Raving Toy Maniac

Toys"R"Us, UK announces its 2012 'Terrific Twenty' List of Hot Christmas Toys

MAIDENHEAD, England, October 1, 2012 -- Angry Birds, Monsters and Spiders feature alongside a second generation of touch screen tablets to be among the hottest items on kids' wish lists this Christmas season, according to Britain's biggest toy retailer, Toys"R"Us, UK.

Combat Attacknids from Wow Stuff are six legged radio controlled robots with the ability to battle, move in all directions and fire weapons from their rotating turret. These battling robots set a spider theme alongside scurrying little Hexbug Warriors, the battling creatures in a tiny, micro format that use the physics of vibration to propel forward and challenge their competitors.

In a stark contrast, is the cute and lovable, interactive Furby from Hasbro, which makes a reappearance in the 'Terrific Twenty', this time it's more responsive, more intelligent and interacts with an accompanying ipad, iphone and ipod touch application.

October 3, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

Hi - We've just listed some amazing new Takara Transformers - Finally - Fortress Maximus!!!

Encore #23 Fortress Maximus - $349.99 (April Release) or $399.99 for the early air shipment (March Release)
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/list.aspx?list=10800

Takara MP-15 Masterpiece Ravage & Rumble - $59.99
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=TAK11574&mode=re...

Takara Generations - Fall of Cybertron:
Kickback
Starscream
Sideswipe
Ultra Magnus
Fireflight
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/list.aspx?list=10814

Takara Prime
Darkest Megatron
Jet Vehicon General
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/list.aspx?list=10807

Sakar to Debut New Line of Skylanders Giants™ Electronics and Accessories

A licensing deal with Activision sets the stage for an exciting line of consumer electronics and accessories featuring the new Skylanders Giants, the super-powered and super-sized gaming heroes

DALLAS, Oct. 2, 2012 -- Sakar International, a leading manufacturer of tech, toy and consumer electronics products, today announced a licensing agreement with Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc., to create a line of accessories that feature the newest heroes from Skylanders Giants. The accessories will hit the shelves of Toys "R" Us this fall in the United States and Canada.

October 2, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

Robots In Disguise Weaponizer Series 01 - Optimus & Bumblebee
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/menu.aspx?menu=2819&category=8996

New Bandai Tamashii & More (Gundam, Chogokin, Saint Seiya, Figuarts)
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/list.aspx?list=10793

Medicom MAFEX No.001 The Amazing Spider-Man & No.002 Batman
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/search.aspx?search=mafex

AM-21 Arms Master Optimus Prime
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=TAK11571&mode=re...

Captain America War Bond Art from eFX
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/search.aspx?search=america+efx

The Hobbit Film Cells
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/menu.aspx?menu=2370&company=0&categor...

1/6 Scale A Better Tomorrow – Mark Action Figure

October 2012 - Funko has announced three POP! Vinyl figures based on The Hobbit: Gandalf, Bilbo Baggins, and Gollum. All three should be shipping to stores right about now.

October 2012 - Funko has announced three Plushies based on The Hobbit: Gandalf, Bilbo Baggins, and Gollum. All three should be shipping to stores right about now.

October 2012 - Funko has announced three Wacky Wobblers based on The Hobbit: Gandalf, Bilbo Baggins, and Gollum. All three should be shipping to stores right about now.

K'NEX Announces October Mission: K'NEX 20 on 20 Contest

Contests Run Monthly Through December, 20 Chances to Win Each Month!

Hatfield, PA, October 2012 – K'NEX, the only US construction toy company focused on Building Worlds Kids Love™, announced its tenth in a series of twelve contests, Mission: K'NEX 20 on 20, monthly "hunts" for secret codes on various K'NEX related web pages.

Every month on the 20th day, through December 2012, K'NEX will be giving away K'NEX products to lucky fans! On the 1st weekday of every month a prize will be revealed and a new "mission" is assigned. Missions can be found on the K'NEX website: http://www.knex.com/20thanniversary/Mission20on20/ which directs participants how to find secret codes. Once a code is found, participants must return to the K'NEX site and enter the code. If correct, they are eligible to be entered for a chance to win a prize. On the 20th of each month, when the contest closes, winners will be randomly chosen from those eligible entries.

Hess Toy Truck Available for Online Purchase for First Time in Product's 48-Year History

Integrated Marketing Plan to Support Nationwide Launch of 2012 Model

NEW YORK (Oct. 1, 2012) – Hess Corporation today announced that the Hess Toy Truck, a holiday tradition for 48 years on the East Coast, will be available for purchase online this year for the first time. Details of the 2012 Hess Toy Truck will be announced Nov. 1 and will go on sale Nov. 9 at participating Hess and Hess Express retail stores and at http://www.hesstoytruck.com. Preordering is available online starting Nov. 1.

"Generations of families and fans have made the Hess Toy Truck part of their holiday celebrations and have come to appreciate its history, quality and value," said Rick Lawlor, Vice President Retail Marketing at Hess. "We believe the time is right to introduce this tradition to families across the country, as the demand for and legacy of the Hess Toy Truck has grown well beyond our retail market of 16 East Coast states."

Diamond Select Toys Announces Minimates 10th Anniversary Event at NYCC

September 2012 - In celebration of ten years of Minimates, Diamond Select Toys will be holding a 10th Anniversary Minimates celebration in the toy line's birthplace, New York City! Reed Exhibitions' New York Comic-Con will host the event October 11-14, and the festivities will include an exhibit, a panel, a signing and three separate Minimate giveaways!

Located in room 1B02 of the Jacob Javits Center, the exhibit will showcase Minimates, artwork and animation from throughout the line's 10-year run, from their rock-and-roll beginnings at the NYC-based Art Asylum in 2002 to their multi-brand empire with Diamond Select Toys today. It will be open during Comic-Con show hours all four days, and attendees will receive one free promo Minimate from the company archives, while supplies last. (One per person for the weekend.)