Toyology

Tech meets toy - kind of!

They're called ZipZips but have a stange feel of a famous junior building block piece about them don't you think? Available in yellow or red these gizmos can store a 1GB of data and you can get one HERE for $59.

Spiderfan search

The folk at Hasbro have launched an enormous search to find the Ultimate Spider-Man Fan, the prize is an incredible, a webtastic, once in a lifetime prize package for one winner - Dig out your arachnoid gear and get going. Send in a photograph of yourself proving your worth for the title of the arachnid hero’s number one fan and the winner will be flown VIP to Hollywood with their family for an amazing seven day trip. And as if that wasn’t enough, the winner will be filmed in a studio to star in a Hasbro toy TV advert!
The best 1,000 entries, selected by a team of Spider-Man experts will be guaranteed to get in front of our judges for a live audition at participating Vue cinemas across the UK over the summer school holidays. The auditions will also be open on a first come first served basis* and promise to be great mornings of fun with video games, toys, and cartoons on the big screen. There will be loads of runners up prizes as well!

Vue Cinema, Edinburgh Omni Centre                2 July             8.30am – 12noon
Vue Cinema, London West End                       30 July            8.30am – 12noon       
Vue Cinema, Bristol Cribbs Causeway            31 July            8.30am – 12noon
Vue Cinema, Birmingham Star City                 1 August          8.30am – 12noon
Vue Cinema, Cheshire Oaks                          6 August          8.30am – 12noon
Vue Cinema, Kirkstall Rd, Leeds                     7 August          8.30am – 12noon

To enter and for a full list of terms and conditions please visit www.wannabespiderman.com , visit your nearest Toys ‘R’ Us where there will be entry boxes, or post your picture to Ultimate Spider-Man Fan, 131-151 Great Titchfield Street, London, W1W 5BB. Good luck!

Fairground Fun

Celebrating their 20th Anniversary this year are the terrific Sylvanian Families toys, stilla firm favourite amongst the girls. Amongst their various releases for 2007 are a collection of fairground pieces including this, the Baby Fairground Treehouse(£45.99)which is the centrepiece of the set. It has two interchangeable play areas, a selection of furniture and a splendid swan gondolier for the figures to take a ride around the lake. Other additions include a Ferris Wheel (£10.99), Teacup ride (£14.99) and a Train Playhouse (£10.99) - See the Sylvanian website for more details.

Here's Homer

First spotted at the Toy Fair way back in January the Homer Sapien finally has a debut date for the UK market. The Gadgetshop have exclusive stocks (£69.95) arriving in th next two weeks so get over there for yours. This robot is a Robosapien /Homer Simpson hybrid so as well as packing in the functionality of the first has one or two more to give him that Springfield feel. There are a total of 67 functions (pick up objects, throw objects, kick objects, dance etc) plus "Homerisms" like as belching, snoring, farting, and the classic "Doh!"

Top Job

News into Toyology Towers of Abbi Beckett, aged 12, has just landed the post of "head of Play" for Eurocamps is the only explanation. She gets to play with new kit and deevise new games then report back to the directors whwo then implement a rool-out of the new activity at their camps across the UK and Europe. Nice workif you can get it.

Exec Slot-Set

The evolution of the briefcase has sen many modelsadapt to include numerous zips, pens slots paper compartments, combinations locks, space for sandwiches but this one take the logicla step forwards. For less than 600 Euros (thats us trying to make it sound cheaper and therefore justify the purchase on expenses) you get a minature slot car set complete with cars and remote control units that sit inside perfectly and it's all powered by its own batteries, which give 5 hours of play executive brainstorming and deal making time. Find it HERE - Uncovered by ShinyShiny.tv

Key Keeper

Constantly churning out creations that keep capturing our eye can be no mean feat yet the eggheads at LEGO seem to stretch their grey matter into areas that other toy players daren't even venture toward. Just look here, simple enough, LEGO ackboard, two keyrings with bricks as the fob. The best key storage system since the beginning of time. Gets yours for £12.99 HERE

Street Snowboarding

No need to head off for the slopes for some snowboarding action just grab one of these new Ripstick caster boards. The unique underside system uses two wheels so you can pull off superb stunts and tricks in the urban jungle. A pivot bar at the centre lets you cut up corners and, with a little practice will lead to impressive crowds gathering around for a closer look at your technique. Available now for £89.99, a small price to pay to be cooler than a Polar bears backside.

Plink Plonk

We're not very musical here at Toyology towers, the closest any of us has been to "playing" standard of any musical instrument is blaring in a marching band with a bugle, and non of us know our octaves from our, well you get the jist. We are however, slightly pushy parents and see the benefits of playing a musical instrument and learning at an early age so this Melissa and George  number, complete with song book aimed at the 4+ market seems a steal at £49.95 at the Kidestore.

Shrek Stuff

We managed to sneak into the screening of Shrek the Third on Sunday, apprehensive as we were after reading less than glowing reports we took our seats with open minds (and partially closed eyes at 9:30 am on a sunday morning). Impressed? YES! " a rollout of previous characters" sai the critics, well of course, plus a few new ones, another critisism that it was "a lame effort to improve on the first two" absolutely not. This is a adult friendly film that appeals to kids, and if you've never seen the first installments it really has no bearing, if you have....... Same answer - Best of the bunch we say. Of course in our land of licensing we'd expect some gear to enhance our "after the movie experience" so here's some for you to select!