HEROCLIX ONLINE ANNOUNCES NEW GREEN LANTERN DC COMICS SETS

Hillside, N.J. & CARY, N.C.—February 16, 2012—Developers of HeroClix Online, a digital transliteration of the popular combat-oriented tabletop game, today announced the addition of two all-new DC Comics sets, Green Lantern Gravity Feed and Green Lantern Fast Forces. The new characters add a total of 16 figures with varying stats and powers to the game – and kick-off a new “Figure of the Week” program by HeroClix Online.

The introduction of Green Lantern Gravity Feed, to be available as single-figure boosters, are the first figures available in the new “Figure of the Week” program, in which one or more figures from the set per week will be available for purchase at a limited-time promotional price. The Green Lantern “Figure of the Week” promotion will run today through March 21.

Figures in the Green Lantern Gravity Feed include Hal Jordan, Kilowog, Tomar-Re, Sinestro, Ganthet, Abin Sur, R’amey Holl, Salaak and Boodikka and can be purchased as single-figure boosters following the “Figure of the Week” promotion.

Figures in the Green Lantern Fast Forces set, available for purchase today, include Green Lantern, Kilowog, Tomar-Re, Sinestro, Guardians of the Universe and Abin Sur.

The new set, out now, is compatible with DC Comics constructed tournaments, casual matches and the existing Sciencells map.

For more information on HeroClix Online, visit hco.heroclix.com/.

For news updates and announcements, follow HeroClix Online on Facebook and Twitter.

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Hasbro’s Iconic MR. POTATO HEAD Character Celebrates 60th Birthday

AFi’s “Ask Matty” Mattel Q&A Answers for February 15th, 2012

Twice a month the gang from Mattel are kind enough to answer five questions from AFi readers.  The Mattel marketing and PR team, have replied with the answers to our latest round of questions that AFi readers have posted in our forums.

If you have post-Toy Fair questions make sure to post them in the thread for the next round.

Let’s get to the questions and the answers!

Q1. Any plans on other women imaginext figures besides cat women?

A1. Not at this time but you never know what the future will bring!

Q2. With General Zod appearing in the next Superman film, what are the chances of getting him in his comic-appearance in the DC All Stars or DC Sub lines?

A2.  He is always a possibility but no plans to announce a Zod right now.

Q3.  Will the retail price of DC All-Stars be less than it is for DCUC, especially since it is now a lone figure with no CnC or (so far) accessories?

A3.  It is up to each retailer to set their own price. However, raw materials and labor costs do continue to rise and we will do our best to keep SRP prices as low as possible. Sometimes this means removing a base or a C&C piece to avoid cost reducing a figure.

Q4.  Of all the items you just debued at Toy Fair this past week, what are you personally the most excited for (for for fans to get to see?)

A4.  From Toyguru:  “I think for me it is the Hover Board! We’ve wanted to do BTTF items on Mattycollector.com for a long time now and since the board was “made by Mattel” in the movie, we just had to do this!

I was also really excited to reveal Thunder Punch He-Man’s bio. We have known the fans were in a quagmire as far as storyline goes and this bio along with the first page of the new mini comic should really shed a lot of light!”

If you’d like to ask a question for the  February 15th submission then feel free to post your questions in our Mattel Q&A question submissions thread!   Remember they can be about any Mattel product including MOTUC, Ghostbusters,WWE any of the Mattel DC lines, Voltron and Cars. Twice a month we draw our submission question directly from the ones that AFi readers post. 

You can submit new questions in this thread.

You can find our past Q&A’s here.  And you can discuss the answers on our Mattel board.

Thanks again to the team at Mattel for taking time to answer our questions!

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Telltale Games and Robert Kirkman Announce Playing Dead & New Website/Screenshots For Their Game Based on The Walking Dead

New Online Talk Show Reveals the Process of Making a Game based on the World’s Most Popular Zombie Franchise

San Rafael, CA – February 15, 2012 – Telltale Games and Robert Kirkman, the Eisner Award-winning creator/writer of The Walking Dead, announced that the first episode of Playing Dead, a new online talk show discussing their upcoming game, The Walking Dead, is now live and available to view on the games’ official website, which also debuted today.

Based on Robert Kirkman’s groundbreaking comic book series, The Walking Dead is an episodic Adventure Horror game series set during the same apocalyptic period witnessed by Sheriff Rick Grimes.  Telling the story of a new group of survivors as they struggle to flee the horror of Atlanta and the surrounding communities consumed by the undead, The Walking Dead offers players the chance to experience the very first days of the apocalypse, meeting people and participating in events that intersect with the story seen in the comic books.

Playing Dead is an online talk show that takes fans behind the scenes to reveal what has gone into making the game.  Hosted by AJ LoCascio (the voice of Marty McFly in Telltale’s Back to the Future: The Game series), the nine-part show will feature guests including The Walking Dead creator/writer Robert Kirkman and Gary Whitta, screenwriter for The Book of Eli and story consultant for the game.

After a 24-hour period of exclusivity on the official website, Playing Dead will also be available to watch on YouTube, iTunes and soon after, other online outlets including Xbox LIVE® and PlayStation®Network.

“Telltale has always believed in sharing and interacting with our fans as much as possible as we head towards the launch of a game and Playing Dead is an exciting evolution of that process,” said Dan Connors, Telltale co-founder and CEO. “I don’t think any other developer or publisher has created anything quite like this before and we really hope that people will enjoy it.”

“Collaborating with Telltale on The Walking Dead continues to be a fantastic process.  They understand the world and the characters that I created and what it takes to make a game out of them.  What’s really exciting is that they’re telling a new story with new characters, so you’ll get to see the same world Rick Grimes did, but now from a different point of view,” added Robert Kirkman, creator of The Walking Dead.   “Playing Dead is going to be an awesome way for fans to learn about the game and how it was made.  It makes sense that Telltale are talking to people in this unique way because The Walking Dead is going to be a unique zombie game.”

The Walking Dead is a five part episodic Adventure Horror game that will be available for digital download beginning in spring of 2012 for all major gaming platforms.

Telltale Games has also compiled a list of some frequently asked questions about their game based on Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead for reference. It can be viewed at the Telltale blog: Link

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2012 Toy Trends Unveiled by Industry Experts at American International Toy Fair

NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — A slate of hot new toy trends for 2012 that keep pace with advancements in the tech world, mirror societal trends and aim to produce well-rounded, lifelong learners were unveiled today by the Toy Industry Association (TIA) at its 109th American International Toy Fair.

After scouring through 100,000+ products now on display at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, TIA’s trend experts have laid out a fresh crop of trends that will connect, glow, teach, “WOW” and hit a “high note” with kids of all ages. Significant for 2012 is a resurgence of toys on the higher end of the price scale as well as an influx of educational toys for tots, indicating that post-recession wallets – and families – are expanding.

“Toymakers continue to innovate at the speed of light to keep up with trends in other areas – from pop culture to technology – because they know that kids want to be a part of the mix and mimic what’s happening in the world around them,” said Adrienne Appell, TIA’s in-house trend expert. “The toy industry draws upon economic and birth rate data to determine price points and product lines, which accounts for the prevalence this year of big-ticket items and toys for infants and pre-school children.”

Appell made the comments during a “Toy Trends Tea” hosted this afternoon by TIA – owner and operator of Toy Fair and official voice of the toy industry. A video of the presentation will be posted to the Toy Fair 2012 and TIA websites (ToyFairNY.com / ToyAssociation.org).

A summary of the six top trends follows:

• GENERATION APP An emerging trend identified at Toy Fair 2011, this year there is an abundance of toys that work with smart devices and apps. Toymakers are using technology to enhance classic play patterns – not erase them. Physical toys remain integral to the play experience; in many cases, companies have created traditional toys that interact with popular devices that are already in so many homes … while tying in educational or active components for a well-rounded play experience.Includes: Products that work with an app or smart devices and products that are based upon an app or web property but have no digital tie-in.

• GLOWING WILD Toys that glow in the dark or light up will infiltrate the toy aisle this year across multiple categories – from outdoor and active toys to arts and crafts and creative products. Toys in this category add a fantastical element to playtime for kids of all ages. They “ignite” imaginative play by drawing kids into a world of whimsy and wonder – from arts and crafts toys that incorporate LED components to exciting light-up toys that safely simulate fireworks.Includes: Toys that rely on a glow component to drive the play experience and toys that are equally enjoyable in the light of day as they are in the dark (i.e. glow-in-the-dark wooden building blocks).
• LITTLE LEARNERS Far from simple “watch me” toys, products in this category build cognitive and developmental skills beginning at a very early age, transforming little ones into well-rounded, lifelong learners. These toys also give tykes a wide range of play options to choose from – allowing them to explore their interests and talents and develop these skills as they grow older.Includes: Infant to pre-school toys and games that educate and challenge and educational toys targeted to children of all ages.
• MANY WAYS TO PLAY! Toys in this category engage kids on multiple levels. Parents can buy one very dynamic toy that will entertain and educate a child for hours, days, weeks and months … allowing them to truly get their money’s worth. These toys have real depth – kids can play differently each time depending on their moods or interests. Many of these toys also grow with a child so that they can play in another way depending on their age.Includes: toys that combine multiple play patterns (i.e. active play, role play, game play, etc.) and customizable toys (playthings become a unique reflection of a child’s individuality).
• SAVE ‘N’ SPLURGE Recent toy industry data released by The NPD Groupshowed that consumers are increasingly making “purchasing trade-offs” – that is, buying higher-priced toys at the expense of mid- to lower-priced ones. As a result, 2012 will see a resurgence of toys that fall on the higher end of the price spectrum, as consumers are willing to loosen their purse strings a bit and spend more on products that pack a high play value punch or have a certain “WOW” factor.However, shoppers will always be attracted to affordable prices. Affordability was a trend in the past few years and this sub-trend will persist in 2012 as parents and other shoppers have really come to expect big play value at affordable prices.

  Includes: “The Big Ask” / impressive toys (at higher prices) and collectibles / expanded lines (at affordable prices).

• YOUNG MAESTROS A wide variety of musical toys will hit a high note in 2012 as kids of all ages – from infants to tweens and teens – rock out with toys and games that teach them how to play different instruments, practice their singing, or show off their dance moves. This trend is being driven largely by pop culture – such as television shows like American Idol, Glee, The Voice and X Factor.Includes: toys for young kids that teach music basics and toys for older kids that let them emulate their favorite pop stars.

The Toy Industry Association also tracks a broad range of ongoing cross-sector trends, such as toys celebrating significant anniversaries; entertainment properties that span blockbuster movies or brands; and re-emergences of nostalgic characters loved by past generations.

“In 2011, licensed toys represented 26% of total industry sales, and with a slate of family-friendly movies hitting the theaters in the coming months, there will be a steady stream of new content tied to entertainment and licensing properties throughout 2012,” said Appell.

Additional information about these trends is available on-site at Toy Fair in the Press Center (through 4:00 pm on Wednesday, February 15 in Special Events Hall 1D) or via e-mail to the TIA public relations contact listed on this release. For tips on toy safety and trends year-round, visit ToyInfo.org.

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