What We Couldn't Resist from Toy Fair Part 3

These are just way too cool! The Hexbug Nanos have arrived!

These were one of the top toys for this year's toy fair. Grownups and kids can't resist them. So how do they work? From the Hexbug website: "The motor inside the Nano rotates a counterweight that causes forces up and down. The down force causes the legs to bend and the Nano moves forward. The up force causes the creature to hop lifting the front legs off the ground and allowing the legs to unbend. This up and down movement repeats several hundred times per second causing the Nano to move forward. The Nano creature's ability to flip over by itself is due to the rotating forces caused by the motor and the unique internal and external chassis design (and a little magic)." Didja follow that? Watch the video-- You can see how their rapid bouncing creates a forward movement.




So what do you do with them? You can create mazes and habitats for your Nano to navigate-- to get started, there is a set that comes with a few pieces and a Hexbug Nano. And you can easily expand beyond the starter set by using items in your home already. They happily bounce and skitter around obstacles. Get more than one and race. Create entire swarms!

When you're considering itty bitty bots, don't forget the Original Hexbug-- it responds to sound as well as touch. It's realistic walking motion is fascinating. The kind of fascinating that stops grown men in their tracks and reduces them to 10yr old boys.

And the Hexbug Ant is just as cool, too-- and super fast! With 6 gear-driven legs, this little guy is the speed-demon of the bunch.

I predict we will be overtaken by the bots very soon! Resistance is futile!

ps-- check it out: the links go to our new website. Isn't it just tooooo coooool?  And so y'all know, we are no longer taking orders through our old website, onceuponatoyinc.com.  So please change your bookmarks to http://www.happyupinc.com/.  What hasn't changed is our commitment to customer service & supporting all the playful folk in our communities!  So pass the word!

What We Couldn't Resist From Toy Fair 2010 pt 2

Next up on the "Too Fun! Gotta Have That!" list is the Zyclone Ring Blaster.

Spring will be here soon, and with it will come that "gotta get outside" feeling.  Make sure you bring the Zyclone Ring Blaster along with you!
Designed to launch lightweight foam rings, the Zyclone is easily loaded and fired by a wide range of ages and abilities (they suggest 6yrs and up--  I suspect you may be able to go a bit younger if you're willing to help the child launch the first few times). 

The projectiles are round rings, so no poky/sharp edges to hurt your companions (although, just to be clear, aiming at someone's face is still a bad idea).  Made from a tough, rigid, & lightweight foam, the rings can take a serious amount of playtime.  Two come with the launcher, and they'll be available separately, too.  Which is a very good thing when you consider it is possible to launch one over 100 feet!

Using a twisting action, the rings spin off of the launcher and sail through the air amazingly far!  Don't just take my word for it, watch the mildly cheesy commercial from Zing toys:



Too cool, eh? 

While this isn't exactly new (it was a favorite of ours for Christmas), we've got  Djubi (pronounced joo-bee) back in stock!  If you haven't seen it yet, it's like a slingshot you play catch with.  The racket looking thingies are both launcher and catcher for the special ball, the djubi.  What makes the ball special?  It's on a slingy elastic band!  Aimed at kiddos 8 and up, this is a great new twist on playing catch.  And perfect to go in Easter Baskets.  That's a hint, Mr. Easter Bunny!

Stay tuned--  Part 3 of our Toy Fair Finds will be posted soon!

What we couldn't resist from Toy fair 2010 pt. 1

Soooo...  Y'all are just dying to find out what was fab and fun at the 2010 Toyfair, right?  Well--  fasten your seat belts!  Several posts heading your way about the cool stuff Shawnta', Rick, & Neal found on their trip to NY.  So sit back and prepare to be hit by the "o cool i want that" feeling!

First up, we have Buckyballs! 

Made from rare earth magnets, these little spheres are addictive fiddly fun.  Mold them, connect them, snap and slip and slide them to form shapes and sculptures.  Rolling Stone Magazine proclaimed them one of the best new toys of 2009.

We should note that Buckyballs aren't designed for small folks.  Let the little ones have their geomags, magnatiles, and magformers.  Due to concerns over what could happen if someone swallowed one (truthfully, the issue is if you swallow more than one), they're labeled for people over 13 yrs old.  So repeat after me:  Buckyballs are not food. 

It's hard to describe why they're so un-put-downable and twiddly-fiddly fun.  So instead of waiting for me to stumble on the right way to explain them, feast your eyes on this slightly-hypnotic video from Zoomdoggle, the folks behind the buckyballs.  And if you do visit their website, you've got to pinky-swear you'll be patient and get yours from your favorite Happy Up store once we've got them in stock! 



What We Couldn't Resist From Toy Fair 2010 pt. 2 coming soon!