Hot Wheels using YouTube to race toy cars

by James on March 11, 2010

Hot Wheels Custom Motors are a new premium priced race set from Mattel

Hot Wheels Custom Motors are a new premium priced race set from Mattel

It’s quite an interesting idea. Using the link to a series of YouTube videos, Mattel has created an interactive game which promotes their new Hot Wheels series called the Hot Wheels Custom Motors Cup Challenge. The short films have linked overlaid to the video image. Players choose between a lightning quick street legal GT Racer, or a four wheel-esque Baja Truck. The next video pops up and leads to the Garage, where players can choose between special upgrades, including faster engine, lifted suspension, oil slicks and more.

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Computer Engineer Barbie is sure to like her new Barbie B Smart Learning Laptop

Computer Engineer Barbie is sure to like her new Barbie B Smart Learning Laptop

Celebrating Barbie’s new career as a computer engineer, Mattel has come out with the Barbie B Smart Learning laptop. Though not strictly a computer, per say, the toy simulates the computer experience with a small backlit monochromatic LCD, a mouse, QWERTY keyboard, touchpad, and several expansion cards.

Each expansion card holds three different games and kids can select to learn about 70 English and 10 Spanish activities which teach vocabulary, typing skills, grammar, and learning Spanish as a second language. Other smart cards will be coming down the road to expand the Barbie B Smart universe. And although it’s listed as 5 and above, I think you’d be hard pressed to find this toy of interest after 5 as it is quite simplistic.

Cost is about $55 from Oregon Scientific.

Hat Tip – our sister site Coolest Gadgets

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Big Barbie Doin’s at Toys R Us

by James on March 11, 2010

Celebrate Barbie's new video at Toys R Us this Saturday ....

Celebrate Barbie's new video at Toys R Us this Saturday ....

Toys R Us is going to have a Barbie Mermaid Party this Saturday to celebrate the release of the new Barbie video “Barbie In a Mermaid Tale.” The event, running from Noon-2pm, is designed for girls aged 3 and up, will offer free gifts while supplies last, and to also celebrate Barbie’s 51st birthday, TRU is offering $10 Barbie Bucks on purchases of $40 or more, plus great deals to style your Barbie for about $3.

Make sure to call your local TRU for further details.

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Happy Birthday, Barbie

by James on March 9, 2010

51 years ago, Barbie was introduced at the New York Toy Fair

51 years ago, Barbie was introduced at the American Toy Fair

March 9, 1959: 1st Barbie Doll was Displayed at the American Toy Fair in New York City. According to Wikipedia: It is estimated that over a billion Barbie dolls have been sold worldwide in over 150 countries, with Mattel claiming that three Barbie dolls are sold every second.

Happy Birthday, Barbie!

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Lego Build Plan portal helps fans

by James on March 8, 2010

Lego's Build Plan portal offers instructions from over 3300 different kits in PDF format for easy download.

Lego's Build Plan portal offers instructions from over 3300 different kits in PDF format for easy download.

If you’ve lost your Lego Build Plans, or your kids have torn them to shreds, take heart, Lego has a build plan portal which will allow users to download PDF copies of most Lego Build Plans (there are over 3300 online) from just about every design line in the Lego Universe.

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New Deluxe Buzz Lightyear Wingpack has retractable wings and sound effects from the Disney/Pixar hit movie.

New Deluxe Buzz Lightyear Wingpack has retractable wings and sound effects from the Disney/Pixar hit movie.

The classic scene where Buzz pops out his rocket pack wings and soars with Woody to Andy’s car, with Buzz decreeing “this isn’t flying, it’s falling with style.” It was a classic scene which made my son long for that jet pack. And when he saw it in action in the opening of Toy Story 2, he REALLY wanted one. Well finally there is one from Mattel called the “The Buzz Lightyear Deluxe Action Wing Pack” and it’ll have kids screaming “to infinity and beyond!” Just don’t let them near a stairwell banister with it.

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Arming your new Lego Green Army Men with an arsenal

March 2, 2010

Lego minifigs are so popular that third party accessories are popping up everywhere. And with the new Toy Story Army Men on Patrol set, Brick Arms has announced a new weapons pack to outfit your patrol with everything they need to cry havoc and let slip the play dogs of war.

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Ghostbusters video game fan creates proton pack controller for Wii

February 26, 2010

Heat em up! A fan of the Ghostbusters 3 video game for Wii has transformed his Wiimote wireless controllers into a proton pack controller for exclusive use in the game! But don’t worry, there’s no” unlicensed nuclear accelerator” inside, just some awesomeness that screams “I ain’t afraid of no ghosts!”

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AirHog Sharpshooter packs an R/C wallop

February 25, 2010

Sure, r/c aircraft are cool. I mean, what could be cooler than flying turbofan r/c jet fighters or hovering Cobra helicopters from a distance? How about arming them for dogfight and air to ground attack? Now that would be cool. And Air Hogs is doing it with the Sharp Shooter.

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Kettquad gets kids into extreme off roading at a young age …

February 25, 2010

I can see it now. You give your kid a Kettquad 4 wheeled bike and by the time they’re 15, they’re competing in the X Games on ESPN. Seriously, this thing is extreme.

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