Skylanders Imaginators on Nintendo Switch + Cursed Tiki Temple Level Pack with Wild Storm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

 AWARD-WINNING SKYLANDERS IMAGINATORS LANDS ON HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED NINTENDO SWITCH  

Skylanders Brings New Characters and Adventure Pack to Excite Players 

Fans Playing Skylanders Imaginators Game and Skylanders Creator App Have Created More Than 25 Million Characters¹ 

SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Jan. 12, 2017 – Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI), is delivering the innovation of Skylanders® Imaginators to the next wave of gamers when the highly-anticipated Nintendo Switch™ launches March 2017. This March also marks the debut of some of Skylanders Imaginators’ most anticipated characters, as well as a brand-new expansion pack. Now Portal Masters all over the world can engage in new content, toys and experiences with the award-winning Skylanders Imaginators this spring!

No Portal of Power®? No problem with Nintendo Switch. Skylanders Imaginators for Nintendo Switch provides gamers unique ways to play, including the introduction of a vast digital library that allows players to easily load and store 300+ toys from the Skylanders® franchise* directly to the new home gaming system. The arrival of the digital library empowers players to take their Skylanders Imaginators adventure on-the-go whenever and however they want.

 “Since Skylanders Imaginators and Skylanders Creator launched, fans have made more than 25 million Imaginators using the expansive creation tools in the game and app. We couldn’t be more excited to extend that experience to Nintendo Switch players,” said Paul Reiche, co-founder and studio head, Toys for Bob. “We’ve seen some amazing Skylanders created, and as kids’ collections continue to grow, we’re proud to offer more depth and variety to fans in ways never before possible with this new system.”

“Skylanders Imaginators has ignited the imaginations of fans everywhere, and we’re looking forward to continuing to support their gameplay experiences with Nintendo Switch, along with new toys and content coming this year,” said Josh Taub, senior vice president of Skylanders Product Management, Activision. “There are now more than 300 million Skylanders toys in the hands of fans², which equates to nearly two toys sold every second since Skylanders® Spyro’s Adventure launched. And with the new season of the animated series SkylandersTM Academy slated for Netflix this fall, we are thrilled that fans can enjoy playing, watching and creating Skylanders no matter where they are.”

Building on the franchise’s signature gameplay and collectible toy experience, Skylanders Imaginators pushes the boundaries of innovation and imagination with the upcoming release of the Cursed Tiki Temple level pack. The Cursed Tiki Temple level pack takes kids on an all-new adventure as they unlock more than 100 new offerings for their Skylanders Imaginators – a first in franchise history! The pack comes with Sensei character Wild Storm who will unleash a new level to players; a life Creation Crystal; and an Imaginite Mystery Chest all for the suggested retail price of $29.99 on March 12 at participating retailers nationwide.

Skylanders Imaginators gives kids an unprecedented level of choice -- including appearance, powers, abilities, names, catchphrases, musical themes and much more -- to create the most unique Skylanders characters they can imagine. This spring, fans can also be on the lookout for the arrival of new heroes in the world of Skylanders Imaginators, including Skylanders Sensei Grave Clobber. Once a great pharaoh who ruled the Golden Desert long ago, Grave Clobber was buried by his seven jealous brothers in an underwater tomb while he was sleeping. He eventually rose from his watery grave, clobbered each of his brothers and became the perfect choice to be a Sensei trainer for the Brawler Class. This mummy may surprise you with his range of powers, packing a serious punch as well as telekinetic powers!

Skylanders Imaginators for Nintendo Switch will be available for the suggested retail price of $59.99. The game is rated E10+ by the ESRB. The Cursed Tiki Temple level pack and new Skylanders Senseis will support all major gaming platforms including Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Wii U™ system; Xbox 360™ and Xbox One™ video game and entertainment systems from Microsoft; and PlayStation® 3 and PlayStation® 4 computer entertainment systems. Skylanders Creator is a free app that players can download from iOS and Android app stores for select mobile devices. For more Skylanders information, visit: www.skylanders.com.

Skylanders™ Academy, the new animated comedy-adventure show inspired by the Skylanders franchise, debuted on Netflix on October 28, 2016. Jam-packed with humor and heart, Skylanders Academy offers epic action for kids of all ages. The Netflix original series season one debuted in 190 countries, with a second season planned for late 2017.

Turbo Charge Donkey Kong and Hammer Slam Bowser in Skylanders SuperChargers

Bowser and Donkey Kong in Skylanders SuperChargers!

SKYLANDERS® SUPERCHARGERS INTRODUCES

DONKEY KONG™ AND BOWSER™ AS SKYLANDERS GUEST STARS

Landmark Creative Collaboration between Activision and Nintendo
Offers Fans New Skylanders that Also Work as amiibo Figures -
Available in all Nintendo Starter Packs

Fans Attending E3 2015 will be First to Get Hands-On with the
New Skylanders and their Vehicles!

Santa Monica, Calif. - June 16, 2015 -Today Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI), and Nintendo announced during Nintendo's Digital Event at E3 2015 an unprecedented collaboration designed to deliver to fans an amazing gameplay experience never before seen. Skylanders® is packing some major star power with the introduction of two of Nintendo's iconic characters -- Donkey Kong and Bowser -- as guest stars in Skylanders SuperChargers. The characters will be available exclusively in Skylanders SuperChargers Starter Packs for the Wii U, Wii and Nintendo 3DS family of systems, available now for pre-order. E3 2015 attendees will be the first to get their hands on the characters and their specially created vehicles.

Developed by Vicarious Visions, Skylanders Superchargers introduces Turbo Charge Donkey Kong and Hammer Slam Bowser, which usher in a first-of-its-kind collaboration for the Skylanders franchise. These new characters will be exclusive to the Nintendo platforms.  As the pioneers of the toys-to-life category, Skylanders is innovating yet again by infusing magic into the Turbo Charge Donkey Kong and Hammer Slam Bowser figures, enabling them to be playable in both Skylanders SuperChargers and select amiibo compatible games with a simple twist of the characters' bases.

"Activision Blizzard has always cherished our collaboration with Nintendo, and we are grateful for decades of partnership," said Bobby Kotick, Chief Executive Officer of Activision Blizzard. "Since we made the first toys-to-life game, some of our most dedicated players have been Nintendo fans around the world. Skylanders is delighted to welcome beloved guest stars Donkey Kong and Bowser into its magical world."

The goal with this creative collaboration is to honor the personalities and heritage of Donkey Kong and Bowser that fans have come to love from previous games, while creating a fresh look and feel for the guest stars in Skylands. For example, Turbo Charge Donkey Kong's powers and attacks include barrel throws and exploding bongos and other classic Donkey Kong powers that pay homage to the lore of the character, as well as exciting new moves for the iconic character. Hammer Slam Bowser's powers range from commanding Koopas, summoning Warp Pipes as well as fierce fire-breathing attacks.

"Activision's Skylanders games have been very popular on Nintendo platforms, and we hope this collaboration will delight fans of the franchise," said Satoru Iwata, President of Nintendo Co., Ltd. "We believe this unique approach will help expand the entire category and make it appealing to even more players."

The trailblazing vehicles-to-life innovation of Skylanders SuperChargers is realized when players take the helm of powerful, tricked-out land, sea and sky vehicles.
Skylanders SuperChargers is a high octane action-adventure videogame where fans have the freedom to speed across Skylands' roads in vehicular combat, race down roaring rapids and engage in aerial dogfights as they barrel roll through enemy swarms.

Skylanders SuperChargers gameplay is revved up on Nintendo platforms, as Portal Masters can also pilot and steer Turbo Charge Donkey Kong and Hammer Slam Bowser's custom designed, never-before-seen vehicles, Barrel Blaster and Clown Cruiser. The special Skylanders guest stars and vehicles will be playable, cooperatively or alone, in Skylanders SuperChargers on the following Nintendo platforms: Wii U, Wii and the Nintendo 3DS family of systems.  Both characters and vehicles are playable in Skylanders SuperChargers across all three Nintendo systems.

In Skylanders SuperChargers, the evil Kaos has unleashed The Darkness to take control of Skylands. Fortunately, a special team of Skylanders known as the SuperChargers has been assembled to pilot an incredible fleet of vehicles with the power to travel through the destruction - over land, sea, and sky!  But with Skylands on the verge of collapse, the Skylanders have reached out across all dimensions to call for reinforcements.  Answering the call is the most unexpected duo - Donkey Kong and Bowser!  Using their own elite vehicles to magically travel between worlds, they have joined the epic battle against Kaos and The Darkness!

Skylanders is bringing another trailblazing innovation with the launch of Skylanders SuperChargers on September 20, 2015 in North America. The new gamesupports all 300+ Skylanders toys from previous games, enabling all Skylanders characters to pilot land, sea or sky-based vehicles. The vehicles are playable in-game and many feature moving parts, making them also fun to play with in the physical world. Players will also have the ability to customize all vehicles in-game with super cool modifications and upgradeable weapons.

For the ultimate gameplay experience, players can pair a SuperCharger Skylander with its signature vehicle to create a SuperCharged combination, unlocking exclusive mods that rev up the performance of the vehicle and abilities of the character.  Players can also have fun seeing Turbo Charge Donkey Kong and Hammer Slam Bowser pilot any of the 20 SuperCharger vehicles available in the new game.

Fans can pre-order Skylanders SuperChargers at select retail destinations worldwide. The Skylanders Wii U Starter Pack's suggested retail price is $74.99 and includes Turbo Charge Donkey Kong and his signature vehicle, Barrel Blaster. The Skylanders Wii and 3DS Starter Packs' suggested retail prices are $74.99 and $64.99, respectively, and include Hammer Slam Bowser and his signature vehicle, Clown Cruiser. All three Skylanders SuperChargers Starter Packs for Nintendo platforms also include Super Shot Stealth Elf, newly designed Portal of Power®+ and the full AAA game*.

Wii U Starter Pack with Turbo Charge Donkey Kong and Barrel Blaster

Wii Starter Pack with Hammer Slam Bowser and Clown Cruiser

3DS Starter Pack with Hammer Slam Bowser and Clown Cruiser

Skylanders Trap Team 3DS Starter Pack Unboxing

What: Skylanders Trap Team Nintendo 3DS Starter Pack
What Does It Cost: $64.99 plus tax
What is Included: Trap Team Game, Portal of Power with (3) AAA Batteries, Gusto, Barkley, Collector Poster, Stat Cards, and Sticker Sheet with Special Codes

Unboxing Skylanders Trap Team 3DS Starter Pack

Nintendo Amiibo Showcase at E3

I promised I would release this video after all of the Skylanders SWAP Force stuff was wrapped up, and that time is now!

This is footage I shot from the excessively epic Nintendo Booth at this year's E3.  I have to say that the pre-order shots you have seen on Amazon, GameStop, and Toys'R'Us etc., come nowhere near doing these figures justice.

Nintendo Amiibo Showcase at E3

The Amiibo line is very impressive with incredible detail, and that is just based on my look thru the glass display case.  I really wish I could have gotten some hands-on time with them, or an interview, but time was tight and I was happy just to get a good look at them.

The Amiibo figures honestly look more like a high dollar display piece than a video game accessory, but that is the beauty of it I suppose.  The most surprising part, given the size and detail, is that they retail for $12.99!

I plan to pick a few of these up and unbox/showcase them upon their release.  I will also use them in the compatible games and look forward to seeing how they interact in titles past Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS.

If you haven't checked them out yet, or put in any pre-orders, here is a link to their Amazon Page:
Amazon.com Amiibo Listings

They are a big step up from the Pokemon figures used in Pokemon Rumble U.

Stay tuned for much more coverage on Nintendo's Amiibo figures!

Skylanders Trap Team at E3: Your Questions Answered Part 1

Well, this had the best of intentions and didn't turn out so well...

Instead of going with things by category etc, I thought it would be cool to address the questions as posed by the individual.  Yes, I knew there would be overlap.  I did not, however, anticipate it would consume around 80 minutes of time.  I know you are just looking at a pool table, but each 20 mins or so is roughly 4 GB in the 1280x720 format.  So, the roughly 80 minutes is around 15-16 GB.  This would take a LOOONG time to render and upload.

So, for now, I have broken off the start and the first few questions (which happened to be my own questions).  Below the video I will have kind of a text transcript.  I am not sure if I will run with what I have already recorded and break it down by individual, or if I would be better off starting from scratch and then doing a "shout out" to everyone who submitted questions.  Whatever I do, you will see, I'm just not set in stone yet.

That said, Part 1 is, so here you go...

Skylanders Trap Team at E3 Your Questions Answered, Part 1: My Questions

Here is a text version if you prefer that...Not verbatim, but I do a rough recap on the question, response, and what my take is from that...

Console

Q1:  Will there be a difference between the Toys for Bob and Beenox versions of the game?

A1:  We are not talking about that

My Take: The demos were Wii U and PS4, which are both by Beenox.   Toys for Bob is handling the Wii/360/PS3 versions and Beenox will handle the ports to Wii U/XB1/PS4.  We had differences in SWAP Force and I’m curious if the games will play the same in terms of cutscenes and collectibles on the previous gen consoles AND if the Beenox versions will have anything "extra."

Q2: Will the Wii U still utilize the GamePad screen for Character Stats?

A2: We are not ready to talk about that.

My Take:  Harmless info imo…Maybe they are going to tout “off screen” gameplay as a selling point and wanted to wait it out.  I hope they retain something special for the GamePad.

3DS 

Q3:  Will the 3DS Starter Pack incorporate different characters?  Also, will one be exclusive to the Starter Pack?

A3: We are not talking about the 3DS version of the game.

My Take:  Kind of surprised they couldn't at least confirm/deny the same set up as past games.

Q4: Will the 3DS version still feature the character roster found in SWAP Force?

A4: See above…No comments at all on 3DS questions.

My Take:  Confirming this at E3 would have been very nice and really spoils nothing.  It was the single most important advancement in the handheld entries in my opinion.

GamePlay

Q5:  How many villains can be held per crystal?

A5: One. 1.  Only One.  Just one.

My Take: Finally confirmation, but it does pose some other issues.

Q6: Is it possible in 2P Mode to both play as a villain?

A6: No comment.

My Take: Sadly, based on “1 per Trap” and only having one crystal slot on the portal, I have to say this will not happen.  Things may change, but with 1 per trap, you’d have an odd situation on hand.

Q7: Will there be a Single Player Battle Mode (ie P1 as Terrafin vs CPU as Slam Bam)?

A7:  I got, “We can’t talk about that,” “Ask PR,” and a few “No” responses.   Leads me to believe it will be a no go for Trap Team.  More on why I asked this later.

My Take: Pretty much what I expected.  Solo Battle Mode (Skylander vs Skylander by way of a CPU) is the natural precursor to anything online and in my opinion make the most sense.  One of the purported reasons for a lack of “online” is protecting the young audience.  What is the best way to do that and ensure no one is exposed to anything bad online?  Use a CPU!  I’ll elaborate more on this later.

Q8: Is there a special role for Giants and Swappers in Trap Team?

A8: No.

My Take: Quite surprising.  Even though Giants didn’t do much in SWAP Force, you were at least inclined to pick them up and open a chest…Kind of a nice nod to the past and incentive to keep them handy and continue to play as the past characters for more reasons than just wanting to…

Shockingly, the reason for this goes back to focus groups with the kids.  They found kids wanted to play with the “new” figures and characters, not their old figures.  So, with the emphasis on focus groups, there will be no special areas or reasons to specifically use your Giants and Swappers.  That said, since the game is fully backward compatible, you can still play as Tree Rex or Free Ranger just because you want to, or because they are your favorites.

Q9: Please bring back the original SSA Castaways (not a question, but I don’t care).

A9: We aren’t talking about character rosters, or reposes.

My Take: Last year I was able to get a “Yes, you will see some of them (Castaways),” which would have totally been fine with me…I don’t expect to get a “Oh yeah man…S2 TripWire Voodood, S2 Skull Master Ghost Roaster, and wait till you see S2 Fright Rider” etc…

The tight lips in that regard, kept me from pursuing a request or teaser for any other reposes, be they S2, S3 (Jet-Vac, Pop Fizz), or S4 (Spyro, Trigger Happy, etc).

Off camera, with several different folks, I did at least ask about reposed Giants (Swarm, Crusher) or SWAP Force Skylanders (Boom Jet, Night Shift, etc.).  The answer was the same as above…no comment on any character info.

What concerns me is that I heard the Trap Masters referred to as “Guest Stars” multiple times.  I also heard a few people call Giants and Swappers “Guest Stars.”  This leads me to the assumptive conclusion that at this point, all of the “gimmick” Skylanders are viewed as just that, “Guest Stars.”  So while Spyro, Gill Grunt, and others that catch on like Jet-Vac and Pop Fizz might get a near annual repose, the “Guest Stars” are likely to remain one trick ponies.  The good news is, of course, if you love Bouncer and Spy Rise you can always continue to play them in new releases.  The bad news is, at this point in time, it seems highly unlikely that we would see S2 Eye-Brawl, or S2 Magna Charge.  Maybe they don’t want to tip their hand, but I had NEVER heard “Guest Star” until this year.  The “Core” Skylanders are referred to as “Legacy” Skylanders by high end people and “fan favorites” by the more grounded spokes people…Seems sad so many great characters could just be “one and done.”  That said, one thing that is clear is they never seem to rule anything out.

Q10: If LightCores still exist, will you give them WowPows or a recharge of the Flash Bomb?

A10: No comment, or not commenting on character specifics.

My Take: I did it.  I gave my “LightCore Sermon” to around 4 different people…I think it seemed to resonate well with at least two of them.  I think it is no secret that the LightCores have not sold as intended, particularly when they are of a reposed character (ie not BRAND NEW).  My sermon kind of highlights those reasons.  For those who have somehow not heard my rant, cough sermon, here are the cliff notes:

--LightCores are great in that they are a unique pose and have a Light Up Effect

---It is all downhill from there

--They do not have a WowPow, which makes them weaker than their counterparts (when applicable, ie S2).

---LightCore figures MUST have a WowPow and the ability to switch paths (outside of brand new LCs).

--The Flash Bomb is auto initiated right upon loading into the game…and it can not be recharged

---The Flash Bomb should be user executed and rechargeable via set XP, or time intervals

Q11: Will there be Adventure Packs or Battle Packs?

A11: We are not talking about that at this time.

MyTake:  Really?  You can’t even give a tease of an answer, something like, “They may be back, but not like you are used to seeing them.”  I think the APs are far more sought after than the BPs, and personally I liked the 4 APs in SSA the best.  Giants offered 2 and 2, just like SF, but to me that APs deliver the good with extra content (ie a Chapter), cool and unique stories with memorable non-playable characters, and they have had great Skylanders packaged in (cough, SSA’s 4 APs, cough).

I thought we would at least get a, “Yeah you will see them” and maybe even a “We have 2 Adventure Packs and 2 Battle Packs once again” etc.  No such luck.  Last year I got this info from the Vicarioius Visions guys.

Q12: Is the portal wired?  Is there a volume control?  And will the new portal work with the old games?

A12: Yes.  Yes.  Yes.

My Take:  Makes sense to be wired, but I wanted to double check…I saw it first hand.  I never did find the volume control on my own (the booths were very dark so you could record gameplay I believe), but 2 people told me there was a separate volume control on the portal.  It took some digging, like last year, but I finally got confirmation that the portal will work with the older games.   This question seems to take people by surprise till I explain, “You know, the SF Portal worked for SSA and Giants, so you just had to keep one out…discounting the Trap portion etc, will the Traptanium Portal be able to be plugged in and load up characters in SWAP Force etc.” 

Who knows, maybe I confused the person that said yes, but once I explained it and laid out I wasn’t expecting the Traps or sounds to work, they were quick to say, “Yeah, you can just use the one portal for all the games.”  So for those who like being tidy, this is welcome news!

Skylanders SWAP Force October 2013 Channel Update

Well 5 AM here at the desk...

I am making this video to update you on a few things and cover some popular requests as of late.

Please note the NEW Polls on the Right Hand Side of the Blog, just below the Twitter Feed.

I've had a lot of interest in which characters I am looking forward to etc...This covers a few of them and invites you to share your opinions.

I also highlight my Launch Day Survival Guide with what I have deemed to be the best strategy for what I hope to accomplish.

For anyone interested, I will be getting my first Pokemon game...Pokemon Y that I hope to play with my Nephew.  I do have Rumble U, but Y will be my first "core" game if you will.

Also of note, the Series 2 Upgrade Videos really are ready to go...either late tonight, or Saturday night I will make them ALL live.  It isn't what I wanted to do, but I've honestly been too busy to release them in groups as intended.

I can't stress enough to make sure you look for variants!  We don't know what to expect, if anything, but that means scalpers and employees are at the same disadvantage...Pay close attention and YOU might get LUCKY!!

I will leave it at that for now...Check the video description for more and watch it if you dare.  Things will have slowed down tremendously for me by this time next week.

I've got some really cool stuff planned for the Chanel and Blog and I think you will like my plans for the SWAP Force Playthrough...more on that later!

August 2013 Super Quick Update: What's Coming on the Blog and YouTube This Week

Hey Everyone!

It has been a long time since I've gotten to do my usual Thursday Night blog update...

That said, it is 5 AM Tuesday morning, so this doesn't really qualify.

I'm going to keep this short, at least by my standards...

Series 2 Skylander Upgrade Videos

You've likely seen me mention that that Series 2 Skylander Upgrade Videos are coming...While I had planned to start making them live (yes, they are already on YouTube, just private...all of them up to Part 150 something in the Life Element area), something came up...

Blind Draw Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure Battle Mode Tournament

My Nephew spent the night this weekend to wrap up Summer and we did a lot of recordings!  What I just blogged, and have the rest of the First Round uploading is a Blind Draw SSA Battle Tournament.  This has been the main hold up as the time involved in rendering has been nuts...

Before I go to bed the entire First Round will be live on YouTube and added to the blog post right below this one...I will try to add the pictures tomorrow.  The other goal is to get the rest of the tournament edited, rendered, and uploaded this week.

I want to get it done first before I get into everything else....

Beyblade Action and Shogun Steel Unboxings

I have a new Beyblade Tournament to upload, as well as 2 New Shogun Steel Unboxings.  I put them off due to putting a priority on New Super Luigi U and the Pokemon Rumble U NFC Figures we acquired Sunday.

I will work the Beyblade stuff in AFTER the Skylander stuff is up and going...

Brand NEW Skylanders SWAP Force Info

In addition to the S2 Upgrade vids, I have some really cool, new SWAP Force info to pass along...I've yet to see or hear anyone speak of some of it, so that will be cool...If I can get the rest of the tournament edited tomorrow night, I will start in on this ASAP.  It gets the priority after the SSA Tournament and before the S2 Upgrades.

Currently Recording:  S2 Skylander Upgrades

Speaking of S2 Upgrades, going alphabetically by Element and Name, I have them all up on YouTube thru Zook.  I have recently recorded Zook and Double Trouble.  Spyro and Wrecking Ball have the cash and are ready to go.  After that, I just need to get the cash for Tech, Undead, and Water.  I hope to work on that later this week and over Labor Day.

Wii U Surprise 2P Recording

Something else my Nephew and I recorded this weekend will remain a surprise...I will say it was on the Wii U.  It should be pretty easy to edit and upload...look for it shortly after the S2 Upgardes go live.

Upcoming Releases: Big Names, Great Games

We are coming up on the fall, which is when big name games start to drop...I have had a lot of questions on my purchase plans so I will make a stand alone post there.

Skylander Blog Posts...Look for Updates!

Similarly, I will be making a lot of updates to some key blog posts...more on that later.  You could see this as early as tomorrow :)

And just for good measure...

Currently Playing

-Skylanders Giants (Wii)
-Animal Crossing New Leaf (3DS-Super Addictive)
-Wii Fit Plus (Wii)

Currently Listening
-Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Theory of a Deadman, and vintage Toby Keith

Conclusion

Again, here in a few minutes I'll make all of the SSA Blind Draw Tournament's Round 1 Vids live on YouTube and the blog.  You'll see the rest of that tournament as soon as I can get it edited, rendered, and uploaded.  Next up will be some NEW SWAP Force Info.  We'll then see the "official" start of the S2 Upgrade vids (I will aim to have the entire set up before the end of the month...prob sooner).  Mixing in with those will be some Beyblade action and the Wii U surprise.  There will also be a lot of updating on the blog.

Stay tuned for some great things!

Unboxing Mario & Luigi Dream Team

What: Mario & Luigi Dream Team
Platform: Nintendo 3DS
What Did It Cost: $39.99 plus tax
Where Did You Get It: Toys'R'Us
What Was Stock Like: Plenty

Sunday, August 11th, 2013 was a big day for fans of the Year of Luigi, and Mario RPG fans in general.

Mario & Luigi Dream Team hit shelves today (and the eShop).  This installment follows on the footsteps of Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story (DS), Mario & Luigi Partners in Time (DS), and Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga (GBA).  Much like we saw increased interaction with Bowser, in 2009's "Bowser's Inside Story," this version promises similar treatment with Luigi.

The Year of Luigi celebrates the 30th Anniversary of Luigi's debut and has already included the 3DS hit Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon and will usher in New Super Luigi. U here in two weeks!

The game looks quite enjoyable and follows much along the line of what you see in Bowser's Inside Story.  While this is an RPG, it has a lot more action that your typical, turn-by-turn title.  A staple of the Mario & Luigi RPG series is humor...this one seems no different with the back cover boldly dubbing the game a "hilarious action RPG."

My Nephew is a big fan of these games and I am looking forward to playing it myself.

The best deal we could find was via Toys'R'Us.  While all retailers had the game for $39.99 with no major sales, TRU did have a nice promotion.  When you purchase Dream Team (and yes, it is limited to this title), you can get ANY Video Game Accessory (think stylus, cases, cleaning supplies etc), or Strategy Guide price $19.99 or less, for $0.99.  That my friends is a sweet deal!

Now, before you jump up and grab that pack of $9.99 rainbow stylus pens, think about it...If you max it out, you save more in the long run...

My Nephew latched on to one of the final copies of Pokemon Black 2/White 2 Strategy Guides and after some consideration, I walked out with New Super Mario Bros. U.  My decision was two-fold: it was in good condition (no tattered corners) AND it was the first big Mario title to the Wii U..I'm thinking long term here, lol.  I was tempted by Skyward Sword, ACNL, and MLDT, but ultimately went for the big ticket item...Plus, I knew it would have cool artwork...I was right!  The maps are very nice and I've enjoyed reading up on the new enemies etc.  I often times appreciate strategy guides more for their thorough explanation of the characters than the actual gameplay hints.

Anyway, we both left quite happy and that is without even putting much stock into the hours of enjoyment we'll no doubt get from Mario & Luigi Dream Team.

If you have never played a title in the series, I would suggest you watch some gameplay vids, or study up on the trailers.  These titles are not your conventional platformers most think of with Mario games.  That said, this series is also not your conventional RPG that most bring to mind.  The Mario & Luigi RPG is kind of a "Mario" twist on the RPG...expect a lot more action, some comedy, and a crazy cast of characters to ultimately form a very memorable story line.

The unboxing is by no means great...I seamlessly edited 2 stop points (text and email of high importance), and was (cough, am) very tired.  Between having to start and stop 3 times (can't forget the batteries died!), it rambled on a bit longer than I intended.

That said, you get a decent look at the game case, the game cartridge, and insights on the best deal for launch week!  My apologies for the rambling and lack of detail...there isn't really a lot to showcase here with the limited art work etc.

If you do pick up Mario & Luigi Dream Team, make sure to register it ASAP with Club Nintendo for 50 Coins!  I'll see you back in two weeks for New Super Luigi U!!

Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure vs Skylanders Giants...Which is the Better Game?

Blog Poll #47 is one I have wanted to get up for quite some time...

It simply asks, "Which Game Do You Like Better...SSA or Giants?"

This applies both to the Console and 3DS offerings..keep in mind that the 3DS games are entirely different from their console counterparts.

This poll will run until Thursday, September 26th, 2013 at 11:59 PM CST.

Cast your vote and spread the word!

Unboxing Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D

What: Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D (3DS)
Where Did You Get It?  Toys'R'Us
What Did It Cost?  $34.99 plus tax
Any Deals?  BOGO 40% Off...Always nice with software!

Unboxing Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D

{Video will be recorded once I can talk better...Thanks strep throat!}

I hope that everyone watched the Skylanders Giants Castaways vs Newlanders Round 6 Results and Round 7 Matches.  I made sure to point out in both a few things, among them being that TRU's BOGO 40% Off Sale (5/19/5/25) would be on the table for those wanting DKCR3D.

This means you can pick up a new Wii U title you've wanted, and get 40% off DKCR3D...Buy DKCR3D and score 40% off a lesser priced title, or do like I did and purchase 2 copies of the game.

Why 2?  I still get asked this a lot, especially with unboxing vids...

I often pick up 2 games or Skylanders etc so I'll have one and my Nephew can have the other.  That is especially cool for titles like DKCR3D that have Local Co-op Play!

I will say I was very disappointed not to see the "instruction poster."  I know they have phased out the full blown manuals, but this game doesn't even have that smaller fold out page highlighting basic button functions etc.  I have always appreciated something full color from the mfg. as it is a nice not to collectors as well as beginners.  The game does have an "electronic manual" but I am not a fan..just as I prefer physical copies of the actual game...I prefer the same for the manual.

The other HUGE disappointment was the lack of a pre-order bonus.  I really wanted DK's tie.  I kid you not, I would have worn that places...It was AWESOME!  I know EBGames offered it up for some of their territories...no clue why the same wasn't done for GameStop here in the US.  That is actually why I didn't pre-order the game...I held out hoping something would happen.

I hope that maybe DK's tie will show up on Club Nintendo or some other "insider" outlet as it would be a killer addition to any Nintendo fan's collection!

Nonetheless, here are some pics:

Front Cover:

Back Cover:

Inside Case:

Game Cartridge:

Nintendo Direct 5/17/13: Wii U Releases, Sega Partnership, Winter Olympics, Lost World, Donkey Kong, Animal Crossing, New Super Luigi, and More

So, the anticipated Nintendo Direct aired this morning and the focus this time was almost entirely on the Wii U's upcoming software.  I can't stress enough that the "BIG" Nintendo Direct will likely be in early June PRIOR to E3.  They are ditching the usual press conference format and going in favor of a "direct to you" approach they adopted awhile back (I guess that means they read and value all those Club Nintendo forms I submit, lol).  You can expect the big news breaks in that installment...I'm thinking we'll get word and possibly footage on: Mario Kart Wii U, the new entry in the Smash Bros. franchise (Wii U and 3DS), the new 3D Mario, and likely some other very cool stuff.  They will still be at E3, but basically to just let attendees check out the new games and source first hand feedback and user impressions etc.

That said, content wasn't lacking in this one...

I did this on my lunch hour so these "notes" below are a very, rough draft...I'll get something more formal typed up later tonight.  Just kind of use them to help you navigate the video for what you want to see etc.

Future Wii U Content to air around E3

1. Sega--Mario & Sonic Olympic Winter Games Wii Remote Plus, improved graphics, added figure skating...GamePad used in some like curling...Dream Events looks cool...take place in Sonic & Mario Worlds...

2.  Worldwide partnership with Sega on Sonic Franchise...Sonic Lost World..brand new action adventure platform...only Wii U 3DS...Sega GameGear titles

3. Nintendo Tree House

-A: Legend of Zelda Oracle of Ages/Seasons...3DS VC...ultimate adventure...$5.99...1st 3 weeks promo $4.99 each, both $10

-B: Mario & Donkey Kong Minis on the Move: player created puzzles 

 

-C:  DKCR3D 8 New Levels: New Mode with New Items 5/24

-D: Animal Crossing New Leaf: nintendo created video series treehouse localization team...StreetPass Mii Plaza=Puzzle, SwapNote=Game Theme Message

-E: Wii U Game & Wario: Out Fronk Your Friends...Ninja Twins Cat & Anna: Patchwork...flow between gamepad and tv....Kung Fu & dumplings...6/23 $39.99

Iwata

Resident Evil Revelations...coming to Wii U soon with updated graphics and content.  5/21

New Super Luigi U: DLC NSMBU-Year of Luigi: 8/25 Disc, 6/20 DLC...play as Nabbit...all courses updated. DL=$19.99, Disc=$29.99

Wonderful 101-Platinum: 9/18/13

Pikmin 3: Ollie...3 new main characters: Alph, Brittany, Charlie...GamePad info=koppad...August 4th

Reggie: e3 excitement...inro new hardware in previous years...this year=games.  past focus on attendeeds...now for the ple...partner with bestbuy us & ca experience select unreleased Wii U games.  More details soon

New Blog Feature: Upcoming Releases!

Well, now that I kind of have the internet back, I am able to do stuff online...

If you read the "Weekly Updates" you know that I regularly plug games that are coming soon, or games that are announced that I plan to pick up...

I figured I'd try something new where I just make a sidebar list...

This list covers games that I plan to purchase, if not upon release, shortly there after...Obviously, that will cut some games out, but at least this way you have an idea on what is coming soon and what I plan to pick up...Similarly, it makes finding the release dates way easier than skimming the typical sites and having to search each title...

The first game I plan to pick up in the near future will be....

Donkey Kong Country 3D for the 3DS!

What are you looking forward to?  How does your list compare to mine?  Leave a comment and let's see how we stack up!

Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon: SpotPass with Miyamoto

Sunday, March 24th, 2013 turned out to be quite the day...

I had long planned to pick up Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon on 3DS.

As anticipated, Toys'R'Us put on a "Buy One, Get One" 40% Off Sale.  I can't think of the last big release I wanted that didn't have this going on at launch...I use it as a way to pick up another new game, or one I've been wanting at a much better price.  Usually it is 2 of the same game, one for myself, and one for my nephew...

I debated which "second" game to toss into the mix, but knew Luigi's Mansion was coming home...Luckily they still had a few copies.  Other stores around town were OUT.

Anyway, somewhere along the way I got a StreetPass Tag from X-Man.  I was very excited, especially when I saw his Puzzle Collection!

Thanks for the PilotWings Resort Piece!

After making my way through Find Mii II's Secret Quest, I was alerted to go to the Plaza Gate because there was a new arrival.  I figured somehow I just had a StreetPass from my Nephew again...it has happened a few times before where they will "stack" in really close intervals, although the norm is a few hours between tags.

I was absolutely shocked with what I saw...

Miyamoto in a Luigi Hat!!

No freakin' joke it is special...I'd consider this amongst the holy grail of StreetPass/SpotPass Interaction!

Yes I knew who you were, but thank you for the formal introduction:

Hence why SpotPass should always be on...would have been cool to really StreetPass the legend:

Indeed, nice to meet you as well Mr. Miyamoto!

A perfect introduction for the Year of Luigi:

My default greeting:

Drumroll Please...

Kind of expected that one...

So, I have to say...

Thank You Nintendo!!

It was just a few days ago when I complained how hard it was to complete PuzzleSwap Panels when you live in a largely rural area...While I always hear of people getting 20+ Tags a day, my grand total plaza population is 28...And that includes several Special Miis from Nintendo.  It was funny that earlier in the day the tag from X-Man made me wonder how he had so many special pieces...I'd say maybe 5 of the "out-of-town" tags I've ever had actually had special panel pieces.

This is really cool because not only did Miyamoto have EVERY PUZZLE PIECE OUT, he is now forever part of my Street Pass Plaza.  I can turn to him and my Nephew should the Secret Quest require "Green Magic."  

Miyamoto is behind some of the greatest games of all time, and many of my personal favorite series and games.  This is about as cool as it gets for all of us in "Middle America" that don't get the big conventions, gaming tours, or the like...Honestly, a big deal for me is getting any StreetPass tag...they are that rare.  Some of you in metropolitan areas, or who have large population bases may take this stuff foregranted, but for folks like myself, this is very much appreciated! 

While I would have loved to take a piece from one of the panels I don't have, I felt it was only right to take one from Dark Moon.

So thank you Mr. Miyamoto and Nintendo for helping to make the day extra special!

I am not off to unbox Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon, register it on Club Nintendo, and of course...enjoy the game!!

Unboxing Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask

Unboxing Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask for Nintendo 3DS

What?  Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask
Where Did You Get It?  Toys'R'Us
How Much Was It?  Birthday Gift!  But retail is $34.95-$39.99 plus tax
What Was Stock Like?  Oddly enough, some stores never seem to have stock on Layton games
System?  Only on Nintendo 3DS
Developer?  Level-5
Reviews?  8.5+

I've got to say...I am a HUGE Proessor Layton fan.  The games are just so different than anything else out on the market.  These games combine elements of mystery, puzzle solving, brain teasers, and suspense into one thoroughly enjoyable novelesque experience.  I say that in that the game unfolds in Chapters, each of which brings light to part of the mystery or solves certain elements relating to the bigger picture.

I have only skimmed reviews and while users are fanatic about the game, the crazy thing is most reviewers are as well.  I guess there have been some changes for the 3DS transition, the most notable one being a change in the "screen tapping" to a magnifying glass.  Nonetheless, it seems like more of a simple upgrade than any real deviation from the successful Layton formula.

I started with 2011's "The Last Specter" and have since picked up the entire catalog of Layton games...I have high hopes for this one and I think I will start it up tonight!

If you are interested in a change of pace, puzzle game, or something with a little suspense that will challenge your intellect I fully recommend you give this series a try!

And once more, props to Nintendo and Level-5 for still including a real manual for the game!

Thanksgiving 2012 Channel Update

1ofWiisdom Thanksgiving 2012 Channel Update

So...it is 345 AM and I need to be up in around 3 hours...fabulous.

Nonetheless, I wanted to get this update video out to keep you up-to-date on everything and of course, wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving!

First off, as a Thanksgiving gift to everyone I have decided to upload Flashwing and Hot Head's Intro and Heroic Challenge vids!  Note that these will be "out of order" as they are part of the playthrough, but I thought it would be nice to get them up regardless.

So if you wonder where "Part 27" is or why none of the "Part 30s" are uploaded that is why.  

Come Monday or so I will resume where we left off and then add these two vids into the Playlist as they fall into place.

*Still planning Skylanders Battle Tournament II.  I actually had an idea of an Elemental Showdown for the seeding in this one...let me know what you think.

*Wii U is awesome.  Miiverse is very deep and almost like a stand alone social network just for Nintendo people.  

*GITD Sonic Boom and L-Stealth Elf should hit Walmart and TRU respectively.  Royal Double Trouble is at GameStop in the Apple Starter Pack.

*Be on the look out for new variants next time you are hunting Skylanders!

*Things will slow down for me toward the start of next week...I'll try to get some pics of the new variants etc up on the blog.  I'll also resume regular uploads on Giants and continue recording gameplay (Ch 7 and beyond).  If time allows I'll get a Battle Tournament going very soon.

*Lastly...

Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope everyone has a great time with their family and friends.

Weekly Update 11/18/2012 4:30 AM

Well, North America...today is the day.

Wii U Launch!!

Nintendo' Wii U launches today!  Many of you already have it thanks to midnight releases...and some of you like @Britt5091 have 3 (I guess because you're just awesome, lol).

I got confirmation Thursday afternoon that my Wii U was going to be ready to pick up at Toys'R'Us.

I pre-ordered it on Day 2.  I actually went in on Day 1 (Thurs.) and the store didn't have the cards or info to take any pre-orders.  Jut for the record of me being diehard Nintendo/Skylanders and/or annoying to my local TRU I was the first person to use the "Hot Toy Reservation List" to secure the Legendary Triple Pack, bahahaha.

The plot actually got thick there for awhile because I was leaving to go out-of-town on Friday...I knew they would sell out fast (and they did!), so I asked if I could call in...The lady I dealt with was great and told me she'd be in around 11 AM.  I called, she took my info and credit card info ($20 deposit), and thus secured my Wii U Deluxe.  I ran in next week and got my reservation card from her.

This past week I pulled it out and had a semi-panic as there was no receipt with it.  I've been picking up Christmas gifts for my nephew for several months and I save all the receipts...it was no where.  I still had the Hot Toy List print out, that series of receipts (overall I think there were like 8), and the GameStop paperwork for my Golden Dragonfire Cannon Battle Pack.

The Wii U receipt was no where :(

The ticket clearly read "Bring this reservation ticket and your receipt to pick up your Wii U."

Crimey!  Here I am thinking I'll not only miss out on the Wii U, but loose $20 in the process.

I was going to run in Thursday night and try to see if they had the receipt, or if I could bring in the reservation ticket and my charge card bill showing the $20 was charged....

As fate would have it around 3 PM break time I had a new e-mail from TRU and it said I could bring the reservation ticket and receipt OR "this e-mail" to pick up the Wii U...

Saved!!

That was a big weight off my shoulders...just for good measure I asked Thursday night and the associate said she thought she still had the receipt on her desk but not to worry because she knew I pre-ordered and they would hold it for me...Awesome!

Wii U Games

So I will be honest...I was actually debating NOT getting any games.  I know, sounds crazy right?!  But hear me out...I am in the middle of what will be an extensive Skylanders Giants Playthrough.  I then want to finish Mario Kart and Mario Party 9.  In the mean time I want to play and finish SSA 3DS, start and finish Giants 3DS, finish Professor Layton and the Curious Village DS, and I've got Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box (got it locally late in the summer) AND Professor Layton and the Unwound Future (got it to get free shipping from Amazon and at a great price) that I kind of want to get started and wrapped up so I can feel good about progressing into the new 3DS Layton game.

Granted the 3DS stuff is kind of limited use, late night before bed, and travel situations, BUT it is pretty extensive.  Oh, and I got Super Paper Mario Sticker Star for the 3DS on the BOGO 40% off sale Thursday night...Yep, it is in the mix...Gotta have something to break up the puzzle/mystery that is Professor Layton!

So what I wanted to do was focus my main attention on the Giants playthrough...leisurely work on the 3DS list, and then get into Wii U games as I wrap up Mario Kart Wii and Mario Party 9.

That said, there are several I am very interested in, most notably New Super Mario Bros. Wii U, Assassin's Creed III, and Black Ops II.  There are a few other titles I'd like to try as I haven't had access to them with my Wii/PS2 set-up.

However, an e-mail from TRU changed my mind.  Tomorrow, yes launch day, TRU is having a Buy One, Get One 40% off sale on Wii U Games!  I did not expect that on launch day.  The sad fact of the matter is that NSMB will likely be perched at $60 for a LONG TIME.  If ACII or BOII come down in price it will likely only be $10 or so in the immediate future.  This changes my plans as that is a pretty solid deal AND I'd really like to play NSMB Wii U for a change of pace from Giants (or just when it is too late to record or the computer isn't wanting to cooperate etc).

I will probably head in tomorrow and see how it goes.  I really planned to just be content with Nintendo Land and fully explore it and enjoy it while I wrap up other things and hope to see prices come down etc...I still plan to stick to that, just maybe with 2 games thrown in the mix.

Speaking of Giants...

Skylanders Giants Playthrough

So, where are the videos?  Well, they are coming my friends...I should upload several of them tonight (Sunday).  I actually recorded last night (Friday) and did intros for all the recently unboxed characers (LC Drobot, LC Eruptor, Whirlwind, Trigger Happy, Slam Bam, Terrafin, and yes...Hot Head!).

Tonight I did something different and went ahead and edited all of last night's recordings.  That means I am fully caught up in that regard.  Yep...Part 41 is ready to go as is everything below it.

That should give me quite a bit of time to focus on the game play (beginning with Chapter 6) and make solid progress as I do not anticipate getting any new Skylanders, although I could be wrong.

I'm not sure if I will upload 2 each day, or just pile a ton of them on...I will be very busy around Thanksgiving and probably won't be doing anything in terms of uploads or recordings.

In all honesty I would really like to upload Chill, Sprocket, Flashwing, and Hot Head, but people would probably freak they were "out of order."  Who knows, I may do that as a Thanksgiving deal and then resume  uploading the rest...

Skylanders Giants Blog Posts

The other big accomplishment from Friday night was the fact that I spelled out all the HCs I have access to WITH descriptions and WITH power stats.  I will be posting it to the blog later and can then order it accordingly etc.

I may also work towards getting the character bio's typed out and posted...

I would already have done that stuff IF the playthrough were complete...I kind of want to keep the focus on that, finish it, and then get in to the extra stuff  and details etc.

Skylanders Battle Tournament

I won't go into many details, but I really want to get a new Battle Tournament set up BEFORE Thanksgiving...It will be the same set up as last time...Video intro, vote on the blog, winners advance, crown a champion!  Stay tuned for updates!

Currently Playing

Wii: Skylanders Giants, Wii Fit Plus
3DS: Skylanders Spyro's Adventure, Find Mii II, Professor Layton and the Curious Village

Currently Listening

Auto Audio (In the Car): Taylor Swift RED
Home Audio (At Home): Train, Live, and Soundgarden

Conclusion

First off, hopefully that post makes sense...I'm typing it at 430-5 AM and this is after I was up until 7 AM last night recording all the new character introductions.

My plan of action for today (Sunday) is to get a little sleep, take in the Cowboys game, and then head up to TRU to pick up the Wii U.  I will record an unboxing, hook it up, and kind of give you some first impressions on it and Nintendo Land etc.  As of right now I am not sure if I can record gameplay footage or not...I am not really set up for HDMI stuff.  In all honesty if not for getting a new computer last summer I wouldn't have an HDMI port anywhere in the house, lol.  My TV may be old school but the picture is great and I don't really like spending money on stuff like that when it works just fine as is...

Luckily, the new computer has the HDMI port and a very nice size screen so I can hook it up here (with the help of (yet) another outlet expander).  It will be far from ideal, but it will let me download the update (which is quite lengthy from what I have seen tonight...expect over an hour), and check things out.

I guess I'll probably unbox it, update it, and then play around with it while some vids upload :D

So the next question is who all else is getting a Wii U on launch day?  What games are you picking up?  If you aren't getting one do you want it for a gift, or hope to pick one up later as funds allow?

I feel lame for getting the console, not having a "modern" tv, and not really wanting to spring for all of the new titles, but I suppose I am a different sort.  My tv is staying put and I really do want to focus on Giants before diving into ACIII, Black Ops II, Darksiders II, Batman Arkham City, MEIII, or even ESPN Sports Connection (which I think will drop from $49 soon...hopefully).

I kind of want to take the Wii U on as a chance to buy 1 game and actually complete it  before getting backlogged like I have done with the Wii, lol.  I guess on the bright side I can play all these untouched and waiting Wii titles on the Wii U!

Anyway, I'm very tired and going to get some sleep...Post up what your plans are!  Hope you are all having a great weekend!

Skylanders Giants: Unboxing Hot Head

Unboxing Hot Head

What?  Hot Head, Fire Element Giant

Where Did You Get It?  Local Store, Not Sold Online

What Did It Cost?  $14.99 plus tax

What is Included?  Hot Head, Stat Card, and Sticker Sheet with Web Code

What Lights Up?  The flame plume on his head...sadly that is it.

What Was Stock Like?  Incredibly hard to find, at least as of me writing this 11/15/12...I got the only one in the store.

Quick Character Info

Slogan: "Hey!  I'm on fire!"

Stats:  

Power/Strength: 150/150

Defense/Armor: 120/150

Agility/Speed: 60/150

Luck: 80/150

Totals:  410/600

Conclusion

Hot Head is currently the hardest Skylander to come by...The last 2-3 weeks I have seen plenty of Sprocket and Flashwing and that even includes their respective Triple Packs.  Tonight was the first time I have ever seen Hot Head in person.

I am looking forward to playing Hot Head and seeing how he stacks up...That said, while he isn't too bad aesthetically the light up display garners him no additional points.  While Drobot was disappointing, Hot Head's light up effect is extremely disappointing.  With Hot Head hailing from the FIRE ELEMENT and his hands serving for what looks like 2 eternal torches it blows my mind that they do not illuminate.  His head fire (not sure how to describe it still) casts a nice, red glow (in person it really is red...not an amber color like we saw with Drobot) but it seems lost in the massive expanse that is his hands-up pose.  Lighting up both the hands AND his head would have been great, but if I had to pick either/or I'd have gone with the hands, "hands down."  Not only would that spread the light up effect, it would have put out a lot more, and I believe served to radiate some to his face anyway.

I want to stress that the light up effect has no impact on the actual game play, but there was once again a lot of potential that was missed here.  And no, I'm not bashing him...I haven't played Hot Head and I am genuinely excited to have found him...it is just a true disappointment things weren't better executed...that said if he conveys that short fuse and infinite supply of fuel and fire in the game I might just reserve a warm place in my portal master heart for him.

The main thing I want to stress with Hot Head (aside from the lackluster lighting) is that you do not need to go overboard and spring $35-$100 for him.  Just be patient and snag him for retail, or better yet...catch him in stock during a sale!  

I am hopeful that stock will hit before Black Friday and if not then, hopefully a nice stock prior to Christmas...That said, here are some useful links (my way of thanking you for reading the blog!)...

Bonus Content for Blog Readers!

Amazon: I'm kind of getting tired of their lackluster shipping efforts, but they have honestly been the best best for finding Hot Head for the last 2 weeks or so.  When they do get stock it tends to go very fast...I would order it immediately.  And just a tip, to get free shipping you can have a few other items (another Skylander perhaps?), or a CD, DS game, etc to push you over the $25 threshold.  That said, if you want it fast it might be smart to pay for shipping.  I've waited 6 days for my Hot Head to leave their warehouse and it has yet to happen...not impressed:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1/188-9399385-2628929?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=hot+head

Best Buy:  I am not a fan of this store at all.  That said, I've had several people tell me their local stores have been getting in 3-6 Hot Heads...Might try your luck there or keep refreshing the link:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Skylanders%3A+Giants+Character+Pack+(Hot+Head)+-+Xbox+360%2C+PlayStation+3%2C+Nintendo+Wii%2C+Nintendo+3DS/6925153.p?id=1218814317341&skuId=6925153

GameStop: First off, check with your local store...if they don't have a big demand the associates may very well offer to hold one for you, or put you on a list!  They are almost always the most in-tune to Skylanders and more willing to work with you.  

http://www.gamestop.com/toys/skylanders-giants-hot-head-individual-character-pack/106001

Target: I've yet to see Hot Head there and the person who works in electronics has told me she has yet to see him, and she does seem to keep up with who they've had etc.

http://www.target.com/p/skylander-giants-character-pack-hot-head/-/A-14261779#prodSlot=medium_1_1&term=hot head skylander

Toys'R'Us: You might ask associates here too.  If you are nice and they know you are looking many will alert you to shipments, hold one, or try their best to help you out.  If you've got someone really good they will be on par with GameStop employees.  Their website just had a nice stock of Hot Head (which is now gone), BUT they tend to sell out and then restock as I've seen it since SSA and as recently as Sprocket and Flaswhing...just keep checking their website:

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=15854546

Walmart: I have never seen Hot Head here either, but they have actually had the best continual stock of new Skylanders, Giants, and the harder to come by Sprocket and Flashwing, particularly the Triple Packs.