MEDIA / PRESS
Posted: 04.24.2007
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Cliff Jin/Leslie Galerne The Rogers Group (310) 552-4105/552-4104 cjin@rogerspr.com lgalerne@rogerspr.com *Visuals available upon request |
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Children are Happily Entertained on Long Family Road Trips With Hot New Playthings From Bandai America
(CYPRESS, CA – APRIL 24, 2007) - Summer is almost here and so is the familiar saying, "Are we there yet?!" Traveling to far-away destinations via planes, trains and automobiles is not always part of the holiday fun, especially for kids. So for those who're tired of playing the "license plate game" or "count the clouds" over and over, Bandai America Inc. has the solution for every parent. New this year are several hot toys - from the action figure and youth electronics category leader - that are portable, engaging and serve as the perfect remedy to a long summer trip.
Tamagotchi® Connection®
Named as one of Toy Wishes Magazine's Spring/Summer 2007 "Hot Dozen"
As the world's first and most popular virtual pet toy, the new Tamagotchi Connection V4 lets kids live the rockin' Tamagotchi life 24/7 - even from the backseat of a car and on the go! Fans now guide their favorite Tamagotchi characters through the adventure of life by playing games, going to preschool and elementary school, and then choosing a fun career - such as rock star, fashion designer, scientist and more - when they become an adult. It's just like the real world, but definitely a lot more fun and way more engaging!
For endless hours of fun, this colorful and portable tech toy allows kids to experience what it's like to raise a real pet, as well as encourages them to interact with their friends and siblings via its cool infrared technology. This advanced feature lets two Tamagotchi owners to "connect" together and trade gifts or play games. The new V4 also lets you travel to the interactive and colorful world of www.TamagotchiTown.com, where fans can see all the Tamagotchi characters just as if they were in your own hometown. Check out the mall for some shopping, play in the arcade, visit the old school and even engage in your career profession all in one place! (MSRP: $14.99; ages 6+; available at all major retailers nationwide; log onto www.Tamagotchi.com for more information)
Power Rangers
For 15 consecutive years, Power Rangers has been one of the most successful boy's action figure brands - making it the top boy’s brand of all time! New and dynamic for 2007 is Bandai America Power Rangers Operation Overdrive lineup, which features a collection of cool treasure-hunting themed toys. Now, kids can fully experience what it's like to be their favorite Power Rangers hero by re-living all the adventure, while on the go.
The Overdrive Tracker Morpher offers, for the first time ever, an awesome black light that lets kids decipher special clues and codes on the free in-pack cards and toy packaging. For more role-playing action, the toy also has a variety of sound effects taken directly from the popular TV series, such as in the keypad and Turbo Morph Wheel. Kids can currently log onto www.Bandai.com through the end of the year to download a special mail-in offer for a secret message pen that writes in "invisible ink" and can be deciphered by the black light (shipping and handling fee of $1.65). (MSRP: $16.99; ages 4+; available at all major retailers)
Ben 10™
At a loss for what to do with the airline tray table? Well, it happens to be the perfect stage for an exciting game featuring the Ben 10 Sumo Slammers Battle Sets. This hot new toy was inspired by the hit Cartoon Network show and protagonist Ben Tennyson's obsession with collecting hard-to-find Sumo Slammers cards. Taking a creative page from the storyline, Bandai America created innovative game sets with six collectible miniature alien characters. Kids use the front of the toy's packaging as their sumo dojo and tap to knock their opponent's figure out of the ring.
Offering two toys in one at a price point under $10, these sets also come with five humorous and collectible cards that can be used in a "Menko" battle. A longstanding Japanese play pattern dating back to the 1700s, and considered a forerunner to the modern card game craze, Menko involves trying to flip a competitor's card over with a gust of wind or with a hard strike. (MSRP: $7.99; ages 4+; available at all major retailers)
For more imaginative fun in the backseat of the car, the Ben 10 Alien Voice Changer - another of Toy Wishes Magazine's prestigious "Hot Dozen" award winners - transforms humans into an out-of-this-world creature. Kids speak into the microphone and hear the wearable modulator distort their voice, while the included glasses complete allow them to look like popular show characters Four Arms, Heatblast or Grey Matter. So now when kids ask "Are we there yet," at least parents can have a chuckle when their child sounds like something not from planet Earth!
For more information about Bandai America products, please log onto www.Bandai.com. For more information about Toy Wishes Magazine, visit www.toywishes.com.
About Bandai America Incorporated
A leader in introducing Japanese toy trends to the United States, Bandai America Incorporated is a subsidiary of NAMCO BANDAI Holdings (USA) Inc., a new joint entity that resulted from the integration of Namco Ltd. and Bandai Co. Ltd. of Japan. Global interests encompass five strategic business units: toys and hobby (toys, models, apparel and sundries), amusement facilities, game content (home and arcade console gaming), mobile content, and visual and music content (including home entertainment). Bandai America is the manufacturer and master toy licensee of some of the most popular brands in children's toys and entertainment today, including Power Rangers, Ben 10, Team Galaxy, Tamagotchi and Girlz Connect. The company is headquartered in Cypress, California and information is available at www.Bandai.com.
