Moshi Monsters plush toys

The virtual pet and online games website Moshi Monsters was launched in 2008 and most of the people playing on the website were then aged between seven and 12 years. The idea of the website was that you had to adopt a pet monster and care for it.

Those who cared for their monsters the best were rewarded with ‘rox’ which is a type of currency to use in the game. This allows the players to buy additional things for their monsters and special decorative items within the game.

Since its launch the membership of the website has grown rapidly. After one year over 10 million people were registered with the website and in the middle of last year membership reached 50 million people. The success of the website has meant that many other products related to it were launched, such as physical toys and a special children’s magazine.

Plush toys are one of the main releases related to the franchise and there are currently six different types of Moshi Monsters available on the market. The first of these is a creature that looks like a rabbit and is known as a Katsuma. These are very social pets and enjoy being tickled by their child owners as well being kept in well decorated rooms.

The second type of toy resembles a demon and is unsurprisingly more popular with boys. This creature is known as a Diavlos and is a friendly but mysterious creature. It also craves attention and if you ignore it, it is likely to become fiery and angry, much like a demon would.

The furriest of the creatures is known as Furis, and other than being known for its excessive amounts of hair it is known for enjoying food as well as the decorations that surround it. If this type of toy is not bought nice decorations they tend to complain and will become angry at their owner.

The toy that is most popular with girls is known as Poppet and likes beautiful things and fashion. They are the most bossy of the toys and enjoy getting attention from their owners.  The last type of available toy is called the Zommer and this toy is one of the most difficult to look after. They need to be fed every day if they are to survive but if they are looked after they are certainly one of the most delightful monsters to have.

The plush toys that are available are interactive and children can squeeze on the tummy of the toy to hear them talk, laugh and giggle. When you buy the toy it will come with an adoption certificate to show that you are the owner and there is also a secret code to be used on the website to gain a special type of reward.

While the website is mostly targeting children seven years and older, these soft toys are suitable for any children who are over four years old and any child is sure to love and care for them.

Transformers offer even more toys

If by some strange chance you’re not familiar with Transformers, you might need a little of the back story to appreciate the overwhelming popularity of these action figures.  Transformers are not just robots, they’re Autobots.  These characters are also shape-shifters; they may start out as an armoured vehicle and turn into a walking, talking, laser-shooting, virtually indestructible weapon that’s shaped quite a bit like a human, or at least a biped.

The Autobots have a mission:  to save the Universe, including the planet Earth, from the bad guys like Megatron and his cohorts.  Well, that’s a very simplified back story, but you get the idea, hopefully.

Now pay attention, because here are the latest and greatest of the Transformer series, and anyone who is hooked on the whole Transformer scene (and that includes uncounted millions of kids, of all ages) will want to add them to their collections.

Optimus Prime is the best known figure in the Transformers inventory; he was the leading character in the latest Transformers movie, Dark of the Moon.  Now he is available as the biggest and most versatile action figure yet, the Ultimate Optimus Prime that can be converted from vehicle to robot to robot with a suit of armour.  There is a trailer that serves as a weapons depot and is also used to make wings and armour, and two feet of arm and leg extensions.

He also has the Ultimax Super Cannon, a huge weapon that makes cannon noises and lights, and can be gripped and pointed to fire, or stored on the action figure’s back.  The Ultimate Optimus Prime is one amazing Autobot, and there’s more.  The Transformers Leader Optimus Prime has energy swords that snap out, it produces the noise of engines revving and racing, its eyes light up and there is electronic speech between robot and vehicle.

Another figure from Dark of the Moon is the MechTech Voyager-Optimus Prime.  This one lacks a couple of the features the Ultimate has, but it’s also a bit less expensive.  MechTech Voyager lets you convert Optimus from truck to warrior, and it comes with a battle cannon.  You can also purchase other   weapons that are sold separately but can be used with any MechTech action figure.

This Transformer craze seems to be escalating rather than declining, and a lot of imagination and techno-wizardry has gone into action figures that just get more detailed and more fun to play with every time a new one comes out.  None of them are recommended for youngsters under five, mostly due to the danger involved with small parts.  With that one warning, the rest of the kids and oh yes, their parents, will find the new Optimus Prime action figures to be irresistible playmates.

Hamleys sexist colours are gone

The traditional pink for girls and blue for girls no longer exists at toy superstore Hamleys after they were accused by feminists if sexist stereotyping, so they are now organising their toys in categories instead of gender.

The world famous store in London have removed the pink and blue signs to indicate the floors selling boys and girls toys have been removed from their flagship store in Regent Street, and replaced with neutral red and white ones. Toys can now be found in categories such as dress up, dolls and arts and crafts, and none are for a specific gender.

34 year old Laura Nelson is a political blogger who hails from Ealing in West London, and she has described this move as a major victory after earlier accusing Hamleys of gender apartheid. She has said that she was shocked when she visited the store to see the signs that separated the girls and boys sections, as this indicated that they should be playing with different toys.

She added  that she was even more shocked when she went up to the floors and saw that a the girls toys were mostly pink, and all seemed to have something to do with make up, hair and looking pretty or toys tied to domestic activities. There was nothing wrong with the toys per se, but she was unhappy that they were solely targetted at girls.

She was similarly horrified whereupon visiting the boys floor, she found that the majority of the boys toys were to do with wars or being aggressive, and the arts and crafts section was extremely small. Ms Nelson also said that she fell that the different activities encouraged by this labelling added to the childrens’ differential development.

Super Mario’s Latest Adventures on Nintendo 3DS sees the return of Tanooki Power-Up

The Super Leaf returns in SUPER MARIO 3D LAND and, for the first time, in Mario Kart 7 exclusive to Nintendo 3DS

This Christmas Mario is making a comeback and two exciting new Nintendo 3DS games will be starring Mario. The first game is Mario Kart 7 and the second is Super Mario 3D Land. These games are set to launch on 2 December and 18 November respectively. Both these games can only be found on the Nintendo 3DS and will feature the classic action that gamers expect from the Mario series.

Super Mario 3D Land has some brand-new gameplay that also features some classic elements from the series. The storyline is similar to previous games, Bowser has kidnapped Princess Peach and it is Mario’s job to save her.

The game involves some side scrolling action but also some elements that have been seen in the 3D games such as super Mario Galaxy, which is available on the Wii. Fans of the series will find it very easy to get involved in the game but it will also provide a serious challenge for expert gamers.

In the quest through the Mushroom Kingdom Mario will have to find new powers to help him complete the game, it will also see the return of some of his classic abilities. One of these includes the ability for him to do a tail attack while gliding in the air. There are many other abilities in the game for players to master and one of the most memorable is being able to launch fireballs at Mario’s foes. At certain points of the game through binoculars will give players a whole different perspective. This will allow Mario to get a first person perspective and will alert him to upcoming enemies.

Mario Kart 7 is the latest instalment in the fan-favourite Mario Kart franchise and brings exciting 3D kart action to the palm of your hand. Drivers can explore all new competitive kart possibilities, on big jumps your kart will deploy a Glider to let you fly over the track, or speed over sea floor as you race underwater. Mastering these abilities will allow you to find shortcuts and beat your opponents to the finish line.

Classic items return and some new power-ups appear for the first time in Mario Kart 7. Fans of the Tanooki power-up will be glad to hear that the Super Leaf makes an appearance in this latest instalment giving you both offensive and defensive abilities. Use your Tanooki tail to both protect you from incoming shells and to whip opponents off the track.

Show off your style by customising your vehicle to give you a competitive advantage on the track. For example, some tyres will help you to drive off-road when the course gets rough while other tyres help you on the smoother city circuits.

All the classic Mushroom Kingdom characters return along with some new characters like Metal Mario and Lakitu, but if you would like to jump into the fun, then why not race as your Mii™ character? Challenge your friends in local wireless matches or online over a wireless internet connection while you try to master the new courses. Share Ghost Data with people you encounter via StreetPass™ and register those you meet to challenge them online. You can also download Ghost Data from across the world via SpotPass™ to test your global karting skills.

There is a course suited to every driving style, from wild rides over a mountain road to city streets and dusty deserts. Fans might recognise new courses on Wuhu Island and in the jungles from Donkey Kong™ Country Returns.

SUPER MARIO 3D LAND and Mario Kart 7 will be available exclusively for Nintendo 3DS across Europe from 18th November and 2nd December respectively.

For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.co.uk.