It's That Time of Year: Part One

By: Mathew Bredfeldt mathew_bredfeldt@hotmail.com

I know you all dread hearing this, but when you read this, there will be just over one month before Christmas. Yes that time of year has snuck up on us again, and you are probably still paying off the obscene amount of money you paid for your child's Furby from last Christmas. Since when I am writing this it is early October, the toy companies have not yet began their push for the holiday season. Let me try to give you a heads up on what toys might make good gifts this year. After each idea, I will give my recommendations on what to get out of that line.

First up is Pokemon. It goes without saying that the pocket monster juggernaut will not be slowed down by the holidays. In fact, it's getting a shot in the arm with the release of a movie in November. Pokemon is good for the younger kids because it is somewhat less violent than some other lines that are aimed for the older kids. Pokemon really does not have any action figures to speak of, but it has other fun things the kids might like. First, if they are into the beanie collectable craze, there is a line of some of the more popular characters out there (Meowth, Snorelax, Evee, Jigglypuff, Polywhirl exc) that are available at stores like Toys R Us, Target and Babbages. Second, if they are into the collectable card game you might want to get packs and starters now while the getting is good. Wizards of the Coast has just released the third expansion for the card game, Fossil, and it's a mad house to get the premiere cards and cards from the first expansion, Jungle. If you are looking for a good gift that all the children can enjoy, get a box of one of the expansions and split it. Not only can they rip the gift open, but then they will get another gift with every pack that they open. Then they can go to school after winter break and say that they got Pokemon cards and trade for what they need after school or between siblings during the break. The cards can be found at almost any store (my brother saw them for sale at a grocery store.) for about $3.29, but beware stores that sell them in ziplock baggies for more money. Sure you may be getting desperate for the cards, but ask yourself two questions. First `Is it worth the extra money?' Sure you find them at this store for an increased price, but what if the next store you go to has them for normal price. Second, `Are they real?' As with any craze, there are unscrupulous people out there that will try to rip you off with counterfeits. There are ways to tell if they are counterfeit, for example if you touch he cards and they feel like copy paper, and not card stock. Or on the back of the cards, instead of saying `Pokemon' they say something like `Gomon.' Finally, for the parent that wants something their child can use, there are things like school supplies that you can get. Your child may have kicked and screamed through the store because they were sold out of the Pokemon pencil set, but now you can get it for them and it's something that they (and you) can use.

Recommendations: The Collectable Card Game, bean bag characters, and school supplies.

Second is the Star Wars: The Phantom Menace line. Yes it's still clogging up store shelves and some stores already have things marked down to clear it out, but this line has a larger merchandising juggernaut behind it than Pokemon. First, for kids of all ages (or about 4 on up) are the action figures. What makes the figures so appealing is the fact that they are smaller versions of characters from the movie, and they can be taken outside to reenact the battle for Naboo, or used inside to reenact the duel between the Jedi. Plus if you get the bigger kids (i.e. adults) to play with them and bring out the action figures from the new Power of the Force line, then they can have all sorts of fun. Then there is the whole line of role playing toys like the light sabers and blasters. This line is definitely for older children (I would say 7 or 8 on up) who are careful. I know that in this age of gun violence and school shootings the blasters may not be something you want to get, but the lightsabers can be fun. Children can take them outside on a good day and they can choreograph their own lightsaber duels, and maybe put on a show for you and the entire block. It's good exercise and they might find that they like re-enacting scenes from the movie as their favorite character. Finally, from the new Star Wars movie there are sets of Lego's that you can get. Yes, that's right I am recommending Lego's. Much like the role playing toys, these sets can bolster the imagination of a child. There are actually two lines for Star Wars Lego's, ones from the Phantom Menace and one for the original Star Wars Trilogy. You can get all sorts of sets from these two lines. They range from small sets like the Darth Maul's Sith Speeder and Jedi Duel, to medium sized sets like the X-Wing from Star Wars, to large sets that have multiple vehicles like the Pod Race Set or the Darth Vader's TIE Fighter versus a Y-Wing Fighter. I'll warn you though these do not come cheap. The small sets can run you anywhere between 5-7 dollars and the large sets can run you 50-80 dollars, the price depends on the set and where you get them.

Recommendations: The Action Figures, Role-Playing Toys (lightsabers), and Lego Sets.

Third are WWF action figures. I have a few of these action figures, and outside of a minor thing like wrestlers face sculpting being off, they are a good thing to get for about $5-6. They have figures for almost all the wrestlers in the WWF. I just found a figure of one of my favorite wrestlers, The Godfather, when I could not find him just a few months ago. So if your favorite is not out, then wait a month or so and you just might be able to find the one you want. Also out with this line, is a special ring that you can use with your figures to fight in. (I mentioned that I might get one a few months back, but not yet.) It costs somewhere around $20 and it comes with a pair of launching platforms and a plastic "steel cage" to put around it so you can do steel cage matches. With a little work, you can make a plastic top to it and you can reproduce the "Hell in a Cell" match of Mankind and Undertaker from about a year ago. The last thing is there is a new product out called the Titantron. It costs about $30 and works with special figures that are sold separately. When the special figures go through the Titantron, it activates that character's theme song. It comes with a Vince McMahon figure to test it out. There are other things out there from the WWF line, but I think these three are probably what your kids might like the most.

Recommendations: Action figures, Wrestling Ring, and Titantron set.

For my fourth idea, I'm going to go to a line that used to be a Christmas treat for me every year, and that is GI Joe. The great thing about GI Joe is that it comes in two sizes. First there is the 3.75-inch line that is available at Toys R Us only. There are the action figures that are sold in packs of three with some weapons and stands for $10. Then there are three vehicles. Two for the Joes, the Conquest X-30 and the Mobat Tank they run $20 and $15 respectively and there is only one for the Cobra's, the Rattler Jeep for $10. Each vehicle comes with at least one figure (the Mobat has 2) so you do not have to worry about getting extra figures to operate the vehicles. The second line is based on the GI Joes from the 1960's and 1970's. They are 12 inches tall and are based on the various branches of the US as well as historical military figures. The figures come either blister carded like action figures with just a figure, and a weapon for about $15, or they are boxed with more weapons and accessories, and are generally $20-30 depending on where you get them. Another good thing about the 12-inch line is that there are accessory sets that you can purchase that can put your figures into various military conflicts throughout the years, or they can be made into another type of soldier. There are other cheaper versions of 12-inch figures, but they are not as good quality as the GI Joe ones that Hasbro puts out. If you have a family member that is (or was) in a branch of the armed services, then a 12 inch figure would be a good gift.

There are other more traditional gifts that do not involve action figures, if you do not want to get that sort of thing. You can give a football or basketball for the sports fan in the family. Board games are also a good thing to get. There are a lot of them out right now that are good for all ages. For the young kids, there are some like Ker-Plunk, Don't Break the Ice, Operation, Hungry Hungry Hippos and Life. For older children, there are games like Risk, or Pictionary. For adults there is Trivial Pursuit.

That about wraps up this part of It's That Time Of Year. Be sure to look at my other article in which I'll hit on the various home video game systems that are out now and give my advice on which one to get if you are looking to get that sort of thing for your kids.

[As always this is to be posted on Collectortimes.com and no where else. If I find it somewhere else, I'll make sure that Santa leaves nothing but coal in your stocking for the next 20 years.]