Toyology

Lots-of-fun-o-Bots

This trio of non-earth threatening automatons are ideal for those budding robotics engineers in your life. Select your comedy droid from Tim Can, the one who turns any standard tin can into your very own walking, wobbling, bog-eyed robot! Tim can be built into two distinct styles and features long, bendy spanner arms., change how he looks by changing the can, think of him as a halfway house to the recycling bin. There's Sweep , the on-the-move robot who scours work surfaces as he moves, an interesting way to clear up after-dinner crumbs and then we have Bump, witch him and and marvel at his high speed zooming about, he'll never get stuck though as when he bumps into an object he'll alter direction. Each one is £13 over at Red5

Retailers association picks their Hot Dozen for this Yule

The TRA represents over 75% of the Uk Toy Industry and has a decent idea whats going to be flying off the shelves at any given season. Its Xmas picks for 209 comprise amixed bacg of stuff that all steps in at under £50, most we agree with, a couple we're at a loss to explain : 

Bakugan Battle Pack, Spin Master (£19.99)
Battle Strikers starter Set, Mega Brands (£9.99)
Ben 10 Alien Force Kevins DX Action Cruiser, Bandai (£29.99)
Bendaroos Mega Pack, Spin Master ( £19.99)

GO GO Pets Hamsters, Character Options (£9.99)
GX Racers Tightrope Terror, Flair  (£22.99)
Kidizoom Multimedia Digital Camera, V-Tech (£49.99)
Lego Games Minotaurus, Lego (£17.99)
Monopoly City, Hasbro (£24.99)
Princess Peppa’s Palace, Character Options (£39.99)

Souper Spoon - Not JUST for kids

Quite clearly designed to make eating greens and the like a little less trouble than it should be for nippers here's another variation on a theme. This one does stand out well enough from the aeroplance shaped crowd and is easily transferable to the sides of grow-up bowls without felling too daft. Stand Souper to attention at your desk, he has moveable arms so perhaps get him to hold some post-its, most importantly though he is there to assist you in the eating of your soups, fruits and cereals.. Healthy hero spoon. £7.99 from FIREBOX

Smartglobe offers information overload

Anyone planning world domination needs to ensure they have a) Access to current affairs in their chosen takeover country and b) Someone on hand who speaks the lingo and is culturally adept – The interactive 3D learning system can fulfill these two criteria and you'll not therefore have to confide in another human who might let your plans slip. Just pick up the remote-control Smart Pen to get started, touch the control panel on the front then any country to get yourself masses of useful data – currency, capital cities, national anthems, history, current leaders, and whole load more beside.

Portable Beatbox now on the shelves

Mighty impressed we are with Recreations latest reincarnation of the Stylophone that it has made us talk in a Yoda like fashion, enough of that. The 13 pads aboard the Beatbox version has us in mind of a futuristic steeldrum, the soundshowver ensure this is where the similarities end.  Start attacking each with your stylus and play different percussion sounds and choose from 3 different "sound sets" - Drum kit,Bass Stylophone and Beatbox set which has a scratch function button. Record, alter the tempo and play sounds over the top by adding an MP3 player -Check out the video for the Beatbox in the hands of the Pro's -  Buy one HERE for £19.99

Artoo the Android R/C

Based on the Clone Wars caracter this R2D2 unit will still have a place in original fil footage lovers hearts. Press the switch atop the Lightsabre lookalike and he'll move forwards then press again to change direction! Runing around with lights, sound and of course swivel headaction its a great addition to any Star Wars collection...Or a grea beginning of a new one. £24.99 HERE

Race-in-a-case is a Winning Formula

 
NEW from the makers of 'Race In A Bag'* is the catchier, slicker and altogether more ergonomically friendly, Race In A Case!' Whether you be at work, at home or in transit, simply open up the case and a world of fun shall unfold before thy very eyes. Really, it just unfolds. Unfolds into what, I hear you ask? Only a racetrack! Yeah! None of that fiddling with pieces of track only to find there's a corner missing from that complex figure of 8 shape ye so desired. No more wobbly bridges balanced on the shag pile carpet. In fact no more building anything. Also filed under 'no more' are the toy version of a hefty albatross around your neck...wires. No more wires tangling their evil way around your Formula Fun. Just effortless case based racing. What do these race cars run on you may ponder? Magic? Solar energy? The teardrops of baby unicorns? Well no, actually, but almost. HAND powered controllers are at the heart of this wunderkind of the toy racing world. Simply crank up your controllers by hand, point them at the cars and pow! This formula...has won! Race over to Gizoo to grab one.

*not true.

RoboHamsterQueen

Show your support with this desktop chanter

If you have ever tried showing your true colours whilst at work by going beyond the colour code of your stationary or sporting your clubs strip at work by breaking into terrace chants the likelehood is you're reading this at home. Avoid such vocal outbreaks and allow the Lilliputian No1 fan to fill the air with non-offensive outbursts that have apparently been taken from the appropriate terraces. Selectyour supporter from the current range of five teams and at the press of a button he'll sway from side to side whilst releasing his version of one (from the pre-recorded five inside)team rousing tune much to the delight of others of the same allegiance. The downside is that perhaps club supporters of the same team will be trying to outdo each other by populatinbg the office  with increasingly larger numbers than their opponents. Grab one now and be the one to start this childish behaviour. £19.99 HERE

Why cats need nine lives

We spent some time this week out and about with the latest creation from FurReal, Lulu, a most realistic kitty as you'll see from the footage and peoples reactions. This thrill seeking kitty enjoyed pulling a few stunts and illustrates very well why cats need all nine of their allocated lives.

Dancing Dumper Truck

Use you Rocky the Robot truck from Matchbox for some simple hauling, trucking and dumping action, he's a great toy for this and sizeable enough to transport a fairly hefty load but the real 21st century twict comes when you give his exhaust pipe a twist. Rocky then rears up to make him stand, shake, joke, and dance and chit-chat with his 100 strong phrase book accompanied with flashing lights.£65 ish at Toys R Us