll pretty much latch on to any flat surface (foreheads not included), we predict a sell-out week ahead, we already have ours, click above and grab yours with haste.

 

 

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 extended; and a large gear knob on the rear even lets you steer it. With all of these functions in mind, and of course the nifty looking design, this rig is as much fun to build as it is to assemble and so we pay homage with our 10th, and final Toyology Gold of the year. Around £40 at John Lewis


 

 

 

LEGO lines up new girls range

 

 

 

 

 

 

TV adverts start running this Boxing Day for the new LEGO line up aimed at girls 5-8 and represents the first solely focused girls line for the company in a decade. The LEGO Friends range, which includes five mini-figure dolls will star in a mini-movie in the New Year, to coincide with a second wave of Lego Friends. Living in a newly created environment called Heartlake City’ there’ll by accessories, brightly coloured building bricks and animals to role play in this new place and sets such as a tree house, beauty salon and veterinary clinic are coming soon. Plenty planned for the range, they’ve even added six brand new brick colours to make Heartlake City a bit different from anywhere else in LEGO land to date.

 

Tagged with:
 

 

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:
 

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.

 

Tagged with:
 

 

 

 

 

Not all of our suggestions made the final edit in this weeks Sunday Mirror, but we’re mighty delighted with the ones that did – A fine combination for all the family we thinks? Thoughts?

Tagged with:
 

 

 

 

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

 

Prepare to swoon (if you’re under 16)

 

 

Gathered together from a bunch of solo artists in last years X-Factor the chaps of One Direction are as possibly bemused at their arrival in vinyl as thir plastic predecessors were. The Vivid stable of articulated boy acts includes JLS, Take That (from a while back, still have our slender Barlow in his box) and Justin Beiber and they’re anticipating at least 1/4 million to shift in the next 12 months. We should see the articulated collectables hit shelves this side of Xmas, so go buy one, or all of them, and the boys latest album launch, wrap and give to an X-Factor fan. We’ve a few fans here, and each one of them will be getting a doll, kid of a Xmas bonus from the boss, who will likely download the album before rewrapping and giving this as a gift too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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:
 

Looking for something?

Use the form below to search the site:

Still not finding what you're looking for? Drop a comment on a post or contact us so we can take care of it!

Visit our friends!

A few highly recommended friends...

    © 2011 Toyology
    Uses wordpress plugins developed by www.wpdevelop.com