Raving Toy Maniac

K'NEX BRANDS And HASBRO Announce TINKERTOY® Licensing Partnership And 2012 Product

Familiar Nostalgic Play Pattern Enhanced by Stability & Durability

Hatfield, PA - February 09, 2012 - K'NEX Brands, the only US construction toy company focused on Building Worlds Kids Love™, is pleased to announce their partnership with Hasbro to create a modern, revitalized line of the classic toy brand: Tinkertoy.

Specially designed for children ages 3 and up, Tinkertoy is a name that stands for wholesome, enduring fun. Created in 1913 after children were seen playing with pencils and empty spools of thread, it developed into a national phenomenon that inspired children to use their imaginations, and was nominated into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 1998.

Mattel's Monster High™ and Universal Home Entertainment Form New Worldwide Marketing and Distribution DVD Partnership

Monster High™: Ghouls Rule! Available Fall 2012 on DVD and Digital Download

LOS ANGELES -- February 8, 2012 -- Mattel and Universal Pictures today announce a worldwide marketing and distribution alliance for the first ever feature-length DVDs from the hugely successful Monster High™ franchise. Monster High™: Ghouls Rule! will be the first direct-to-DVD, CG-animated film to be released under this new partnership. Centered around the perfectly imperfect teenage children of the world's most famous monsters, Monster High™ resonates with girls across the globe for its clever and humorous storytelling that captures the awkward, yet relatable, moments of being a teen in high school.

February 2012 - Toy2R brings vinyl back to music with the announcement of a licensed collaboration with Grammy nominated phenom - DEADMAU5.

Roaming the floor during next week's Toy Fair trade show, Toy2R will be hyping this project as well as other hot 2012 releases. Wholesale interest should email [email protected] for more information.

Stay Tuned...

Extensive Cast of Voice Actors Unveiled for Super Hero Squad Online

SAN MATEO, Calif., Feb. 8, 2012 -- Let's talk! Providing voiceover for every hero and villain in an online game is an immense undertaking; most developers don't attempt to give their games that much personality. However, for a universe as rich as the world of Marvel and a roster of super heroes as star-studded as the Super Hero Squad's, making the effort is worth it for the millions of Marvel fans around the world. That's why Gazillion Entertainment and Marvel Entertainment announce today that the entire cast of characters, current and upcoming, in the popular free online kids game Marvel Super Hero Squad Online will have voice.

Screenlife Celebrates 10th Anniversary Of Scene It? with First-Ever Star Wars(TM) Scene It? Game Revealed at 2012 NY International Toy Fair

Entertainment Trivia Game Series Adds New Titles, Streaming Options

Activision and Hasbro Announce Upcoming BATTLESHIP Videogame

MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 8, 2012 -- Lock, load and prepare for grand oceanic action this spring because Hasbro and Activision Publishing Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard Inc., proudly present the BATTLESHIP™ videogame developed with Double Helix Games. Inspired by the classic naval strategy game, this seek-and-find adventure is taken to spectacular new heights. As a stand-alone story from Universal Pictures' upcoming epic action-adventure of the same name, the BATTLESHIP videogame offers a blend of strategic naval command and first-person action gameplay.

"We're geared up for an outrageous sea and land conflict with the all new BATTLESHIP videogame," said David Oxford, Activision Publishing. "Inspired by the film's exciting action and stunning backdrop, the game is next-gen naval warfare that thrusts players into the middle of humanity's last stand against an unfamiliar menace."

February 8, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

Hi - Here is a quick update from http://www.bigbadtoystore.com about a variety of new preorders, more cool new arrivals, and our latest sale.

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VALENTINES DAY SALE
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We've cut pricing on 40 various older & overstocked listings. There are a variety of items from Transformers, Marvel, Star Wars, DC, GI Joe, and more. Our Seacon Exclusive is back on sale at $35 each, grab one now before they go back to $49.99 again.
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/list.aspx?list=8777

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NEW PREORDERS
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NEW BOWEN MARVEL STATUES, BUST

FUTURETRO OUTER SPACE MEN PRINT REVEALED!

February 2012 - The Four Horsemen's upcoming gallery show, Toypocalypse 2: Futuretro begins this Friday, February 10th at 7pm at the TT Underground Gallery in New York City, and the Horsemen are ready to reveal the limited edition Outer Space Men print that will be sold along with the exclusive "Cosmic Creators" Outer Space Men figures set at the show.

Painted by fan favorite artist and frequent Four Horsemen collaborator, Nathan Baertsch, this 11" X 17" image on high quality, uncoated, heavy card-stock is Nate's vision of the Outer Space Men originally created by renowned designer Mel Birnkrant back in the late 60's.

Big Shoes Filled -- Skylanders Giants™ Revealed at the 2012 American International Toy Fair

New Game to Build on the Landmark Success of its Predecessor, Skylanders Spyro's Adventure™

Next Chapter in the Franchise Introduces More Than 20 New Figures Including Super-Sized Giants and Characters Featuring Light Technology

Global Marketing Partnership With Toys"R"Us Grows Alongside The Game

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 7, 2012 -- Bring Your Toys To Life™. This novel premise takes a monster step forward with the worldwide unveiling of Skylanders Giants, the follow-up to the most successful kids' IP launch of the year.(1) Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc., will debut the sequel at the North American International Toy Fair in booths 3151 and 3251 at the Javits Center in New York City from February 12-15.

All Things Equal to Introduce New Board Game and Puzzles Based on the Popular Website AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com

MIAMI BEACH, Fla., Feb. 7, 2012 -- All Things Equal heads to the New York Toy Fair next week to introduce a new board game and puzzle collection based on AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com, one of the world's most popular comedy websites with 20 million visitors monthly and two New York Times bestselling books. All Things Equal also celebrates the 15-year anniversary of their flagship game, Loaded Questions®.

"We're excited to build on the success of our Loaded Questions games with a brand that has worldwide appeal and brand recognition," says Eric Poses, President of All Things Equal. "The Awkward Family Photos® game and puzzles continue the hilarity people experience from the website."