New Video Games Due This Week

Nintendo DS
Super Dodgeball Brawlers
USA Today Crosswords

Nintendo Wii
Death Jr.: Root of Evil
Emergency Heroes
Kawasaki Snow Mobiles
The Monkey King: The Legend Begins

PC
Mass Effect
Happy Tree Friends: False Alarm
Stronghold Crusader Extreme
Shattered Suns

PS2
Garfield: Lasagne World Tour
Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure

PS3
Enemy Territory: Quake Wars
Fatal Inertia EX

PSP
World Championship Cards

Xbox360
Enemy Territory: Quake Wars
Lost Planet: Extreme Condition -- Colonies Edition

Welcome Back!

We hope everyone had a wonderful and safe holiday weekend spent with family and friends.

Gone Fishing

We will be taking a few days off over the Memorial Day weekend. Enjoy the long weekend, have fun and remember to be safe.

Disney Store Recalls Tinker Bell Wands

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the Disney Store, announced a voluntary recall of Tinker Bell Wands for violating the federal lead paint standard. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

The recalled Tinker Bell wands are green and light up and sound when a button in the handle is pressed. The top of the wand has white plastic flowers, a green bow, and a pin with Tinker Bell’s face on it. These toys were sold at Disney stores nationwide from April 2007 through October 2007 for about $13.

Consumers should immediately take the recalled toy away from children and return it to a Disney Store for a full refund. For additional information, contact Disney Store toll-free at (866) 902-2798 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.Disneystore.com.

The Home Depot Recalls Candle Holders

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with The Home Depot, announced a voluntary recall of sun-shaped candle holders due to a fire hazard. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

The sun-shaped candle holder is glass and metal, and was sold in four colors (red, green, blue, and yellow). “15.75" Candle Holder” is printed on the product’s hang tag. These products were sold at The Home Depot stores in the southern and western regions of the U.S. from January 2008 through March 2008 for about $10.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled products and return them to The Home Depot for a full refund. For additional information, call toll-free (866) 403-5504 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. ET, or visit the company’s Web site at www.homedepot.com.

How Cool Is This? Space Shuttle Bunk Beds

Something tells us that getting kids to go to bed would be a lot easier with this awesomely stellar, Space Shuttle Bunk Bed. Kids won't want to go to sleep once in this bed because they will be to busy on imaginary space missions but it still rocks! The Space Shuttle Bunk Bed is available from My Moondrops for $2,600 and takes 6 to 8 weeks to be delivered.

New Video Games Due This Week

Wow! I don't remember the last time we saw a week without any Nintendo DS games entering the market. I guess DS programmers knew that all eyes would be turned to the release of Nintendo's Wii Fit (E, Wii), in stores (until sold out) today.

Here is a look at some of this week's other new games:

Nintendo Wii
Critter Round-Up
Wii Fit

PC
Age of Conan - Hyborian Adventures
Dracula: Origin
The Immortals of Terra: A Perry Rhodan Adventure
Lost Planet: Extreme Condition -- Colonies Edition

PSP
UEFA Euro 2008

PS2
Garfield: Lasagne World Tour
UEFA Euro 2008

PS3
Haze
SingStar
UEFA Euro 2008

Xbox360
Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows [Xbox Originals]
Lost Planet: Extreme Condition -- Colonies Edition
Stubbs the Zombie in "Rebel without a Pulse" [Xbox Originals]
UEFA Euro 2008

Summer Blockbuster Season - Star Wars: the Clone Wars

The start of the Summer big budget blockbuster season is upon us! We continue our look at the summer's explosion-laden films with our next trailer installment. Today we bring you Star Wars: the Clone Wars. In theaters August 15.

Enjoy!

Transform And Tune Out!

Those lucky Japanese folks get all the coolest gadgets. Check out this awesome iPod dock from Takara Tomy.


This iconic, iPod-styled Optimus Prime really transforms into the truck and trailer vehicle, which doubles as a portable speaker. We 're crossing our fingers that this becomes available here in the States soon.

Wii Don't Know About This One

Back in February , we dedicated more than a week to reporting all that we saw at Toy Fair. One item we didn't mention was the Carmen Electra Stripper Pole (yes, we are serious). We were a bit stumped as to why this item was being shown at Toy Fair but there it was.

It appears that we may now be able to answer the question of why the stripper pole was at Toy Fair. Last week a story made it's way across the web that claims the stripper pole is going to be part of the next Wii Fit game. Sounds hard to believe until you consider this; Apparently fitness centers across the country now offer pole dancing as an aerobics class and people are signing up in droves to try it out. If people are willing to try this out in front of a class, then chances are good that a home video game version could become a huge success.

We don't have any details, such as when it will be available and how much it will cost, but you can rest assured that we will follow this story and keep you updated.

Wal-Mart Recalls Charm Key Chains

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Wal-Mart Stores Inc., announced a voluntary recall of "Hip Charm" Key Chains due to a risk of lead exposure. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

The recalled key chain has several charms including a button, clover, leaf, heart and a sand dollar. The charms hang from a silver-colored chain. The words “Hip charm” and UPC (#31568 11017) are printed on the product’s packaging. The recalled key chains were sold at Wal-Mart stores nationwide from April 2005 through April 2008 for about $6.

Consumers should not allow children to handle the key chain and return it to any Wal-Mart store for a full refund. For further information, contact Wal-Mart at (800) 925-6278 between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.walmartstores.com

New Video Games Due This Week

Once again, a movie-related video game is on the weekly list. This week, we have the video game version of The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (Multiple Platforms, T/E) in stores on Thursday. Another interesting title available this week is Everyone's Pokémon Ranch (Wii, E), which allows Pokémon players to transfer their Pokémon over from Pearl and Diamond and then raise them in a farm-like environment.

Here is a look at some of this week's other new games:

Nintendo DS
Drone Tactics
Myst
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

Nintendo Wii
Defend Your Castle
Everyone's Pokémon Ranch
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King
LostWinds
Pop
TV Show King
Castle of Shikigami III
Deca Sports
We Ski

PC
Disney/Pixar Action Pack: 3 Games In 1
Stronghold Crusader Extreme
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

PS2
Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure
World Championship Cards
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

PS3
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Rocketmen: It Came From Uranus

Xbox360
Assault Heroes 2
Rocketmen: It Came From Uranus
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

Summer Blockbuster Season - Batman: The Dark Knight

The start of the Summer big budget blockbuster season is upon us! If Iron Man's opening weekend success is any indicator, it's going to be a hot summer at the box offices. We continue our look at the summer's explosion-laden films with our next trailer installment. Today we bring you Batman: The Dark Knight. In theaters July 18.

Enjoy!

Must See TV On iPhone

NBC has begun offering full episodes of The Office and 30 Rock streamed to the iPhone with no commercials. You won't find these programs on iTunes but iPhone users can visit NBC.com on the iPhone and click on the video tab. The shows will play in Apple's Quicktime video viewer.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Movie Poster

StarWars.com has released the movie poster for this summer's animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars and it looks awesome!

According to the site, the movie's trailer will be officially released tomorrow (Thursday, May 8) on Cartoon Network, TNT, TBS, CNN, and Boomerang during a special look at the latest Star Wars Adventure. Look for this special on these channels at 7:58 p.m. For more info, visit StarWars.com

Children’s Storage Bins Sold at Lowe’s Stores Recalled

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with L G Sourcing, Inc., announced a voluntary recall of Children’s Storage Bins due to a violation of lead paint standards. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

The recalled storage bins are wooden with scalloped edges and were sold in pastel green or pink. Item number 226782 (pastel green storage bin) or 226781 (pink storage bin) is located on the bottom of the storage bin. No other storage bins or colors are included in this recall. These bins were sold at Lowe’s retail outlets nationwide from March 2007 through February 2008 for about $6.

Consumers should immediately take the recalled storage bins away from children and return them to any Lowe’s store for a full refund. For additional information, contact L G Sourcing toll-free at (866) 493-6563 anytime, or visit www.lowes.com.

Indiana Jones Fedora

Deck yourself out in style before heading off on your next archeological dig with a fedora hat like the one that Indiana Jones wears. This authentic Indiana Jones Fedora Hat is made of 100% wool felt with a grosgrain trim and brass Indiana Jones logo. The hat is available in a wide range of sizes for $42. You can buy it now at IndianaJonesShop.com.

New Video Games Due This Week

Here he comes! With Speed Racer dashing into theaters on Friday (May 9), two new game editions arrive in stores for the Nintendo DS and Wii. The Wii edition features a "choose-your-own-adventure" aspect that plays out as a series of choices that the player must make during the game. The DS version is a more standard movie-based game in which players take on the role of the characters from the movie and get to hop in each character’s signature vehicle. Look for both Wii and DS games in stores tomorrow. Both versions of the game are rated E.

Here are some other notable games expected in stores this week:

Nintendo DS
Crosswords DS
Speed Racer

Nintendo Wii
Boom Blox
The Dog Island
Speed Racer

PC
Iron Man
Neverwinter Nights 2 Gold
Sword of the Stars Collector's Edition
Strategic Command 2: Blitzkrieg: Patton Drives East

PS3
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare -- Game of The Year Edition

PSP
Chameleon
R-Type Command

Counting Down To Summer Blockbuster Season - Hellboy II: The Golden Army

The start of the Summer big budget blockbuster season begins today! We continue our look at the summer's explosion-laden films with our next trailer installment. Today we bring you Hellboy II: The Golden Army. In theaters July 11.

Enjoy!

Iron Man the Movie

Last night the Toy Guy and I were invited to attend a screening of the new Iron Man movie, which opens in theaters tomorrow (Friday). As a comic book reader and huge fan of comic book movies I've been looking forward to this movie for years and headed to the theater yesterday both excited and nervous. Nervous because let's face it, for every great comic book movie, like X-Men or Spider-Man, there are just as many disappointments (ahem Elektra, Hulk).

I'm happy to say that Iron Man was a blast! The movie is an adaptation of Marvel's comic book series about a flawed billionaire weapons manufacturer - Tony Stark - who after a life-threatening experience, creates a suit of armor and takes to the sky to fight the bad guys. I have to admit, Iron Man has never been one of the comics on my reading list so I can't say how true to the comic the movie was. What I can say is that this is a great action movie with amazing special effects and a fantastic cast, which is led by Robert Downey Jr., as Tony Stark/Iron Man. Downey was perfect as the smug, jet-setting, playboy and the rest of the cast, including Terrence Howard (Jim Rhodes), Jeff Bridges (Obadiah Stane) and Gwyneth Paltrow (Pepper Potts) were equally as impressive. The only odd casting was the film's director, Jon Favreau, playing Stark's driver/buddy who was in every scene of the first 15 minutes of the film then disappears entirely without any reason given as to why.

The movie opens in theaters Nationwide tomorrow.

- J. McKinney