Time for Kids | News | 'Tis the Season for Fun
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`November 21, 2007
`
`'Tis the Season for Fun
`Toys transform and recreate themselves this holiday season
`BY CLAUDIA ATTICOT, VICKIE AN AND JOSEPHINE BILA
`
`
`
`There are lots of new ways to play this holiday season--from new
`versions of classic board games and online adventures, to toys that
`let kids explore their inner superstar. Here's a peek at some of the
`hottest toys for the holidays.
`
`Game on!
`You'll go head over heels for Super Mario Galaxy (WII). In this
`game, Mario walks upside down and sideways and hops from galaxy
`to galaxy. Each planet contains a giant puzzle that Mario must solve
`in order to move to the next level. In Galaxy, Mario goes on a quest
`to save Peach, a princess, and defeat the evil Bowser. This time, he
`is armed with some nifty new tricks. Like a bee, Mario can climb
`special honeycomb sections of the game. He can also freeze water,
`walk through walls and leap to amazing heights.
`
`If family fun is what you
`crave, check out Buzz
`Junior Jungle Party (PS2).
`The game's action takes
`place in a jungle, but don't
`plan to monkey around.
`Characters in the game
`include gorillas, hippos,
`turtles, and even the king
`of the jungle. With its
`colorful controls and dozens
`of easy-to-play mini games,
`the whole family will be
`begging to join in the
`jungle party fun.
`
`The Buzz Junior Jungle Party lets the whole
`family play a long. Its easy-to-play games take
`place in a jungle.
`
`SingStar (PS2) really gets the party started. This sing-a-long
`karaoke game lets you belt out your favorite tunes in superstar
`fashion. Microphones are included! You can sing a duet with your
`favorite pop singer or rock out with your friends. Scores are tallied to
`determine a winner and are based on how well you sing and your
`vocal range. With 30 chart-topping hits and three different versions,
`(SingStar Pop, SingStar 80s and SingStar Amped), you can sing your
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`http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/news/story/0,28277,1686722,00.html
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`11/26/2007
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`ZIPIT EX. 2070, pg.1
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`Time for Kids | News | 'Tis the Season for Fun
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`heart out for hours.
`
`If singing's not your thing, give your arms a workout with Mario &
`Sonic at the Olympic Games (WII). Up to four players can participate
`in 20 different Olympic events, including track and field, archery,
`swimming and gymnastics. Players compete using fun characters like
`Yoshi, Knuckles, Peach, and Shadow. Reaching for the gold has
`never been more fun!
`
`Taking the Fun Online
`Barbie Girls lets you take a fun adventure online. At
`barbiegirls.com you can design a room, create and chat with
`virtual characters and shop at the mall using "BBucks," that's virtual
`Barbie currency. After a day of shopping at the game's mall, you can
`kick back with your Barbie-shaped MP3 player. It comes with a
`whole line of fashion accessories that you can mix and match with
`your real-life friends. The player holds more than 100 of your
`favorite songs.
`
`When it's time to get
`Funky, Radica's new U.B.
`Funkeys can get you into
`the grove. The game lets
`you play with 42 quirky
`characters that live inside
`an online, interactive
`playground. There, the
`Funkeys love to design,
`travel to new lands and
`decorate their "cribs."
`Players earn coins in order
`to buy cool gadgets for
`their Funkey's "crib."
`
`U.B. Funkey’s quirky characters let you join the
`fun in their online playground.
`
`If IM-ing is more your speed, take the Zipit Wireless Messenger 2
`(Z2) for a spin. The handheld device supports Yahoo!, AOL and MSN
`Instant Messaging platforms. The Z2 connects you to your friends
`via WiFi. And if you get tired of chatting, you can turn on some
`tunes. "MyTunez" that is. The Z2 lets you load your favorite MP3s
`and listen anywhere, without monthly sign up or online fees!
`
`More than Meets the Eye
`If you missed last summer's blockbuster hit, Transformers, Hasbro's
`Transformers Optimus Prime Voice Changer Helmet is the next best
`thing. The helmet can transform your voice to sound like your
`favorite Autobot. Or you can let the Optimus Prime do the talking. It
`can utter five cool phrases from the movie.
`
`Take the force with you this holiday season in the form of the Star
`Wars Transformers Death Star. On one side it looks like the
`spacecraft Death Star, on the other an evil Darth Vader action
`figure. The 2-in-1 toy comes with weapons, fighters and miniature
`aircrafts. Man your battle stations.
`
`Create a Toy
`Would you like to build your
`own toy? Well, LEGO's has
`what you need. The
`Monster Dino comes with
`792 pieces that can be
`made into three different
`monsters: a spider that
`crawls, a creeping crocodile
`and a roaring dinosaur that
`can walk and move its
`head. All of them glow in
`the dark too! This system
`includes two motors and a
`remote control to bring
`your creation to life.
`
`With LEGO’s Monster Dino set, you can build
`three different creatures, including a ferocious
`dinosaur.
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`http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/news/story/0,28277,1686722,00.html
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`11/26/2007
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`ZIPIT EX. 2070, pg.2
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`Time for Kids | News | 'Tis the Season for Fun
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`Page 3 of 4
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`Ahoy mateys! Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to rescue a
`diver from the jaws of a ferocious shark. Don't worry; the Matchbox
`Mega-Rig Shark Ship Vehicle has all the tools you need to make a
`safe rescue. The vessel comes equipped with action figure, harpoon
`and more! You can even dismantle the massive shark ship to make
`40 different boats and other vehicles.
`
`Making the Old New Again
`The bank may be closed, but in Hasbro's new Monopoly Electronic
`Banking Edition all you need is a debit card to play. No more fiddling
`with paper Monopoly money. Just stick your card into the game's
`ATM machine to find out your balance. You can then use the card to
`pay fines, buy property and even collect your $200 for passing GO!
`Hold on to your wallet, though. In this high-tech version, each player
`starts with $15 million! Players can lose money if a virus infects their
`computer or if they go to jail for identify theft.
`
`In The Game of Life: Twists and Turns Edition the life experiences
`are even more realistic. During the game, players go though life
`events at the roll of the dice. You'll experience marriage, buying a
`house or a car and dealing with family relationships. This version of
`LIFE also offers a few tech updates. Players can use a LIFE-pod to
`help manage their careers and keep track of purchases. Like the new
`electronic Monopoly, LIFE also features a card instead of money. This
`time it's a VISA credit card.
`
`Who Wants to be a Superstar?
`Get your grove on with The Cheetah Girls Rockin' Style Keyboard
`from Play Along. This cheetah-licious electronic piano comes with
`eight different musical tempos and instrument sounds, as well as
`echo effects, a light-up keyboard, and a sing-along microphone. Now
`you have everything you need to jam away to the pop group's chart-
`topping tunes!
`
`And speaking of chart-toppers, have you ever wondered what it was
`like to live the exciting life of teen rock star Hannah Montana? If so,
`check out Mattel's Hannah Montana DVD Game. You can rock out to
`the raspy-voiced superstar's hits, strike a pose at your own
`simulated photo shoot, and test your Hannah trivia skills.
`
`Then, if you get tired of being a real-life pop sensation, Dream Life
`Superstar (Hasbro's Tiger Games) gives you the chance to explore
`the glitz and glamour of other celebrity lifestyles. Plug Dream Life
`into your TV to experience a day in the life of a fictional movie star,
`diva, fashion designer, sports star, reality TV star or writer. Are you
`ready for your close-up?
`
`A Sight for Exploring Eyes
`EyeClops Bionic Eye by JAKKS Pacific is opening up a new world of
`wonders. The easy-to-use handheld eyeball magnifies objects up to
`200 times their regular size, giving users an extraordinary view of
`the most ordinary objects. Just plug EyeClops into your TV, focus the
`lens, and discover the amazing possibilities. You can investigate
`everything from creepy crawlies and Mom's meatloaf to your own
`skin--all on your own television.
`
`Air vs. Land
`Take flight this holiday
`season with WowWee's
`FlyTech DragonFly. The
`high-tech insect may be the
`first remote-controlled toy
`to use flapping wings
`instead of a propeller to fly.
`Its body is ultra light, but
`still sturdy enough to
`survive several crash
`landings.
`
`Just like a real dragonfly, WowWee’s remote-
`controlled FlyTech DragonFly flaps its wings to
`
`If heights make you
`
`http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/news/story/0,28277,1686722,00.html
`
`11/26/2007
`
`ZIPIT EX. 2070, pg.3
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`

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`Time for Kids | News | 'Tis the Season for Fun
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`Page 4 of 4
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`fly.
`queasy, stay grounded by
`test-driving the remote-controlled XPV Super Terranator (JAAKS
`Pacific). The vehicle's unique all-terrain design allows you to easily
`steer it through the roughest environments, including dirt, mud,
`snow and even water. Buckle up!
`
`It's a Virtual World
`JAKKS Pacific's latest addition to its line of virtual pet play, Vmigo
`Spider-Man, packs a real punch! In this game, everyone's friendly
`neighborhood web-slinger needs your help to enhance and maintain
`his powers. Use the handheld pod device to battle bad guys and
`build your Spider Senses on the go. At home, plug the pod into the
`docking system for even more action-packed play.
`
`For a calmer and cuddlier
`friend, check out Tiger
`Electronics' Mio Pup. This
`interactive canine
`companion is one virtual
`pet that you can actually
`hold. Mio Pup responds to
`your voice and touch by
`wiggling its ears and tail. It
`also expresses emotions,
`including joy, surprise and
`hunger, through animated
`images in its eyes. The
`more this loyal pal is loved,
`the happier it will be.
`
`The Mio Pup interactive pet responds to your
`voice and touch.
`
`Whew! It looks like this season has something for just about
`everyone. What will you put on your holiday wish list this year?
`
`
`
`BACK TO ALL HEADLINES
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`Copyright © 2007 Time For Kids and Time Inc. All rights reserved.
`
`http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/news/story/0,28277,1686722,00.html
`
`11/26/2007
`
`ZIPIT EX. 2070, pg.4