Super 10% off Sale, Just in Time for Holiday Shipping!

10% OFF on Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure through December 19, 2011.



I know it's hard to believe that the hottest selling game of the season is getting a fat discount coupon code just in time for Christmas shipping, but it is! 10% OFF with coupon code SPYRO at checkout, and you can take your pick of starter packs for any platform, Adventure Mini Figure characters, or carrying cases to tote your figures to a friend's house for mutual gaming.



If you don't already know what sets Skylanders apart, here's the thing: The game comes with mini figures that actually come alive inside the game. Each figure is a different character you can play and collect. To bring one into the game, just place him on the Portal of Power and watch him materialize as a playable character. Better still: your figure holds onto in-game information, so you can bring your figure to a friend's house to play, putting him right alongside another on the portal without losing your in-game achievements.

The best things about Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure:

• Available on most platforms - XBOXX 360, PC, Mac, Nintendo Wii, Playstation 3, Nintendo 3DS. AND you can still play your characters with a friend, even if his or her game is on a different platform.


• The figures are really cool, and it's amazing to have something in the real world that you also have in a virtual environment!


• Each character has different abilities and powers, so it's not just playing the same thing in a different body - gameplay changes too.


• It's a great story and a really fun role-playing game!  A perfect introduction to the genre.

So through December 19th there's still time to order for Christmas delivery. And if you already have the basic game, extra figures are a great, inexpensive gift too.

[caption id="attachment_1665" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Gill Grunt, In Game"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1666" align="aligncenter" width="275" caption="Gill Grunt Figure - place on the Portal of Power to enter Skylanders as this character"][/caption]

Flameslinger, Eruptor, Chop Chop, Stump Smash, Stealth Elf, Drobot, Sonic Boom, Bash, Prism Break, Whirlwind, Boomer, Voodod, Terrafin, Pirate Ship, Hidden Treasure, Ghost Swords, Ghost Roaster, Crypt, Time Twister, Healing Elixir, Wrecking Ball, Zap, Hex, Dino-Rang, Gill Grunt, Trigger Happy, along with Legendary versions of some characters are still in stock!

Real Toys from Virtual Worlds - most kids now have one or more!

[caption id="attachment_1626" align="alignleft" width="71" caption="Club Penguin"][/caption]

Gone are the days when television and movies were the keys to creating popular toys - now kids want what to play with real versions of the characters they encounter first on the computer. Whether it's Moshi Monsters, Club Penguin, the newest Skylanders series or another, 55% of kids in the UK are reported to own at least one real life toy based on a video game's virtual world, according to Gamasutra. Based on popularity at ToyWiz.com, we'd expect a similar result for kids in the US as well.

[caption id="attachment_1627" align="alignleft" width="110" caption="Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure"][/caption]

The options range from toys that are simply real world representations of in-game characters, like the very popular Angry Birds, to toys that actually "plug in" and come to life on the computer to be played and saved. Many of the toys like Webkinz, Club Penguin and Moshi Monsters also offer in-game items or bonuses based on codes that come with the toys. That makes these a double-treat for players: a real toy and a virtual one that they can use online.

For the uninitiated, here's a quick look at some of the hottest game-and-toy offerings currently available:

• Angry Birds:
  The most popular game in the world has it's own line of plush, offline games and magnets, keychains and more. With over 500,000,000 downloads of the game, it's a sure bet that kids who like games have tried this one.


• Club Penguin:
  A Disney offering, "CP" has the quality and adorable eye-appeal you'd expect from the leader in family-friendly entertainment. It is a role-playing game, where you interact as a penguin in a beautiful snowy world. The Club Penguin toys offer coin codes to use in exchange for unique in-game items.


• Moshi Monsters:
  Combining the fun of an online game and the popularity of virtual pets, Moshi Monsters lets you adopt a monster and solve puzzles to buy items like food, clothing and decorations for it. It's popularity has grown quickly, and now the real world toys released this year are in great demand. These include trading cards, plush and figures with codes for in-game items.


• Skylanders:
  Available for all gaming platforms, Skylanders is a unique new gaming experience. For this one, the figures are a must - they are placed on the "portal" and come to life in-game. These toys actually save the character's progression, and can even be taken to a friend's house to play together on the same console.


• Poptropica: Developed by the Family Education Network, Poptropica lets players travel, play games, compete and communicate together to complete islands. The codes in Poptropica toys give players unique costumes to wear in the game too.


• Webkinz: Incredibly popular stuffed animals (plush) that all have access to the "Webkinz World" website. These range from common housepets to wild or fantasy animals. The code on each Webkin allows that pet to be adopted in the virtual world, where your stuffed animal gets to come to life.

[caption id="attachment_1630" align="alignleft" width="63" caption="Sonic the Hedgehog"][/caption]

Not only are these toys hot, we have seen merchandise for pretty much every game on the market. From Assassin's Creed to World of Warcraft, and classic-to-modern versions of Super Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog, there is no end to the now-complete tie in of computer gaming and toys.

 

So what do you think of these? Do you or your family own any toys that tie in to video games? Would you buy an item that came with a bonus for online use?

ToyWiz Hot Toy Watchlist

 

	By popular request: introducing the holiday hot toy availability watchlist! Every year we get last-minute calls from parents and families in search of "must have" gifts that are sold out everywhere, and we don't want to let you down! So this year we're keeping a tally of the biggest sellers to let you know what's in stock and to alert when there's a danger of a pre-holiday sellout. Coming out of "Black Friday" weekend and into "Cyber Monday," here's where we stand on some of the fastest-moving toys:
	Xia Xia Pets Selling as fast as we expected, so we're well-stocked. But the late shopper's challenge will be finding specific characters, shells or playsets at the last minute. While we feel confident in our ability to offer Xia Xia, some items are already unavailable at other retailers and may sell out. So if you need a specific item on the list, it might pay to grab it early.
	Air Swimmers 3 of the 4 available models are in stock, but an early sell out on the infrared clownfish was surprising. We do still have an RC clownfish though, and we are trying to keep all of these in stock for immediate shipping.
	Fijit Friends It's the year's hottest electronic toy, and one that everyone will marvel over at gift time. They're selling briskly and it's hard to say if the pace will remain steady or if we'll see a spike in demand at the last minute.
	FyrFlyz Definitely a FAST mover this year! We stocked up, but it seems like everyone tacks at least one of these onto an order. They're a great value, and inexpensive enough for exchanges between children, stocking stuffers and prizes.
	Beyblade Metal Fusion Why TWO bars that are so different? Well honestly - we're the best source for the most Beyblade tops, stadiums and accessories anywhere. We'll have a massive selection, we won't run out and we won't let you down even at the last minute. But that top bar in the red? That's got to be for the latest Japanese imports from Takara/Tomy that are already flying out the door. If you need a gift for a serious blader, these premium tops are going very fast. Due to time restraints on imports, restocking before the holidays is unlikely, so these are a RED ZONE order if you need them!
	Cars 2 We have a massive selection of Disney/Pixar Cars 2, including die cast vehicles. We're in the green for this category because we always stock these very well, but as with everything at the holidays, if you need a specific item, it might pay to check out the status early. Some items are already sold out, but we have all the best in stock and ready to ship.

Innovation in Gaming - Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure

The new Skylanders: Spyro's Adventures game was released on Tuesday, and
frankly, it's awesome. Kids are going to love it, but I've got news for parents: you're going to enjoy it too.

It is a toy-based RPG - a very engaging videogame that uses plastic figures from outside the game as characters. Unlike any other game before, in Skylanders, the figures
aren't tie-ins; they are the key to playing and sharing the virtual world. When placed on the portal, a figure enters the game as a playable character. And better yet - you can take them with you to another
console, even if it's on a different platform! So your Skylander, with it's earned stats and upgrades, is stored on the figure and can be used on a friend's portal to play together or against one another without starting your character over.

The storyline works seamlessly with the figures and portals. You are a "Portal Master" who summons and controls various Skylanders. The portal itself is a plastic accessory that comes with the game. With it, you can control up to 32 characters, each of which has a unique look and special abilities. Spyro himself is a fire-breathing dragon, but each different figure/character has it's own abilities, strengths and weaknesses. Once your Skylander is on the portal, it enters the game
under your control. You are, of course, a hero. You'll quest and fight to save the world from an evil Portal Master named Kaos. Ultimately, you'll have to defeat him.

Gameplay is much like a traditional platform with tasks, puzzles and battles that lead to achievements, currency and experience. It is hard to do justice to the experience of entering the Skylanders world, too. It's yet another seamless integration of the physical figures, the
portal and the online world. The screen shimmers until you place a figure, which is quickly summoned into the game world and the portal's glow changes to reflect the elemental power of your current Skylander. During gameplay, you can switch characters on the portal quickly or add a
second character for a friend at any time.



The figures themselves are not just a novelty. They look fantastic: highly detailed and posed for action on a wide base. The brilliant paintjobs and energetic poses are great for display when not playing. And of course, they are actually storage devices for all of your in-game characters stats and upgrades. You can finish the game with just the 3 characters in your starter set, but it will be more challenging. Different areas are best tackled by Skylanders of different elemental alignments, so you'll be tempted to expand your arsenal of figures. There are 32 Skylanders figures in all, sold individually and in 3-packs.

All in all, for kids, the originality and engaging play will keep them enthralled for hours. And adults? Well you might find the Skyandersis an enjoyable way to relax on your own! Don't be fooled by the toys...this is a well-made, slick and engaging videogame!

Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure can be played on Mac, Microsoft Windows, Ninetendo 3Ds, PlayStation, Xbox 360, Wii, iPhone, iPad and Web.

PS: I wanted to give a little shout to my friends from IGN: wwetestdubshadow, thanks for asking a question. gameplayer1000, the avatar works :)