HEXBUG HEXBUG will introduce new brands next year, including interactive, imaginative, augmented reality (AR) play sets and sports fighting robots. It will also expand on existing lines, such as nano Space, BattleBots, CuddleBots, and VEX Robotics. HEXBUG Robotic Sports lets kids play their favorite sport, using a robotic counterpart. Players can use the R/C remotes to control the robots and make them score goals. The line will be available in soccer and football themes. Kids can drive and tumble the HEXBUG Ring Rover Drive. This new robot travels on dual rotating rings, and kids can spontaneously change directions with the unique play pattern. Kids pick a robotic character and adventure into an imaginative medieval world with HEXBUG Kids Behind the Kingdom. In this land of make believe, everything is made up of found objects and patchwork. Players can disguise their character to blend in with the locals by wearing costumes, and they can unlock AR features using the Kids Behind the Kingdom app. HEXBUG Cuddlebots will expand to include three new, squishy friends: Cady Cricket, Libby Ladybug, and Simon Snail. These durable robots are kid-safe, floral-scented, and promote early crawling. New BattleBots will also be added to the collection. RC HEXBUG Bronco and HyperShock will feature sinister battle functions, including a bucking battering ram and a rolling drum spinner. Based on the BattleBots TV series in the UK, HEXBUG Robot Wars lets kids drive real-life, R/C versions of their favorite bots and customize the wheels. Kids can gear up for outer worldly battles with the HEXBUG Gladiators Galactic Edition, which features the mini robots with a new look, featuring space age chrome armor.
SUPER IMPULSE Super Impulse will reintroduce the classic ‘70s Original Wiz-z-zer spinning top. The top will feature a new look that mixes retro and contemporary, and can spin at 10,000 RPMs with balance and stability. It can spin on the tip of a pencil, across pieces of string, and on top of another Wiz-z-zer. The range includes line extensions of Wiz-z-zing products, featuring Rounder and Wedge styles with eight new graphics. Designed for kids ages 5 and up, no batteries, string, ripcord, or launchers are necessary. Kids can now collect retro toys and electronics in miniature form. Collectibles include fully functioning Mattel Electronic Handhelds, Thomas & Friends products, and the smallest Laptop. Mattel Electronic Handheld is the original video game, from before there were game consoles and mobile and online gaming. Mattel Electronic Handhelds are pocket-sized versions of the original and include Electronic Football, Electronic Baseball, and Electronic Basketball. Designed for kids ages 8 and up, the working miniature handhelds feature a key chain so that kids can play on-the-go. Super Impulse’s Tiny Arcades bring arcade video games back in a size that fits in kids’ palms. Tiny Arcade is the smallest functional arcade game, with a screen size that is less than 1.5 inches, and an overall cabinet size of 4-by-2-by-2 inches. Each Tiny Arcade features complete gameplay, full-color, a high-resolution screen, authentic game sounds, a joystick, and two control buttons in a backlit arcade-style cabinet. Tiny Arcade Pac-Man brings the popular arcade game to its tiniest size ever. Kids control Pac-Man through the maze, making him eat all the pac-dots along the way as Blinky, Inky, Pinky, and Clyde try to cause chaos. The sequel to Pac-Man, Tiny Arcade Ms. Pac-Man is a fully functional game that lets kids direct Ms. Pac-Man to her source of nutrients and escape the mischievous ghosts. Kids must fend off aliens and save the galaxy in Tiny Arcade Galaxian, and fire at extraterrestrials to prevent alien invasions in Tiny Arcade Space Invaders. Original Wiz-z-zer
62 THE TOY BOOK | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 | toybook.com