Raving Toy Maniac

February 10, 2013 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

Hi - Here is a quick update about a variety of new items, including Toy Fair NECA preorders just listed moments ago:

SXS-R01 - Continuously Variable - Transforming Figure - limited edition exclusive - $5 off early bird pricing
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=SXS10004&mode=re...

NECA Toy Fair:

Predators 7" - Series 09
KickAss 2 - Series 02
After Earth - 7" Jaden Smith as Kitai
3.75" Gears of War Series 02
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/list.aspx?list=11955

Transformers 3" Vinyl Figures - by The Loyal Subjects
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/menu.aspx?menu=2339&category=9261

Demolition Crue Set of DC-01 Apex & DC-02 Geminus - In Stock Now
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=MEC10001&mode=re...

MOTU Classics - Figure Restock

(RTM note: there are two press releases on this page, so keep scrolling...)

KONAMI DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT TURNS UP THE HEAT WITH THE Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME

ONSLAUGHT OF THE FIRE KINGS STRUCTURE DECK

El Segundo, CA (February 7, 2013) - The raging fires of the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME (TCG) get hotter and hotter with the arrival of Onslaught of the Fire Kings Structure Deck from Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. (Konami). This ready to play Deck blazes into stores nationwide on February 8th.

With four new Monster cards and two new extraordinary Spell cards, Duelists now have that extra spark needed to build a FIRE-themed Deck based on the renewing flames of the Phoenix. Players can also Special Summon the new Fire King High Avatar Garunix card and unleash the sacred fires of victory!

LEGO® DUPLO® INVITES PARENTS AND CHILDREN TO BUILD THEIR WAY TO EARLY LITERACY DEVELOPMENT

NEW YORK, American International Toy Fair (February 7, 2013) - LEGO Systems, Inc., the world's leading construction toy manufacturer, recently announced two new additions to its LEGO® DUPLO® Read and Build series: Peek-A-Boo Jungle and A Fairy Tale. Making story time even more playful for children under five, the Read and Build collection blends early reading with construction play encouraging youngsters to build along as their parents read simple, age-appropriate board books to them.

Play Sparks Both a Child's Imagination and Mind
"Play is essential to how children learn and is one of the primary ways that they discover the world," said Michael McNally, brand relations director for LEGO Systems. "Whether a child is learning to read or discovering how to share with a friend, play shapes a child's life in unexpected ways. The play experience truly becomes magical when a child can both grow their life skills and have fun-this is exactly why we create products like LEGO DUPLO Read & Build."

Nickelodeon And Activision Sign Global, Multi-Year Deal To Produce Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-Themed Video Games

First of Three Game Titles Set to be Released This Summer

NEW YORK, Feb. 7, 2013 -- Nickelodeon and Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI) today announced a worldwide, multi-year deal to develop and publish video games inspired by the new CG-animated series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Under the new agreement, Activision has the global rights to produce interactive games based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles property.

"Activision is a leader in the gaming industry and we are honored to have them as the global video game partner for our new hit series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," said Sherice Torres, Senior Vice President of Entertainment Products, Nickelodeon Consumer Products. "We are confident that these upcoming games will take gamers through interactive environments and action-packed adventures that truly capture the essence, tone and exciting elements of the Turtles."

LEGO Systems Builds Eighth Consecutive Year of U.S. Sales Growth

-Brand relevance and play pattern at an all-time high as company's 2012 sales increase by 26%-

AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL TOY FAIR, NEW YORK (February 8, 2013) -- LEGO Systems, Inc., the North American division of the world's leading construction toy brand, achieved its eighth consecutive year of double-digit U.S. consumer sales growth in 2012, increasing category and overall toy industry shares over record performance in 2011.

2012 U.S. Year-End Highlights (Source: The NPD Group / Retail Tracking Service)

• Continued year-on-year growth trend in the U.S. as consumer sales grew +26% to reach $1.32 billion.
• Increased U.S. total toy market share to 7.9%, up +1.6 share points over 2011, maintaining rank as America's third largest toy manufacturer. The company's share of the total U.S. toy market has quadrupled in five years.
• Grew share of U.S. Building Sets category +5.3 points to 84.6% in a year of increased category competition.
• Gained +12.1 share points to reach 51.4% of the Preschool segment of U.S. Building Sets.

Rising From The Sewer In All-New Ways, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Are Ready For Ninja Action

Playmates Toys to Reveal Expanded Toy Line Inspired by Nickelodeon's Hit CG-Animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles at American International Toy Fair

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Feb. 8, 2013 -- Playmates Toys is set to unveil the action-packed next generation of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toy line, inspired by Nickelodeon's hit new CG-animated show. New elements, including the mysterious Ooze substance and Turtle-loving pizza, have been added to the product line and will be displayed at the American International Toy Fair in New York City, February 10-13, 2013, Booth #1525.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles premiered on Nickelodeon on Sept. 29, 2012 and was an instant hit, drawing almost 12 million viewers during its premiere weekend. Coinciding with the series, Playmates Toys, the mastermind responsible for the successful toy line over the last three decades, introduced a new line which became one of the top action figure brands by the end of 2012.

A Variant on the Klingon Bird of Prey Ship De-Cloaks!

February 2013 - When Diamond Select began developing the first alien ship in their electronic Star Trek ship series, they knew that they couldn't just make one version of the iconic Klingon Bird of Prey. The ship has such a rich film history that to pick just one appearance would be an affront to its honor! So while the Star Trek VI version of the Bird of Prey is out in stores now, DST has created a special Star Trek III version exclusively for Action Figure Xpress!

Forces of Dorkness x outsmART originals: Tusken Idol T-Shirt

February 2013 - "Be it scoundrel or scholar, I was drawn in by both Star Wars and the Indiana Jones movies as a kid. So I thought, "what's better than mashing those two?", and my response is a piece I call "Tusken Raiders of the Lost Ark". Our little golden buddy comes from the temples of Tatooine deep in the dunes and about as far away from Mos Eisley as one can get. Not only does it have the face of a Tusken Raider, but he's also riding the most loyal of the beasts of the desert, the Bantha." - Scott Kinnebrew

outsmART originals is thrilled to release the Tusken Idol t-shirt, a limited worldwide release, from the mind of Forces of Dorkness (aka Scott Kinnebrew). Shipping the beginning of March, this release will be screen printed on ultra cotton tees for both men and women.

Diamond Select Toys to Unveil New Products, New Licenses at Toy Fair International

February 2013 - This weekend, Toy Fair International begins at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City. Not open to the public, the event allows toy manufacturers to present their new offerings to buyers from retail stores around the world, and it always offers fans the first look at the hottest toys of the year. Well, this year Diamond Select Toys will once again be in attendance, and once again they will have plenty on display to dazzle fans!

On display at booth 4905 will be new items from DST's broad array of licenses: Marvel Comics, Marvel Studios, The Walking Dead, Star Wars, Star Trek, Universal Monsters, The Munsters, Knight Rider, Ghostbusters, Pathfinder, Tomb Raider and Invincible. Products will include highly detailed 7-inch action figures, 2-inch Minimates mini-figures, Femme Fatales PVC statues, Granix art plaques, vehicles, light-up statues, banks, prop replicas, bottle openers, kitchenware, neon signs and more.

DST will also announce two new licenses at the show:

February 2013 - Christopher Tupa is writing a book and is asking for your toy memories:

I'm putting together a free ebook collecting people's memories of their toys and how they played with them. Would love it if you'd like to join the fun and submit something! All the details are here if you're interested: http://ctupa.com/blog/?p=1729