Puzzles

Hunger Games has legions taking up Archery

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 ...

Helium shortage is no laughing matter

We are, according to the Guardian, running low on Helium and one scientist in particular is putting the blame squarely on the party balloon industry and, that'll now include our favourite flyers the Air Swimmers. Pressure on stocks aren't likely to let up anytime soon from our end, we're eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Bass and Whale version of these surreal R/C's - Air Swimmers are the only brand that'll not have you trying to cancel your credit card transaction. Here's an Angry Bird version too (pictured) selling only in the US righ now, looking forward to a video ...

ARCHOS steps in to Kids Tablet market

ARCHOS have shown their hand in the Tablet market for kids this morning wading in with this, the Child Pad. It joins the MEEP and Kurio although it could well steal a lead as it is launching at the end of March, the others have a TBC date and late September. In the looks department all seems perfectly acceptable, it 'll run on the 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich software has 1GHz processor and 1GB of RAM - And it'll be just £99. Kids friendly features include access to the Kids App Store powered by AppsLib which is filtered down to ...

Angry Birds getting Flash

Yup, the licensing wagon rolls out once more for the Angry Birds mob and this time we're treated to a quadruplet of the crew, red bird, yellow bird, king piggy and white bird as USB flash drives. They're each able to carry around 4GB of your precious data and we think hat wanting to fling them into a structure of Jenga bricks or LEGO will be overwhelming, so buy one (or more) and get on with it. £14.99 a piece from FIREBOX

Angry Birds evolution continues, moves outdoors…

When Mattel took on the board game last year it was met with shrieks of delight from bird lobbing fans, within just a couple of months version two was amongst us, we eagerly await the next installment. From iPod docks, PC speakers, noise producing plushes and a raft of other beak based accessories nothing new or very exciting to see here, it is with unbridled enthuisiasm that we bring you Angry Birds, The Outdoor Action game from Tactic. From May and for about £25 you get the main game, that's a playmat, blocks, pair of Angry Birds, a pig and ...

Jubilee must-have

Lets face it, until just now you'd never realised how much you wanted a solar powered waving minature figure of Her Maj, did you? Pick yours from either pink or blue or buy both - Head THIS way for your purchase and to pick up some interesting facts about this great lady, our favourite is that she has opened 15 bridges in the UK!

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 ...

Travel toys

On April 12, 2012, In Board Games, Edutainment, Puzzles, by Features Ed

So you had the Easter break, that was nice wasn’t it? Nice car trip to the coast or the in-laws? Kids in the back? They’re always quiet and well behaved and not conducive to a near pile-up on the m25 at around lunch time aren’t they? You’re probably now scouring the internet looking for something to keep the little ~~blighters~~ loves occupied on the next bank holiday (only a few weeks to go!) now…

We like Bananagram’s Zip It because: it’s quick (short attention spans galore in this office) now what were saying? It takes up zero space and you don’t even have to remember a pad and pen.

It’s a fast paced anagram game where the first player to get rid of all their letters wins. Huzzah. Simple. And only £10.99 here to boot

Tagged with: anagram • bananagrams • news • reviews • toy • toyology • toys • travel game • zip it

Rubik’s Cube with bling

On January 27, 2012, In Adults in mind, Puzzles, by peter jenkinson

We’ve not too much info on it, well whats to talk about really, several shades of Silver cover the surfaces, completing this one should be a challenge after the brilliant bright colours of the original. For us, this one screams paper weight, sure its all silvery and perhaps even trying to shed its geek image and become, erm, sexy? Make your own minds up, Rubik’s Ikon is £12.99 from John Adams.

Tagged with: cube • play • rubik • sexy • toy • toys

Puzzle-Tastic 3D buildings

On January 24, 2012, In Adults in mind, Board Games, Boys Toys, Collectables, Edutainment, Film Fun, Get Involved, Puzzles, by peter jenkinson

We have seen a few 3D puzzlesover the past months, these new ones from Wrebbit (we’ll get to the bottom of that name creation soon) are these landmark builds, each one a 750 piece plus affair, not easy by any means but deeply satisfying when finished. From the Taj Mahal to Big Ben there’s a few to choose from and are about the biggest in their class, and priced between £20-£40 when launched in June over at Amazon.

Tagged with: big ben • fair • news • reviews • taj mahal • toy

Spherical brain boggler

On November 4, 2011, In Adults in mind, Puzzles, by peter jenkinson

About to be unleashed onto the UK market the Dioctipoid has our attention, a mildly eccentric designer behind the conce perhaps but where did the scrabble-tastic name appear from? So, we might as well do the obvious comparison here, Rubik’s Cube works by shifting segments with various twists and turns around any of three axis. The Dioctipoid design creates segments forming groups of fifteen that rotate around any of four axis. Not sure? No us neither, so here is a video (with some widely recognisable music) to tell you all about how the Dioctipoid works.

On the radio whoa oh oh

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.

Tagged with: fun • kids • news • radio • reviews • toys

Story Time

On February 28, 2011, In Puzzles, by peter jenkinson

Are you an amateur author desperate to be published but not an idea what to put pen to paper about? Bring out the Rory’s Story Cubes and create the most fantastical short story ever, or a combination of your yarns tcould be sewn together for something more epic. This humble looking collection of 9 Dice feature a total of 54 images of things, all sorts of things, this translates to a possible 10,000,000 combination of pictures. Roll the dice, have a brief moment and then, launch in with your “Once upon a time” and see where the cubes take you. We’ve had them on test for the latter part of half-term and the age range appeal was remarkable, five year olds and upward really took to it, each telling their own stories and then co-operating with older children to tell one cube each and then of course the adults joined in. Fun, creative, plenty of learning opportunities, family play and a great one for gown-up only play too. All this for £9.99 over HERE

Tagged with: coiled • cubes • dice • die • learning • spring • story

An Actual Brain Teaser

On February 21, 2011, In Puzzles, by Features Ed

Don’t you love a good pun? But check this out! A Rubik’s Cube that is actually a brain – it’s like the Nemesis ride at Alton Towers for your pocket..with slightly less queueing, loops and general sickness. Still, aside from those minor factors, the likeness between the two is uncanny…

A great find by those clever chaps at www.pocket-lint.com, we bow to you.

Tagged with: brain • pocket lint • puzzle • rubiks cube • toy • toyology

Jigsaws that’ll not leave you yawning

On December 13, 2010, In Deal of the Day, Get Involved, Puzzles, by peter jenkinson

Our favourite TV program by far is Horrible Histories, bringing to life aspects of history from across the ages in side splitting fashion whilst ingraining important (and banal) facts in the minds of adults and kids alike. This trio of jigsaws are each 300 pieces, we’ve completed the lot and can say with certainty you’ll enjoy pieceing yours together, and when done, they make fine wall decoration. At just £7.95 each from KidEstore we think this is plenty of present for not so many pieces from your wallet. Each one comes with an eight page booklet packed with facts too, history as it should be!

The wait is over – .TV Episode Two is live and kicking

On November 10, 2010, In Adults in mind, Board Games, Boys Toys, Comps, Current Affairs, Edutainment, Electronics, Family fun, Figures and Dolls, Film Fun, Get Involved, Girls Allowed, Interviews, Playground Crazes, Pocket Money, Puzzles, RC's and Robots, Reviews, Tales from Toytown, Television, Telly Time, Toddlers and Tots, Toy Fair, Toyology in the News, by peter jenkinson

Tagged with: beyblades • biscuit • dog • fun • furreal • hasbro • monopoly • pets • play • puppy • revolution • toys

Dream Dozen Announced

On October 28, 2010, In Adults in mind, Board Games, Boys Toys, Collectables, Comps, Current Affairs, Deal of the Day, Edutainment, Electronics, Family fun, Film Fun, Get Involved, Girls Allowed, Interviews, Music, Music Makers, Outdoor Escapades, Pit Stop, Playground Crazes, Pocket Money, Puzzles, RC's and Robots, Retro Road, Reviews, Rumour Mill, Tales from Toytown, Television, Telly Time, Toddlers and Tots, Toy Fair, by peter jenkinson

The Toy Retailers Association, representing about 75% of the UK toy shops unveiled it’s selection of the dozen toys it thinks will dominate this Christmas – Without further ado, here are where the anticipated empty shelf areas are to be found this Yule :

City Airport, Lego UK
Fireman Sam Deluxe Fire Station Playset, Character Options
FurReal Go Go Walking Pup, Hasbro
Jet Pack Buzz Lightyear, Mattel UK
Kidizoom VideoCam, VTech
Monopoly Revolution, Hasbro
Moon Dough Barn, Spinmaster Toys UK
Nerf N Strike Stampede ECS, Hasbro
Paper Jamz Guitar, Wow Wee Europe
‘Pumpaloons’ – action game, Drumond Park
Sylvanian Families Motorcycle and Sidecar, Flair Leisure
ZhuZhu Grooming Salon, Character Options

Gary Grant, chairman of the TRA’s Dream Toys Selection Panel, commented: “This year, the toy industry has combined innovation and creativity to respond to the ever-changing demands of children. The technological advancements used in many of the toys we reviewed this year were simply amazing, and demonstrate how forward thinking manufacturers are. Pete the Geek from Toyology.TV commented “fabulous line up here, not sure how Pumpaloons made the list though” adding “We’ve a video of the event going live later today at toyology.tv go take a look”

Tagged with: airhogs • barn • city • dreamtoys • hasbro • lego • mattel • moondough • nerf • retailers • spinmaster • top • toys • tra • vtech

Previous Entries

Hunger Games has legions taking up Archery

Helium shortage is no laughing matter

ARCHOS steps in to Kids Tablet market

Angry Birds getting Flash

Angry Birds evolution continues, moves outdoors…

Jubilee must-have

keeping one amused

Star Wars slot sets – At last

Travel toys

Rubik’s Cube with bling

Puzzle-Tastic 3D buildings

Spherical brain boggler

On the radio whoa oh oh

Story Time

An Actual Brain Teaser

Jigsaws that’ll not leave you yawning

The wait is over – .TV Episode Two is live and kicking

Dream Dozen Announced

Toughest reviews from the

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Hunger Games has legions taking up Archery

Helium shortage is no laughing matter

ARCHOS steps in to Kids Tablet market

Angry Birds getting Flash

Angry Birds evolution continues, moves outdoors…

Jubilee must-have

keeping one amused

Star Wars slot sets – At last

Toughest reviews from the

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