E3 2014: Nintendo "Amiibo" and other games

E3 - Electronic Entertainment Expo. is a yearly video game conference and trade show at the Los Angeles Convention center.

This year Nintendo at the E3 conference they concentrated on promising games and new product line like the "Amiibo" which is similar to “Skylanders” and “Disney Infinity.” It is a physical toy that work in conjunction with video games.



The "Amiibo" is just like Activision’s “Skylanders” and “Disney Infinity,” were its data are stored in the plastic figurines using a special chip and it can be viewed using a Wii U GamePad. The Wii U GamePad is the controller for Wii U console which has touchscreen and connect to other devices. Once you touch the figure with a Wii U GamePad it come to life virtually.

It is composed of 10 characters that is expected to come out later this year:

1. the Villager (Animal Crossing)
2. “Wii Fit” trainer
3. sword-wielding Link (The Legend of Zelda)
4. Samus Aran, intergalactic solider (Metroid)
5. Pikachu (Pokemon)
6. Donkey Kong
7. Kirby, the pink shape shifter
8. Mario (Super Mario Bros.)
9. Princess Peach (Super Mario Bros.)
10.Yoshi (Super Mario Bros.)

Nintendo also announced several upcoming games that will be out this year for the Wii U and 3DS, which includes “The Legend of Zelda”, “Hyrule Warriors”, “Bayonetta 2", and the “Omega Ruby” and “Alpha Sapphire” which are installments of the “Pokemon” series.

The Legend of Zelda Wii U Gameplay Trailer E3 2014 Nintendo



Wii U - Splatoon E3 2014 Announcement Trailer



Wii U - Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker E3 2014



Wii U - Bayonetta 2 E3 2014 Trailer



Wii U - Hyrule Warriors E3 2014 Trailer



Wii U - Mario Maker E3 2014 Announcement Trailer



Wii U - Kirby and the Rainbow Curse E3 2014



Super Smash Bros. for Wii U that has support for NFC (near-field communication) figurines "Amiibo."

Mii fighters are composed of three classes: Mii gunner, Mii brawler and Mii sword-fighter. They will also get to pick four special moves among 12 different options.




Nintendo Full Presentation in the E3 Digital Event

Rockstar Games to announced Grand Theft Auto V For PS4, Xbox One, and PC

The makers of Grand Theft Auto game series, Rockstar Games said on E3 2014 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) that they will be releasing the Grand Theft Auto V PS4, Xbox One, and PC version later this year probably by September.

Fans of the games who uses PC would be happy about this news. They were really disappointed about not being able to play the game on PC. The game Grand Theft Auto V sold about 32.5 million copies in 2013, even with its late release in September.

The GTA V have great reviews, and some said that the wait of 5 years for this installment is worth it.  Even though the Grand Theft Auto V has been launched on only 2 platforms namely PS3 and Xbox 360 it has earned $800 million on its launch day.

Unlike in the previous GTA games, in GTA V you can play three characters, former partners Michael and Trevor, and their new apprentice, Franklin.

Confirmed Platforms:

PlayStation 3
Xbox 360
PC
PlayStation 4
Xbox One

Transformers: Age of Extinction "Dino-bots"

If you watch a movie recently you may have watch a movie trailer of the upcoming movie "Transformers: Age of Extinction." This time they have revealed another dino-bot in their new trailer. The new trailer of the Michael Bay movie also showed Optimus Prime jumping off the huge dino-bot and walk into a throng of Decepticons. 

Obviously the movie will be full of CGI but so what it's still awesome. "Transformers: Age of Extinction" will be shown in theaters on June 27.

X-Men Action Figures Toys “R” Us exclusive

We had fun watching the movie "X-Men: Days of Future Past" which has garnered $90.7-million in US debut for the Memorial day weekend. It also ruled the Global box-office opening with a whopping $261 million ticket sales for just 3 days making this movie the biggest worldwide debut ever for the X-franchise.

I know you can't get enough of X-Men let us check out the latest X-Men Action Figures from Toys “R” Us. The Toys “R” Us exclusive Marvel Legends Unlimited action figures includes Stryfe, Marvel Now Cyclops, Marvel Now Storm, classic Magneto, and an unmasked Wolverine. Each toys contains a piece of Jubilee, except Wolverine. You would need to collect all except Wolverine in order to put Jubilee together.    

Stryfe

Cyclops

Storm

Magneto

Wolverine

Jubilee

McDonald’s Happy Meal Pink Spider-Man 2 Toys

McDonald’s and Spider-Man 2 tied up for the latest Happy Meal toys, and they are offering Pink Spidey toys for girls. Recently McDonald’s announced that along with the boys superhero toys they will be offering a girls’ version of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 toys too.

Before almost all of McDonald’s Happy Meal toys are for boys, not this time around. Yes, there is clearly a gender toy stereotype and this not only happening with Happy Meal toys,
even toy stores are separated into a girls and boys section. Some people don't like it but it's reality.

The McDonald’s Happy Meal girls toys includes a heart-shaped watch ring, wristband, headband, clutch and a notebook. So, people get ready for a pink Iron Man, pink Avengers, and pink Captain American toys.

Hasbro Sales are in the upswing because of Strong Demand of Girls toys

Toymaker Hasbro Inc. reported on Monday that they are now in earning profits from last years loss because of strong sales in their girls toys category. Hasbro in their report indicated a 1st quarter profit of $32.1 billion (24 cents per share). In the same period last year, they reported a loss of $6.7 billion (5 cents per share). After adjustments for tax benefits and other items, earnings increase to 14 cents from 5 cents.

Experts were expecting an earnings of 10 cents a share. Hasbro Inc. sales go up to $679.4 million from $663.69 million, with the girls toys up 21% in the first quarter mainly because of strong marketing and strong sales of "My Little Pony", "My Little Pony Equestria Girls" and "Nerf Rebelle." Meanwhile, the boys toys increase only by 2% and preschool category sales fell 4%.

"My Little Pony" is about magical ponies who values friendship and kindness, while "Nerf Rebelle" is for sports enthusiast who wants action but built specifically for girls.

Here are the price-list for Hasbro's Girls toys:

My Little Pony
Nerf Rebelle Sweet Revenge Dart Kit $14.74  
Nerf Rebelle Pink Crush Blaster  $7.99  

My Little Pony Equestria Girls Celestia Doll and Pony Set  $14.99 

My Little Pony Equestria Girls Rainbow Dash Doll $16.99  

My Little Pony Princess Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash Figures $15.99  

GoldieBlox: Engineering and Building Toys for Girls

GoldieBlox wants to provide girls with another option instead of dolls, kitchen sets, etc. they want to expose the girls to science and engineering while young. Men outnumber women in science, technology, engineering and math and they want to change that equation. Giving girls engineering and building will help develop an early interest in science and engineering.

GoldieBlox has been successful with their innovative and creative toys they have pre-sold million of dollars worth of toys and big retailers like Toys R Us and Target have them. They are also expanding to other countries like United Kingdom and Australia. They won the prize for Intuit's Super Bowl contest("Small Business, Big Game" contest).

Debbie Sterling, founder of GoldieBlox believe that femininity is strong and girls will build the future–literally.

They have created amazing videos like “Princess Machine” video:



For Easter they release a new video: “This is Your Brain on Engineering” its purpose is to tell girls that there is more to life than being a pink princess. They want to change the "princess culture." The video shows a cute little girl telling girls that the egg is your brain, then she placed it on a conveyor. It passes through signs about the impact of gender stereotypes on their confidence in math and science.

"At age 7 girls begin to lose confidence in math and science."
"At age 13, over half of all girls are unhappy with their bodies."


I love their videos!