TDmonthly's Toy Videos

What Works? What Doesn't? See for Yourself

By Alison Marek
July 2007

TDmonthly's Toy Videos give you instant access to toy demos so you can evaluate a product before you buy it. If it works, it shows. If not, that shows, too. Seeing is believing, but hearing doesn't hurt, either.

Videography by Rob Poswall. Edited by Alison Marek.

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*Video of the month*

ARTLAB Clay Studio: Wild Animals by SMARTLAB TOYS

High-grade clay layered over movable armatures means animals can be posed in a multitude of life-like ways. Kids learn how to create a clay template and add colorful twists and textures to creations. The kit includes four reusable “wild animal” armatures, sculpting tools and 680 grams of clay (12 colors). Read about it in the 32-page sculpting book by Julia Harrison called “Wild, Weird and Wonderful!” (Watch Video)

To see archived videos sorted by category please click here.

You can also watch manufacturer demos from 2007 and 2006 trade shows.

And here are the new videos for this month:

Solar Robots™ by UNCLE MILTON INDUSTRIES INC.

Solar Robots™ by UNCLE MILTON INDUSTRIES INC. Solar Robots use real solar cells to power themselves. Using only the power they harness from the sun, these robots can walk around. Solar Robots are available in two styles and are for outdoor use only. Launch date: Spring 2007. ( Watch Video) 1/5/2007 (MSRP: $12.99; Age: 6 and Up)

Happy Retirement™ by MARTY'S GAMES CORP.

Happy Retirement™ by MARTY The object of the game is to achieve a Happy Retirement by obtaining a balanced lifestyle (an outcome that most people do not achieve in real life). Players acquire lifestyles and an income that are generally beyond a typical person’s means. Players have to make sets consisting of three different types of lifestyles: expensive (e.g., traveling the world), not so expensive (e.g., mountain-bike trips) and free (e.g., good friends). Not included in the rules is the fact that the most valuable lifestyles to own are the ones that are free. Players find this out during game play. The most valuable attribute on the board is “Positive Attitude.” Although the game was designed for Baby Boomers, children love to play it, too, because you can’t get “bumped out” of the game. They also like having fistfuls of money. Parents consider the game to be educational and fun, as kids learn about values, negotiation and the cost of living. Game play runs 90 minutes. President Martin Kral of Marty’s Games Corp. said his game “touches a part of everyone’s lives. ...There are currently 90 million people in North America over the age of 50, and in 20 years, there will be over 180 million, and they all want a Happy Retirement.” ( Watch Video) 11/28/2006 (MSRP: $29.95; Age: 8 to Adult)

They Shall Not Pass: The Battle of Verdun 1916 by AVALANCHE PRESS

This game by William Sariego challenges players to artillery bombardment and assault combat during the 10-month struggle between Germany and France. Elite troops have numerous advantages, and morale is vital. Game pieces represent regiments and a handful of battalions. Units are rated for morale, attack, defense and movement. ( Watch Video) 4/6/2007 (MSRP: $19.99)

Ring Flash Cards: Basic Words French-English by MUDPUPPY PRESS

Each card on this 26-card ring contains an image and a corresponding word in French, with the English word on the other side. Children can use the cards as flash cards or spread them out and practice sorting skills while reading the words out loud. They can sort by color or by type of object, for example. Launch date: Spring 2007. ( Watch Video) 3/29/2007 (MSRP: $12.00; Age: 3 and Up)

Dancing Dragons by MARGARET WEIS PRODUCTIONS LTD.

Dancing Dragons by MARGARET WEIS PRODUCTIONS LTD. In this fast-play card game, dragons are celebrating and the magic is out-of-hand, so it can take time to sort things out. With luck, a swift eye and good teamwork, these dragons will leave the party with the same wings and tail with which they came. The non-collectible, team-based game is for four to eight players. “Children focus on the matching and simple teamwork, while adults like the fast play and the use of signals between partners,” Vice President Jamie Chambers of Margaret Weis Productions told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 2006. ( Watch Video) 2/1/2007 (MSRP: $14.99; Age: 6 and Up)

BuddhaWheel by BUDDHAWHEEL

BuddhaWheel by BUDDHAWHEEL BuddhaWheel, a non-competitive game based on the Wheel of Life, and shortlisted in GA's 2006 Gift of the Year awards, is a fascinating journey for adults and children of all ages and religious inclinations. Each player’s character collects good and bad karma on her path to Buddhahood, which includes traveling through the god, jealous gods, human, animal, hungry ghost, and hell realms. It is a thought-provoking exploration that inspires spirited discussion as well as pure enjoyment. Because BuddhaWheel is non-competitive, players can join. leave, and save their game at any point. The game highlights the decisions that we make in our daily lives and creates a lot of laughter. Players also express their own imaginative ideas, and this helps them deepen their understanding of each other. ( Watch Video) 2/21/2006 (MSRP: $78.00; Age: All Ages)