This Week's New Video Games

Typically, over the Summer months, we see a slowdown in the number of games released each week. However, as Fall arrives so do the number of games hitting the store shelves. There are close to 40 new games arriving in stores this week and following are our picks of the best family-friendly and youth oriented games for you to keep a eye out for.


Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs (DS, PC, PSP, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii. rated Everyone)
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs the video game is based on the Sony Pictures Animation movie, and on the best-selling children’s book about food falling from the sky. Gameplay is a fun-filled adventure where kids can engage in a hilarious food fights and have fun with food in a way that they can’t in real life.

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story (DS. rated Everyone)
Enter the belly of the beast with the Mario Brothers! In his evil plot to take over the Mushroom Kingdom, Fawful tricks Bowser into eating a magic mushroom. The mushroom causes Bowser to begin inhaling everything around him, including Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach! Do the Mario Bros. have the guts to rescue Peach and escape?

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 (DS, PC, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii. rated Teen)
The highly anticipated sequel to 2006’s Marvel:Ultimate Alliance—heralded as the best Marvel Super Hero game of all time, and selling more than 4 million units worldwide—is finally here with Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2. Inspired by the acclaimed Marvel Civil War storyline, this action-RPG delivers once again on a colossal cast of characters, thrilling gameplay and impassioned alliances.

Naruto Shippuden: Ninja Destiny 2 (DS. rated Teen)
With 34 playable characters, this year's Naruto roster has seen a completely new upgrade, including all-new attacks and character specific cinematic jutsu moves. The game also introduces Quest Mode, allowing players to take on the role of their favorite ninja and travel through tough mazes to battle and defeat opponents to improve character performance and level up.

NHL 10 (PS3, Xbox 360. rated Everyone 10+)
The 18th version of EA Sports' popular NHL video game, NHL 10 is loaded with features sure to please both established fans of the series and its community, as well as those coming to it for the first time.

NHL 2K10 (PS2, PS3, Xbox 350, Wii. rated Everyone 10+)
NHL 2K10 redefines the sports gaming experience with a new emphasis on social gaming. Whether you're a die-hard NHL fan or a casual player, NHL 2K10's combination of pick-up-and-play controls ensuring accessibility, the game's true-to-life professional hockey authenticity and its variety of on and off-line multiplayer modes promise hours of entertainment for every gamer, regardless of experience level.

Scribblenauts (DS. rated Everyone 10+)
In Scribblenauts, players use the Nintendo DS touch-screen to help their character Maxwell acquire the Starite in each level by solving a series of puzzles armed with their stylus, notepad and imagination. Players jot down the word for any object that comes to mind in order to reach the goal. Every object behaves as it would in the real world, and the game contains tens of thousands of words that can be used to solve puzzles.

Toy Story Mania (Wii. rated Everyone)
Inspired by the Disney/Pixar feature film Toy Story and the 4D Toy Story Mania! attraction that launched at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort last year. Join all the classic Toy Story characters in Toy Story Mania! as Woody, Buzz and the gang stage their own zany, fun-filled carnival. Toy Story Mania! allows players to participate in familiar and all-new carnival-inspired shooting galleries and win top prizes in mini-games. The game features multiplayer competitive and cooperative modes supporting up to two players, providing hours of fun.

Chris Byrne Nominated for a Relly Award!

Our own, Chris Byrne, aka, The Toy Guy has been nominated for a Relly Award! the Relly Awards are presented annually by the Live! With Regis and Kelly Show honoring the wildest, funniest and best segments of the year.

This year, Chris has been nominated as "Favorite Expert" for his summer toy segment with Kelly Rippa and guest host, Jimmy Kimmel.

Chris needs your vote to win so please vote today (voting is only open today) by visiting www.rellyawards.com. Once there, after the intro, select the "Vote Now" button, which will display all the nominees. Chris is the first option (on the left) in the top row.

Thanks for your support!
theToyGuy.com Team

This Week's New Video Games

This week, two new games arrive in stores and we are very excited about both of them. The first is the latest Guitar Hero game, which will have everyone rocking out and second, one of the most imaginative, kid-friendly games we have seen yet, Mini Ninjas is in stores tomorrow.

Guitar Hero 5 (PS2, PS3, Xbox360, Wii, rated Teen)
The insanely successful rock video game is back with more of today's most popular artists and classic rock legends including Tom Petty, Kings of Leon, The White Stripes, Santana, Johnny Cash, The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan. The game disc includes 85 master tracks for players to rock out on plus downloadable content and, for the first time ever, players can customize the make-up of their band by rocking with any combination of instruments in-game: whether it be two guitars and two drums, or three guitars and a microphone, any combination is possible, allowing players to experience music their own way.

Mini Ninjas (PC, PS3, Xbox360, Wii, rated Everyone 10+)
A single player action/adventure game, Mini Ninjas puts a new spin on the video game favorite, ninja action genre. A kid-friendly game featuring no killing and an engrossing storyline, which players explore via six playable ninja characters, players take on the role of Hiro and the fellow members of his improbable ninja clan as they face an ancient evil that has returned to impose itself on the world. Each ninja utilizes authentic ninja weapons and moves, and possesses his/her own individual skill set, including mysterious "kuji magic" abilities.

Want To Know What The Hottest Selling Toys Are?

TimetoPlayMag.com went directly to the source and surveyed offline and online retailers to find out what the hottest-selling items in the toy industry are right now.

Here is what they found:

Apples to Apples
from Mattel
Recommended for Boys and Girls ages 8 and up

Bakugan Trap
from Spin Master
Recommended for Boys ages 5 and up

Bumblebee Voice Mixer Helmet
from Hasbro
Recommended for Boys ages 5 and up

G.I. JOE Action Figures
from Hasbro
Recommended for Boys ages 4 and up

Halo Wars
from MEGA Brands
Recommended for Boys ages 8 and up

Hyper Dash
from Wild Planet
Recommended for Boys and Girls ages 6 and up

LEGO Star Wars
from LEGO
Recommended for Boys ages 7 and up

Liv
from Spin Master
Recommended for Girls ages 5 and up

Tag Reading System
from LeapFrog
Recommended for Boys and Girls ages 4 and up

Transformers Movie Figures
from Hasbro
Recommended for Boys ages 5 and up

You can view pictures and read reviews of all of these products at Time To Play by clicking here!

8 Bit Trip

Take a techno-infused classic video game journey through the world of LEGO in this imaginative and incredibly talented video.

This Week's New Video Games

Metroid Prime Trilogy (Wii, rated Teen)
Metroid Prime Trilogy is a new collection of three previously released Metroid Prime games that bundles all three games onto one disc and revamps the first two installments with intuitive Wii Remote controls, wide-screen presentation, and other enhancements. This is a must-have for Metroid Prime fans!

Professor Layton and The Diabolical Box (DS, rated Everyone 10+)
The sequel to Professor Layton and the Mysterious Village, focuses on a box which kills anyone who opens it. Layton goes in to investigate and solve the mystery before it's too late. Once again, it's up to Professor Layton and his apprentice, Luke, to unravel the mystery and they need your puzzle-solving help to do it. Players will tackle more than 150 new brain teasers, riddles and logic puzzles as they attempt to puzzle out the mystery behind the Diabolical Box.

Batman: Arkham Asylum (PC, PS3, Xbox 360, rated Teen)
In this download only game, players take on the role of Batman as he is delivering The Joker to Arkham Asylum, where his greatest foes are waiting with a trap.

The Clique: Diss and Make Up (DS, rated Everyone 10+)
Based on the best-selling young adult book series by author Lisi Harrison, The Clique: Diss and Make Up, players assume the role of the new girl at school, taking on the challenges of climbing the social ladder to join the ultimate clique, the Pretty Committee. Player will use gossip, fashion and wit to make friends, join cliques, attend classes, and even work after school “jobbies” with a variety of exciting mini-games.

Wizards of Waverly Place (DS, rated Everyone)
Wizards of Waverly Place allows fans to experience the magical mishaps of Alex Russo, with the help of her brothers, Max and Justin. Players can experience five unique and exciting episodes while learning how to cast new magic spells ensuing in hours of hilarious and mischievous fun! Fans will visit recognizable locations from the show, and hang out with familiar friends from the hit Disney Channel TV series.

Spider-Man 5 and 6 in The Works!

Filming on Spider-Man 4 hasn't even begun yet and already plans are in the works for the 5th and 6th films in the Spidey series. Apparently, many of the ideas that were cut from Spider-man 4 will be used in 5 and 6, which are scheduled to be filmed back-to-back as part of a two-part film series (ala the Lord Of The Rings trilogy).

Most of the details on 5 and 6 are still sketchy, including whether or not Tobey Maguire will play the web-slinger or not. We will keep you posted as details become available. Filming on Spider-Man 4 is set to begin next year.

This Week's New Video Games

It may be National County Fair month but that doesn't mean you can't still find some fun in your video game isle this week. Following are our picks for this week's best new games arriving in stores this week.

Spectrobes: Origins (Wii, rated Everyone 10+)
Spectrobes: Origins brings the successful series known from its previous DS releases to the Wii for the first time. The game is an action/adventure game mixing real-time battles, science fiction and monster collection with an exciting new story. Origins challenges players to prevent a galactic threat by utilizing speed, strategy and of course, Spectrobes.

Midnight Mysteries: The Edgar Allan Poe Conspiracy (PC, rated Pending)
Take on the persona of a famed writer who is known for solving cold cases in this adventure game that takes you through some of the author’s most famous works.

Paws & Claws Pet Vet Australian Adventure (DS, rated Everyone)
Work as a doctor and care for 6 fun loving animals such as koala bears, wombats, dingos and kangaroos in the Pet Sim Adventure game. You will also hop in your very Jeep and use your map to locate all the sick animals in the, eucalyptus forest, the vast plains or the mountains.

Wolfenstein (PC, PS3, Xbox 360, rated Mature)
Wolfenstein brings the Nazi’s dark obsession with the occult to life with epic action and harrowing shooter combat. Use a powerful arsenal of both definitive and occult-enhanced Axis & Allied weapons to beat back a supernatural Nazi force that is full of surprises. You play as BJ Blazkowicz, a highly decorated member of the Office of Secret Actions (OSA).

Posted by Jeff

New Video Games Due This Week

by Jeff McKinney (follow me on Twitter)

We have something for everyone in this week's picks of the best new games arriving in stores. Kids and Pokemon fans will love Fossil Fighters while anyone looking for an active challenge will enjoy Active Life. Finally, are you ready for some football because the latest Madden game is here!

Fossil Fighters (DS, rated Everyone)
Welcome to Vivosaur Island, home of the world-famous Fossil Stadium, where dinosaurs revived from ancient fossils fight in thrilling battles! As a Fossil Fighter, you'll dig up dinosaur fossils, clean them, and revive them into powerful "vivosaurs," ready to battle. In your adventures, you'll delve into ancient ruins, explore sunken pirate ships, and uncover secrets that will shake the planet to its core!

Active Life: Extreme Challenge (Wii, rated Everyone)
Showcasing more than a dozen unique activities, from wakeboarding to rock climbing and base jumping, Active Life: Extreme Challenge promises to keep players pulses pounding and hearts pumping with each new event. Combining the exclusive mat controller with a Wii Remote not only provides active and fun gameplay but also an experience that burns calories.

Madden NFL 10 (PS2, PS3, PSP, Xbox360, Wii, rated Everyone)
In Madden NFL 10, you will join the fight and experience firsthand what it is like to fight for every yard. With the all-new Pro-Tak animation technology you will have more control over the outcome of every play than ever before. Whether driving your receiver towards the first down, or battling for a fumble at the bottom of a pile, the play won't be over until the whistle blows.

Chris Byrne on Live With Regis & Kelly

Did you miss Chris Byrne on Live With Regis & Kelly yesterday? No problem because we have the video from yesterday's show.

Enjoy!



Scroll down to yesterday's post for a list of the toys.

Chris Byrne on Live With Regis & Kelly

It's been a rainy summer for many of us this year so today Chris Byrne, The Toy Guy, stopped by Live With Regis & Kelly with some of the best toys for a rainy day.

Following is a list of the toys Chris had with him on the show in order of appearance. You should be able to find all of these items at toy and retail shops nationwide as well as online shopping sites.

1-2-3 Stomp!

From Wild Planet

$29.99

Ages 3+

Crayola Color Town

From Wild Planet

Ages 3+

$19.99

Play-Doh Burger Builder

From Hasbro

Ages 3+

$14.99

Ready Set School

From Alex

Ages 3+

$24.99

Nerf N-Strike Tech Target

From Hasbro

$24.99

Ages 6+

Dr. Seuss Super Stretchy ABC Game

From I Can Do That! Games

$29.99

Ages 3+

Spy Gear Evidence Kit

From Wild Planet

$15.00

Ages 6+

Tag Jr.

From LeapFrog

$24.99 Additional books $10.00

Ages 2-4 Years

Polly Pocket Roller Coaster Resort Playset

From Mattel

$49.99

Ages 4+

Unfortunately, we couldn't show everything we wanted to so following are some more great toys for rainy days.

Crayola Pip Squeaks
From Crayola
Ages 5+
$4.99

Crayola Color Switchers
From Crayola
Ages 3+
$4.99

Crayola Telescoping Crayon Tower
From Crayola
Ages 5+
$14.99

Paperoni Deluxe Stuio
From Spin Master
Ages 6+
$19.99

Alphabet Soup
From VTECH
$29.99
Ages 3+

Nitro Web Notebook
From VTECH
$49.99
Ages 5-8

Super Why Zap & Learn Why Writer
From Learning Curve
$19.99
Ages 3-5

Trio Basic Tub Set
From Fisher Price
$29.99
3-6

Mickey’s Magic Choo Choo
From Fisher Price Friends
$49.99
Ages 3+

Ticket to Ride
From Games of Wonder
$49.99
Ages 8+

For more toys and fun, check out Chris' blog on Live With Regis & Kelly by clicking here.

This Week's New Video Games

by Jeff McKinney (follow me on Twitter)

It's finally here! G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra arrives in theaters on Friday (August 7, 2009). If you can't wait until the end of the week for your Joe fix, then pick up the video game based on the movie, in stores tomorrow. We've got a few more suggestions for great games due in stores this week and here they are:

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (All platforms, rated Teen (DS rated E10+)
Based on the upcoming film from Paramount Pictures, the GI Joe video game picks up where the movie leaves off, allowing players both in single player mode, as well as a local co-op multiplayer mode, to re-create and relive the greatest moments from the blockbuster film, classic cartoon and action figure toy line.

Hannah Montana: Rock Out the Show (PSP, rated Everyone)
Hannah Montana is bringing her tour to the PSP, and you've got a backstage pass! In the first ever Hannah Montana game for PSP, fans will not only star in the show, they will also design a custom concert in each city they visit and rock the stage as Hannah Montana with 11 hit songs.

Singstar: Queen (PS2, PS3, rated Teen)
This new release features 20 full songs and 25 authentic music videos from the iconic British band's prodigious musical catalog, letting you and others channel Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon as you perform like rock stars from a bygone era.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled (PS3, Xbox 360 Download, rated Everyone 10+)
This exclusive downloadable game is a remake of TMNT 4: Turtles in Time, in which the turtles travel backwards and forwards through history in an attempt to restore peace to the city. To download this game, you will need to have your game system connected to the internet with an online account enabled.

Death Star Cookie Jar

This has got to be the coolest cookie jar in the world. It's available through the Star Wars Shop at Shop.StarWars.com for $50. I guess Republic Credits aren't accepted.

Click here for more info or to purchase.

Tron 2 Trailer

The first official trailer for Tron 2: Legacy, the sequel to the original Tron film, is now online and it looks amazing. Jeff Bridges is back for the sequel, which will be presented in 3D by Disney.

Here it is:

We Always Thought Star Wars Belonged In A Museum

Check out this Star Wars painting mash-up.

It's part of a collection of similar images that re-imagines classic paintings with Star Wars characters. You can see more by visiting Gizmodo.

Reader Reviews: Mario Kart

We always love hearing what you think about stuff so drop us a line and let us know. You might just find your thoughts published here.

Today, Teddy tells us what he thinks about Mario Kart. Thanks Teddy!

Mario Kart has come from the Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, GameCube, and the DS (DSi) to the Wii! Now go go go to Yoshi Falls, Luigi Curcuit, the Mario Raceway, and even more! New characters, Karts, and your Mii. It is very hard at first because of the controller. If you had the GameCube version you can have a bit of help from your classic controller/gamecube controller. So if you want any help or cheating steps go to www.youtube.com but rember make your homepage either www.thetoyguy.com or www.timetoplaymag.com for all your toy and video game needs
-Teddy Byrne
Wii, Wii, Teddy 

Send your reader reviews to mail@thetoyguy.com

Harry Potter Breaking Records

The Transformers almost did it but it took a little magic to finally break The Dark Night's Midnight screening record of $18.5 million. Last night, Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince opened on 3,003 screens nationwide at midnight and took in $22.2 million.

Have you seen it yet?

Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series Now Available

Whether you missed this amazing series when it was on TV or loved every minute of it and need to see it again, this new box-set is for you. The collection features every episode with extended and deleted scenes, the original miniseries, behind-the-scenes antics and the "Razor" spinoff webisodes.

Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series is available now on DVD and Blu-ray disc.

This Week's New Video Game Releases

posted by Jeff McKinney (follow me on Twitter)

Summer is often a slow time for new releases but good games are still arriving in stores every week. Here are our picks for this week's best new games.

Tales of Monkey Island -- Episode 1 (Wii, rated Pending)
This pirate adventure is just one of a five-part saga with an intriguing storyline that becomes deeper and more entangled as it unfolds. Players will experience the humor, romance, and swashbuckling action the Monkey Island games are famous for and unravel an insidious plot which is revealed across the course of the series.

Birthday Party Bash (Wii, rated Everyone)
It's My Birthday gives savvy moms and dads a complete "Party-in-a-Box' to throw the best next-generation birthday party for their kids, including themed games, invitations, banners, coloring sheets and a birthday crown -- blue for boys, pink for girls!

NCAA Football 10 (PS2, PS3, PSP, Xbox360, rated Everyone)
NCAA Football 10 brings the excitement of college football to fans across the nation like never before with its newest feature, Season Showdown: in this new mode, every game counts as fans declare their loyalty to a favorite school and give the ultimate show of support in a nationwide competition.

The Latest TV Spot For G.I. Joe, The Rise Of Cobra

Chris Byrne on The Early Show

Chris Byrne was on The Early Show this past Saturday (July 4) with some of the Summer's coolest toys. Here is the list of toys in case you missed it.

Banzai Titan Blast Rocket
By Toy Quest
Ages 8 and up / $60
This behemoth, inflatable rocket stands over seven feet tall and can reach unbelievable heights of over 100 feet. Powered by a pressurized water tank, the lightweight BANZAI Titan Blast Rocket is easy to use and handle. Just follow three simple steps. ONE … Fill the water tank, TWO … Use the included air pump to pressurize the rocket, and THREE … Blast off!

Sky Ball
By Maui Toys
Ages 6 and up / $9
A complete new twist on one of the most classic toys of all time - the basic ball. It's about 5-inches in diameter and comes in a variety of transparent, gem-like colors (red, blue, green and orange) and bounces up to 75 feet in the air. We're not sure how the physics of it works, but the bounce is way out of proportion to the force exerted by the player. In plain English, that means that a little kid can really get it to sail with just a "regular" amount of bouncing.

CB 2 Stinger Boss Bow
By Prime Time
Ages 8 and up / $30
Become an archery ace! The supreme bow for speed and accuracy! Stinger's wingspan expands to 28" wide. Launches foam arrows! Pull back to load and pull trigger to send mega foam arrows flying - up to 40 feet! Bow measures 28" W x 19" H x 2.5" D with (3) 8" foam arrows.

Handtrux Backhoe
By Ten Ton Toys -- handtruxtoys.com
Ages 4 and up / $18
Digging toys that are operated like puppets. Kids put their hands inside and then manipulate the grip to dig. With all the rain we've been getting there's plenty of mud that needs to be moved.

Nerf N-Force Swords
By Nerf
Ages 6 and Up / $10
The excitement and adventure of power and conflict play, but with the soft, safe fun that is characteristic Nerf.

Banzai Twin Barrel Blaster
By Toy Quest
Ages 5 and up / $27
Maximize your blasting action with twice the firing power with the BANZAI Twin Barrel Blaster. These alternating double barrels blast two powerful streams of water at your opponent. The ergonomic grip and rapid fire pump trigger makes soaking your friends so easy. You'll play all day long with this unique and one-of-a-kind water blaster.

Super Soaker Quick Blast
By Hasbro
Ages 5 years & up / $15
Harness the hydro-powered performance of a SUPER SOAKER blaster … without all the pumping. Simply slide back the handle on the SUPER SOAKER QUICK BLAST blaster and unleash a deluge of water on your opponent. This fast-action blaster carries a removable 32-ounce water tank for easy filling and blasts up to 30 feet! Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

Gazillion Bubble Rocket
By Funrise
Ages 6 and Up / $25
This high-flying rocket is one of our the launcher and STOMP! The rocket soars into the sky and leaves a trail of bubbles in the launcher and STOMP! The rocket soars into the sky and leaves a trail of bubbles in its wake. No batteries required.

Star Wars Tie-Fighter Playset

I would have loved to have one of these Star Wars Tie-Fighter Playsets when I was a kid. Now that I think about it, I'd love to have one right now.

It is available now at Play.com (a UK-based site). Click here to visit.

posted by Jeff

Vote Now For Your Favorite Home Made Toy Commercial

TimeToPlayMag.com is holding it's first Make Your Own Commercial and it's time to vote for a winner. The six finalist can be viewed here. Check them out and vote for your favorite.

Click here to visit the Make Your Own Commercial contest finalists.

Transformers 2, Revenge of the Fallen is a Hit

Not that this should come as a surprise to anyone but the Transformers sequel, Transformers Revenge of the Fallen, took in a record $16 million dollars in it's midnight screenings alone. That figure does not include anything after 3am Wednesday morning.

This is is the third-biggest midnight box office take after Star Wars—Episode III: Revenge of the Sith ($16.5 million) and The Dark Knight ($18.5 million).

Since those midnight screenings, the movie has gone on to rake in more than $55 million.

We will be keeping an eye on the box office over the weekend for you.

Chris Byrne on The View From The Bay

Chris was in beautiful San Francisco on Monday with more cool toys for the Summer. You can watch this segment now by clicking here.

Indiana Jones #5?

The rumors of a fifth Indiana Jones film are circulating around the Internet after an interview Shia LaBeouf gave to the BBC in which he supposedly said Steven Spielberg is at work on the film. We have no idea if Shia will reprise his role as Mutt from the last Indiana Jones flick or if Indy himself, Harrison Ford, will star.

Stay tuned to theToyGuy.blogspot for more info when it becomes available.

This Week's New Video Game Releases

It's been a rainy summer so far for those of us in the North East so it's a good thing that we have so many games to keep us occupied indoors. Here are our top picks for this week's new releases.

Big League Sports: Summer Sports (DS, Wii, rated Everyone)
Enjoy your favorite summers sports, including beach vollyball, tennis, baseball, football, soccer and golf. Check out the Pro Center, where Coach will guide you through intense drills to test your athletic skills. Push yourself to the max as you compete against your rivals to become the ultimate Sports Champion.

Discovery Kids: Parrot Pals (DS, rated Everyone)
Parrot Pals is the newest title in the Discovery Kids games line-up. Choose your favorite breed, give it a name, and start to take care of it. You can train your parrot and teach it new tricks. You can even speak to your parrot and it will repeat your words back to you.

Diva Girls: Divas On Ice (DS, Wii, rated Everyone)
The first in a brand new series of games designed for young girls, Divas on Ice introduces you to Kelly, Gabrielle, Alyssa, and Madison, four young girls skating for glory in the Miracle Ice Festival. Dress your favorite skater in thousands of combinations of customizable outfits, then train hard to upgrade your skating skills so you can wow the crowd, impress the judges and be crowned the Ultimate Diva on Ice.

Ghostbusters The Video Game (DS, Wii, PC, PS2, PS3, Xbox360, rated Teen)
When Manhattan is once again overrun by ghosts and other supernatural creatures, players will take on the role of a new recruit joining the famous Ghostbusters team. Ghostbusters: The Video Game features the original film cast from the classic Ghostbusters films, including Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson.

Guitar Hero Smash Hits (PS2, PS3, Xbox360, Wii, rated Teen)
The Best of Guitar Hero now for the Full Band. Includes tracks from Guitar Hero, Guitar Hero II, Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s and Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. For newer Guitar Hero fans, this is a great chance to catch up and play the best of Guitar Hero, and older Guitar Hero fans have a new reason to expand to the full band.

The Toy Guy on ABC7 Chicago

The Toy Guy, Chris Byrne, recently stopped by ABC7 in Chicago to share some ideas for cool summer-time toys sure to entertain the kids.

You can watch the video now by clicking here.

Comic Books on iTunes

Comics publisher, IDW, has an application that will allow you to read all your favorite Tranformers comics on your iPhone or iPod-Touch. You can get both Revenge of the Fallen prequel series now via the IDW iPhone application.

Comics are just $0.99 an issue!

You can check out these plus other IDW comic books on iTunes by clicking here.

E3 Coverage on The Play Forum

It's a busy week on the road for us with E3 taking place in LA and the Licensing Show going on in Vegas.

Check out Jeff McKinney's E3 coverage starting today on the play forum by clicking here.

New Reviews: Help Wanted, 50 Wacky Jobs

by Jeff McKinney (Follow me on Twitter)

My generation is the first to grow up with video games in our homes and we are now having kids of our own who are playing video games at much younger ages - you should see my four-year old nephew with the Wii. So I'm always interested in games that adults can play with kids and both age groups will actually have fun playing together. Help Wanted: 50 Wacky Jobs is the perfect example of such a game.

Click here to continue reading

The Toy Guy on Live

Did you catch Chris Byrne on Live With Regis & Kelly yesterday? Here is the list of toys Chris had with him for what turned out to be an all-out water battle on the streets of NYC.

The Toys:

Tyco R/C Star Trek Quick Charge Flier
U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701
By Tyco
Ages 8 and up
$19.99

Twin Prop Flyer
By Prime Time
Ages 4 and up
$19.99

NERF N-Force Swords
By Hasbro
Ages 6 and up
$12.99

CB 2 Stinger Boss Bow
By Prime Time
Ages 8 and up
$29.99

Gazillion Bubbles Bubble Rocket
By Funrise
Ages 6 and up
$24.99

Wave Hoop & Cosmic Hoop
Maui Toys
Ages 3 and Up
$6.99 & 7.99

Ringers
By Recreation Sports
Ages 8 and Up
Approx. Retail Price $89.99

Jarts
By Recreation Sports
Ages 8 and Up
Approx. Retail Price $19.99

Banzai Titan Blast Rocket
By Toy Quest
Ages 8 and up
$59.99

Super Soaker 50
By Hasbro
Ages 6 and Up.
$14.99

Super Soaker Quick Blast
By Hasbro
Ages 5 and Up.
$14.99

Turbo Fill Blaster
by Fisher-Price
Ages 3 and Up
$34.99

SwimWays Spring Pool
By SwimWays
Ages 3 and up.
$49.99

Submergency
By SwimWays
Ages 6 years and up
Approx. Retail Price: $17.99-$19.99

Fishbites Soft Swimmies
By SwimWays
Ages 3 – 5
$7.99 – 9.99

Max Liquidator
By Prime Time
Ages 6 and Up
$9.99

Splash Bombs
By Prime Time
Ages 4 and up
$2.99 – 3.99

Trampoline Bats
By Prime Time
Ages 4 and up
$16.99

Zipper Splasher
By Prime Time
Ages 4 and Up
$7.99

Memorial Day

The Toy Guy on TV

While the rest of us are looking forward to scooting out of work early for the long holiday weekend, The Toy Guy, aka Chris Byrne, is going coast to coast with some of the latest and greatest toys.

You can see Chris today in the LA area on KTLA with Gayle Anderson and the rest of the country can catch Chris on Live With Regis & Kelly on Monday, Memorial Day.

From everyone here at Toy Guy headquarters, have a great and safe weekend and please remember the brave U.S. men and women who have died in military service.

R2-D2's Cameo In Star Trek

Apparently, R2-D2 makes a "Where's Waldo" style cameo in the new Star Trek movie and you can win a prize for correctly identifying the scene in which he appears.

If you've seen the movie and think you spotted everyone's favorite little astromech droid then you should enter the "STAR TREK Easter Egg Sweepstakes" on Facebook for your chance to win a prop from the film.

The Toy Guy on Live's Blog

Looking for more great blog posts about toys, games and play? Chris Byrne occasionally guest blogs for Live With Regis & Kelly. You can read Chris' latest entry and scroll through past posts by visiting his page on the Live blog here!

First Transformers Movie Toys Arriving at Target

Good news for Transformers fans. According to Seibertron.com, the first figures for the new Transformers movie, Revenge Of The Fallen, should be arriving in Target stores this Friday! The figures are of Soundwave (awesome!) and Bumblebee.

The Toy Guy's Report from the Easy Bake Baker of the Year Competition

Last week, The Toy Guy, Chris Byrne took a trip to Walt Disney World in Florida to be a judge for the Easy Bake Baker of the Year Contest! Seven finalists competed for the top prize, baking up delicious treats like Strawberry PB&J, Pineapple Upside-down, and Queen of Hearts Strawberry Tart!



Check out more videos on our video page on TimeToPlayMag.com.

This Week's New Video Games

Just one more week until Punch-Out!! arrives for the Wii. Until then, here is a look at our picks for the top new games in stores this week. 

Help Wanted: 50 Wacky Jobs (Wii, rated Everyone 10+)
Help Wanted is a fun, comedic game created for families to play together. You will choose from over fifty odd jobs, including: Body Builder, Action Hero, Make-up Artist, Haunted House Monster, Clown, Pizza Chef, Sumo Referee and Sushi Master as you compete against your friends and family. 

Girl Time (DS, rated Everyone)
Girl Time is everything a girl needs right at her fingertips. From fashion tips, dating advice and horoscopes to a social calendar, friendship book, quizzes, mini games and more. This game is jam-packed with the essentials that every girl needs for her busy, busy life. 

Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball (Wii, Xbox 360, rated Everyone 10+)
We can finally answer the age old question, who would win a game of dodgeball when pirates face off against ninjas. The game allows for up to eight players and offers a total of seven teams, including pirates, ninjas, robots, zombies and three other secret groups. 

Review of the Nintendo DSi

Our gaming guru, Jeff McKinney, reviewed the new Nintendo DSi for Time To Play. Here is an exert from that review;

"20 years ago this month, Nintendo introduced the world to Game Boy, the company's first handheld gaming system. That first chunky, black and white, Game Boy would go on to receive a lot of upgrades over the years - color screen, improved graphics, longer battery life, smaller and lighter size, and better sound - as new models were introduced until it was replaced by the DS in 2004. This month, the latest version of the DS, the DSi, arrived in stores and while it's appearance hasn't changed much on the outside from the more recent DS Lite, the upgrades under the hood make this one of the coolest gadgets I've ever played with. "

You can read Jeff's review now by clicking here.

Breaking News: Easy Bake Baker of the Year Named in Orlando

Catherine Ralston from New Albany, OH was named the 2009 Easy Bake Baker of the Year at the National finals in Orlando today.

Ralston's winning recipe was the Queen of Hearts Strawberry Tart. Seven finalists from around the U.S. participated in the bake off at Disney's Grand Floridian resort.

Stay tuned for a video report from the competition.

Hannah Montana: The Movie, Video Game Review

Hannah Montana: The Movie | Product Review | Lego Games & Toy Reviews | Hot Wheels Set | Fisher Price Games | Barbie Games | Learning Kids Toys | Toy Reviews | Game Reviews | Toy Safety | Time to Play Magazine

Posted using ShareThis

iPhone Apps That Kids Will Love

Dvice, the SciFi Channel's tech and gadget blog, has a great post today about 10 iPhone apps that kids will love.

Here is an exerpt;

"9. I Hear Ewe: Animal Sounds for Toddlers
Kind of like a See 'n Say for the iPhone, this app features 12 animal sounds that are activated when their corresponding picture is touched. The interface is animated and the illustrations are cute. It's also a good chance to see what animals your kid knows and share interaction by telling them what animal to press."

You can read the entire list now by clicking here.

This Week's New Video Games

posted by Jeff McKinney (follow me on Twitter)

It's a quiet week for new game releases but there are still a few worth checking out. Following are our favorite pics of the new games arriving in stores this week.

New Play Control! Donkey Kong Jungle Beat (Wii, rated Everyone)
Part of Nintendo's New Play Control! series that takes classic Nintendo games and remakes them for the motion-sensing control system of the Wii Donkey Kong Jungle Beat puts you in Donkey Kong's, uh, fur as you swing through the jungle on a banana-grabbing adventure.

History's Great Empires: Rome (DS, rated Everyone 10+)
Rome is part of a series of Pocket History games designed with The History Channel to bring history to a wider audience. this is an action-packed, strategy game filled with elements of resource management, diplomacy, strategy and tactical warfare.

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (DS, Wii, Xbox360, rated Everyone 10+)
This adventure game based on the movie features 14 levels that take place is such locations as The Smithsonian, the Air and Space Museum, the Lincoln Memorial and many more.

The Toy Guy's Latest TimeToPlay Video

The Toy Guy, AKA Chris Byrne, recently hit the streets of New York City with Cadaco's EnviroBLOX for an afternoon of fun and play.



To see more videos like this, check out our video page on TimeToPlayMag.com.

The Latest Transformers 2 Trailer

We apologize for the bootleg quality of this trailer. Someone filmed it in a theater and posted to YouTube. Despite that, the quality is pretty good and this trailer makes us even more excited for the movie than anything we have seen so far.

Here you go!

Apple Sells 1,000,000,000th App Store Download

Apple sold its one-billionth App store download on Friday, April 24, 2009. That's extremely impressive considering the app store has only been open for nine months.

The one billionth app was Bump, created by Bump Technologies, and was downloaded by Connor Mulcahey, age 13, of Weston, CT. Connor was the grand prize winner of Apple’s one billion app countdown contest and will receive a $10,000 iTunes gift card, an iPod touch, a Time Capsule and a MacBook Pro. Not bad considering the app was a free download.

This Week's New Video Games

Here are our picks for the best new games arriving this week.

MLB Dugout Heroes (PC, rated Unknown)
MLB Dugout Heroes is the first fully licensed and online-based PC baseball game that features all Major League Baseball players and stadiums from the past and present. Players can expect a casual baseball gaming experience with cartoonish, 3-D graphics and intuitive mouse controls.

Backyard Baseball '10 (PS2, rated Everyone)
The #1 kids' baseball video game is back for a ninth season and is packed with realistic baseball action and crazy arcade fun. Backyard Baseball 10, features all 32 MLB teams along with a roster of current pros as kids.

Crazy Chicken: Atlantis Quest (DS, rated Everyone)
Crazy Chicken's thirst for adventure and thrill of treasure hunting now takes our feathered hero on a journey under the sea in search of the lost kingdom of Atlantis. Battle monks and guards, get chased by mummies and dodge the octopuses, as you travel through the sunken lost kingdom in your quest to find the legendary treasure.

Johnny Bravo in The Hukka-Mega-Mighty-Ultra-Extreme Date-O-Rama (DS, rated Everyone)
Based on Cartoon Network's animated series, Johnny Bravo. You'll play narcissistic Johnny Bravo in his quest to compete with other guys to get a girl for the big dance. Compete in eight wacky games to impress the chick, including Strike A Pose, Food Fight and Disco Dance-Off!

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (DS, Wii, PSP, PS2, Rated Teen)
Uncage Wolverine's tragic past and discover how the ultimate weapon was created in this action-adventure fighting game based on the movie. The PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 version of the game, the "Uncaged Edition" is rated Mature.

Transform And Roll Out With The Original Robots

There's no shortage of articles, info and images covering this Summer's new Transformers movie sequel, Revenge Of The Fallen. But today, I've got great news for Transformers fans, who like myself, grew up with the original animated Optimus and Megatron.

A week before the movie's release, the 1980's animated Transformers series will be getting the super duper DVD treatment in Transformers: The Complete First Season 25th Anniversary Edition. The DVD will include extras like commercials for the toys, scripts, concept art and much more.

Look for this DVD in stores on June 16th and the new movie, Revenge Of The Fallen, in theaters on June 24.



posted by Jeff

Celebrate Earth Day With The Jane Goodall Institute

In an effort to raise environmental awareness and help kids become good green citizens, Toys "R" Us has partnered with The Jane Goodall Institute's Roots and Shoots youth program. The program connects young people who share a desire to create a better world through service projects, youth-led campaigns, and an interactive website that provides a list of Earth-friendly activities. To support the Jane Goodall Institute, the Toys "R" Us Children's Fund awarded the Institute with a $10,000 grant.

Additionally, Toys "R" Us and Roots and Shoots developed the following list of Earth-friendly tips. Click anywhere on the list to enlarge in a new window.



To learn more about The Jane Goodall Institute and Roots and Shoots, please visit www.janegoodall.org and www.rootsandshoots.org.

New Animated GI Joe Series, Resolute, Online Now

GI Joe: Resolute is a new animated series following the adventures of the Joe gang as they fight to keep Cobra from taking over the world. While that description could also be used to sum up the original 1980's animated series, the action and imagery in Resolute is much more mature and realistic than the the original. In other words - it's geared more toward die-hard Joe fans rather than little kids.

You can view the first four webisodes of Resolute with additional mini-episodes to follow online now. The whole collection plus the 10 minute conclusion will be shown in it's entirety during its broadcast premiere on Cartoon Network next week.

Head over to AdultSwim.com to view GI Joe: Resolute

This Week's New Video Game Releases

It's a great week for casual gamers with several new mini-game based games due in stores. For the more serious gamers, the new Dynasty Warriors arrives tomorrow.

Here are our picks for the best new games arriving this week;

Excitebots: Trick Racing (Wii, rated Everyone)
The fourth game in the Excitebike series, Excitebots: Trick Racing features players racing around the world in vehicles that look like bugs, amphibians or mammals that transform throughout the race.

101-in-1 Explosive Megamix (DS, rating pending)
As the name implies, this is a collection of 101 mini-games in 1 package. The games are varied enough to provide something for everyone.

Burger Island (Wii, rated Everyone)
Fast Food takes on new meaning in this casual gaming experience with 30 recipes and 60 levels of burger-flipping fun!

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2 (PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, rated Teen)
Hop into your Mobile Suit and enter the Gundam universe in this popular giant-battling-robot-suit game.

I Love Horses (DS, rated Everyone)
Train, play with and care for your horses in 20 mini-games.

Party Pigs Farmyard Games (Wii, rated Everyone)
1 - 4 players compete in wacky versions of classic outdoor games including Soccer, Racing, Hurdles, Diving, Long Jump, High Jump and Swimming.

LeapFrog Leaps into the Present

From our sister blog, the play forum:

By Christopher Byrne (Follow Chris on Twitter)

I was thrilled to find out this week that LeapFrog has unveiled its first game for the iPod Touch and the iPhone that it will sell through the Apple App Store.

Why?

Well, this is where kids are going, and I’ve been saying for a while that the handheld platform wars are over, and the winners are Nintendo and Apple. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot of opportunity because the content wars are just heating up, particularly in the educational category where Leap’s only credible competitor is VTECH.

Everyone who knows me—and listens to me go on and on—knows that I love LeapFrog. They’ve done an incredible job and even with their recent business challenges they have never compromised their reputation with consumers. Ask any parent—and I ask hundreds of them all the time—about LeapFrog, and they know it’s synonymous with quality product. And here’s the kicker: They think that even if they don’t have kids who are LeapFrog age. It’s a textbook case of brand building that has, way more often than not, fulfilled on the brand promise.

According to surveys, more and more iPod Touch units are being sold for kids in the 8-11 year old range, and there are pockets of the country where kids have iPhones. Those that don’t own one but who have parents that do love to play on them.

I have consistently been blown away first by Leapster and then Leapster2 for the younger kids, but the handheld game for older kids, Didj hasn’t caught on quite as much. As kids get older, they want what their peers have, and that has meant Nintendo DS—and now the fantastic DSi—and iPods. The important issue with these platforms is to remember that having them is what makes kids part of their peer group. The content is going to change from kid to kid—just like the iPod in the population at large. I promise you the songs on my iPod (musicals, classical, some classic rock) would bore you silly and have you make fun of me, but I’m betting that I don’t want to listen to yours. However, we still have the iPod experience in common and that’s where we identify ourselves within the context of the contemporary culture.

Okay, so I ponied up my $2.99 for Number Rumble and had a blast. The game has three modes-learning, quizzing and random quizzing. It enhances memorization of math problems and testing of what’s been learned. Plus, it uses the cool spinning technology that is part of the whole iPod/iPhone interface. It also uses the built-in accelerometer in the random quiz mode.

But here’s where the real genius in this game comes into play. LeapFrog has now taken one of the most arduous challenges of many third and fourth graders—learning times tables basic equations and so forth—and turned it into a game that is not just fun in itself, but uses the hottest platform out there.

Somehow, learning and drilling the times tables isn’t so tough when it’s on the iPhone, even if it really belongs to mom or dad. Plus, you get all the creativity and educational expertise of LeapFrog for only $2.99. When has that happened before?

LeapFrog says that this is the first of a series of casual style games that it’s launching for this platform. I say, hooray. And I’m predicting that as they continue to grow and expand, time on the iPhone or iPod Touch will have to be negotiated within the family, just as in the early days of the home computer when there was only one in the house—and it used two floppy disks. We didn’t think there would be a time when every member of the family would have their own computer, but we’re moving there very quickly.

I would be remiss, however, if I didn’t acknowledge that a $50 Leapster 2 or a $169 Nintendo DSI is a far cry from the $200-$300 you’ll spend for an iPhone or the $229 for the basic iPod Touch, but if you have them already, then the LeapFrog programs are a steal.

And then there’s our favorite practice—justification for buying something you already want. “Well, the kids can learn with it…” Face it, you want this thing, and it’s great. It’s not justification to say that LeapFrog just made it better.

Deal Digger: Babies "R" Us Online and In-Store Coupon

From now until May 2, 2009, you can save $5 off any purchase of $25 or more when you shop at babiesRus.com or in stores.

Click here to get the coupon (printer needed) or online coupon code.

This Week's New Video Game Releases

It's a slow week for new game releases. Maybe it's a plot to make sure we are getting our taxes done on time.

Here is a look at our picks for the best new games arriving this week;

Escape the Museum (Wii, rated Everyone)
In Escape the Museum, a devastating earthquake has rocked the foundations of the National Museum of History and players must help Susan Anderson, who was knocked unconscious by falling debris while searching the museum for survivors, escape from the crumbling building to the safety outside.


Guitar Hero: Metallica (PS2, rated Teen)
Guitar Hero: Metallica will focus on the career and songs of Metallica. With 28 Metallica songs and 21 other songs that influenced the band, fans will love playing guitars, drums, and singing vocals alongside Kirk Hammett, Lars Ulrich, James Hetfield, and Robert Trujillo.


Tournament Pool (Wii, rated Everyone)
The most popular pool games: Tournament Pool features all the most popular billard games, each with official rules. Choose from 8-ball, 9-ball, Snooker, and more. No matter how you like to play, Tournament Pool has you covered.


Puzzle Quest: Galactrix (PS3, rated Everyone 10+)
An innovative hexagonal puzzle board allows for a wide range of strategic depth as it heeds to gravity according to a player's location in the game universe.

Happy Holidays

From everyone at theToyGuy.com, have an enjoyable and happy Passover or Easter.

Deal Digger: Ultimate Easter Basket Giveaway

Toys "R" Us is giving away a super-stuffed Easter basket in their Ultimate Easter Basket Giveaway.

There are four different baskets, which are not actually baskets but groupings of toys that were too large to fit into a basket. Winners choose from one of these four baskets, each filled with a different theme of toys and valued somewhere between $200 and $260.

The giveaway is open until April 11, so enter now by clicking here.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Decoded

Here is your chance to watch the first season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, again or for the first time, and learn something new about the Star Wars universe.

Clone Wars Decoded is the entire first season -- 22 episodes of the CG-animated series from George Lucas and Lucasfilm Animation -- with enhanced pop-up facts and insights. The pop-ups will include trivia and background information on the characters and storylines from the series' creators themselves.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Decoded premieres Friday, May 1 at 9 p.m. on Cartoon Network.

This Week's New Video Game Releases

We don't usually talk about Mature rated games here but two new ones in store this week deserve mention. Both are highly entertaining games created for adults only! Please, don't let kids play or watch someone else play games that are designed for adults. There are also several family-friendly and kid-approved games in store this week.

Here is a look at our picks for the best new games coming out this week.


The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena (PC, PS3, Xbox 360, rated Mature)
Vin Diesel is back as Riddick, the criminal hero, and it's up to you to break out of the galaxy's most deadly prison in this 1st person action game.
This game is not suitable for kids!

Dragonball: Evolution (PSP, rated Teen)
In this fighting game players match up against their favorite characters from the upcoming movie and battle for control of the seven sacred Dragon Balls that have the power to grant any wish.

The Godfather II (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
The Godfather II, the action game, goes beyond the film's story by setting players in the world of organized crime in 1960’s Florida, Cuba and New York. Your mission is to build up your family through extorting businesses, monopolizing illegal crime rings and defeating new families in an effort to become the most powerful mob family in America.
This game is not suitable for kids!

Hannah Montana: The Movie (DS, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, rated Everyone)
Hannah Montana The Movie, join Hannah Montana and live the rock star life while you get to know Miley Stewart and explore the world she left back in Tennessee. Perform as Hannah Montana to raise funds or play as Miley Stewart and explore Crowley Corners. Rock out at 6 different concert venues and perform to 12 Hannah hit-songs.

Professor Heinz Wolff's Gravity (DS, Wii, rated Everyone)
In this clever puzzle game, players must master the correct placement of objects in order to solve each puzzle and advance to the next level.

posted by Jeff

How Cool Is This?!

Believe it or not, but that video is not of an actual space shuttle blast off. It's all Legos. 65,000 Lego bricks were used to construct this replica, which was then creatively lit and filmed to simulate an actual launch.

This impressive model is the work of two Japanese guys and Part of the "Nasu Space Center," which appeared as a scene in Nasu Highland Park, a Japanese amusement park.

Robot Cast Of Transformers 2 Revealed

Yesterday's USA Today (I think that's a news paper) featured an early look at this Summer's Transformers movie sequel. The article includes some in-depth info on which Transformers robots will appear in the movie and how they differ from the original 80's animated and toy versions.

You can read the article now by clicking here.

posted by Jeff

My Little Star Wars Ponies

These awesome Star Wars themed My Little Ponies are the creations of artist Mari Kasurinen, who modifies her own My Little Ponies. Other Pony mods in the artist's collection include characters from the movies Batman and Pirates of the Caribbean. You can see more of Kasurinen's work at her Deviant Art page.