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YoYoFactory Glow Collection – Wave 2

February 16, 2014 By Steve Brown

YoYoFactory Glow Collection - Wave 2

YoYoFactory Glow Collection Second Wave at 2014 International Toy Fair. Photo courtesy YoYoFactory.

The catalog picture we posted didn’t give a very clear view, but now we have a much better look at YoYoFactory’s second wave of their Glow Collection. This batch are in white plastic with a glow additive…which makes for a much more attractive yoyo under regular light than that weird green that most glow plastics come in.

Be sure to check out our Toy Fair Preview for YoYoFactory for the full scoop on their new 2014 products.

YoYoFactory at 2014 International Toy Fair

YoYoFactory at 2014 International Toy Fair. Photo courtesy YoYoFactory.

Filed Under: Manufacturer Tagged With: 2014, international toy fair, new york, yoyofactory

2014 International Toy Fair Preview – YoYoFactory

February 16, 2014 By Steve Brown

YoYoFactory 2014 Header

Rounding out our advance coverage of yoyo offerings at the 2014 International Toy Fair is a peek at what YoYoFactory will be showing at their booth.

YoYoFactory 2014 Catalog - Hubstack YoYo

The new catalog is our first look at the upcoming release of the standard version of the Hubstack yoyo. With the Afterglow version shipping to stores at the end of the month, we know the specs and know what to expect. The Hubstack will be responsive out of the box, and is expected to retail for around $20.

YoYoFactory Catalog

The Preview page of the catalog is where we get to the good stuff! We get a first look at the Glow Collection Round 2, which features white glow-in-the-dark plastic versions of the Northstar, Loop 1080, and Hubstack. These are going to look great, and should be shipping to stores around the end of the month.

We also get a look at the next version of the signature model for Harold Owens III…the Too H.O.T., due in March. Refined weight distribution and a new profile should make this a top-notch competitive yoyo.

Jason Lee is getting a unique signature model…the Detour. We don’t have any specs, but this model appears to be based on the Supernova, with feedback from Jason. This is Jason’s first signature model that wasn’t a color way of something else…FINALLY! One of the most gifted natural yoyo players in the world, it’s about time we got a Jason Lee yoyo.

And coming this spring, looks like we have a new signature model for Patrick Borgerding, the CYBORG, and a new signature design for Paul Kerbel! As usual, I think we can expect great stuff from YoYoFactory this year in the metal yoyo department.

YoYoFactory PLAY

 

And finally, we have YoYoFactory doing what they do best: bringing new players into the sport. YoYoFactory seems to have refined their in-store teaching program, called PLAY, and created their own tiered learning system for retailers. Combined with constant touring by YoYoFactory demonstrators as well as local support, PLAY looks to be the big winner for 2014 in terms of a major manufacturer working to create new yoyo players.

Filed Under: Manufacturer Tagged With: cyborg, detour, glow collection, hubstack, international toy fair, new york toy fair, too hot, yoyofactory

2014 International Toy Fair Preview – Yomega

February 14, 2014 By Daniel Dietz

The 2014 International Toy Fair will be taking place in New York City this weekend and Yomega will be there showcasing their latest products for 2014. Here is a preview of what they will be showing.

First up from Yomega’s licensed line of Star Wars Yo-Yos we have the String Bling and YoMen. These were first announced last year, but are finally now in full production and available in retail outlets.

The String Bling are Fireball yoyos with all-new Star Wars designs featuring Yoda, Boba Fett, Darth Vader and Clone Trooper. The yoyo comes with a collectable Star Wars character rings that are used to protect your fingers while yoyoing.

Yomega Star Wars

The YoMen are display stands that showcase your yoyos with the characters Darth Vader, Clone Trooper, Yoda and General Grievous. A Yomega Fireball yoyo is cradled on the stands and sculpted in the character’s likeness.

Yomega x Star Wars Yo-Men

 

Yomega x Star Wars Yo-Men

Next up we have Yomega’s range of kendamas. Yomega was the first yoyo company to manufacture and market a kendama, and their response to the growing popularity of kendama in the United States has been to steadily improve and refresh their line of kendama offerings.

Yomega Kendama

They are also introducing an addition to their Pro line called the Coyote Kendama

Yomega Coyote Kendama

“Inspired by the American Desert COYOTE KENDAMA is an all-new special collection from our premium KENDAMA PRO line. This first assortment includes Painted Desert, Malachite… and of course, the Trickster! He is the Coyote, the legendary “Trickster” in Native American folklore. Kendama players demand high performance and the coolest new looks, and COYOTE KENDAMA delivers!”

Also relating to kendamas, Yomega is introducing a new skill toy called the Ticayo. Similar to the traditional bilboquet, the Ticayo should appeal to kendama players, and anyone interested in another challenging skill toy.

Yomega Ticayo

“The Ticayo is a classic ball and catch game originating in Mexico. Yomega’s Ticayo is crafted in Germany of premium hard wood. The style of play is similar to the Kendama, but the shape of the ball and the handle areunique,creatingitsownchallenge. Packaged in an environmentally friendly kraft paper box, the Ticayo comes with its own cubed-styled stand for display. The Ticayo is available in four colors and natural. Available in the US and Canada only through Yomega.”

Yomega Ticayo

For Yomega’s higher end pieces we have the Raider, Maverick, Dash, Yo-Mods, Glide, and my personal favorite the Prodigy!

Yomega Catalog

Things to note from this part of the catalog is that the Star Wars line is featured on the Glide with Boba Fett, Darth Vader, the Imperial insignia, and the Rebel insignia. The Maverick is also getting a new look, and the yoyo itself has undergone some design tweaks to improve performance. Better balance and weight distribution has made this my new favorite carry-around yoyo; it’s a must try for 2014! And the Raider is being released with th original logo, for fans of that classic Yomega look!

Yomega Catalog

The biggest announcement for Toy Fair is the new collaboration between Yomega and YoYoJam! Three performance plastic yoyos, designed and manufactured by YoYoJam and distributed by Yomega!

YoYoJam x Yomega

The Odyssey, Journey, and all-new Firestorm will begin shipping to retailers in March. We’ve got full pics and specs on all three models….click through for details.

[button color=”light” link=”http://yoyonews.com/2014/02/13/yomega-yoyojam-announce-new-collaboration/” target=”blank”]Click Here For Details On The New YoYoJam x Yomega Releases[/button]

 

 

Filed Under: Manufacturer Tagged With: 2014 toy fair, international toy fair, kendama, new york toy fair, preview, toy fair, yomega, yoyo, YoYoJam

2014 International Toy Fair Preview – Duncan Toys

January 30, 2014 By Steve Brown

The 2014 International Toy Fair in New York City is just around the corner, and that means plenty of new products from the top yoyo manufacturers!

Our first Toy Fair preview of the year comes from Duncan Toys, who has a surprising number of new releases slated for the year. Although the cover of their catalog features a huge logo for their 85th Anniversary, they don’t seem to be releasing any anniversary-themed products, and don’t make any mention of any anniversary events or releases. I don’t think we’ll be seeing any actual anniversary promotions from Duncan this year, especially now that Sales & Marketing Coordinator Brandon Jackson has moved down to Orlando to manage Duncan’s Disney retail cart and partnership. Duncan Toys looks to be short-handed at the moment, so if you ever wanted to work in the yoyo industry and live in rural Ohio…here’s your chance!

First up…licensed Ignite yoyos for Despicable Me 2! The Ignite has Brake Pad response and a replaceable wooden axle sleeve that you can easily swap out for the bearing assembly from a Duncan BumbleBee. All five designs are in Toys R Us stores across the US now and retail for only $5.99, and Despicable Me 2 (which is a great movie, by the way) has been out on DVD and Blu-Ray since December 2013, so you probably have it already. Or you should. Really, it’s great.

Duncan Toys 2014 Catalog - Despicable Me 2

Next up we have the Hello Kitty yoyos that we first reported on last July. There are two models available, a ProYo and a Butterfly XT, each model with four different designs. These don’t seem to be shipping yet, but the ProYo version will retail for $5.99 and the Butterfly XT will retail for $9.99. Expect to see these in mass market outlets in the spring, if not sooner!

2014 Duncan Toys Catalog - Hello Kitty Licensed YoYos

Duncan jumped in the kendama game last fall with the release of their Komodo kendamas, first shown on YoYoNews last July. New for this year is the Venom kendama, which appears to be identical to the Komodo but with a different paint finish on the tama that promises to be tackier, making balance tricks like Lighthouse and Bird a bit easier. The catalog photo is just a digital mockup, and we don’t have confirmation on a retail price or availability yet. but the Venom is actually shipping to retailers now with a retail price of around $24.99.

2014 Duncan Toys Catalog - Venom Kendama

We’ve already seen the Echo 2, a revamped version of the ill-recieved Echo from a few years back. The Echo 2 seems to very much right the wrongs of its predecessor, and is quickly becoming a 1A favorite among Duncan’s sponsored team.

But new for a US release is the Torque, a re-branded version of Duncan’s metal “Torquave” yoyo created for Bandai’s Hyper YoYo campaign. We’re guessing the specs are the same; 55mm diameter, 43mm width, and weighing in at 66 grams with Duncan’s large bearing setup. The Torquave was scheduled for a February 2014 release in Japan but if Duncan is releasing it here…does that mean that Bandai will not be releasing it themselves? The Torque/Torquave is a new design that we assume was created specifically for Bandai and they have a history of preferring that their exclusives stay exclusive. The Torque photos are also just digital renders…so if this was already supposed to be ready to release in Japan in just a few days and Duncan didn’t have samples for photography in time for their catalog, it’s quite possible this product isn’t even ready yet, and the launch isn’t going to happen at all in Japan. Mysteries!

UPDATED INFO: The Torquave IS still being released in Japan, production is currently underway, and the catalog photos of the Torque are actual product photos that were only digitally colored. No more mysteries!

2014 Duncan Toys Catalog Echo 2 & Torque

Duncan has three new plastic performance yoyos coming this summer, two for 1A and a new offstring yoyo. The Featherhawk and Firehawk are identical yoyos, just with different weight rings; the Featherhawk comes with Duncan’s new plastic Performance Rings, while the Firehawk comes stock with metal Performance Rings.

The Skyhawk is the new offstring yoyo, and comes stock with the metal Performance Rings. Offstring seems like a pretty small category for Duncan to need to produce another specialty yoyo for, especially since they don’t really do much to promote the style of play. But maybe this one will turn out to be more to the players’ liking than the Hayabusa which was good but never seemed to gain much traction outside of Duncan’s sponsored team.

Duncan’s Performance Rings were first shown at last year’s International Toy Fair, although Duncan never did manage to actually produce and ship them. Hopefully they, along with these Hawk yoyos, don’t suffer the same fate this year.

2014 Duncan Toys Catalog - Firehawk, Featherhawk, Skyhawk

And finally we have a better look at Duncan’s new Performance Rings, as well as two new versions of their Mod Spacers. The Mod Spacers were originally developed as part of the Pro-Z yoyo, making it a “convertible” model from standard shape to Butterfly shape. Mod Spacers offer an option for players to refresh their existing Duncan products, especially now that Duncan is offering Mod Spacers designed for offstring play, as well as another set that converts your Duncan yoyo for use with a large bearing. Since Duncan hasn’t updated the bearing and response setups of most of their plastic yoyos, the Mod Spacers can serve as a welcome upgrade for players who enjoy the brand but are frustrated with some of the outdated designs.

2014 Duncan Toys Catalog - Performance Rings & Mod Spacers

All in all, looks like Duncan has a lot to offer at the 2014 International Toy Fair, although some of these products were shown last year and never materialized and the Hawk series and Torque are all just digital mockups. The licensed items are available now (Despicable Me 2) or hopefully very soon (Hello Kitty) and the Venom kendama will likely be available in just a couple of months…but with a “Summer 2014” release mentioned for the Torque, Hawk series, and the Performance Rings, it’s possible that we won’t see them until Fall/Winter 2014.

Filed Under: Manufacturer Tagged With: 1A, 2014 catalog, despicable me 2, duncan toys, featherhawk, featured, firehawk, first look, hello kitty, international toy fair, mod spacers, new york city, offstring, performance rings, skyhawk, venom kendama, yoyodrop

Kendama USA – 2013 NYC

April 26, 2013 By Steve Brown

It took a while for Kendama USA to release the full video of footage shot during the 2013 International Toy Fair in New York, but it was worth the wait! In their words:

Kendama USA is back in NYC for the 2013 Toy Fair. This full length edit shows the entire sleepless week of our experience at the show and roaming the streets of New York.

Special guests include Batman, Spiderman, Elmo, Power Ranger stunt doubles, and a giant purple crayon.

Huge thanks to Jake Wiens and the Kengarden for the video work.

Filed Under: Kendama, Video Tagged With: 2013, international toy fair, jake wiens, kendama, kendama usa, kengarden, new york

YoYoFactory at 2013 International Toy Fair in New York (Booth 4845)

February 11, 2013 By Steve Brown

YoYoFactory at 2013 International Toy Fair in New York Booth 4845

YoYoFactory always has the best brand presentation of any yoyo manufacturer, and this year is no different. Check out that light-up sign!

YoYoFactory’s offerings for 2013 are less focused on new product, and mostly find them refining their brand offering and offering new packaging that is specifically more retail-friendly. One new model is definitely of note, however…a new titanium yoyo called the Ricochet. Still no word on price or release date.

New packaging is available for the ONEStar, FAST 201, WHiP, Loop 360, and other models (as seen at the Hong Kong Toy Fair), giving most of the YoYoFactory line the same packaging footprint.

With their new packaging, brand direction, and amazing promotional tours, I think we can expect big things from YoYoFactory this year. With placement in Toys R Us and movement towards other mass market outlets, they’ve successfully made the transition from player’s favorite to major competitor in the world market.

Swing by Booth #4845 to check out their wares and pick up the 2013 catalog.

Filed Under: Manufacturer Tagged With: 2013, international toy fair, new york, one, onestar, ricochet, trade show, velocity, yoyofactory

Yomega at 2013 International Toy Fair in New York (Booth 967) *UPDATED*

February 10, 2013 By Steve Brown

*UPDATED* Thanks to YoYoExpert‘s Andre Boulay for additional booth pictures! See below!

Yomega is showing off their new Star Wars license at the 2013 International Toy Fair in New York. In addition to Star Wars versions of existing models, they’re also showing “Yo-Men”, a sculpted action figure yoyo stand. We found some pictures on Takahiko Hasegawa’s Instagram feed…check out the images and Yomega’s official press release below!

YOMEGA PUTS A GALACTIC SPIN ON YO-YOS WITH INTRODUCTION OF ITS
NEW STAR WARS(TM) COLLECTION

Yomega Corp. puts the power of the Force in the hands of kids and yo-yo fans with a new collection of yo-yos based on the legendary Star Wars saga. For the first time, Star Wars characters will be featured in a line of high performance yo-yos that will have yo-yoers and Star Wars fans scanning the galaxy to collect them all.

“We know that many yo-yo enthusiasts are also avid Star Wars fans,” said Todd Rywolt, Co-President of Yomega. “The Yomega team has really put a lot of passion and care into developing high performance yo-yos that would deliver upon the essence of Star Wars and appeal to both audiences.”

Details of Yomega’s Star Wars yo-yo line will be unveiled at the International Toy Fair, beginning February 10 in New York.

Star Wars Yomega® Fireball™
Yomega has merged its popular Fireball yo-yo with some of the most popular Star Wars characters, including Darth Vader and Yoda. The Star Wars Yomega Fireball patented transaxle system allows for high speed and smooth spins that are over three times longer than an ordinary yo-yo. The yo-yo’s design will feature character imagery and will include String Bling™, a collectible ring molded in a Star Wars character’s likeness. The yo-yo string attaches to the String Bling ring for added comfort while performing classic as well as advanced looping yo-yo tricks. Wave 1 of the Star Wars Yomega Fireball will include Darth Vader, Clone Trooper, Yoda and Boba Fett. (MSRP: $10.95; Recommended for ages 8 & up; Available in Fall 2013)

Star Wars Yomega® Yo-Men High Performance Yo-Yos and Action Stands
Yomega’s Yo-Men are the newest, coolest way to play and display your yo-yos and favorite Star Wars characters! Yomega Yo-Men come with a Star Wars Yomega Fireball yo-yo cradled in a highly detailed Yo-Men Action Stand sculpted in the character’s likeness. The yo-yos feature a bold character image and Yomega’s patented transaxle system that allows for high speed and smooth spins. Star Wars Yo-Men Wave 1 will include Darth Vader, Clone Trooper, Yoda and General Grievous. (MSRP: $15.95; Recommended for ages 8 & up; Available in Fall 2013)

Yomega® Elite Metals Glide™: Star Wars Special Edition
Yomega brings its heralded new competition-level Glide yo-yo to a new level with a sleek, sophisticated Star Wars Special Edition. This showcase piece features laser etching and is for the most discerning Star Wars and yo-yo collector and for the yo-yo player looking to make a statement. The Yomega Glide is the result of more than a year of engineering and technical refinement and is the first introduction in Yomega’s new Elite Metals collection. The Glide has been engineered for the perfect weight and dimension at 66 grams without string, 2.25 inches in diameter and a string gap of .163 inches, and features a silicone pad return system and the legendary Dif-e-Yo KonKave bearing. The Yomega Glide: Star Wars Special Edition Wave 1 will include Darth Vader, Stormtrooper, Boba Fett and the Rebel Alliance and Imperial symbols. (MSRP: $149.95; Recommended for ages 8 & up; Available in Summer 2013)

 

Be sure to swing by their booth and pick up their show exclusive, a limited edition Yomega Brain yoyo made just for the 2013 International Toy Fair.

 

Yomega at 2013 International Toy Fair in New York
Yomega at 2013 International Toy Fair in New York

Yomega at 2013 International Toy Fair in New York
Yomega at 2013 International Toy Fair in New York
Yomega at 2013 International Toy Fair in New York

Yomega at 2013 International Toy Fair in New York

 

Filed Under: Manufacturer Tagged With: 2013, international toy fair, new york, new york toy fair, star wars, trade show, yomega, yoyo

Duncan Toys at 2013 International Toy Fair in New York (Booth 1340)

February 10, 2013 By Steve Brown

Duncan Toys is busy getting set up at the 2013 International Toy Fair in New York (Booth #1340), and we were able to get some pics from their booth!

 

Duncan Toys at 2013 International Toy Fair in New York

 

Not a lot of new products this year, but they are showing a new soft-sided canvas yoyo case and the new STRIX, a signature model for Kohta Watanabe! We originally covered the teaser that Brandon dropped, but now we have a first look at the packaged prototype. Retail still isn’t finalized, but it will be under $60. They’re also showing the Yo-tility Holster and new looping yoyo the Hornet, both of which will be available this spring.

 

Duncan Toys at 2013 International Toy Fair in New York
Duncan Toys at 2013 International Toy Fair in New York

Duncan Toys at 2013 International Toy Fair in New York
Duncan Toys at 2013 International Toy Fair in New York
Duncan Toys at 2013 International Toy Fair in New York

Duncan Toys at 2013 International Toy Fair in New York
Duncan Toys at 2013 International Toy Fair in New York
Duncan Toys at 2013 International Toy Fair in New York

Duncan Toys at 2013 International Toy Fair in New York
Duncan Toys at 2013 International Toy Fair in New York
Duncan Toys at 2013 International Toy Fair in New York

Duncan Toys at 2013 International Toy Fair in New York
Duncan Toys at 2013 International Toy Fair in New York
Duncan Toys at 2013 International Toy Fair in New York

Duncan Toys at 2013 International Toy Fair in New York
Duncan Toys at 2013 International Toy Fair in New York
Duncan Toys at 2013 International Toy Fair in New York

Duncan Toys at 2013 International Toy Fair in New York
Duncan Toys at 2013 International Toy Fair in New York
Duncan Toys at 2013 International Toy Fair in New York

Duncan Toys at 2013 International Toy Fair in New York

Filed Under: Manufacturer Tagged With: 2013, duncan toys, hornet, international toy fair, new york toy fair, strix, trade show, yo-tility holster

YoYoFactory 2013 Catalog

February 8, 2013 By Steve Brown

YoYoFactory Catalog Cover 2013 for YoYoNews

YoYoFactory‘s 2013 catalog folds out into a giant poster of Paul Han. OMG HE’S SO DREAMY!

Check out YoYoFactory’s new models and packaging at the International Toy Fair in NYC, Booth #4845, Feb. 10 – 13. The show is only open to the trade, but we’ll have photos of their new releases as soon as the show opens!

 

Filed Under: Manufacturer Tagged With: 2013, catalog, international toy fair, new york, paul han, toy fair, yoyofactory

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