Raving Toy Maniac

Saban Brands Acquires Zombie Farm Creator The Playforge

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 2, 2012 -- Saban Brands is adding serious game to its digital capabilities. The company announced today its acquisition of The Playforge business, a leading mobile games developer and publisher, known for Zombie Farm, the third highest grossing iOS app in 2011 and a top 10 grossing game for nearly two years, accounting for more than 37 million downloads.

The company plans to extend current and future free-to-play mobile games developed by the San Mateo-based The Playforge into licensing, merchandising and media opportunities. In addition, the acquisition greatly expands Saban Brands' development capabilities, providing additional resources for advancing games currently in its slate. The Playforge team adds more than 25 employees to the organization and gives Saban Brands a solid footprint in Silicon Valley.

All Aboard The Big, Big Dinosaur Sweepstakes As Amtrak And The Jim Henson Company Join Forces For A Big Big DINOSAUR TRAIN Promotion Throughout August 2012

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Aug. 1, 2012 -- All aboard the Big Big Dinosaur Sweepstakes, the new national summer promotion for the critically acclaimed animated preschool series DINOSAUR TRAIN which airs daily on PBS KIDS®. The Jim Henson Company, a leader in family entertainment for over 50 years and producers of the DINOSAUR TRAIN series, have joined forces with Amtrak for a second year to present a fun and engaging summertime promotion that will award one lucky family with an Amtrak vacation. The promotion and renewed partnership with Amtrak was announced today by Melissa Segal, Senior Vice President of Global Consumer Products for The Jim Henson Company.

August 3, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

Hi - some great new items have just been listed:

Hot Toys - Batman Dark Knight Rises - 1/4 Scale Figure - $35 off MSRP - $429.99
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=HOT10407&mode=re...

Hot Toys - Terminator Endoskeletor - 1/4 Scale Figure - $30 off MSRP - $369.99
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=HOT10408&mode=re...

New Bandai - Godzilla, Gundam, Figuarts & More - 14 new listings from Bandai
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/list.aspx?list=10212

Halo - ThreeA Commander Carter 1/6 Scale Figure
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=THR10050&mode=re...

On Sale This Week: Halo, Dawn and Marvel vs. Capcom!

August 1, 2012 - It's Wednesday,which means that your local comic shop has gotten in yet another batch of comic books... and a new batch of exclusive toys from Diamond Select! This week brings a new assortment of Minimates, a new box set and a new Femme Fatales statue, so gamers and comic lovers take note and plan your trip now!

Marvel vs. Capcom Minimates Series 3
These 2-inch-tall gladiators represent some of the most popular characters from the Marvel and Capcom universes: Captain America and Ryu! She-Hulk and Chun Li! Doctor Doom and Albert Wesker! X-23 and Felicia! The female characters are only available at comic shops, so be sure to snag your set!

Halo Minimates Series 5 Box Set

Marvel vs. Capcom Minimates are Back for Round 3! Fight!

August 2012 - After two rounds, Diamond Select Toys has still not decided who the winner is in their Marvel vs. Capcom 3 Minimates line. Now it's time for the third and final round! Series 3 hits comic shops this week, and will be coming to Toys "R" Us shortly, and DST has put together a series of exhibition bouts to show off the new characters' moves! In a new photo shoot, DST has pitted Marvel characters against Capcom characters based on Series 3's two-pack pairings. That card includes:

- Captain America vs. Ryu
- Doctor Doom vs. Wesker
- She-Hulk vs. Chun Li (specialty market exclusive)
- X-23 vs. Felicia (specialty market exclusive)
- MODOK vs. Akuma (Toys "R" Us exclusive)
- Thor vs. Amaterasu (Toys "R" Us exclusive)

August 1, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

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NEW PREORDERS
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G2 BRUTICUS (BBTS SHARED EXCLUSIVE) - PREORDERS OPEN AGAIN
Did you miss Bruticus when it first went up? We have reopened the preorder, get yours now while they are still available!
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=HAS22068&mode=re...

TRANSFORMERS SCI-FI REVOLTECH #040 OPTIMUS PRIME DX
This new release of the movie figure includes jetwings, an energon axe, his energon sword, multiple hands and more. We have this piece listed at $69.99.
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=KAI10446&mode=re...

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT 1/4 SCALE HD MASTERPIECE BATMAN, JOKER

JAKKS Pacific Announces Acquisition of Maui Toys

JAKKS adds popular Wave Hoop(R), Sky Ball(TM) and other toys to enhance portfolio

MALIBU, Calif., Jul 26, 2012 -- JAKKS Pacific, Inc. announced today that it has acquired Ohio-based Maui, Inc. ("Maui"), a manufacturer and distributor of spring and summer activity toys, outdoor sports related toys, impulse toys including the popular Wave Hoop(R) and Sky Ball(TM) products under the Maui Toys brand.

JAKKS Pacific has acquired all of the shares of stock of Maui, a 24-year-old, privately held company, and its Hong Kong based affiliate A.S. Design Limited. The business is comprised of proprietary non-licensed brands that are complementary to JAKKS Pacific's wide-ranging product portfolio.

Nicholas Brendon to attend Meta Con

Bloomington, MN - July 31, 2012 - Meta Con is thrilled to announce that Nicholas Brendon, the actor for Xander Harris in all seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, will be appearing at Meta Con 2012 in Minneapolis. Meta Con is a three-day multi-genre comic convention that will bring together over 2,000 fans for a Labor Day weekend celebration at the Doubletree by Hilton in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Nicholas Brendon is best known to audiences as Xander on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a role he played for the seven-year run of the show. His film credits include the cult favorite Psycho Beach Party, My Neighbor's Secret for Lifetime, A Golden Christmas for Ion, Blood on the Highway, and The Portal.

He recurs on the hit CBS series Criminal Minds, has guest starred on the ABC drama Private Practice, and also starred on the Fox series Kitchen Confidential. In 2010, he launched the weekly webcomic Very Bad Koalas, with Steve Loter. Convention attendees will be able to attend Q&A sessions with Nicholas, and they will have the opportunity to get autographs and pictures with him.

K'NEX Launches Angry Birds™ "Find the Golden Egg" Sweepstakes

Five Grand Prize Winners to Receive Prize Pack

Hatfield, PA, August 2012 - K'NEX, the only US construction toy company focused on Building Worlds Kids Love™, is celebrating the introduction of its new officially licensed Angry Birds building sets with an exciting "Find the Golden Egg Sweepstakes"!

U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for August 1

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1, 2012 -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1: SPIDER-MAN AT 50

Profile America - Wednesday, August 1st. Spider-Man continues to stay near the top of the heap in the superhero game, as his latest movie opened last month, this time in 3-D. And his Broadway musical, after a costly and controversial development phase, continues its run on the Great White Way. Actually, Spidey gets around pretty well for his age. It was 50 years ago today that "Amazing Fantasy Comics" appeared with the first story about Spider-Man. Bitten by a radioactive spider, teenager Peter Parker finds he has super powers and has to deal with the responsibilities that come with them. About 40 new shows open on Broadway each year, drawing audiences of more than 12 million. You can find more facts about America's people, places and economy from the American Community Survey at http://www.census.gov.

Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2012, p. 385