In addition to these exclusive, collectible Anakin Podracing 3D specs, AMC plans to give away a host of other cool swag during the first weekend of the film’s 3D rerelease. With the purchase of a Real3D ticket (usually pushing $20, but hey, I’d drop a Jackson for that) kids will also get a Hasbro Star Wars FIGHTER PODS collectible toy. There will also be a LEGO Star Wars feature area, Darth Maul face-painting, special character appearances for photo opportunities
and demonstrations of the upcoming Xbox Kinect™ Star Wars™.

But not every AMC Theater will these special events. Check out the list below for a theater near you:

The 10 participating Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace exclusive event screening theatres are:

Atlanta: AMC Southlake 24; Boston: AMC Loews Liberty Tree Mall 20; Chicago: AMC South Barrington 30; Denver: AMC Highlands Ranch 24; Los Angeles: AMC Tustin 14 at The District; AMC Ontario Mills 30; New York: AMC Empire 25; AMC Garden State 16; Phoenix: AMC Mesa Grand 24; San Francisco: AMC Emeryville Bay Street 16

All giveaways are while supplies last, with limit of one per ticket. The promotion will take place February 10-12 only at the AMC Theaters listed above.

Hat Tip – AFI

We’re all friends here at this kindy
Although at times you wouldn’t think so
But a smile and a hug, or a gently I’m sorry
Makes you feel okay
Okay, okay, okay, okay
- We’re All Friends, Lyrics

Sounds like a great sentiment doesn’t it? But when you’re in a band that makes millions a year in merchandise, CD sales, and concert tickets, that sentiment amounts to more of a line item in a ledger than an actual concept. Even more so if you’re one of the Wiggles who’s been sent packing with his hat in hand.

Sam Moran, aka the Yellow Wiggle for the last 5 years, was abruptly fired over the holidays and replaced with the original Yellow Wiggle Greg Page, who had left the kids band five years ago to attend to an illness he had contracted known as dysautonomia. According to the Wiggles press release, Page had returned to fine form and Moran had offered to step down so that Page could resume his role as the original Yellow Wiggle. But the real story is that Moran was forced out. Dumped to make room for Page’s return.

Passing the shirt.

Now as a parent who has a kid who grew up on the Wiggles, I am happy for Page’s return. The Wiggs weren’t really the same after his departure and apparently everyone thought so as their Disney Channel TV Series was canceled shortly after he left the group and ticket and CD sales have dropped dramatically since. But here’s the thing. Kids who remember Greg as the Yellow Wiggle are approaching their teen years. Kids who know the current Wiggles now, don’t know or even care that Greg was the original Wiggle. He’s the outsider. The guy who replaced THEIR Wiggle in the Yellow Shirt.

And what makes it even more interesting is that the other three Wiggles – Murray (Red), Anthony (Blue) and Jeff (Purple) – are sole owners in the Wiggles, Inc., sharing equally in the annual $28.1 million payday. This is believed to be the reason for Moran’s unceremonious departure as he was merely on a performing contract getting an annual salary. But since Page got a buy out when he original left the group, his returnb means that he is also merely a shirt for hire. So with millions in toys, CDs and ticket sales on the line, the big question will be – if the bottom line doesn’t rise, how long before Page gets the boot for someone else?

Hat Tip – The Telegraph

“We’re not making announcements at E3,” Kazuo Hirai, Deputy President of SONY at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show

Saying that the Playstation 3 is only half way through it’s ten year design life, Kasuo Hirai was adamant that the Playstation 4 is a long way off and that there wouldn’t be any next generation platform announcement at the annual E3 gaming convention in Los Angeles. And considering that SONY is focusing hard on the new Playstation Vita mobile gaming platform, that only makes sense. To announce a PS4 when you’re trying to push a new mobile platform would only serve to undercut efforts to get PSP fans to adopt the new handset.

Does that really mean we won’t see a PS4 for another 5 years? Not likely. For one, if Microsoft does announce XBox 720 at E3, then there will be pressure on Sony Computer Entertainment to respond in kind of be behind the curve and give Microsoft yet another unchallenged window like when the XBox 360 came out. Also, Sony continued to sell the PS2 after they released the PS3, so they will likely do the same thing with the PS3/PS4 window.

In addition, Hirai says that while SONY does offer games for sale and download through it’s Playstation Network, there are no plans to cut brick and mortar retailers out of the distribution pipeline since most people don’t want to eat up a large portion of their internet bandwidth downloading graphics intensive video games.

Hat Tip – CNN

Both platforms are long overdue for an upgrade and there’s been plenty of talk about what the upgrades would look like. For the XBox 720, there’s talk that in addition to faster processors (rumored to be PowerPC-based processors from IBM) and RAM, that the 8th generation Microsoft console will also sport not only on-board DVR recording capability, as well as being able to record game play as it happens, but also the next generation ‘Kinect 2.0′ with “significantly upgraded motion control tech ” including the ability to lip read (ok, that’s kinda scary). By contrast, the buzz that that SONY is dedicated to not being left behind this time and is planning a console that is far more powerful than what Microsoft is planning.

And if the rumors are true – and let’s face it, often they aren’t – then not only will there be another gaming arms race, but both launch announcements at e3 are sure to steal the stage from Nintendo, which is planning a huge splash for their new Wii U gaming concept.

Family Fun Magazine has named Hot Wheels Wall Tracks Toy of the Year for 2011. Other honorable mentions for the year include Meon Deluxe Animation Studio (which uses animation strips and light to create art), Perplexus Epic & Rookie (rotating puzzle balls), LEGO Alien Mothership set #7065 and the Razor BoGo PogoStick.

Our kid testers loved reconfiguring the obstacles and tracks while tester moms appreciated that the brackets adhere with 3M Command Strips, which don’t damage walls and can be easily replaced when the stickiness wears off. – Staff of Family Fun Magazine regarding Hot Wheels Toy Tracks

The Hot Wheels Wall Tracks Starter Set won appreciation from both kids and moms for it’s ease of construction, near infinite combinations, and simple cleanup. And at a price of $30 for the starter set and $17 for add on sets, Wall Tracks is a very affordable way to start your Hot Wheels collection or add to an existing one.

I think this is an excellent choice (although the color-able cardboard pirate ship has a certain play with the box vibe I like) for Toy of the Year, but I think they should break out into sub categories of girls toy of the year and boys toy of the year. As it stands, the top 10 toys (which also include the LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet, and Richard Scarry’s Airport) are all very male centric. Although I also am surprised that the Hot Wheels Video Racer didn’t crack the top ten, either.

What do you think should be the 2011 Toy of the Year? Leave your thoughts in the comments below! And HAPPY NEW YEAR!

And stores are being more narrow this year in their return policies in an effort to keep shoppers from getting their money back. The National Retail Federation estimates that 13% of stores tightened the rules for certain merchandise- especially electronics like cameras, cell phones, and personal computers, and stores like Target, Sears and Wal-Mart have made their return periods shorter, and many will try and give you a gift card to encourage you to buy something else.

Target, for example, has cut their return window in half, from 90 to 45 days for all returns, rather than just videogames, DVDs, and electronics. And all items must be in original packaging – unopened and sealed. Walmart, drastically cut returns to 15 days for cameras and other electronics. If your toy was bought online at Amazon, you may return most new, unopened items sold and fulfilled by Amazon.com within 30 days of delivery for a full refund, which usually takes about 2-3 weeks (although most refunds are fully refunded in 3-5 days after receipt and processing). Toys R Us seems to have the most liberal return policy with most items falling under a 90 day return period, but there are exceptions: Video Games, Accessories, and Systems, Computer Software, DVDs, Music, Electronics, Radio-Control Items, Trading Cards, Collectibles all must be returned within 45 days.

Photo credit: CNN Money

For a list or return policies, check out this article by ABCNews.

Mattel should make a Barbie with no hair, so that every little girl that is fighting cancer feels beautiful!! Put her in pink, name her HOPE and send ALL the proceeds from sales to St. Jude’s. Post this if you agree!

And you know what? SHE’S RIGHT. Let’s get that trending …

“There is a joy associated with a child unwrapping a toy or game on their holiday and every year we work hard to help ensure children in need worldwide can share in that experience. Thanks to the amazing work of our employees and nonprofit partners, Hasbro is able to share that joy with thousands of children and families this holiday season.” – Davis, vice president, community relations, Hasbro

Hasbro has been working with the US Marine Corps Reserve as it continues it’s ongoing Toys for Tots Mission. And this year, Hasbro will donate more than $2 million asbro toys and games to the USMCR program. This year, Hasbro is working with Toys for Tots and it’s “generationOn,” campaign, which seeks to encourage over 100,000 teens to volunteer through the Points of Light Institute … to which, the toy company will donate a toy for every volunteer pledge made.

“With many families still struggling financially, the demand has been higher than it’s been in several years. This puts additional pressure on the number of donations people can make,” said retired Marine Major Bill Grein, vice president of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. “Toys for Tots is very grateful to have such a wonderful partner in Hasbro to help us continue to bring the joy of the holidays to less fortunate children throughout the United States.”

Additionally, Hasbro employees are getting into the act through Team Hasbro to volunteer at local homeless shelters and soup kitchens to give those down on their luck a merrier Christmas. And Hasbro sweetens the pot giving employees a half day’s pay each month to volunteer with child focused organizations.

Sounds like Santa has some jolly elves at Hasbro helping keep the season bright!

“booo!!! I think girls can like Legos as they currently are. Girls can like a toy without it being pink.” – @calliecannata
“There already was lego for girls. It was called “lego”.” @SebPotter
“Just the idea of Lego for girls makes me ill. There’s not a lot of things you build that need pink. Nothing I ever built needed it.” @alexandrak

The thing about Twitterverse is that you can get some pretty instant feedback from fans if you’re blazing a new trail. And according to my boy Cody … “LEGO is destroying itself! WHY?!” Regardless, according to LEGO CEO Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, LEGO Friends is the “most significant strategic launch we’ve done in a decade.” So why are fans hating on the new toys? It seems they don’t like the stereotypical design. And if @SebPotter is right, LEGOs aren’t boy centric, they’re kid centric, so why does there have to be special LEGOs just for girls? There’s also a beef brewing about the MiniFigs which don’t really look like minifigs at all.

Fortunately, for LEGO fans, they won’t be seeing LEGO Friends in their stockings this Christmas, as they will launch next month, with or without their approval.

Hat Tip – Yahoo Trending Now

“Only Lego, with their expertise in the construction category, is capable of doing justice to the incredibly imaginative environments depicted in the world of The Lord of the Rings and the two films based on The Hobbit,” said Karen McTier, executive vice president, domestic licensing and worldwide marketing of Warner Bros. Consumer Products.

“It’s particularly exciting to now be able to create sets based on the fantasy worlds and characters from THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy and the two films based on THE HOBBIT, not only because we know they will foster collectability and creative play, but also because these are two properties that our fans have been asking us to create for years.” – Jill Wilfert, vice president, licensing and entertainment for The LEGO Group.

The LEGO/Warner Brothers fellowship grants access to all characters, settings, and stories for THE LORD OF THE RINGS property, as well as films The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again. The LEGO THE LORD OF THE RINGS construction sets are scheduled to be out by summer of 2012 in the United States, with LEGO THE HOBBIT sets out later in the year (certainly in time for Christmas).

Previous LEGO/Warner Brothers properties include LEGO HARRY POTTER and LEGO BATMAN, plus the latest launch of LEGO DC Comics Heroes. And both have had rather successful LEGO Video Game titles as well. So, could LOTR games also be the the offering? We’re betting yes. Especially if the sets take off.

Hat Tip – Brothers Brick