Category Archives: Toys

A New Generation Of Toys Shaping What Play Means

Yes, there are some toys that never go out of fashion. Children will always want to get creative with LEGO and families will always argue over a Monopoly board. However, the toy landscape is indeed changing, and the wants of the upcoming generation are shaping it in some surprising ways. Here are some of the toy trends that could be seeing the more traditional type becoming less and less popular.

An era of digital entertainment 

Nintendo has been a household name since the 80s, so some might consider games consoles a toy that never really goes out of fashion. However, no-one could have imagined back then how much video games would grow, nor the new ways kids would be interacting with them. Kids aren’t just playing video games now, they’re watching them online through streams, they’re competing in them professionally, and they’re affecting pop culture in ways that would probably have seemed impossible even ten years ago. Floss dancing, anyone?

Gadgets that get you out

A couple of decades ago, the kind of gadget you could market as a toy might include a Furby or a spy watch. Nowadays, it’s real, versatile tech that both kids and adults love. And more than that, gadgets are actually getting people outside and interacting with their world and environment in brand new ways. The clearest example of this is the drone, as shown at dronesuavreport.com, where you can see how operators used drones to completely change an experience as traditional as fishing on the river. Talk about the old meeting the new.

The surprise of it all

These toys are a combination of two trends, rather than one individual one. The idea of a toy hatching from an egg is being combined with the fact that kids are really into not really knowing what they’re getting. Compared to the little surprise eggs of the past, products like Hatchimals from spinmaster.com are much more impressive. And they’re far from the only brand to make use of this combination, with Orbeez being another big one. Part of this craze might be thanks to the growing user base on kids on Youtube and the increasing popularity of “unveiling videos” for that audience.

Goo, putty, and other gross things

Kids have always loved this kind of thing. Just look at how incredibly common “slime” was in Nickelodeon shows back in the mid-to-late 90s and you can see that. However,, slime, goo, putty or whatever else you want to call it has absolutely exploded as of late, with kits to make your own, slimes that glitter, slimes that change colors and much more. Again, part of this popularity might be related to the rise of slime videos on kids’ Youtube, but there is actually a scientific reason kids love slime, too.

Of course, kids (and big kids) can find the opportunity to play in just about anything. Really, it’s more about how attitudes and perceptions change what they want to play with. Crazes will come and go, but the love of toys will always remain.

The Toys That Have Never Gone Out Of Fashion!

When you look back to your childhood, was it all about those magical Christmas mornings when you finally got that Ghostbusters fire station? Whether you were a child of the 80s, or you grew up a few decades prior, the excitement that came out of getting a toy why is something that can’t be recaptured. And when we start to look at buying gifts for our children, we may find ourselves overwhelmed with choice. But sometimes, there are toys that stand the test of time, and there are quite a few around that have never gone out of style. If you’re looking for some inspiration, or you want to relive a little bit of your childhood, what toys or games are still out there?

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Toy Crazy: Winter 2020 WWE Funko Releases

WWE Funko Winter 2020 The Fiend Bray Wyatt Hulk Hogan John Cena Kevin Nash action figures pop vinylIt’s been awhile since I posted about upcoming Funko releases. I think I may have skipped the last series, but the upcoming toys to be released in early-2020 are must-haves.

We have reviewed a lot of Mattel’s WWE Elite figures, but Funko has also released solid figures in the past. I’m a big collector and you can see some of my collection on my Instagram, @vintagetoybob.

This upcoming set has a couple chase figures and exclusives that can be found at Amazon and Wal-Mart. We will also see the first Hulk Hogan Funko figure since his racist remarks were made public years ago.

Here are some pictures of Funko’s Winter 2020 WWE POP! vinyl releases.

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Tips to Help Find the Best Deals on Black Friday

It’s officially Fall and Pumpkin Spice Lattes are now our country’s preferred beverage of choice. It’s only a matter of time before it’s time to tackle to albatross of Black Friday shopping. 

Black Friday shopping can be extremely stressful with people crammed shoulder-to-shoulder in long lines just to get inside the door and another line just to check out at a register. Wouldn’t it be great to find a way to avoid all that hassle and still get the best deal?

Do Your Research

There are a number of Black Friday-themed websites that usually list Black Friday flyers from all the major retailers. It can be rather daunting to glean through them all, so just chose the stores you think would sell the items you’re looking for this Christmas shopping season. Also, look up Best Black Friday Deals on Google and you can usually find lists of some of the other sales from stores you may have overlooked. I would suggest Slickdeals.net as a nice resource for the best sales and coupon codes for Black Friday 2019.

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Reliving The 80’s In 2019: The Decade That Never Truly Went Away

If you were a child of the ’80s, and especially if you loved the pop culture of the time, there is little reason to look upon times past with a grieving heart and a wistful sigh! The decade never really went away, and as we shall consider in this article, there is much to enjoy in 2019 for any fan of the decade. Thankfully, gravity-defying hairstyles and giant shoulder pads do not make this list.

#1: Toys and games are making a comeback

With blockbusting movies such as the Star Wars trilogy, and hit tv-shows such as Transformers and She-Ra, toy shelves were bulging with playful merchandise that kids were desperate to get their hands on. And then there were video games; long before games consoles came into fashion, the arcades were packed with kids (and adults) playing Pac-Man, Frogger, Dig Dug, and the like. And guess what? They are still as popular as ever. She-Ra recently made a Netflix comeback, with merchandise to match. Retro gaming is more popular than ever, with downloadable titles available on all the major consoles, as well as miniature hand-held versions filling our gadget stores. Thanks to the success of the latest Bumblebee movie, Hasbro’s Transformers are due a comeback with retro-80s designs. And Star Wars, of course, has never gone away, with themed toys and video games as popular as ever. As we said a short while ago, it’s finally okay to embrace your inner geek. Enjoy!

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Toy Crazy: Mattel’s WWE Elite Series 65

I’m a self-confessed vintage toy nerd. I collect vintage wrestling action figures from the 80’s & 90’s. I started purchasing some vintage toys out of nostalgia. Well, WWE and Mattel sucked me into their new stuff. I now buy a few figures a month. You can view photos of my collection on my Instagram account.

The lineup for WWE Elite series 65 is a huge step above Elite 64. You have four ‘first time elites’ along with an updated Rusev and Roman Reigns.

The Ronda Rousey elite will be the most desirable action figure in this set. Eric Young and Aiden English may not get a ton of television time at the moment, but they should still sell well as they are first elites of those superstars. 

The WWE Superstars included in Elite 65 Ronda Rousey, Nia Jax, Aiden English, Rusev, Roman Reigns and Eric Young.

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Toy Crazy: Mattel’s WWE Elite Series 64

I’m a self-confessed vintage toy nerd. I collect vintage wrestling action figures from the 80’s & 90’s. I started purchasing some vintage toys out of nostalgia. Well, WWE and Mattel sucked me into their new stuff. I now buy a few figures a month. You can view photos of my collection on my Instagram account.

The lineup for WWE Elite series 64 is a pretty underwhelming set. Many in the lineup have been peg-warmers at retail in the past and the one ‘first time elite’ in the set is of a guy who has lost 200+ matches in a row.

The WWE Superstars included in Elite 64 Seth Rollins, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, Samoa Joe, John Cena and two Curt Hawkins elites (yes, there’s a chase version).

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Toy Crazy: Mattel’s WWE Elite Series 63

I’m a self-confessed vintage toy nerd. I collect vintage wrestling action figures from the 80’s & 90’s. I started purchasing some vintage toys out of nostalgia. Well, WWE and Mattel sucked me into their new stuff. I now buy a few figures a month. You can view photos of my collection on my Instagram account.

The lineup for WWE Elite series 63 is a mix of new and old. You have a guy like Shelton Benjamin that was well overdue for an elite, hot sellers like Shinsuke Nakamura and then a couple that may have a hard time selling, even during the holiday season.

The WWE Superstars included in Elite 63 Dusty Rhodes, Shinsuke Nakamura, Sami Zayn, Kane, Dean Ambrose and two Shelton Benjamin elites (yes, there’s a chase version).

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Toy Crazy: Mattel’s WWE Elite Series 62

I’m a self-confessed vintage toy nerd. I collect vintage wrestling action figures from the 80’s & 90’s. I started purchasing some vintage toys out of nostalgia. Well, WWE and Mattel sucked me into their new stuff. I now buy a few figures a month. You can view photos of my collection on my Instagram account.

The lineup for WWE Elite series 62 is a huge improvement over Elite 61. You have three first-time elites (Dude Love & AOP) and a WCW flashback Sting in a new attire. 

The WWE Superstars included in Elite 62 are Dude Love, Authors of Pain (Akam & Razar), Sting, Braun Strowman and Roman Reigns.

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Toy Crazy: Mattel’s WWE Elite Series 61

I’m a self-confessed vintage toy nerd. I collect vintage wrestling action figures from the 80’s & 90’s. I started purchasing some vintage toys out of nostalgia. Well, WWE and Mattel sucked me into their new stuff. I now buy a few figures a month. You can view photos of my collection on my Instagram account.

The lineup for WWE Elite series 61 feels a little ho-hum since there are so many recent repeats. I guess the bar was set high after so many great sets to start 2018. This is a set that gets Mattel ready for the Holiday season, since it’s important to get popular guys on the shelves this Fall.

The WWE Superstars included in Elite 61 are AJ Styles, Fashion Police (Fandango & Tyler Breeze, Shane McMahon, Big E and Kevin Owens.

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Toy Crazy: 2018 SDCC Funko Exclusives

The San Diego Comic-Con is the biggest comic book convention in the United States. It has grown into an overall nerd-vana with movie trailer premieres and Q&A panels with Hollywood stars.

If you’re an action figure (or toy) collector, a perk about SDCC is all the exclusive releases.

Funko has been releasing exclusive figures at SDCC for years, but over the last few years, they have been sharing the exclusives with certain retailers. It allows collectors all over the country a chance to buy some cool figures.

Funko announced all the exclusives this year, but haven’t announced which retailers will carry specific figures. Once that information comes out, I’ll update this post (*UPDATE* I’ve updated this post to show where each figure will be shared at retail).

Starting on July 19th, you should be able to find ‘most’ of these SDCC Funko exclusives at your local mall. Here’s the list of Funko exclusives for the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con.

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Toy Crazy: Summer 2018 WWE Funko Releases

We covered some upcoming Funko releases late last year. Those figures are already in my collection and look fantastic. Funko is set to release even more pop vinyl figures this Summer.

We have reviewed a lot of Mattel’s WWE Elite figures, but Funko has also released solid figures in the past. I’m a big collector and you can see some of my collection on my Instagram, @vintagetoybob.

I’ve plugged another site in a few previous Mattel/Funko posts, but if you’re looking to order Funko figures, I’d trust DCtoys.net. I’ve bought from the seller before and he is highly reputable. The best of the best for sure. You can use code ‘FREESHIPPING‘ for free domestic shipping.

Here are some pictures of Funko’s Summer 2018 WWE POP! vinyl releases.

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