It’s hard to believe the 2015 Holiday season is fast approaching. Most of us still have sand in our sandals from summertime fun. This week I had the opportunity to attend the 2015 TTPM Holiday Showcase which provides a preview of the latest and greatest toys and gadgets for the upcoming holiday shopping season. If you’re a tech toy aficionado, a treasure trove of delights awaits.
If you haven’t heard, tis the season of Star Wars.
Hasbro Star Wars BB-8
More kid centric in its approach, this RC toy aims to please featuring the movement and sounds of BB-8 from the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens movie. Retail price $79.99. Available now.
Star Wars The Force Awakens Battle Action Millennium Falcon
You can even fix or disengage the hyperdrive! There’s a lot of fun packed into this play set. This has collectable written all over it. Retail price $119.99. Available now.
Sphero BB-8 App-Enabled Droid
Fashioned after the movie version of the BB-8, the magic lies within the software. You guide the BB-8 via your smartphone or tablet. Ultimately, the Sphero BB-8 App-Enabled Droid is a great toy/gadget for older kids(13 and up) as well as kids at heart. Retails for $149.99. Available now.
Air Hogs Star Wars Remote Control Ultimate Millennium Falcon Quad
Featuring lights and sounds including Chewbacca’s roar. This light weight foam based vehicle will inspire many adventures in open fields. Retails for $109.99. Available now.
AT-AT™ U-COMMAND WITH REMOTE CONTROL by Thinkway Toys
Using the remote control, you can send instant or pre-programmed commands to the AT-AT. The 10 buttons on the remote control can program over 1000 action combinations. The rebels on Hoth won’t know what hit them. Retails for $129.99. Available exclusively at Toys R Us.
Artificial Intelligence Invasion
Anki Overdrive
According to the Anki press release “In Anki OVERDRIVE, players take control of the Supercars of the future via handheld mobile devices as they battle and race against friends, family or AI controlled commanders. The game introduces an innovative magnetic modular track system that allows gamers to custom build epic battlefields within seconds. Challenge friends in a variety of game modes, or, go head-to-head with elite AI commanders in a quest to become champion of the Anki OVERDRIVE Tournament. On the road to victory, players can kick their skills into overdrive by customizing their Supercar’s speed, weapons, and defenses through in- game upgrades.” The starter kit retails for $149.99. Available now.
Meccano Meccanoid G15
A robot friend that you assemble. The Meccano Meccanoid G15 Robot comes with over one thousand phrases and voice recognition, it’s programmable and works with your smartphone too via a free app from Google Play or AppStore. Retails for $159.99. Available now.
Wonder Workshop Dash and Dot
Real robots that help kids learn coding and robotics at a young age. Their suite of Wonder Workshop apps facilitate basic play as well as utilizing coding to control robot friends in new and innovative ways. Dash retails for $169.99. Dash and Dot Pack retail for $229.99. Available now.
The Unexpected
Matchbox Treasure Truck
Normally toy trucks are good fun unto themselves until the kids eventually grow tired of them. Matchbox’s Treasure Truck has a working metal detector attached to it. The back of the Treasure Truck can be removed and used as a handheld shovel for sifting through dirt and sand so in theory you (meaning Santa, Mom or Dad) can potentially see a return on investment on said toy truck and then some. Retails for $29.99. Available now.
Whew. Quite the selection of toys! And that my friends was just the tip of the tech toys iceberg. Happy shopping and choose wisely!
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