TTPM Spring Showcase Overview

TTPM Spring Showcase Overview

IMG_2061On Thursday April 30, TTPM held its annual Spring Showcase, putting the best and the brightest of this summer’s toy scene on display with an event that included one-on-one time with representatives from top toy companies, as well as a special press conference. In the conference, we got a look at some of TTPM’s best picks for their various imprints, including Outdoor Toys, Movie Toys, the newly-added Pet Products, and more!

Below, you can take a look at some of the best toys that were on display at this year’s TTPM Spring Showcase, along with our take on them.

Movie Toys

This summer, major movie hits like Avengers: Age of UltronMinions, and Jurassic World are sure to dominate the box office, so it’s no surprise that the toys based off of them will be a hit with kids as well! TTPM’s top three movie toys for summer 2015 cover all the bases, from roleplay to interactive robotics, and of course good old action figures. Check out the gallery above to see Minions Tumblin’ Stuart, Avengers Age of Ultron Iron Man Arc FX armor, and Jurassic World Indominus Rex!

Outdoor Toys

Nothing’s more emblematic of summer as a kid than playing outside with your friends and family, having fun in the sun both on the block and on the beach. It’s with this in mind that TTPM celebrates the best outdoor toys every year, and this year’s top three look incredible! Check out the gallery above for a look at the Razor Jr. Mini Mod, Super Soaker Flood Fire (which attaches to a garden hose for constant water-gun refilling!), and RoseArt’s Shake n’ Roll Chalk Paint!

Breakout Hits

Finally, TTPM’s “Breakout Hits” category highlights the toys that are expected to really shine over the summer (And beyond!) This year’s top three Breakout Hits feature tons of fun across the board– with tech, outdoor play, and plush making the cut. Check out the gallery above to see VTech’s Kidizoom Action Cam, Sick Bricks by Spin Master, and Just Play’s line of Sheriff Callie plush!

The TTPM Spring Showcase always offers excellent insight into the best and brightest of what’s coming up in kids’ toys and games– if you’re looking for what will be hot this summer (other than the weather!) these toys are surely the best bet!

Sweet Suite by The Big Toy Book at Blogger Bash 2014

Sweet Suite by The Big Toy Book at Blogger Bash 2014

SSLetterheadLONGBANNERBlogger Bash 2014 kicked off with Sweet Suite by the Big Toy Book, a look at the hottest toys and games hitting shelves soon, from classic toy staples like Lego to dolls, board games, and more! The standout hits of the evening, though, were definitely the two video games that were showcased: Skylanders Trap Team and Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes (2.0 Edition).

Skylanders Trap Team is the latest in the franchise that began with 2011’s Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure. In the footsteps of its ever-inventive predecessors (Skylanders Giants in 2012 and Skylanders Swap Force in 2013), Trap Team changes the game, so to speak, with the introduction of a new mechanic sure to thrill players of all ages. That new mechanic is the addition of Trap Crystals, which allow the player to capture and play as certain enemies. Skylanders Trap Team is set to release this October on all major consoles.

Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes (2.o Edition) boasts vast improvements over its already-great precursor, last summer’s Disney Infinity. This installment, due out in September, will feature superheroes from the Marvel lineup (like the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Spider-Man, and more) alongside such Disney favorites as Stitch, Tinker Bell, Merida, and Maleficent. In addition to a slew of new figures, 2.0 will also include enhanced in-game features, such as the ability to procedurally generate environments, a better level-up system with unlockable skill trees, and new mini-quests that fit perfectly in between the toy box mode and full story playsets. Look for Disney Infinity 2.0 this September on Xbox One, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, WiiU, and iOS.

Stay tuned for more on Blogger Bash 2014 in the next few days, as we bring you up to speed on the conference’s most exciting moments!

TTPM Spring Showcase

TTPM Spring Showcase

14087575121_dd3c1b609f_o      There was lots to see and do at this year’s TTPM Spring Showcase, where we got a look at the latest toys and games that will be hitting the market this spring and summer! First we were treated to a press conference where TTPM announced some of their upcoming partnerships and gave a detailed look at the toys and games that appear on their Summer Play List. Following the press conference, we were brought upstairs to take a personal look at some of the hot new releases based on movies, tv shows, video games, and the like.

From SpinMaster’s line of figures, bath toys, building blocks, and more based on this summer’s How to Train Your Dragon 2 to Crashlings, Pokemon toys, and Star Wars yo-yos, the TTPM Spring Showcase had all of the toys that kids are going to be after this summer! Check out some of the toys we saw at the show in the gallery below!

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10 Days of Gifting! Ben 10 toys from Bandai Giveaway

10 Days of Gifting! Ben 10 toys from Bandai Giveaway

Welcome to the sixth day of our 10 days of gifting  – Today we have a pair of really cool Ben 10: Ultimate Alien Toys from Bandai Ultimate Humungousaur (DNA Alien Heroes) [Amazon], & Water Hazard (DNA Alien Heroes) [Amazon]. Here is a link to some of the other figures: http://www.bandai.com/ben10/products/figures. I actually watch Ben 10 myself, and as that goof ball that does have toys around the office these would be perfect for Dads or Kids.

Every day at random times we’ll be announcing a giveaway – it’ll only be for 24 hours! Also we’ll be switching up how to enter to win the prize. You may be asked to comment on a facebook post over at http://facebook.com/dadarocks or to post&follow @dadarocks on twitter.com http://twitter.com/dadarocks or you may just have to leave a comment on the thread.

For today we’ll pick one lucky winner tweets “ I want to win the #Ben10Toys from @BandaiAmerica thanks to @dadarocks at http://bit.ly/fax8cz ” and don’t forget you must follow @dadarocks as well and come back to leave a comment with the tweet URL.

I’d also like to thank Bandai for providing the prizes.

Enjoy Earth Day with Earth Friendly Toys from Sprig – Win a Sprig Toy

Enjoy Earth Day with Earth Friendly Toys from Sprig – Win a Sprig Toy

When I think Earth day I remember when I was a kid be talked about saving the earth. Now I feel like earth day is every day about being green and trying to be greener.  I recycle, I use green products (mainly because my wife loves them), I shop at green markets (I’ll admit living across the street from one has made it easy) but in the end the things I never thought about were the toys.

I was introduced to Sprig [Link] in the most uncommon way online – the more I read the more I thought wow this is a great company.  I started noticing their toys in the stores I shopped in as well.  At Toy Fair I had the pleasure of meeting with the CEO Craig Storey (who is also a dad), he showed me around the product line and started to discuss the companies history.

The toys looked amazing… I loved the creative design and I loved that it was imagination play (so much play is structured games these days). The best part was that these toys are totally made from recycled materials (recycled plastics and saw dust).

I was given the chance to see the imagination play with my son first hand using the Dolphin Explorer Boat.  Yes, it floats and makes for a great bath toy, but beyond that its just very cool to see my son pick up the boat make motions with it like its on the water then drop the boat (while nothing breaks!).

Sprig is rolling out some new products and two readers will be lucky enough to win one of the new toys each.







How to win it… Contest ends 11:59pm EST. April 29, 2010.

You must comment telling us you did to celebrate earth day, please include some method for us to contact you in the comment (twitter or email)

You get 1 extra entry for following us on twitter – twitter.com/dada_rocks

You get 1 extra entry for following Sprig Toys on twitter – twitter.com/SprigToys

You get 1 extra entry for tweeting about this contest (you can do this daily). Must contain the following information:
@SprigToys @dada_rocks – http://bit.ly/c7pUo4  and you must also comment with the link to your twitter message.

Example: I want to win @SprigToys from @dada_rocks – http://bit.ly/c7pUo4

You get 1 extra entry for becoming a FAN on facebook –facebook.com/DaDaRocks you must comment that you’re a fan

You get 1 extra entry for becoming a Fan on facebook of Sprig Toys – facebook.com/SprigToys you must comment that you’re a fan

You get 1 extra entry for subscribing to our Feedburner digest mailing (right side subscribe by email) – you must also comment that you’ve subscribed

You will have 24 hours to reply before we pick another winner!

Disclaimer: Sprig Toys is providing the toys for the raffle.