Everything from tanks to Transformers have featured in the Top Trumps card game so far, but now some of the country’s historic houses are set to battle it out in a new version of the game.

The National Trust game is being made available in Trust shops and online and features thirty historic places to visit in the UK going head-to-head in battles over acreage, film and TV appearances, hauntings and cups of tea consumed.

The game follows the successful National Trust Monopoly launched last year which gave people the chance to buy up their favourite places and develop visitor centres and holiday cottages.

Alan Parris – buyer for the National Trust – who masterminded the Trust version of the game, explained:

“The 30 properties were selected to show the great variety of the historic places looked after by the Trust. Games are a fun way of engaging people in what we do – but, better still, people also have the chance to visit and see for themselves. The game’s size makes it perfect for kids as they travel on days out, so could be ideal for the start of the holidays, but I am sure some grown-ups will be keen to get hold of it too.”

A new National Trust game of British Wildlife Top Trumps is also on sale, featuring 30 creatures living on Trust land, including adders and raft spiders.?

More info here

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Your little angels have watched the old Toy Story DVDs too many times to count, so it’s a good job the latest instalment is on its way. That’s right, Toy Story 3 – in 3D – comes to UK cinema screens on July 23rd, just in time for the school summer holidays.

With new adventures, brand new characters and a whole new (grown up) Andy, Toy Story 3 is action-packed from beginning to end. An adult Andy – the toys’ owner – leaves for college in the new film. But will he forget about his beloved toys once they’re out of sight?

Join Woody the cowboy (Andy’s favourite toy and chief of all the toys), space ranger Buzz Lightyear, Mr Potato Head and Barbie and Ken as they do their best to stick together. As ever, no toy can get left behind and it’s Woody and Buzz’s mission to ensure no one comes to any harm.

But is it that easy? Cue lots of thrills, spills and hilarious scrapes as the toys do their best to make it home after being dumped in a day-care centre. Will they make it back in one piece?

Find out on July 23rd and meet brand new characters Big Baby, Buttercup, Twitch and Chatter Telephone. What’s more, you can watch as Barbie’s eyes light up when Ken first sets eyes on her!

Directed by Lee Unkrich (the co-director of Toy Story 2 and Finding Nemo), the film welcomes an all-star cast including Tom Hanks, Whoopi Goldberg and Joan Cusack. Opening the bursting toy box once more, the creators of the film bring Disney Pixar fans back to the wonderful world of Woody, Buzz Lightyear and friends.

But while the movie follows on from Toy Story and Toy Story 2, kids who’ve not seen previous instalments won’t need to worry. A brand new plot sees the toys set out on an altogether new adventure – and they’re ready to take you with them.

Join colourful Ken (who comes decked out in a leopard print top and pale blue shorts combo) on safari in Toy Story 3. He’s always ready for some fun and he can give even Barbie a run for her money on the accessories front! Wearing sensible loafers, a trendy scarf and gold belt, Ken is also a great mover on the dance floor!

Lots-o’Huggin’ Bear is another new addition to the Toy Story series, joining old favourites Woody, Buzz, Mr Potato Head and more. A jumbo purple extra soft bear, this new character stands head and shoulders above the other toys.

With a big old belly just asking to be hugged, Lots-O’Huggin’ Bear smells like sweet strawberries and has a velvety soft purple nose. He’s just one of the new characters to be found in Sunnyside day care-centre in Toy Story 3.

Cutesy Dolly is a soft and sweet dress-up rag doll with vibrant purple hair and huge eyes. She joins new toys including Peas-in-a-Pod, Buttercup and Trixie for a brand new set of adventures.

The latter character, a massive blue dinosaur, helps kids magically transport themselves to a time when dinosaurs ruled the earth. Made of rigid, durable plastic, Trixie comprises an expressive mouth and moveable legs. Will she be a hit with the other toys? You’ll soon find out!

Remember Disney Toy Story 2, which saw Andy head off to Cowboy Camp while Woody, Buzz Lightyear and co held the fort in the play room? The action was turned up a notch or two when an obsessive toy collector named Al McWiggin, the owner of Al’s Toy Barn, kidnaps Woody.

Woody soon discovers that he’s a hugely valued collectible toy from a 1950s TV show called Woody’s Roundup. Here, he meets other prized toys from the show, including Jessie the cowgirl, who also returns for Toy Story 3.

And who could forget the original and very first Toy Story? Led by Woody, Andy’s toys live happily until owner Andy’s birthday and the arrival of new toy, Buzz Lightyear. But the toys don’t live so harmoniously now that space ranger Buzz has arrived.

Woody’s afraid of losing his place in Andy’s heart. After all, he is Andy’s favourite toy. Soon, Woody’s plotting against Buzz and turning the other toys against him.

But when Woody and Buzz are separated from their owner, the hilariously mismatched pair have to try their hardest to get on – for Andy’s sake. They find themselves on an action-packed adventure to make it back to Andy’s room, but do they make a safe return?

Of course they do! And they’re all ready and raring to set out on their latest adventure in Toy Story 3. If you want to jog your memory before you book your tickets, get out your old Toy Story DVD and get yourself up to speed again.

Produced by Darla K Anderson, who joined Pixar Animation Studios in 1993, Toy Story welcomes the return of Director Lee Unkrich, who co-directed Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc, Finding Nemo and Wall-E.

Darla K Anderson has lent her producing talents to many a hit Disney Pixar animation, including Monsters Inc, A Bug’s Life and, of course, Toy Story. She also produced the Golden Globe-winning feature Cars and is now one of the animation studio’s most accomplished producers

Like the previous Toy Story films, Toy Story 3 looks set to feature a great musical score. And it wouldn’t be Toy Story without an all-star cast behind the voices of some of the most recognisable characters in cartoon history.

Join Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Whoppi Goldberg, Don Rickles and more as they take on the world! Running for 103 minutes, there’ll be no fidgety kids either. Undoubtedly one of the must-see films of the summer, why not take the whole family for an afternoon at the cinema?

Browse the Internet and you can even see a short trailer for the film, should you really want to whet your appetite before you head off to the pictures. What adventures are in store for the gang this time? There’s just weeks left before you find out!

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In 1995, when ’Toy Story’ was released by Pixar in the U.K., it set a new standard for animation and made an overnight sensation of Buzz Lightyear. Toys “R” Us experienced an overwhelming demand, with queues forming outside stores across the UK, so customers could get their hands on toys based on the new ’Toy Story’ characters.

The latest “Toy Story 3” animated movie welcomes back Woody, Buzz and cowgirl Jessie, who are joined by new characters, including Barbie and Ken, a hedgehog named Mr. Prickle pants, and a pink bear called Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear. Customers will be able to buy toys based on these new and updated characters beginning Tuesday 1st June at any Toys “R” Us store. 

Toys “R” Us will create the ultimate in-store display defining some of the movie’s main characters on massive visual and audio imagery giving fans a unique ’Toy Story’ shopping experience.

Highlights of the new toy lines include, Talking Woody and Talking Jessie, Jet Pack Buzz, a massive range from Lego, along with an exciting range from Imaginext which is exclusive to Toys R Us.

Toys “R” Us, U.K. has the broadest selection of ’Toy Story’ toys available, including dressing up costumes, puzzles, board games, video games, bikes, battery powered cars and many other new items for 2010.

Mike Coogan, Marketing Director, Toys “R” Us, U.K., said “’Toy Story’ appeals to a wide age-range in the children’s market, and our massive 24-foot feature wall featured in all 75 stores nationwide allows us to present the widest assortment of “Toy Story 3” merchandise in an environment that is second to none”.

“’Toy Story’ products have been favourites among children since Toys “R” Us introduced the toy range back in 1995. The latest range, to launch next Tuesday, will see a ’Toy Story’ Pop-up Space Rocket Tent being given Free to those customers spending £75 or more on “Toy Story” products. Toys “R” Us staff across the country are delighted about the launch and are geared up for ’Toy Story’ mania. Anyone who loves ’Toy Story’, will enjoy a trip to Toys “R” Us – the displays will be amazing and the new toy range is very exciting”.

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The twins, who have about three thousand supporters on Facebook, claim that young girls are being brainwashed by companies that target them in particular with pink items such as dresses and pink toy fairy wings.

Additionally, the group claims that the media is too focused on WAGs, sexy pop stars, and stick thin models which is making young girls look towards unrealistic role models.

The group identified the Early Learning Centre as one of the largest offenders of creating specifically pink toys.

The ‘Pinkstinks’ campaign believes that while boys toys embrace every avenue from educational to adventure to science, girls toys are much more limited to simply being pretty.

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The study claims that parents spend about 22 minutes a day playing with toys like dolls, bricks, and games, while their children are not playing.

This equates to about two and a half hours a week or five days a year.  Thus, during the seven years that a child is ages four to eleven the parent will play on their own for about a month ten days.

The study also found that parents get angry, although they may not show it, when a child decides to play with the toy they are currently toying with.

Out of the parents surveyed, half stated they preferred Lego with the other half admitting they enjoyed puzzles and games.

The survey included 2,000 parents and was conducted by the Early Learning Centre which additionally found that 25% of parents purchased new toys out of their own boredom and not their child’s.

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By doing so the child can get a toy that actually will help them develop and you get to rest easy with the satisfaction that you have made a positive contribution on their life.

One of the most popular tech-smart toys this year is the Nitro Web Notebook ‘Safe Surfing” product which has 70 interactive activities programmed into it that teach children everything from Spanish to science to art to maths.  The tiny classroom learner is also connected to the web, which means the content can always be updated and allows children to interact with peers also using the same device.

For younger children, the perfect gift may be the Kidizoom Digital Camera Plus, which allows small children to use the miniature digital camera that allows them to store up to 2000 photos of their own.  It is equipped with 2.0 mega pixel resolution and can be connected to a home computer or television so that children get to share their art with friends and family.

Finally, one more option for the child who is hard to shop for is the Expanded V Smile Motion Smartridge Library which contains titles from all of the most popular children’s characters such as NASCAR, Ni Hao Kai Lin, Handy Manny, UP, and plenty more.

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The poison scare sent the toy industry into a temporary meltdown sending shares of its distributor, Character Group, down by 8pc in the UK.  Still, the £10 toys are well on their way to be being the largest Christmas toy this season with an estimated figure of 600,000 expected to be sold by Christmas in the UK alone.

Good Guide, the US consumer group that raised the alarm, may be in hot water however, as the US producers Cepia are considering filing a damages lawsuit against the company for their misleading public statements.

Character Group released a press statement that said Mr. Squiggles the hamster in question is perfectly safe and passed all of the toy industry tests with remarkable colours.

Executive chairman of the group Richard King stated that the company was rocked by the claims due to their disruptive nature and the timing of the claims but that it is all part of the market game.

Good Guide stated last weekend that they had found the chemical anomaly in the toy only to then recant their statement, saying there was some confusion over the figures and that their testing techniques were different.

After the claims were made public Character Group sent the toy through a series of tests that affirmed the toy is safe.

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Toy specialist Character Group expects that there will be many children disappointed with Santa on Christmas morning, given the fact that some of the most anticipated toys of the season will be out of stock. In particular the group predicts that the Peppa Pig products and Go Go Pets will come up short this year.

At the same time, its results for the full year have still suffered a bit after Woolworths collapsed last year with stock meant for Woolworths from 2008 swamping the marketplace and diverting profits.

Thus, the company was forced to record that they suffered a pre-tax loss of £2m for the year out of which £1m was left over from Woolies, which was drastic compared to its report of a £5m profit the previous year. However, due to some good Christmas trading this year the company has a lot of hope towards the future.

Richard Hickinbotham a prominent analyst said that Character Group will start out in the market place in 2010 in a much better position than last year and with a new focus on their products they should be able to continue the profitability turn around that they exhibited in the second half of 2009.

Next year the group already plans to put together new ranges for the Doctor Who line along with a new Fireman Sam line and more Go Go Pets.

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This year’s top Christmas toy, The GO GO Hamster, has got parents as worked up as Tickle Me Elmo did in the past, as many parents are reporting stress from trying to obtain the toy and online sellers are racking up a large amount of business at hiked up prices.

Normally, the small cuddly toy costs about ten pounds, but greedy sellers are auctioning or selling the toy online for over six times that amount, because apparently parents without other choices are buying them at an alarming rate.

In fact, a complete set of the hamsters which include Mr. Squiggles, Pipsqueak, Chunk, and Num Nums went for about £150 on eBay a few days ago. The large turnaround online is due to the fact that most stores ran out of the popular toy with over a month to go until Christmas.

Owner of the toy shop chain Entertainment, Cary Grant, who is also the Toy Retailers Association chairman, stated that the reason prices are so high now is because many people loaded up on the toys before heading to eBay making them a scarce commodity in stores.

He said that while it is always hard to tell which toy will be ‘the toy’ of the year, speculators that compile lists actually usually result in people buying up large numbers of toys and hoarding them, which drives their value up online.

Grant also added that one of the reasons that the Go Go Hamsters may hold such a versatile appeal to parents as a gift for their children is due to the fact that they are the closest thing you can buy to a pet without worrying about the mess or responsibility that a pet typically entails

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It is no surprise that every year there are always a few toys that take on the title of the most wanted toys for Christmas right up there with the Tickle Me Elmo’s of the past. However, the larger question outside of what these toys will be each year is how they end up to be the biggest thing since Furbys.

Are these top toys actually any cooler or better than other toys, or are they simply the products of the best marketing?

Marketing campaigns for toys start as soon as they hit the market, but become the largest in the two months leading up to Christmas when television ads during children’s programming really start to take off in an attempt to hook children rather than their parents.

Among the tools in a professional marketer’s bag of tricks are bright colours, brand names, cool characters, and fun music. Although the advertisers know that children are not heading out to the stores to buy their items, they are hoping that the children will want the toys badly enough to pester their parents until they get them.

Advertisers are now taking a slightly different turn while promoting their toys switching to integrated marketing campaigns that include television ads but focus heavily on tie-ins with comic books and films, so that children see the characters and hence the toys everywhere they go.

Of course, the intent is to make sure that the parents see them also so that it becomes unavoidable that the toys will get snatched up by frenzied consumers.

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