Good News For Narnia: Fox To Develop Next Film

Earlier this week, Variety reported that 20th Century Fox has stepped in to save the third Narnia film, "The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader", which Disney decided to pass on financing.

Disney's decision may have been based on the performance of the second film, "Prince Caspian," which despite grossing over $400 million dollars, was considered a box office disappointment. The first film, 2005's "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", grossed $745 million worldwide.

Fox will partner with Walden Media (producers of the first two Narnia films) to create Dawn Treader. While many aspects of this new partnership remain to be worked out, the hope is to have the film in theaters for the 2010 holiday season.

Lights! Camera! Action Figures!

Last week we brought you a Star Wars action figure film. Today, it's the Transformers with a dancing Bumblebee created by Patrick Boivin.

Enjoy!

Deal Digger: 25 Cent Pizza From Papa John's

You don't have to spend big bucks to get in on some Super Bowl action. Here's a deal that costs you nothing to enter and pays off big time with a Papa John's pizza for 25 cents.

If the opening kickoff of the this Sunday's Super Bowl is returned for a touchdown, everyone who pre-registers will be eligible to receive a Large, 1-topping pizza for just 25 cents!

You can pre-register now at PapaJohns.com.

Maggie Gyllenhaal and Fisher-Price Launch Precious Planet

Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal joined Fisher-Price today in New York City, to unveil a new line of baby gear and newborn toys called the Precious Planet Collection. This new line will include items such as a high chair, cradle, potty, bedding, activities and colorful baby animals like monkeys, giraffes and polar bears. The Precious Planet Collection will retail for $12.99 - $129.99 and is appropriate for newborns and up.

The event took place in the Amphibian Room of the Central Park Zoo at which time Fisher-Price announced that the company would donate $250,000 to benefit the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), an organization that saves wildlife and wild places.

Our own Chris Byrne interviewed Maggie Gyllenhaal at the event. Check back later today for information on where you can hear this interview.

This Week's New Video Game Releases

Looking for something new to play this week? Here are our top picks for this week's new game releases.

Afro Samurai (Xbox360, PS3, rated Mature) This action game based on the popular anime series, stars a revenge-bent, sword slinger voiced by Samuel L. Jackson. The game has been receiving rave reviews but parents, be warned, this is not a kid's game.

The Chase: Felix Meets Felicity (DS, rated Everyone)
Follow Felix or Felicity, two messengers, racing across town to get to successfully arrive at their end destinations on time. They must navigate a series of obstacle laden areas, running, jumping, dodging and skiing their way through hectic encounters as they desperately try to stay ahead of time and the weather.

Coraline (DS, Wii, PS2, rated Everyone 10+)
Based on the upcoming film, Coraline is a playful exploration game that combines puzzle solving, character interaction and item collection with traditional action gameplay.

Lights, Camera, Action Figures! Star Wars

Deal Digger: Free Umbrella Stroller

Babies"R"Us is currently offering a free Umbrella Stroller when you spend $100 or more on Babies"R"Us.com. This offer is good online only while supplies last or until February 10.

Click here for details and to shop.

LEGO Electronics Line

LEGO and Kid's electronics makers, Digital Blue, are teaming up to introduce a new line of kid's LEGO-branded electronic items. The line is scheduled for release this summer and will include digital and video cameras, MP3 players, walkie talkies and other electronic items.

The products will have a LEGO brick look but they won't be made of actual LEGO Bricks so they won't have to be built and can't be taken apart. Look for these items this summer ranging in price from $19.99 to $59.99.

This Week's New Releases

The big news this week is the inauguration of Barack Obama but that doesn't mean we don't also have a few note-worthy new games coming out this week.

MLB Front Office Manager (PC, PS3, Xbox360, rated Everyone)
Think you can run your favorite baseball team better than that bum currently in charge? Well now you can with MLB Front Office Manager. You are in charge of everything from Spring Training through a full MLB season, into the playoffs and the World Series.

Commander in Chief: Geo-Political Simulator 2009 (PC, rated Mature)
Step into President Obama's shoes in this simulation game as you take charge of the economy, energy, national security and the threat of terrorism.

Imagine: Fashion Party (Wii, rated Everyone)
Aspiring Project Runway wannabees will love this game that places you in a TV contest to prove that you are the world's best fashion designer.

SimAnimals (Wii, DS, rated Pending)
In this simulation game, players engage with a wild assortment of animals in the in natural environments.

Wonderworld Amusement Park (DS, rated Pending)
With Wonderworld Amusement Park players can experience a full day at an amusement park in the palm of their hand. Using the Touch Screen, players can toss, drive, whack, fish and spin in more than two dozen mini-games.

Star Ocean: Second Evolution (PSP, rated Teen)
This futuristic, sc-fi, RPG transports you to another world where you journey to fulfill a prophecy and save a newfound race.

How Cool Is This?! Postcard Airplane

In our electronic obsessed society little things that used to be every day practices have become special sentiments. Take for example sending letters. When was the last time you received something in the mail from a friend or family member that wasn't a Christmas or birthday card? So why not take a few minutes to send a loved one a friendly, non-holiday, greeting?


Items like this Postcard Airplane (pictured above) allow you to send a greeting that won't just end up in the landfall. This postcard is made of balsa wood that pops out to form two mini airplanes. It is made of 100% FSC certified wood harvested from well managed forests and costs $12.00. You can buy it now at Uncommon Goods.

Uncle Milton Wows Us Again

by Jeff McKinney

We love Uncle Milton. The company that brought us the Ant Farm continues to deliver innovative products year after year. The toy makers unveiled what may be their coolest item yet at last week's CES show in Vegas. Check out The Force Trainer, a real-life Jedi training tool.


The Force Trainer is comprised of a wireless headset and a sphere, which is contained in a clear 10-inch-tall tube. The headset reads your brain activity, similar to an EEG medical device, and if the force is strong enough in you, will cause the sphere to move up and down in the tube. Practice will allow you to hone your Jedi skills and result in greater mind control over the sphere. How cool is that?

The Force Trainer is scheduled to be available in the fall and will probably retail in the $90 to $100 region.

This Week's New Video Game Releases

January is typically a very quiet month for new video game releases. We think that's actually a good thing. It gives gamers a chance to play some of those games that have been piling up and it gives parents of gamers a break from the weekly trips to the game-store.

Here is a look at some of the more noteworthy games arriving in stores this week.

Neighborhood Games (Wii, rated E)
A collection of classic outdoor games such as lawn darts and bocce, that can be played indoors on the Wii.

Personal Trainer: Math (DS, rated E)
A fun and rewarding way to keep math skills sharp.

Deal or No Deal (Wii, rated E)
The Wii edition of the popular TV trivia game show.

Inkheart (DS, rated Pending)
The adventure game based on the feature film adaptation of the best-selling Cornelia Funke novel.

The Lord of the Rings: Conquest (DS, PC, PS3, Xbox360, rated T)
Battle for The Ring on both sides of the conquest with familiar characters and settings.

Cartoon Network Universe: FusionFall (PC, rated Pending)
An MMO based on multiple Cartoon Network programs that allows thousands of gamers to play along with characters including Mac and Bloo, Ben 10 and the Kids Next Door.

After Holiday Deals on Toys"R"Us.com

The holidays are behind us but the deals keep coming. Toys"R"Us.com currently has a special offering shoppers up to 60% off regular prices. Items included in the sale cover everything from video games like Guitar Hero III to toddler toys.

Check it out now at Toys"R"Us.com.

You Never Know What You Will See at Hong Kong Toy Fair

Every year, Chris Byrne, The Toy Guy, heads out to Honk Kong for the Toys and Games Fair, taking place now. Those of us back in the states holding down the fort eagerly await Chris' emails filled with the coolest, most innovative, and exciting toys being shown at the show. We also look forward to the emails of the oddest items on display, which is what we want to share with you today.

Up first, slot-car grannies.



Stay tuned for more!

This Week's New Video Game Releases

We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and that you finally got that Nintendo Wii you have wanted for the past two years. If you did, you'll be happy to see there are a couple of new games in store for you this week. It also looks like a decent, post-holiday week for PlayStation players. Unfortunately, we can't say the same about Xbox, which has no new games due this week.

Here is a look at some of the new titles in stores this week:

Nintendo DS
Bigfoot: Collision Course
Elebits: The Adventures of Kai and Zero
Jumble Madness
Matchstick Puzzle by DS
Moon
Paws & Claws: Pampered Pets

Nintendo Wii
Fishing Master World Tour
Paws & Claws: Pet Resort

PC
Saints Row 2
Cid the Dummy
Commander in Chief: Geo-Political Simulator 2009

PS2
Cid the Dummy
Ski and Shoot

PSP
Cid the Dummy

PS3
Savage Moon

Happy New Year!