Tag Archives: Skylanders

Gavin Mannion

McDonalds to hand out Skylanders in Happy Meals

April 11, 2013 at 2:00 pm | 10 Comments

The first time I saw the headline I got quite excited as i thought I had just found the perfect way to boost my kids Skylanders collection for less than R99 a Skylander… unfortunately while it is true that McDonalds are handing out Skylander toys in Happy Meals they aren’t workable ones.


Darryn Bonthuys

Pokémon is moving into Skylanders territory

March 13, 2013 at 2:30 pm | 13 Comments

The hard thing about setting a trend in gaming, is that you’re going to have a flood of “inspirations” coming for a slice of your pie in the years to come. Skylanders did just that, as now Disney is attempting to also woo a younger portion of the market with their very own range of licensed figures and games. And now, it looks like some iconic pocket monsters want in as well.


Darryn Bonthuys

Disney Infinity is going to be pricy

February 26, 2013 at 12:00 pm | 10 Comments

I don’t envy the Skylanders team right now. They’ve hit on a great gap in the market, and it’s one that appeals to the demographic with the most cash to spend: Kids. And by money to spend, I mean the funds belonging to their parents. Still, Skylanders isn’t that bad financially speaking, and you know what you’re getting when you buy a new ally for your team. Disney plans to move into that territory though, and they’re bringing with them franchises that range from Pixar to Marvel. But it’s going to cost ya.


Geoffrey Tim

Activision’s milking Skylanders

February 5, 2013 at 10:15 am | 22 Comments

Activision’s certainly a tenacious entity, especially when it comes to milking its core franchises. Thanks to Skylanders’ overwhelming popularity, brought about by the magical transfusion of toys and games, it’s become one of the company’s core money earners. It should come as no surprise then that yes, there’s more Skylanders coming. Already.


Geoffrey Tim

Disney rips off Skylanders, Activision responds

January 16, 2013 at 9:45 am | 55 Comments

It was inevitable, considering how much money the property makes, that somebody would rip off Activision and Toys for Bob’s Skylanders sooner or later. that’s now happened, with Disney revealing Disney Infinity; an ambitious series of games that has players put little plastic toys on to a magical surface and have them appear within a video game. Basically, it’s Skylanders with Disney characters.


Kaos

The Skylanders Giants Survival Guide – Tree Rex

December 18, 2012 at 10:30 am | 1 Comment

From the diary of Kaos, not just a member of the hair club for men, but its lord and master too: I hate trees. They’re so woody and green and leafy it just fills my oversized head!But this? A Giant Tree! You think that will stop me, Skylanders?  Once I unleash my Mighty Termite Power, your giant tree will be nothing but dust!  I will be UNSTOPPABLE and you will be DOOOOOOMED!!"


Kaos

The Skylanders Giants Survival Guide – Swarm

December 17, 2012 at 12:00 pm | 0 Comments

From the diary of Kaos, Major Commodore 64 ruler of the Skylands: Bah, out of all the Skylanders that I evicted from my rightful territory with my incredible intellect, none bothers me moreso than Swarm! Swarm is an insect before my might! And when I’m done with him, he’ll be cut down to the same size as one of those creatures as well!


Kaos

The Skylanders Giants Survival Guide – Bouncer

December 14, 2012 at 2:00 pm | 16 Comments

From the diary of Kaos, King and Queen of the Skylands: With those stupid Skylanders banished from the precious lands, I can now finally begin mending the massive void in my heart that was caused by the break up I suffered with my imaginary girlfriend,before I shot her out of an imaginary cannon. It’s only a matter of time before the Skylanders regroup though, and until then, I need to prepare myself with intel on the vile creatures.


Darryn Bonthuys

Disney Infinity is going head to head with Skylanders

November 19, 2012 at 9:45 am | 7 Comments

If ya can’t beat them, wait for them to leave a club and bonk them around the head with a steel pipe from behind. While picturing Mickey Mouse doing that to Spyro may be an unintentionally hilarious way to start Monday, it’s an idea that isn’t too far fetched either. Skylanders has made a ton of cash for Activision so far, and now, Disney is looking to get a piece of that action.


Geoffrey Tim

Skylanders Giants compatibility chart

October 25, 2012 at 9:45 am | 5 Comments

The sequel to the ridiculously popular dungeon-crawler for kids (and collectible-crazed adults!) Skylanders is out in the US this week – but it’s still a month until the Giants reach our shores and shelves. That’s ok – it gives you some time to save up for the magical figures – and plan just which you’re going to get.


Geoffrey Tim

Skylanders Giants: From Concept to Toy

September 25, 2012 at 3:30 pm | 4 Comments

The most amazing thing about Skylanders, apart from the magic of toys coming to life inside of videogames, is of course its zany, wacky host of characters and the physical toys that represent them. We got the opportunity to visit Skylanders developer Toys for Bob in California and got to take a look at how those characters are made - from conception, right up until they’re in a blister packs on a store shelf.


Geoffrey Tim

Hey Skylanders fans, take a look at Swarm!

July 24, 2012 at 2:00 pm | 3 Comments

I love Skylanders; I think it’s genuinely one of the most interesting products Activision’s released in forever. You know what doesn’t love Skylanders? My wallet. As a parent of three gamer kids, it’s a pretty expensive hobby I’ve introduced them to. Because they’re still to young to send to the salt mines (or iPad factories!), that money comes straight out of my gaming budget.


Geoffrey Tim

Expect a lot more Skylanders

June 26, 2012 at 1:30 pm | 13 Comments

I love Skylanders. i think it’s one of the bravest, boldest and wallet unfriendly properties Activision’s released in a long time. The genius marriage of video games and toys has my own kids whining at me for new Skylanders all the time, and the imminent release of Skylanders Giants is only going to make my wallet feel worse. It’s done better than Activision was expecting.

Just how well has Skylanders done?

Gavin Mannion

Just how well has Skylanders done?

May 10, 2012 at 11:30 am | 8 Comments

Last year saw the release of Skylanders and at the time I stated that it could be one of the biggest money spinners in Actvision’s stable thanks to quality of the toys, the unique cross platform ability and the fact that it was backed by a solidly developed game.

Well during a recent earnings call the Activision CEO of publishing, Eric Hirshberg, put Skylanders success into perspective by comparing it to the darling of the iOS industry, Angry Birds.


Geoffrey Tim

Skylanders was meant to be “dark and gritty”

March 13, 2012 at 2:30 pm | 13 Comments

The bright, colourful and ultimately kid-focused money-trap Skylanders is probably one of the best games available for younger gamers today. The use of physical toys that come to “life” inside of a videogame is nothing short of genius - and one of my favourite ways to spend a Saturday morning with my kids.

It could have been completely different.

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