DULLES, Va. -- Dec. 3, 2003 -- Calling all kids! America Online, the world's leading interactive services company, is looking for some genuine toy experts to take on an exciting assignment this holiday season: Become a toy testing agent and review the hottest toys for the new KOL(TM) Toy Time program. Kids can sound off both during the holiday season and year-round about their favorite (or least favorite) toys -- hi-tech, timeless and all the ones in between. A few lucky kids, chosen at random, will get one of the most popular toys to test and rate at home. Toy Time is an engaging, interactive part of the KOL service, the first version of the AOL® service designed entirely for kids. Members can go to AOL Keyword: KOL Toy Time for details.
Here are the mission details:
Kids aged 6-12 can rate the featured toys on the Toy Time site using the "UR8-1T" feature, and sign up for a chance to become an official testing agent. They can also select which online testing squad they want to join: Lab Researchers, Social Advisors, Corps of Engineers or Field Agents.
Randomly selected KOL Toy Time agents chosen for a testing mission will receive one of today's top toys and will be asked to submit an official feedback sheet to the Toy Time Headquarters. Kids may keep the toys after submitting their review to Toy Time Headquarters. The Toy Time site will feature their feedback to give parents and kids the lowdown on toys that are tops and those that are not.
To qualify for the KOL Toy Time testing program, parents must submit a legal release form granting permission for their child to participate. Kids who enter the online testing squad of their choice get an identifying key chain and a letter notifying them that they might be contacted to review toys at any time.
KOL Picks: Hot Holiday Toys
Current Toy Time Testing Agents across the country have been reviewing some of the most anticipated hot holiday toys and providing their feedback to KOL. Here is their ranked "hot list":
1. Bratz Runway Disco Playset (MGA Entertainment)
2. Harry Potter(TM): Quidditch(TM) World Cup (Electronic Arts, PlayStation(R)2 version)
3. Spy Gear Eye-Link Communicator (Wild Planet)
4. iQuest (LeapFrog)
5. NASCAR Freestyle RaceKart (Taiyo Edge R/C)
6. Easy-Bake Real Meal Oven (Hasbro)
7. VideoNow Player (Tiger Electronics)
8. Chatitudes (Milton Bradley)
9. Bulls Eye Ball (Tiger Games)
10. CLIKITS Pretty Punch Activity Set (LEGO)
11. Crayola Crayon Maker (Binney-Smith)
12. DDRMAX2(TM) Dance Dance Revolution(TM) (Konami, PS2 Game)
13. BIONICLE (LEGO)
Here is what some of the KOL Toy Time testers had to say about the holiday toys they tested:
"The iQuest was both educational and fun. The iQuest makes it fun to study and learn." -- Asia, age 11
"I liked (CLIKITS Pretty Punch) because you can make different things and unattach it." -- Jessica, age 7
"I like that you can watch cartoons (on the VideoNow Player) wherever you go, like in the car or on the bus." -- Dylan, age 12
"I liked the driver (of the NASCAR Freestyle RaceKart), you can take his helmet on and off." -- Conor, age 6
"(Spy Gear Eye-Link Communicator) is so cool because you can go very far away from another person you are sending the message to." -- Alison, age 8
KOL Toy Time also features Battlezone, an area where two different toys compete for kids' votes. From Game Cube vs. Sony Playstation2 to LEGO vs. BIONICLE, the friendly battles give kids a chance to register their ratings on toys that rock.
The KOL service is the first version of AOL designed exclusively for kids. Combining exclusive content from industry leading kids brands and original programming, this service offers kids a fun and entertaining online experience just for them that is fully integrated with AOL's Parental Controls.
About America Online, Inc.
America Online, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. Based in Dulles, Virginia, America Online is the world's leader in interactive services, Web brands, Internet technologies and e-commerce services.
HARRY POTTER and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and (C) Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Harry Potter Publishing Rights (C) JKR.
