PermaNews Archive: Toys and Games

Reviews, recalls and general articles about the multitude of Harry potter toys on the market.

Potter toy company being bought out?
Shares in branded goods manufacturer Character Group, which handles merchandising for Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings products, soared after it received an informal takeover bid from an unnamed American toy company today. Character Group said that "the approach was on an informal basis and that whilst the initial discussions are ongoing, they are at a very early stage."
March 12, 2003 at 3:22 PM; Yahoo News! UK

Harry Potter goods, magically found
Another Potter merchandise roundup from MSNBC: Wouldn't it be nice if we muggles could take just one shopping trip through magical Diagon Alley? Of course, there's no magical shopping district in the brick-and-mortar world, so muggles have to look elsewhere to fill their Harry Potter-inspired wish lists. Click here for more.
March 11, 2003 at 6:31 PM; MSNBC

Harry Potter "Wizard's Chess" set available again!
After weeks of being out-of-stock, the most popular non-media Harry Potter item is again available: Harry Potter Wizard's Chess. Modeled after the very statues created by the first movie's special effects team, it's already back at #3 on the list of top-selling Potter-related merchandise on Amazon.com. Click here for more info, and also check HPANA's "Bestsellers" page to stay current on the most popular Potter merchandise. It's updated automatically every hour.
March 5, 2003 at 12:04 AM; HPANA

Harry Potter Figures For 2003
Mattel released some images earlier this week of their forthcoming action figures, and if you click here you can read all about them. Good news if any of you are after a Dumbledore - read the article to find out more! Thanks to the guys at Action-Figure.com for mailing me the link and keeping me informed.
February 26, 2003 at 11:33 PM; TheSnitch.co.uk - Comments (6)

Potter alert: Wizard goods on sale
Check out this great roundup of various book 5 prices from all around the Web (including Overstock.com's amazing $14.99). Also features some nice watches, including one that's the result of a collaboration between Fossil and Seiko. Several pictures accompany the article.
January 28, 2003 at 9:01 PM; MSNBC

Children warned about fake toys and DVDs
Bargain-hunting Christmas shoppers are being warned not to buy fake toys and pressies.
December 17, 2002 at 6:31 AM; CBBC Newsround

Slime Chamber game flunks the ooze test
The Miami Herald didn't like the Slime Chamber game...nope, not at all: We've looked at plenty of Harry Potter toys in our day, but the absolute worst is the Harry Potter Slime Chamber (Mattel; $15.99). It's a slime-oozing plastic statue of a snake. You put a Harry Potter action figure underneath, release the snake's jaw and dump green slime. The biggest problem: The slime doesn't ooze. It just plops out in a big blob. ''Uninventive, disappointing,'' said one tester. ''The slime should be more[...]
December 8, 2002 at 8:31 PM; MuggleNet - Comments (3)

Harry Potter slime flunks the ooze test
We've looked at plenty of Harry Potter toys in our day, but the absolute worst is the Harry Potter Slime Chamber.
December 7, 2002 at 5:01 PM; Miami Herald

CoS Whomping Willow Game Gets Good Marks
The Miami Herald says: Harry Potter Whomping Willow Game (Mattel), $31.99. Ages 5 and up. What it is: A skill game. Players use hooks shaped like the Weasleys' flying car to pick Ron's and Harry's luggage off a spinning plastic willow tree. Problems: The game was hard to put together and the tree sometimes fell apart. Tester comments: "Interesting, challenging." Rating: 10.
December 7, 2002 at 8:10 AM; iharrypotter.net - Comments (1)

Potter Toy Hazard
The Brattleboro Reformer reports (thanks to Mugglenet.com): "When buying for young children, most people look for the hottest holiday gifts, but often don't stop to check if the gift is safe. Yet each year, hundreds of companies, voluntarily or otherwise, recall items that may pose a hazard or may have resulted in injury or death, said Zina Cary, a health-care and consumer advocate for Vermont Public Interest Research Group. ...Hallmark and Wal-Mart also recalled 7,000 Harry Potter potion bottle[...]
November 29, 2002 at 11:43 AM; UKHarryPotter - Comments (1)

Potter toy recall
Apparently, Hallmark and Wal-Mart recalled 7,000 Harry Potter potion bottle keychains which leaked petroleum distillates, an ingestion hazard for children. Didn't know that. Thanks to Kunal for some of today's news.
November 29, 2002 at 11:31 AM; MuggleNet - Comments (1)

It's All About The Harry Potter Toys This Year
Brattleboro Reformer has this: Hallmark and Wal-Mart also recalled 7,000 Harry Potter potion bottle keychains which leaked petroleum distillates, an ingestion hazard for children. CNN reports that the toy company, Hasbro (makers of HP toys) has been fined for price-fixing. and Stockhouse says: The Whomping Willow Game brings "to life" all of the fun of Harry and Ron's thrilling adventures with the spirited Willow tree in "Chamber of Secrets". Read more at the link!
November 29, 2002 at 7:15 AM; iharrypotter.net - Comments (1)

"Harry Potter" Toy Up For Award
Hoover's Online brings us a list of toys nominated for the "People's Choice Toy of the Year" (which includes the Harry Potter Slime Chamber), and instructions on how to cast a vote.
November 25, 2002 at 4:06 PM; The Leaky Cauldron - Comments

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