Raving Toy Maniac

LEGOLAND® California Resort Builds Largest Expansion In Resort's History!

CARLSBAD, Calif., Jan. 17, 2013 -- LEGOLAND® California Resort's General Manager Peter Ronchetti announced new additions, a national Junior Concierge search and employment growth with new jobs to come when North America's first LEGOLAND® Hotel opens April 5. "With annual additions, LEGOLAND California Resort is a multi-day destination proving the need for this multi-million dollar hotel," said Ronchetti. "With the Hotel comes new jobs and our HR team is filling 250 positions. Not only has the Resort grown tremendously since opening in 1999, but we have truly heightened the economy in the area providing up to 1,610 Model Citizens (employees) averaging 5% growth annually since 2004. Our employment numbers have increased 62% in the last eight years!"

Allen Wen aka AW177 x outsmART originals: Year of the Snake T-Shirt

January 2013 - YEAR OF THE SNAKE t-shirt by Allen Wen aka AW177

Chinese New Year begins February 10th and 2013 is the year of the Snake! Allen Wen (AW177) has created an incredibly detailed design to commemorate the Black Snake and outsmART originals is proud to release this limited edition t-shirt to celebrate the holiday.

Based on the Chinese horoscope, the Snake is intuitive, introspective, refined and the most collected of the animal signs. People born in the year of the Snake are attractive people who take cries with ease and do not become flustered easily while being graceful people, exciting and dark at the same time.

The G.I.JoeCon 2013 Brochure is now available for download. Night Force action figures, the voice of Lady Jaye and so much more are coming to Indianapolis, Indiana April 4th - April 7th!

Fort Worth, TX - January 18th, 2013 - Fun Publications, Inc., licensee for Hasbro's official G.I.Joe Collectors' Convention, G.I.JoeCon, has released the brochure that details many of the toys, events and guests that will be featured at this year's convention that will take place at the JW Marriott from April 4th thru April 7th in the great city of Indianapolis. You can read and download the brochure at http://GIJoeCon.com.

K'NEX Great Thrill Ride Build-Off Returns!

Contest expands to three Cedar Fair parks for 2013

Hatfield, PA (January 2013) - For a third consecutive year, K'NEX, America's Building Toy™ will continue its quest for future thrill ride innovators, expanding the Great Thrill Ride Build-Off competition this year to include three Cedar Fair parks!

The contest is open to all classrooms and student groups in grades 6-12 and will run through April 8. Students are challenged to build an original, functional amusement park ride solely from K'NEX parts and explain the scientific principles that affect its operation. The contest encourages students to apply what they've learned about potential and kinetic energy, speed, acceleration, gravity and rotational motion to their creations.

One winning K'NEX model will be displayed at each of the three participating parks: Cedar Point amusement park/resort in Sandusky, Ohio, home to parent company Cedar Fair's corporate headquarters; Dorney Park in Allentown, Pa.; and Valleyfair Amusement Park in Shakopee, Minn.

Atari Files For Chapter 11 To Separate From French Parent

Iconic Brand Seeks to Restructure and Secure Independent Capital for Future Growth

NEW YORK, Jan. 21, 2013 -- Today Atari Inc., Atari Interactive Inc., Humongous, Inc. and California US Holdings, Inc. (collectively, the "Companies") filed petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. With this move, the U.S.-based Atari operations seek to separate from the structural financial encumbrances of their French parent holding company, Atari S.A. (formerly Infogrames S.A.) and secure independent capital for future growth, primarily in the areas of digital and mobile games.

January 22, 2013 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

Takara Beast Hunters - Deluxe & Voyager Figures - G11 to G18
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/list.aspx?list=11773

Takara EG Series - 8 new figures at only $10.99 each
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/list.aspx?list=11780

Gentle Giant 12" Kenner - Bossk
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=GG10580&mode=retail

Gaming Heads - Team Fortress and Half Life Statues
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/search.aspx?search=gaming%20heads

New Heroclix - Man of Steel, Bioshock & More
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/search.aspx?search=heroclix

Hasbro and The Tetris Company Announce New Face-to-Face Games Based on World-Famous TETRIS® Video Game

JENGA, BOP IT! Get TETRIS® Twist for 2013

PAWTUCKET, R.I. -- January 18, 2013 -- Today, Hasbro, Inc., a global leader in gaming, and The Tetris Company, LLC, the exclusive licensor of the TETRIS® brand, announced a licensing deal to bring TETRIS, one of the world's most successful video game brands, into a new world of face-to-face gaming developed by Hasbro. Through this agreement, Hasbro has obtained the license to manufacture and globally market multiple face-to-face games based on the TETRIS brand.

"For almost 30 years, the TETRIS game has been played by hundreds of millions of players across nearly every mobile and video gaming platform," said Henk Rogers, Managing Director of The Tetris Company. "We're thrilled to be teaming up with Hasbro to expand the TETRIS brand and give our fans fun, challenging face-to-face formats to experience the 'Tetris Effect' in a unique way."

DC ENTERTAINMENT REVEALS POSTER ART FOR THE CHICAGO COMIC & ENTERTAINMENT EXPO (C2E2)

Superstar artist Tony S. Daniel Creates Original Drawing Featuring Superman!

Norwalk, CT, Friday, January 18: DC Entertainment - the renowned comic book publisher and media entertainment company - has today revealed that they will provide the original poster art for the 2013 edition of the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2). The exclusive art will feature Superman in an iconic Chicago setting. The poster will figure prominently in C2E2's advertising and promotion and will be featured at the convention as well as in Chicago area retailers and on transit trains and buses throughout Chicago leading up to the show. Famed DC artist Tony S. Daniel (ACTION COMICS) has drawn the powerful new image of Superman flying over the Chicago skyline. Daniel will also be a Spotlight Guest at C2E2 in 2013.

January 20, 2013 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

Mega Scale Thundercats - 14" Cheetara
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=MEZ10840&mode=re...

Mezco Breaking Bad - Figures & Plush - Walter White as Heisenberg, Jesse Pinkman
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/menu.aspx?menu=3192&category=9214

Universal Monsters: 9" Creature From The Black Lagoon
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=MEZ10841&mode=re...

Puppet Master - Dr. Death & Cyclops 1:1 Replicas
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/menu.aspx?menu=1316

Bowen Tomb of Dracula 16" Statue
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=BWD10379&mode=re...

Leader OP Jetwing Parts
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/search.aspx?search=leader%20op

CS Moore - Angelus 21" Faux Bronze Statue (LE 250)
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=CSM10045&mode=re...

January 20, 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.

- Target Recalls Circo Girls' Fleece Pajamas Due to Violation of Federal Flammability Standard

- Target Recalls Children's Two-Piece Pajama Sets Due to Violation of Federal Flammability Standard

- Bugaboo Recalls Strollers Due to Fall and Choking Hazards