New Transforming Helicopter from Spin Master!
Friday, February 9th, 2007 10:46PM CST
Categories: Toy News, Event NewsPosted by: Bed Bugs Views: 26,022
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NEW YORK - When Spin Master Ltd. started peddling its Air Hogs Zero Gravity vehicle two years ago, retailers doubted whether parents would be willing topay $59.99 for a radio-controlled toy — even if it climbed walls. But the item ended up being a hit and was followed by the equally popular $79.99 Storm Launcher. This year, Spin Master is pushing a $110 Robo Copter that transforms from a robot to a helicopter.
“This just proved to us that if it is a great toy, provides a wow and introduces new functions, consumers are willing to spend the money,” said Harold Chizick, vice president of global promotional marketing for the Toronto-based toy maker. “We just decided to step it up.” “This game is about better quality,” said Ronald D. Boire, president of Toys “R” Us’s U.S. toy business. “It is not about plastic by the pound. We have been playing plastic by the pound for way too long.” He said Toys “R” Us will be making a bigger push to carry higher-grade toys. “When we have great toys, the consumer comes back to the toy department,” he said. “Can the toy industry and other industries co-exist? Absolutely. Consumers will buy what the child wants.” |
EDIT: An image of this new toy has appeared on-line at Fresnobee.com:
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Posted by TheMuffin on February 9th, 2007 @ 10:48pm CST
Posted by Bed Bugs on February 9th, 2007 @ 10:50pm CST
Posted by Liege Evilmus on February 9th, 2007 @ 10:59pm CST
For the most part all I saw last year from Hasbro were Transformer repaints and Star Wars toys based on either Transformers or the origional trilogy, and thats not to mention all the 80's retro stuff I found in the girl isles for my sisters and niece.
Tell me was I looking in the wrong place
Posted by Lapse Of Reason on February 9th, 2007 @ 11:12pm CST
hhhmmm, I like retro toys
Posted by TheMuffin on February 9th, 2007 @ 11:18pm CST
Fender Bender wrote:For $110.00, it better not be. I expect Masterpiece quality, damnit!
I would as well. But keep in mind that it's probably going to be a remote control helicopter that just happens to turn into a badly designed robot.
Posted by GetterDragun on February 9th, 2007 @ 11:19pm CST
Posted by TheMuffin on February 9th, 2007 @ 11:22pm CST
GetterDragun wrote:Yay! I'll be there tomorrow!
Mind if I hide in your backpack?
Posted by AbsumZer0 on February 9th, 2007 @ 11:38pm CST
Liege Evilmus wrote:2006 was a year that didn't rely on classic toys and showed alot of creative new inovation
For the most part all I saw last year from Hasbro were Transformer repaints and Star Wars toys based on either Transformers or the origional trilogy, and thats not to mention all the 80's retro stuff I found in the girl isles for my sisters and niece.
Tell me was I looking in the wrong place
If you were looking in the action figure section, yeah. They're talking about toys as a whole and action figures/transforming toys would be considered "classic". Airhogs planes, TMX Elmo, Furreal Friends, Roboreptile, etc. Basically taking the classics and slapping electronics in them (or combining them like rc plane + transformer)amounts to 'creativity' in the toy industry, as there are only so many play-patterns to work with.
Posted by Nemesis_Apoc on February 10th, 2007 @ 1:39am CST
Posted by Liege Evilmus on February 10th, 2007 @ 1:45am CST
As for this Choper, well, as I've said, with a movie there comes products, even HotWheels are releasindg a line of transformable cars(they look like crap).
Still if it shoots and isn't made of styrofoam, it has merit
Posted by Liege Evilmus on February 10th, 2007 @ 1:56am CST
AbsumZer0 wrote:Liege Evilmus wrote:2006 was a year that didn't rely on classic toys and showed alot of creative new inovation
For the most part all I saw last year from Hasbro were Transformer repaints and Star Wars toys based on either Transformers or the origional trilogy, and thats not to mention all the 80's retro stuff I found in the girl isles for my sisters and niece.
Tell me was I looking in the wrong place
If you were looking in the action figure section, yeah. They're talking about toys as a whole and action figures/transforming toys would be considered "classic". Airhogs planes, TMX Elmo, Furreal Friends, Roboreptile, etc. Basically taking the classics and slapping electronics in them (or combining them like rc plane + transformer)amounts to 'creativity' in the toy industry, as there are only so many play-patterns to work with.
I've been waiting for an opening to mention this, so thanks. I got Elmo TMX for my sister, and it got anoying quick for everyone. However benieth the fur(don't sue me Deftones) I could feel all types of gear and structure that realy made me think of the TF movie designs.
I know asociating Elmo with Transformers isn't something one would think to do, but if they transfered half that tech into this franchise, we'd be at levels unthought of before.
Armada Prime touched on it with the automated trailer, but since Hasbro has resoted back to ball joints and easy clips and I'd like to see them develope more functional automated bots.
However this still does not change the fact that for the lines that they've been saying are their top sellers, things like creativity and inovation have been sorely lacking!
To add to the previos comment, a new line of GI Joe with flashing lights, does not a new era of creative inginuety make!
Posted by Tigertrack on February 10th, 2007 @ 5:35am CST
It's supposed to rock. I love helicopters, and helicopter TFs and this does not do much for me...
Posted by Down_Shift on February 10th, 2007 @ 9:14am CST
I'll have to be VERY impressed by this for me to pick up something the SpinMaster made.
Posted by Senor Hugo on February 10th, 2007 @ 10:20am CST
Posted by TheMuffin on February 10th, 2007 @ 12:45pm CST
Posted by PrimulArchangel on February 10th, 2007 @ 1:35pm CST
Posted by Anonymous on February 12th, 2007 @ 12:06pm CST
Posted by metalformer on February 12th, 2007 @ 5:09pm CST