Shiny Toy Guns: check out this write-up on Mattel's quest to make the best toy gun—one of the lead designers seems to take at least some inspiration from Borderlands, according to the article.
Nobody Takes He-Man Seriously, And That's Why I Love His Mobile Game
In late 1982 Mattel fashioned a generic fantasy barbarian with an even more generic name into a children's media goldmine. First came the toys. Then came the cartoon, with its horribly-limited animation. It got so big that in 1987 Dolph Lundgren starred in a live action Masters of the Universe movie. Glitchsoft's …
The Most Powerful Man in the Universe is Coming to iOS
This is Adam, Prince of Eternia, defender of the secrets of Castle Grayskull. Fabulous secret powers were revealed to him the day he held aloft his magic sword and said "By the power of Grayskull, I have the power!" He's kind of a big deal, and he's coming to iPhone and iPad to prove it.
Apps Plus Toys: Apptivity Batman and Cut the Rope
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--9U9afDni--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/181j4puq3ogtyjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--JYU-Y_Dk--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/181j4puq3ogtyjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--BV6qZJx2--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/181j4puq3ogtyjpg.jpg, (large)])
I love gaming apps, and I love toys. This week I'm taking a look at gaming apps that employ physical toys to enhance the play experience, starting with a look at Mattel's Apptivity Batman and Cut the Rope games. Let's play with toys!
Angry Birds' Slingshot-Toting Board Game In Eight Exciting Images
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--7bD0G9qc--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/1864ps36pbdaqjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--lKrn3pHX--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/1864ps36pbdaqjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--mSxRvcHW--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/1864ps36pbdaqjpg.jpg, (large)])
Earlier this year we heard about the Angry Birds' board game from Mattel. Then we had a chance to see the game in action at CES. Now we've noticed that it's for sale over on Amazon for $20. And there are PICTURES!
How Does Angry Birds (The Board Game) Work?
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--6gUjcCSU--/c_fill,g_center,h_358,w_636/18reussnreau8jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--u7PdVNFQ--/c_fill,g_center,h_180,w_320/18reussnreau8jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--vXqOKfQk--/c_fill,g_center,h_77,w_137/18reussnreau8jpg.jpg, (large)])
Well, how else could it work? Mattel explains the straightforward board game port of Rovio's iPhone hit Angry Birds, which is a simple pig smashing game. Angry Birds: Knock On Wood is coming soon, but playable at CES right now.
Angry Birds Coming To A Board Game This Year
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Ff3Yq4s1--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18j2p1yau6x4zjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--rOTt8v2V--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18j2p1yau6x4zjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--UyyVSJW6--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j2p1yau6x4zjpg.jpg, (large)])
If you treasure all that time spent building Mousetrap's contraption and its inevitable collapse midway through, then Angry Birds: Knock on Wood, a board game due later this year from Mattel, is perfect for you. Yes, it has a slingshot.
This Could Mean A New He-Man Video Game
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--mRtnaP7O--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18j2pbbp7yfzsjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--pTuFV_pH--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18j2pbbp7yfzsjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Rd320ANr--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j2pbbp7yfzsjpg.jpg, (large)])
Mattel is the company behind some of the world's hottest toy brands, including Hot Wheels, Barbie, Fisher-Price, and Masters of the Universe. Now the company hands over the rights to create video games on those properties to THQ.
THQ Raids Mattel's Toy Box
Publisher THQ just got the rights to make video games based on a whole range of Mattel toy properties. Think Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher Price and, most promising, Masters of the Universe.
Bring Your Hot Wheels Obsession Online
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--b_5wFuM2--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18hdjyv6jgvsbjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--8iXB1mO---/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18hdjyv6jgvsbjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Zac8-67z--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18hdjyv6jgvsbjpg.jpg, (large)])
Collect, share, and race your own custom Hot Wheels creations in Hot Wheels Racing Circuit, an online multiplayer racing game now available from Mattel.
Scrabble Rules Change Permits Proper Nouns, Horrifies Purists [Update…
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--rOi-Zva4--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18j3tp3o1rsr6jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--sQ07Hjkg--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18j3tp3o1rsr6jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--8-15H0Hd--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j3tp3o1rsr6jpg.jpg, (large)])
Word from the Scrabble makers at Mattel is that proper nouns will be fair game for Scrabble players as of this summer. [UPDATE: Not so fast concerning this "rule change."]