Raving Toy Maniac

November 20, 2013 - Toys'R'Us has sent out an email with a link to an in-store coupon you can print to get 15% off your entire regular-priced purchase. The coupon is good through November 21.

Print the coupon to use in-store. The coupon is also good at Babies'R'Us stores. If you prefer to shop online, use code SAVE15 for the 15% off.

One-third of Toy Purchasers Spending Less on Toys Compared to Last Year

NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2013 -- It's that time of year - kids are thinking of their lists and parents are dreading the toy commercials on TV and the catalogs coming into the house. But, for kids, it's that wonderful time of the year and half of Americans (50%) say they will be purchasing toys as gifts this holiday season, likely making kids very happy. This is slightly down from the 52% of U.S. adults who said they were purchasing toys last year. Not surprisingly, being a parent to someone under 18 impacts purchase intent considerably - four in five of these parents (81%) say they plan to purchase toys, compared to 41% of those who are not parents of a child under 18.

These are some of the results of The Harris Poll® of 2,368 adults surveyed online between October 16 and 21, 2013 by Harris Interactive®. (Full results, with data tables, available here)

Spending on toys compared to last year

K'NEX® Brands And Respawn Entertainment Announce New Licensing Relationship

Officially Licensed Building Toys by K'NEX Allows Kids to Build & Play in the Titanfall™ World

Hatfield, PA, November 2013 – One of the most highly anticipated video games of 2014, Titanfall™, will soon be transformed from onscreen play to building sets with new licensed building toys by K'NEX®. Respawn Entertainment, creator of the game which is set to release on March 11, 2014, and K'NEX, the only U.S. construction toy company focused on Building Worlds Kids Love®, are pleased to announce their new agreement to create a line of building toys based on the Titanfall video game.

The relationship combines the award-winning K'NEX building system with the Titanfall World, bringing it from the digital screen to the construction aisle for the first time. With over 80 prestigious gaming awards earned before the game's launch, Titanfall is full of exciting, explosive and thrilling action, and appeals to gamers of all ages. Titanfall will be available on Xbox 360®, Xbox One®, and PC.

November 19, 2013 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

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NEW PRE-ORDERS
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BATMAN UNLIMITED 2013 SERIES 04 - CASE, SINGLES
The new Case of Batman Unlimited figures includes two each of Batman and Deathstroke (each from Arkham Origins) and one each of "Beware the Batman" Batman and Vampire Batman. This case is listed at $99.99, with singles of Arkham Origins Batman and Deathstroke at $23.99 each.
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/search.aspx?search=BATMAN%20UNLIMITED...

BIOSHOCK INFINITE SKYHOOK PROP REPLICA
This life-size replica from the popular video game measures over 22" long and has motorized action that spins the gears and hooks when the trigger is squeezed. We have this collectible listed at $69.99.
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=NEC12419&mode=re...

Salt Lake Comic Con Is Baaack! With Great Success Comes Great Responsibility

SALT LAKE CITY, Nov. 14, 2013 -- Dan Farr Productions DBA, Salt Lake Comic Con (SLCC) (http://saltlakecomiccon.com/) announced today it will hold two Comic Con events in 2014, including a 2014 Salt Lake Comic Con FanXperience (FanX) on April 17-19, 2014 and the Second Annual Salt Lake Comic Con 2014 on September 4-6, 2014.

The decision to produce two events in 2014 was based on overwhelming fan response to the SOLD OUT September 2013 inaugural event.

Norman Reedus, star of the hit series The Walking Dead™, will headline the initial celebrity guest list at April's 2014 FanX. Reedus will be joined at FanX by Walking Dead co-star Chandler Riggs, Brent Spiner and Marina Sirtis from Star Trek: The Next Generation™, Kelly Hu from X2:X-Men United™ and Adam Baldwin of Firefly. Over 100 additional celebrities and guests will be announced between now and the April event.

Pleygo Partners With Generation Rescue For First Ever "Pleygo LEGO® Holiday Brick Drive Campaign" To Support Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Campaign Supported by Real Housewives of New Jersey Cast Member, Jacqueline Laurita

NEW YORK, Nov. 14, 2013 -- Just in time for holiday giving, Pleygo (www.pleygo.com), the "Netflix-like" service that allows families to rent LEGO® sets, has joined forces with Generation Rescue (www.generationrescue.org), a national non-profit providing immediate treatment assistance and hope to families affected by autism, to "build" much-needed awareness and funds through the first-ever "Pleygo LEGO Holiday Brick Drive."

Running from November 13th through January 2014, the drive will collect LEGO bricks to stock Generation Rescue-affiliated doctors' offices and medical facilities.

November 17, 2013 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

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NEW PRE-ORDERS
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VOLTRON 30TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTORS SET
This set includes all five lions with LED eyes, die-cast and plastic construction, weapons and more, along with a special display base including a key that unlocks sound effects. This set is listed at $224.99.
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=TOY10608&mode=re...

FT-04 SCORIA
This masterful figure changes from 10" robot to Triceratops, and comes with a sword with a 'fiery' translucent blade. He is listed at $199.99.
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=FTS10003&mode=re...

WARBOTRON WB01-01, 02, 03, 04, 05

November 16, 2013 - Listed below are the toy (and child-related) recalls from this week; these links go to the official announcements on the Consumer Product Safety Commission web site.

- Step2 Recalls Ride-On Wagon Toys Due to Fall Hazard; Sold Exclusively at Toys R Us

- Dream On Me Recalls Cradle Gliders Due to Infant Fall Hazard

- Children's Pajamas Recalled by Babycottons Due to Violation of Federal Flammability Standard

- L.L. Bean Girl's Pajamas Recalled Due to Violation of Federal Flammability Standard

November 2013 - Funko has announced three new POP! Movies and POP! Television vinyl figures - all based on your favorite robots.

Look for Robby the Robot (Forbidden Planet), The Iron Giant, and Robot B9 (Lost in Space) to be in stores around December 24th.

November 2013 - Funko has announced a new POP! Heroes vinyl figure - this one is Judge Dredd, and is due in stores around December 10th.