puzzles – The Next Kid Thing

Time to Play Announces Holiday Must Haves

October 1, 2010October 1, 2010 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

It’s October, and fall is officially in full swing. (How did that happen so quickly?)

Even though the season is just now starting to change, media and bloggers alike have had the holidays in mind for months now. In fact, I think I went to my first holiday preview back in May?

Nevertheless, I’m excited once again to curate—what I consider—cool new kid gear that would make fun gift for the holidays. But this week, to get the season started right, I had the chance to attend Time to Play magazines Holiday Showcase here in NYC.

The pros, Chris Byrne, content director, and Jim Silver, editor-in-chief of TimetoPlayMag.com unveiled Time to Play’s Most Wanted list, the 16 toys they predict will be the “must haves” for the upcoming holiday season. And once again, NKT was onhand to check things out and tweet all about it.

And here they are, TimetoPlayMag.com’s Most Wanted List for the 2010 Holiday Season:

AIR HOGS MOTO FRENZY
(Spin Master/Ages 8 years & up /Approx. Retail Price: $24.99)

DISNEY PRINCESS & ME DOLLS
(JAKKS Pacific/Ages 6 years & up /Approx. Retail Price: $49.99)

HOT WHEELS R/C STEALTH RIDES
(Mattel/Ages 6 years & up /Approx. Retail Price: $24.99)

LEAPSTER EXPLORER
(LeapFrog/Ages 4 years & up /Approx. Retail Price: $69.99)

LEGO Games – LEGO Systems
(LEGO/Ages 7 years & up/Approx. Retail Price $29.99)

LOOPZ
(Mattel/Ages 7 years & up /Approx. Retail Price: $29.99)

MONSTER HIGH Dolls
(Mattel/Ages 6 years & up /Approx. Retail Price: $16.99)

NERF N-STRIKE STAMPEDE ECS Blaster
(Hasbro/Ages 8 years & up /Approx. Retail Price: $49.99)

PAPER JAMZ
(WowWee/Ages 5 years & up /Approx. Retail Price: $24.99)

REAL CONSTRUCTION
(JAKKS Pacific/Ages 5 years & up /Approx. Retail Price: $24.99)

SCRABBLE FLASH
(Hasbro/Ages 8 years & up /Approx. Retail Price: $29.99)

SING-A-MA-JIGS
(Mattel/Ages 3 years & up /Approx. Retail Price: $12.99)

SQUINKIES
(Blip Toys/Ages 4 years & up /Approx. Retail Price: $6.99)

TONKA CHUCK & FRIENDS CHUCK’S STUNT PARK Playset
(Hasbro Playskool/Ages 3 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $39.99)

V.READER
(VTech/Ages 3 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $59.99)

ZOOBLES
(Spin Master/Ages 4 years & up/ Approx. Retail Price: $4.99)

They also highlighted three family-friendly video games, which include:

Kirby’s epicYarn
Epic Mickey
Dance Central

Most of the toys at the showcase were toys that I’ve had the chance to check out at Toy Fair, at media previews or have even been dubbed NKT faves, so some of the “must haves” were no surprise. They’re all great picks, but I have several more on my radar that I think should’ve made the mark. I’ll be sure to share those in my holiday gift guide, which is coming soon.

Do you guys see any toys that you think might be the “it” toy this year?

Whatever you think might be hot, put it on your radar NOW. Time to Play’s sage advice for consumers and industry insiders alike: “If you see it early, grab it early.”

2K Sports Releases MLB 2K10

March 19, 2010March 19, 2010 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

It’s not quite official yet, but Spring has sprung in our neck of the woods, and you know what that means…

It’s time to root, root, root for the home team!

Just in time for Spring Training, 2K Sports has released Major League Baseball 2K10. For the MLB video game series’ tenth anniversary, this variation showcases perhaps the best graphics yet. Check out the trailer to see for yourself.

The ongoing battle of pitchers vs. hitters is the highlight of the game, where pitching mechanics and right-stick swing control enhancements convey realistic experiences. MLB 2K10 also boasts a revamped fielding system, new signature animations, as well as a new star player rating system. The game is available for XBox 360, PS3, PS2, PSP, Wii, DS and PC and is rated E for Everyone.

The kid and I had the chance to preview 2K Sports’ MLB 2K10 the other week, just before it hit the shelves. During the demo, I was in disbelief how incredible the graphics were; if I didn’t know any better, I could’ve mistaken this new game for a live broadcast of an actual ballgame on tv. The audio adds to the whole realistic experience as well. During our demo, we chose to play using our team, the Mets in their homefield, Citi Field. Having visited the new ballpark for the first time last summer, I was in awe of just how realistic the graphics of MLB 2K10 were to the park. Speaking of Citi, did you know 2K Sports has a cool gaming suite within the Fan Fest area at the ballpark? It’s a must-see and must-do if you make it out to the park.

For the most part, I watched the demo, rather than played MLB 2K10 myself, but I plan on having a more thorough review of the game as soon as we have the chance. There’s quite a few other baseball games that are big for sports gamers, but as a non-sports gamer who reviews a host of games for kids, I think MLB 2K10 is certainly one to check out.

Win it!

Two of lucky NKT readers will have the chance to win a copy of 2KSports MLB 2K10! That’s right, two.

To win a game, let’s make it easy, tell me about your favorite MLB team, players or stadium.

Per usual, share on any social networking site for extra entries. Comment below for all entries.

Check it!

While we’re talking about baseball favorites… together with some fellow bloggers and kids from the NY Boys and Girls Club, our family was invited to participate in Citi Field’s Kid’s Day tomorrow. As diehard Mets fans, we’re over the moon about this cool experience.

Want to see what we’re up to at the ballpark? Be sure to follow me on Twitter and on Facebook to get live updates throughout the day!

If you’re in the NYC area tomorrow, Citibank branches in the five boroughs will host baseball themed activities, including kids’ games, food, face painting, balloons, clowns and characters. Former Met Ed Kranepool will visit the Park Slope Citibank branch from 12:00-1:30pm to sign autographs. Baseball themed refreshments will include hot dogs and cracker jacks.

Happy National Puzzle Day!

January 29, 2010January 29, 2010 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

In case you weren’t aware, today is National Puzzle Day. (I wasn’t aware at all, but now I am.) With that in mind, I’m reminded by how many really great puzzle sets that are out there. Did any of you play with puzzles growing up? I know we did. I remember playing with whatever character du jour and putting it all together piece-by-piece, and feeling so accomplished when I finally laid the finally piece.

My mother-in-law, in fact, has done a great job of keeping many of my husband and his siblings’ old puzzles. So, when the grandkids get together, all of whom range in age 17 to 2 years old, it’s fun to see them play with these puzzles together.

National Puzzle Day is said to encourage family togetherness, as well as encourage the skills that are involved in putting together puzzles: reasoning, concentration and teamwork, among others.