Toy experts expect kids to sing-along this holiday
NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - Toy experts are expecting children to be singing along with their gifts this holiday with an "American Idol" karaoke system and singing Hannah Montana doll featuring on a list of the season's 12 must-have toys.
Toy Wishes Magazine's "Hot Dozen" toy list, which highlights items expected to be the most popular for the holiday shopping season, said the list this year had a high-tech feel -- but also a noisy one.
As well as the karaoke system and replica of Disney's tween singing sensation, the list featured the video game "Guitar Hero 3" where players can become their favorite singer.
"Today's kids have cell phones, computers and iPods at earlier ages and it often takes more to entertain them ," said Jim Silver, the editor of Toy Wishes Magazine which unveiled its list at a preseason show in New York this week.
"The hot toys run the gamut from advanced Internet-powered toys to some of the most basic."
The holidays are the crucial time of year for toy makers and sellers with nearly 50 percent of all toy sales rung up in the fourth quarter alone, according to market research firm NPD Group.
But unlike last year's "Hot Dozen" list which featured Hasbro's $299.99 Butterscotch Pony and Lego's $249.99 Mindstorms NXT robotics toolset, 2007's list doesn't boast a single item listing for more than $100.
The priciest toys to make the cut were the Smart Cycle by Mattel Inc's Fisher Price, Hasbro's Ultimate Bumblebee and Guitar Hero 3, which all sell for $99.99.
Following are the Toy Wishes "Hot Dozen" (in alphabetical order):
* American Idol Talent Challenge: A DVD game enabling users to compete like the contestants on the hit show. By Tech 2 Go.
* Aqua Dots Super Studio: An activity set where users create a wide array of decorations with translucent, multicolored beads. By Spin Master.
* Barbie Girls: A doll-shaped MP3 player that turns into a live character at BarbieGirls.com, a Web site where girls can interact with each other in a manner reminiscent of Second Life, the virtual world for adults. By Mattel.
* Eye-Clops: A handheld magnifying glass that lets users view almost anything at 200 times normal size on a television screen. By Jakks Pacific Inc.
* Guitar Hero 3: A game that enables players to emulate rock stars by strapping on a guitar-shaped controller and playing hit songs from groups like The Rolling Stones, Guns N' Roses and the Beastie Boys. By Red Octane.
* Hannah Montana Singing Dolls and Pop Star Stage: A singing doll based on the Disney Channel TV series. By Play Along.
* Nerf N-Strike Disc Shot: A disk shooting game similar to skeet shooting. By Hasbro.
* Rubik's Revolution: An electronic update of the Rubik's Cube. By Techno Source.
* Smart Cycle: A bicycle game from preschoolers, which is intended for exercise while learning concepts like letters and numbers. By Fisher Price.
* Spotz: A toy enabling users to pick a picture and turn it into a decorative collectible. By Zizzle.
* Swypeout Online Battle Racing: An online car racing game that allows players to chat online. By Spin Master.
* Transformers Arm Blasters and Ultimate Bumblebee: The Arm Blasters convert from a robot to a soft-dart blaster. The Ultimate Bumble Bee is a car that transforms into a robot. By Hasbro.
