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April 8 - 15
Welcome to your briefing of the week's news!
Click
HERE for the whole report, below are highlights.
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Happy Bloomin' Friday!
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Highlighted Headlines this Week
Financial and Legal
- Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, has raised $2 billion in capital from Sony and the Lego family.
- How a Plano toy inventor helped push U.S. Rep. Van Taylor out of office.
- Hasbro announced it is acquiring D&D Beyond, the leading digital toolset and game companion for the Co.’s groundbreaking fantasy franchise, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, from Fandom.
Trends and Market Research
- For the first time, Facebook Gaming scored more quarterly watch time than YouTube Gaming.
- NPD’s Melissa Symonds looks at the areas of the UK toy market that are thriving as the industry continues to face challenges, finding some unexpected heroes.
- Rachael Simpson-Jones speaks to a selection of leaders in the Games & Puzzles space to find out how they’re approaching the category this year and what new opportunities lie ahead.
Stories, Comments and Advice
- How Easter Eggs Play A Role In Customer Experience.
- Steve Reece - Opinion - THE BIGGEST THREATS FACING THE TOY INDUSTRY: PART 2 – POTENTIAL REJECTION OF PLASTIC BY CONSUMERS.
- Global toy industry supports Ukraine during Russian conflict [updated].
History and Nostalgia
- Dr. Kildare from Ideal.
- The Bizarre History of Scrabble.
- The Surprising History of Fuzzy Dice.
Licensing
- Mattel And Lucasfilm Launch New Star Wars Shorts And Plush.
- BBC Studios has sealed a worldwide partnership with Hasbro for co-branded classic games and Play-Doh.
- Spin Master, master toy licensee for Ukrainian creative production company Glowberry’s BRAVE BUNNIES series, announced the launch of BRAVE BUNNIES toys in Italy and Germany.
People of Play
- MATTEL PROMOTES LISA MCKNIGHT TO EVP, GLOBAL HEAD OF BARBIE AND DOLLS.
- Danielle Pretsfelder Demchick is launching a new casting agency with some outsourced Nickelodeon business already on board.
- Jeff Taylor of Havas Entertainment is stepping down from the business in July.
Companies and Brands
- JAKKS Pacific, Incorporated, leading toy and consumer products manufacturer, announced a partnership with European-based toy innovation company Wow! Stuff to distribute Jurassic World toys.
- MGA Entertainment's Shadow High Stirs Up a Rivalry with Rainbow High.
- LEGO is targeting grown-ups with money to spend and a sense of nostalgia, looking for a creative outlet.
Gaming: Digital, Video, Hardware, and Development
- Niantic shares details on its newest Augmented Reality game ‘Peridot’.
- Nintendo Switch was Europe's No.1 console in March | European Monthly Charts.
- LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is the UK's biggest LEGO launch ever | UK Boxed Charts.
Safety and Counterfeiting
- MerchSource recalls FAO Schwarz branded Toy Wood Play Smart Robot Buddy(s) and Wood Sensory Boards due to choking hazard.
- Testing finds toxic chemicals in 50% of dollar store goods.
Associations, Shows, Awards, Events, and Festivals
- The Toy Foundation’s next Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards will take place this fall.
- The British Toy & Hobby Association, the organiser of London Toy Fair, announced that exhibitor applications for Toy Fair 2023 are now open.
- BLRA masterclass on Children’s Licensing announced.
Rest in Play - Remembering Those that have Passed -
Gilbert Gottfried
Highlighted Press Releases
Weekly Top Stories from Toy and Game Magazines Worldwide
tBR Columnist Nancy Zwiers
The Wish List Conundrum
tBR Person of the Week - Dianne Lauble
Follow Your Hunches... ALL Your Hunches
tBR Industry Commentary - Mark Foster, Managing Director, UK & NA for Playmobil
Kidult: Giving Adults a License to PLAY
tBR Video of the Week
Josh Wardle (inventor of Wordle) on April Fools' day in Silicon Valley and some of the lessons
learned creating The Button and Place at Reddit.
Chicago Toy & Game Group - promoting innovation, creativity &
connectivity throughout the world.
Mary Couzin, President – mcouzin@chitag.com – 847-677-8277
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