video Business

Holiday hype starts early for toys

Monday, October 03, 2011 - 02:29

Oct 3 - Toy makers are trotting out their best stuff early this holiday season, promoting early favorites at an event in New York City. Bobbi Rebell reports.

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Toy makers are prepared to fight it out this holiday season. At the Time to Play Holiday Showcase in New York City, Activision showed off its cross-platform Skylanders Spyro Adventure video game which won a Time to Play Power Up award, tagging it as a top pick for family friendly video games. Players place the Skylander on the portal to play and can take it along with their game progress with them to play at their friends. Kid-friendly technology like this is big for little ones with both V-tech and Leapfrog promoting tablets. Leapfrog CEO John Barbour: SOUNDBITE: JOHN BARBOUR, CEO, LEAPFROG (ENGLISH) SAYING: "I think most parents actually want to get their iPads back from their kids since it's their toy, but just as importantly it's about the content. It's about that educational entertainment software that goes on it. " Both tablets were on Time to Play's most wanted list which forecasts the biggest hits of the holiday season. For grownups still willing to share, Disney is adding its twist to the iPad with its Appmates, which makes the iPad a playmat using cars. It will sell for about $10 each and a free app. Sunny Lauridsen, Director of Digital Toys at Disney Consumer Products. SOUNDBITE: SUNNY LAURIDSON, DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL TOYS, DISNEY CONSUMER PRODUCTS (ENGLISH) SAYING: "Our objective here was to take a device that we saw parents adopting in mass quantities that kids are using and to bring new experiences and new ways to play on that device." Affordability was also a big trend. Low-priced hits included Spinmasters Redakai, Cepia's Dagedar, MEGA Brands's 3D puzzle's and iStar Entertainment's Fireflyz dreamed up by i-Star President Joel Rosenzweig to use at his son's Bar Mitzvah: SOUNDBITE: JOEL ROSENZWEIG, PRESIDENT, I-STAR ENTERTAINMENT (ENGLISH) SAYING: "One of the advantages of this product is it's an under $10 retail and that's all you have to key in for this type of economy." And with many families under financial pressure, making sure there is something for everyone is at the top of the holiday list for TimetoPlay.com editor in Chief Jim Silver. SOUNDBITE: JIM SILVER, EDITOR IN CHIEF, TIMETOPLAY.COM (ENGLISH) SAYING: "There are lower price points and higher price points, so even a family of lower income can afford the hottest toy." Not to be left out, classic basic toys from musical instruments to nerf guns and dolls and even new editions of legos and hot wheels that literally belong on the wall. Bobbi Rebell, Reuters.