Raving Toy Maniac

October 4, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

Hi - More fantastic news from Takara this morning!

MP-16 is Rumble & Buzzsaw - $59.99
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=TAK11583&mode=re...

MP-10B Masterpiece Optimus Prime - Black Version -
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=TAK11584&mode=re...

The MP-15 has been updated to Frenzy & Ravage
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=TAK11574&mode=re...

don't forget about Encore #23 - FORTRESS MAXIMUS
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/list.aspx?list=10800

Diamond Select to Hold Battle Beasts Signing at New York Comic-Con

October 2012 - The Battle Beasts have invaded San Francisco in the pages of IDW's comic book mini-series, and now they're invading Zoo York! Diamond Select Toys will hold a Battle Beasts signing at their booth at New York Comic-Con with Brooklyn-based artist Ulises Farinas, the artist behind the wraparound cover (and the SDCC exclusive cover) for Battle Beasts #1 from IDW Publishing. Farinas will sign free full-sized posters featuring the wraparound cover's detailed battle scene from issue #1, and will also sign Battle Beasts comics for fans at no charge. The signing will take place on Saturday from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm at the Diamond Select Toys booth, #2156.

Erector Unleashes Its Gears of War Collection

PARIS, Oct. 2, 2012 -- Fans of the Gears of War™ franchise will now be able to bring the game to life as they build model vehicles offered by Erector®, a division of Meccano®. The brand is set to release four buildable models inspired by Microsoft's billion-dollar franchise, one of the most popular video games of all time. The Gears of War Erector sets are available now exclusively at Toys 'R' Us and http://toysrus.com.

Enthusiasts can now build the most popular vehicles and recreate the Locusts vs. Delta Squad Battle with these highly detailed sets. With the expertise of the iconic Erector brand, the precision construction and attention-to-detail will engage the older fans and collectors, while the easy-to-follow instructions and cool vehicle designs will make it a fun experience for younger fans who haven't yet played the video game.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Make A Triumphant Return To Television In New Nickelodeon Series

Series Premiere Scores Cable's Top Spot for the Week with Kids Across All TV; Nearly 4 Million Total Viewers; and Nick's Highest Boys 2-11 Rating for 2012

NEW YORK, Oct. 2, 2012 -- Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo and Donatello – aka the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – made a triumphant return to television in their new Nickelodeon series premiere this weekend (Saturday, Sept. 29, at 11 a.m., ET/PT), ranking as the week's top telecast with kids 2-11 (6.2/2.1 million) and boys 6-11 (8.2/837,000) across broadcast and cable TV, and the number-one kids program on basic cable with total viewers (drawing 3.9 million) for the week. Additionally, the new CG-animated version of the series hit a ratings high for Nickelodeon with boys 2-11 (7.5/1.3 million), and was the network's top-rated premiere for an animated series since 2009. During its premiere weekend the series reached nearly 12 million total viewers.

Toys"R"Us, Inc. Announces 'Price Match Guarantee' on All Items Available In Its Stores This Holiday Season

Toys"R"Us® Will Match Competitors' In-Store Pricing on All Products Now Through December 24, Definitively Answering the Question 'Why Shop Anywhere Else for Toys? Why?'

WAYNE, N.J., Oct. 2, 2012 -- Toys"R"Us, Inc. today announced that it will offer "Price Match Guarantee" on all items available in its Toys"R"Us® and Babies"R"Us® stores nationwide, helping customers to stretch their budgets further this holiday season. Now through Christmas Eve, the company will match competitors' in-store pricing on identical items, any time a customer presents a local competitors' current, valid print advertisement showing the item available for less. In addition, if a customer finds an item sold in Toys"R"Us or Babies"R"Us stores available for less on http://Toysrus.com or http://Babiesrus.com, the company will match the online price*.

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

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NEW PREORDERS
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TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON MEGATRON DARK ENERGON EDITION
This new Asian exclusive recolor has Leader Class Megatron redone in black, purple and silver. We have this figure listed at $139.99, and he is set to come out sometime this December.
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=TAK11582&mode=re...

"GREMLINS" MOGWAI SERIES 03 - CASE, SET
This new assortment includes Gizmo (Closed Mouth), Stripe and Haskins. We are currently waiting for the case breakdown, but in the meanwhile you can grab the Case of 14 at $184.99 ($39 off the MSRP), or the Set of three at $39.99 ($8 off the MSRP).
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/list.aspx?list=10828

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: GHOST PROTOCOL REAL ACTION HEROES ETHAN HUNT

LEGO Systems, Inc. Launches New Constructible Board Game Based on The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

- LEGO® Games Celebrates Bringing The Hobbit™ to Life in its Collection of Build-and-Play Board Games with Interactive Giveaway on Facebook -

ENFIELD, Conn., Oct. 2, 2012 -- LEGO Systems, Inc. today announced retail availability of LEGO® Games The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the newest addition to its portfolio of constructible board games based on the film premiering December 14, a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM). The company will launch a virtual "Roll to Win Giveaway" on the LEGO Games Facebook page starting October 8, 2012.

Toys"R"Us, UK announces its 2012 'Terrific Twenty' List of Hot Christmas Toys

MAIDENHEAD, England, October 1, 2012 -- Angry Birds, Monsters and Spiders feature alongside a second generation of touch screen tablets to be among the hottest items on kids' wish lists this Christmas season, according to Britain's biggest toy retailer, Toys"R"Us, UK.

Combat Attacknids from Wow Stuff are six legged radio controlled robots with the ability to battle, move in all directions and fire weapons from their rotating turret. These battling robots set a spider theme alongside scurrying little Hexbug Warriors, the battling creatures in a tiny, micro format that use the physics of vibration to propel forward and challenge their competitors.

In a stark contrast, is the cute and lovable, interactive Furby from Hasbro, which makes a reappearance in the 'Terrific Twenty', this time it's more responsive, more intelligent and interacts with an accompanying ipad, iphone and ipod touch application.

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

Hi - We've just listed some amazing new Takara Transformers - Finally - Fortress Maximus!!!

Encore #23 Fortress Maximus - $349.99 (April Release) or $399.99 for the early air shipment (March Release)
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/list.aspx?list=10800

Takara MP-15 Masterpiece Ravage & Rumble - $59.99
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=TAK11574&mode=re...

Takara Generations - Fall of Cybertron:
Kickback
Starscream
Sideswipe
Ultra Magnus
Fireflight
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/list.aspx?list=10814

Takara Prime
Darkest Megatron
Jet Vehicon General
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/list.aspx?list=10807

Sakar to Debut New Line of Skylanders Giants™ Electronics and Accessories

A licensing deal with Activision sets the stage for an exciting line of consumer electronics and accessories featuring the new Skylanders Giants, the super-powered and super-sized gaming heroes

DALLAS, Oct. 2, 2012 -- Sakar International, a leading manufacturer of tech, toy and consumer electronics products, today announced a licensing agreement with Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc., to create a line of accessories that feature the newest heroes from Skylanders Giants. The accessories will hit the shelves of Toys "R" Us this fall in the United States and Canada.