Mass Market Spy: Elmo and Wii Led Santa's Sleigh

PlayStation 3 is a seventh-generation video game console. The console has a powerful 3.2 GHz Cell Broadband Engine with 1 PPE and 7 SPEs. Users can buy games such as the popular "Resistance: Fall of Man" and can also use the PlayStation Network to play interactive games with others. The console supports BD-ROM, DVD-ROM, CD-ROM and Super Audio CD technology. Most PlayStation and PlayStation 2 games also can be played on this new console. Launch Date: November 17, 2006.

Xbox 360 delivers high definition gaming and entertainment experiences for the whole family, with games such as the classic "Pac-Man" and the new generation blockbuster "Halo 2."  With a 3.2 GHz PPC Tri-Core Xenon CPU and 500 MHz ATI Xenos GPU, the Xbox 360 provides great graphics and audio for realistic games. Xbox 360 also features high definition downloads on Xbox LIVE, access to digital music and pictures stored on a PC and voice and video chat capability via the Vision camera.  Xbox 360 is available in three models: Xbox 360 Core, Xbox 360 (with a 20 GB hard drive) and the new Xbox 360 Elite (with a 120 GB hard drive and black finish). Launch Date: November 22, 2005.

This preschool-appropriate digital camera boasts a durable drop-resistant design, a rubberized outer shell, a 1.3” backlit color LCD screen, dual handle grips, two-eye viewing and auto flash. Features include 640 x 480 resolution, memory for more than 50 pictures, an SD card slot, software and more. It requires 4 AA batteries (not included). “Our motivation for product development is always grounded in a consumer need or want,” marketing manager for Fisher-Price Mike Sullivan told TDmonthly. “In this case, it’s 'durable and easy-to-use' preschool electronics. Since preschoolers may drop their toys, we wanted to develop an electronics line that would be tough enough for them to use.” Launch Date: July 2006.
— Steve Levy, owner of Toy City in Keene, N.H., got a lot of requests for the Fisher-Price digital cameras, “which I should have bought,” he said.
— Kidult products continue to grow in popularity, attracting ever younger fans. (VIEW ARTICLE)
— The Kid-Tough Digital Camera made the top-25 best-selling electronics toys for kids on Amazon.com as of December 28, 2006.

Nintendo’s Wii is distinct from other video game consoles because it has the wireless Wii Remote. This device detects motion, so that game-players can simulate the movement of their game rather than just press buttons. Players whose game character is swinging a sword, for example, make swinging motions to get their character to act. With a BM PowerPC-based CPU, a Wii Optical Disc, 512MB Internal flash memory, and online services such as Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, WiiConnect24, Virtual Console and Wii Channels, Wii also delivers great performance. Launch Date: November 19, 2006.

Popular singer and actress Hilary Duff is now featured as a Barbie doll. Wearing a polka-dot dress and red satin sash, the doll can be accessorized with more than 11 outfits designed by Duff herself. The doll has “closets” — which feature clothes that are either “rocker” or “sweet” — so that the doll can be dressed down or dressed up for a night at the rock show. Accessories, such as a microphone and purses, allow kids’ imaginations to take flight. Launch Date: December 2006.

Techno Source's best-selling original pocket-sized edition features more than 1 million puzzles, eight levels of difficulty to challenge logic skills, a tutorial mode for beginners and a notes feature. A Sudoku Solver lets users input puzzles from their favorite sources to solve or play. It is fully illuminated for play anytime, anywhere. Launch date: December 2005.
— According to Eric Levin, EVP, Techno Source, “Electronic games continue to be huge sellers this year, especially portable logic puzzles like Sudoku.  Techno Source’s line of electronic Sudokus was almost completely sold out this [2006] holiday shopping season and we experienced an incredible increase in sales of more than 150 percent from last year. ”