News

20 July

San Diego Comic Con is a stay-at-home affair – And we can’t wait.

There’s plenty to look out for from the online event this week, one of the panel discussions that grabbed our eye is entitled Transforming Together Time: Family Gaming and the Future of Play – The curators tell us “Video games have been an influential part of our culture, creativity and …

20 July

The Crew – The Quest for Planet Nine bags a gong

They’ve been chewing down to their cuticles and had butterflies in their bellies at Kosmos Games UK of late. Two nominations a couple of months back for their games The Crew and My City from the Spiel des Jahres jury. Today, the news arrives that The Crew – Quest for …

17 July

Medieval looking music machine is an utter joy

We’ve built kit from Smartivity before, a kaleidoscope in fact, was a joy to create and is still a pick-up-and-play after all these weeks. We harped on about the easy to read instructions and the added value of an information sheet to further enhance their playset last time so, …

16 July

More Super Mario analogue play

This 35th anniversary of likely the most iconic video game of all time is ramping up somewhat this week. Its started with the most expensive ever video game sale at auction with a 1985 Super Mario Bros. acheiving a whopping £90k in its original packaging, just showing the appetite for …

14 July

LEGO create NES replica set with on-screen scrolling action

the best LEGO sets ever this collaboration between the Danish outfit and Nintendo

14 July

Rubik’s Edge – More than a drinks coaster

We’ve tried over the lockdown months to get a grip on solving the 3x3x3 traditional cube but sorry to say, we gave up. We did achieve a proficient level in balloon modelling and juggling though! Anyways, with 43 quintillion ways to scramble the regular Rubik and this new edge …

12 July

Happy Etch a Sketch Day – 60 years of knob turning fun

Happy 60th Etch A Sketch, you’re the most infuriating piece of kit I’ve ever owned but I’d not be without you. Hours and hours of trying to construct just my first name on your aluminium coated screen, no success, but you’re a shelf-worthy and retro-tastic piece of kit. Others (Jane …

10 July

Battle of Britain – 80 years since the first foray

Eight decades ago today the Luftwaffe dropped their first payload onto the UK the battle that ensued was seen as one of the most pivotal points of WWII – Thanks to all the air aces that guided us to victory in the skies. We struggle to maintain our composure when …

9 July

Coronavirus cover-ups

shopDisney have introduced a range of non-medical, reusable cloth face coverings featuring favourite Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars characters for kids and families in the UK.As part of the launch, Disney will donate 100% of the proceeds from the sales of these cloth face coverings, up to £500,000, to …

9 July

Studio creator – a fully analogue version

Most of the tech “giants” have a Studio Creator tool yet none of them are as remotely interesting as this one by the name of Kevin’s Studio. Now, we’ve been enjoying the raft of releases of late from LEGO (Creator and Technic builds) and have enjoyed, during lockdown, building and …

8 July

Board Game outfit heads outside

Leading UK board game distributor Asmodee is calling gamers to take their titles outside this summer and tempting us with a weekly £2,000 prize for doing so. Their #PlayItOutdoors campaign is designed to get families and social bubbles out and about into the garden, park, field, beach, hill-tops, roof-tops, penthouse …

7 July

Get your GIFS IRL.

One of the most anticipated releases of 2020 now has a date, 13th July is that date and we’re calling it #internationalgifday. Last seen at London toy fair this new range from Moose Toys Oh! My GIF celebrates the world of Gifferry/Giffing with 50 GIFbit characters Representing an array of …

6 July

T”haaaaasands raised by Essex chap (and his mate from the Midlands)

Toy Aid, an initiative set up by Joel Silverman and Richard North have revealed they’ve managed to raise over £143 grand as part of Global’s Make Some Noise charity. Created to raise money for charities that support disadvantaged children, young people and their families particularly vulnerable during this CV19 pandemic …

3 July

The original (and the best) Back to the Future is 35 today

Couldn’t miss an opportunity to wish one of our favourite films a happy birthday, that 35 years has sped by so quick it’s like we had a Flux Capacitator suck up our backsides….Here’s a few items worth a share celebrating all things Marty and Doc:

2 July

Batman versus Joker Scalextric set – Play smart

Since their first meeting in 1940 the caped crusader and clown of crime have been sworn enemies, well of course they have, you ever seen Batman smile? This all new Scalextric Batman vs Joker set falls into the Spark Plug range and so has many tricks up its digital sleeve. …