November 8, 2007 - ROCHESTER, NY - A joystick. A lofty wind. And a tiny heart.

That's what it takes to power the toys officially inducted today into the National Toy Hall of Fame® at Strong National Museum of Play® in Rochester, New York.

This year's toy inductees are the innovative Atari® 2600 game system and the ages-old kite. Plus, in response to a groundswell of popular support, Raggedy Andy™ will take his rightful place in the hall alongside his sister, Raggedy Ann™, who was inducted in 2002. (After receiving thousands of petitions from Andy supporters, the hall revisited his history with Ann, and decided to unite the rag doll duo.)

The Atari® 2600 game system, kite, and Raggedy Andy™ were chosen from among a group of 12 toy finalists that also included the baby doll, Big Wheel®, Game of Life®, Hot Wheels®, My Little Pony®, pogo stick, skateboard, Spirograph®, and Yahtzee®.

Atari® 2600 Game System: Atari did not make the first home video game system - that honor belonged to the Magnavox Odyssey. However, Atari was the company that truly popularized this play form. Atari first entered the home market with its 1975 electronic table-tennis game Pong. But its true game changer came out two years later: the Atari 2600 Video Computer System. "The 2600 had better games, more colorful graphics, and sharper sound than the original systems," says Jon-Paul Dyson, vice president for exhibit research and development, and associate curator for electronic games. "Most importantly, players could change games by inserting new cartridges. And what games! Combat, Space Invaders, Pac Man, Frogger, and countless others mesmerized an entire generation and made video games a part of everyday play in the home. The Atari 2600 was a true game-changing toy."

The Kite: In the past 3,000 years, people on all continents and of all ages have learned the many and varied uses of the kite. "Kites have a history longer than the most elaborate tail, and they have traveled through so many cultures, they hardly seem tethered at all," says Patricia Hogan, curator at Strong National Museum of Play. Chinese historians record the first use of kites - in battle - about 200 BCE; kites have also advanced science, meteorology, building construction, and photography. "But kites have endured for a reason more fundamental than their serious scientific, meteorological, or military purposes," says Hogan. "A kite needs only a bit of a breeze, a wide open field, and a kid who wants to play. And nothing sends the human spirit soaring so well as a colorful kite aloft in a gentle breeze."

Raggedy Andy™: Raggedy Ann™ came to life as a doll in 1915 and as a character in a children's book in 1918. A creation of cartoonist and illustrator Johnny Gruelle, the doll and her immense popularity encouraged the introduction of a brother in the 1920 publication of Raggedy Andy Stories. Gruelle wrote 20 books about the lovable duo; scores more by other authors fed the demand of a public who have adored the pair for nearly a century. Raggedy Ann™ was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 2002. Since then, word spread to the museum that Raggedy Andy™ yearned to join his big sister. After receiving thousands of petitions from Andy supporters, the hall decided to unite the rag doll duo. Says Hogan, "The dolls are at last reunited in this place of honor - where they belong, together of course, for always."

The National Toy Hall of Fame® at Strong National Museum of Play® recognizes toys that have engaged and delighted multiple generations, inspiring them to learn, create, and discover through play. Criteria for induction include: Icon-status (the toy is widely recognized, respected, and remembered); Longevity (the toy is more than a passing fad and has enjoyed popularity over multiple generations); Discovery (the toy fosters learning, creativity, or discovery through play); and Innovation (the toy profoundly changed play or toy design).

To date, the following 38 toys have made it into the National Toy Hall of Fame®: Alphabet Blocks, Atari® Game System, Barbie®, Bicycle, Candy Land®, Cardboard Box, Checkers, Crayola® Crayons, Duncan® Yo-Yo, Easy-Bake® Oven, Erector® Set, Etch A Sketch®, Frisbee®, G.I. Joe™, Hula Hoop®, Jack in the Box, Jacks, Jigsaw Puzzle, Jump Rope, Kite, LEGO®, Lincoln Logs®, Lionel® Trains, Marbles, Monopoly®, Mr. Potato Head®, Play-Doh®, Radio Flyer® Wagon, Raggedy Ann & Andy™, Rocking Horse, Roller Skates, Scrabble®, Silly Putty®, Slinky®, Teddy Bear, Tinkertoy®, Tonka® Trucks, and View-Master®.

Playthings, the leading trade magazine covering the children's toy industry in the United States, is the national media partner of the National Toy Hall of Fame®. Founded in 1903, Playthings offers the most current and in-depth information and news on toy manufacturers, retailers, licensing, products, and people. Playthings is published by Reed Business Information, the largest business-to-business publisher in the United States.

For more information on the National Toy Hall of Fame® visit www.museumofplay.org.