So, day one of the really big show is down for the count (and so am I after all that walking, oof). I saw a LOT of really cool stuff today that I’ll get around to writing about later this week. Here are some fun facts for you in the meantime to pore over (all of which and more will be covered in detail in the days to come):
. Star Wars FINALLY gets its own Scene-it game! Enough said – get your money ready.
. Little Bits. Remember that name, particularly if you’re into making stuff with assorted electronic components. Just passing by the booth made me think of a few dozen things I wanted to attempt to make…
. Also, remember Mungi Bands. They’re not out just yet, but expect every pre-teen and teen to be hooked on these fun magnetic bracelets from a new North Carolina company. ..
. Board games, card and dice games are NOT dead. Sure they’re coming to iOS and Android platforms, but if you’re looking for a good old box full of excitement that you can play with people sitting around a table, there are an amazing number of options. That said, some of the popular board games getting a tech boost are pretty awesome…
. Speaking of board and card games, I got my biggest laugh of the day playing stuff at the Techno Source booth. Let’s just say that only a dog can beat a dragon in the Where’s Waldo universe…
. Don’t spend too much money on an iPad for your kid, as there’s another device coming that allows far better parental controls for MULTIPLE kids if your have them…
. If you’re in a state where toy guns are still legal (and you don’t have cops trained to go ballistic when they see kids having FUN), you can still buy some of the best quality six-shooters, rifles and other gear you’ll ever see and touch from a 76-year old company based out of Savannah, Tennessee…
. 3D as a fad isn’t dead jut yet. In fact, pretty much every one of those cardboard glasses you’ll find at public events all over the globe at everything from movies, to concerts to fireworks shows and even packed into DVD’s and games, all come from one company (which just so happens to also be from Tennessee)…
. There are Edible Bubbles that you can blow and eat. Like the soap bubbles you played with as a kid. But edible. And rum flavored, too. Yikes (but they ARE tasty!)…
More to come later – off to catch The Walking Dead…
There were a lot of musical instruments at Toy Fair geared to kids, but, NYC-based Loog Guitars was probably my favorite booth to drop by. Loog creator, founder and CEO Rafael Atijas was there (dressed more like an average guy and not like a stuffy CEO, by the way) with his Kickstarter-funded creation drawing much interest at the show. From the quality (and simply finished) wood in three body styles to the plain yet distinctive packaging and adult-sized neck option,this is something that’s a great DIY gift for anyone wanting to get into the instrument. While there have been kid-sized guitars made for ages, the three-string Loog is wonderfully cool because you assemble it yourself. And that assembly is amazingly simple, as you can see in the above video.
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