Toy Fair 2010: Off the Beaten Path, Technology-wise
Written on Mar 2, 2010 by RuthJS and filed under Featured, News
One of the really cool things about Toy Fair is that along side the big toy manufacturing conglomerates like Mattel, Fisher Price, Hasbro, VTech, and Lego, you also get to see small mom and pop shops, toys that are waiting to be picked up for manufacturing, and items sold overseas looking for a market share in the US. Here’s where I found some of the coolest items.
Mattel Xtractaurs Secret Lab Contest
Written on Nov 23, 2009 by Brian and filed under Mattel
In case you missed our Xtractaurs review, read up, we love these online/offline dinos. Now Mattel has launched the Xtractaurs Secret Lab, complete with a contest. Kids, and parents I suppose, are invited to send in screen captures of their favorite hybrid creations. If your hybrid gets selected, you’ll be entered for a drawing which includes Xtractaur figurines.
Review: FAMPs
Written on Nov 12, 2009 by RuthJS and filed under Mattel, Reviews
Short for feelings, attitudes, moods and personalities, FAMPs allows users to customize their computer’s look based on their mood, play games and meet up with friends online. Coming from Mattel, it’s no surprise that everything about this toy appeals to the age 6+ target audience. I reviewed the FAMPs starter kit.
Review: Xtractaurs
Written on Nov 10, 2009 by Brian and filed under Mattel, Reviews
Mattel showed off Xtractaurs at CES back in January. Now the dinosaurs are available, another entry in Mattel’s line of merged physical and online play set of toys.Xtractaurs combine the offline world of dinosaur play with an online world filled with adventure games and perhaps most important, the ability to mix and match dinosaur parts to make unique hybrids ready for battle.
Review: UCreate Music
Written on Nov 6, 2009 by RuthJS and filed under Mattel, Reviews
Ok, so is there anything cooler to an 8-year-old than creating his or her own dance music? Well, video games are big, but jamming with the UCreate Music ranks pretty high with my testers.
Review: Fisher Price Splatster
Written on Oct 29, 2009 by Brian and filed under Fisher Price, Mattel, Reviews
Fisher Price announced what was then called the Splatter Brush at Toy Fair earlier this year. The now named Splatster is a plug and play TV game that gives kids a truly unique way to not only express their creativity but save and print it as well.
Review: Barbie Doll’d Up Nails – Digital Nail Printer
Written on Oct 21, 2009 by Jaime and filed under Mattel, News, Reviews
We first saw the Barbie digital nail printer at CES and were impressed by the concept, in fact it was our favorite toy from the show. What’s not to like? Girls, and boys if they so choose, can print literally thousands of variations on their nails, from lettering and sports icons, to classic Barbie icons. If that’s not enough you can upload your own images to print on your nails. Doll’d Up Nails will surely have girls having fun but looking stylish too!
Review: Dora Links (Dora’s Explorer Girls)
Written on Oct 19, 2009 by Jaime and filed under Mattel, Reviews
The new Dora Links doll has finally arrived after much anticipation. Dora links is an, “interactive, computer compatible doll,” for ages 5-8. Dora has grown up and lives in her virtual world of Puerto Verde, (a fictional beachside city) with her four best friends-Naiya, Emma, Kate, and Alana. The girls go to school, and work together in their community to help keep it “clean and green.”
Mattel Announces Release Date of Dora Links
Written on Sep 6, 2009 by Brian and filed under Mattel, News
Mattel has officially announced a release date for the Dora links doll and online suite of tools – September 29th. Dora Links was first announced in February, then we got a secret first look at a prototypeof the Dora Links doll. As part of this announcement comes the ability to pre-order Dora Links at select retailers. Mattel is also showing a tiny piece of the online Dora Links world.
Mattel’s Holiday Lineup Getting Ready for Release
Written on May 26, 2009 by Brian and filed under Fisher Price, Matchbox, Mattel, News
Mattel used CES to announce and show off a bunch of new kid’s tech toys for the 2009 Holiday shopping season. Then at Toy Fair their other brands like Fisher Price and Matchbox got in on the action. Their toys look so good that the Mattel family of brands took over half the spots in our “Best of Toy Fair 2008″ roundup. As summer gets into full swing, it’s about time to start seeing some of these products slip into the market as we prepare for Holiday 2009 shopping.
Dora Links Preview and Tween Dora Update
Written on Mar 26, 2009 by Brian and filed under Mattel, News
By far the most popular story we’ve written this year, at least in terms of comments, is the Toy Fair announcement of Dora Links and the new Tween Dora line. Mattel is taking a big risk here, it’s quite uncommon for a kid’s icon like Dora to be “grown up” to appeal to an older audience. Perhaps Mattel’s biggest mistake though, or not, if you think any attention is good attention, was the release of the Tween Dora silhouette that made some think Dora looked a little too “pretty.” As one of the few people who have seen some of the new Tween Dora toys, including Dora Links, it seemed appropriate to get those interested on the same page.