The hottest Toys Substack posts right now

The Cox E-Z Flyer was a very exciting yet dangerous toy that required two people to operate safely. One person would start the plane while the other controlled it as it flew in circles.
Many kids thought they could perform tricks with the plane, but this often led to crashes instead of successful flights. Ignoring safe practices usually resulted in broken planes and unhappy flyers.
Although it was popular among hobbyists, the Cox E-Z Flyer was not made for kids and ended up causing more trouble than fun. It’s a reminder that some toys can be more dangerous than they seem.

Traditional electronic lab kits are disappearing, replaced by newer products like Snap Circuits
The older kits offered a hands-on, educational experience with detailed schematics and components
Newer products like Snap Circuits focus more on quick gratification than teaching electronics concepts

Miles has a huge collection of Pokémon figures, including around 700 figures. He loves collecting because it brings him joy and reminds him of his childhood.
The Pokémon Trading Card Game Classic is coming out in November 2023, and it sold out quickly for pre-orders. Fans are excited about the new and rare cards included in the set.
Collecting can start at any age, and you don't need a huge collection to enjoy it. Whether it's figures, cards, or plushies, it's all about what makes you happy.

Chris Nicolella worked on the original Pokédex toy and has been part of over 200 toy and video game products. That's a lot of creativity!
He shared stories about his experience working with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. It's interesting to hear how these big partnerships work behind the scenes.
The interview includes photos of prototype toys that never got released. It's fun to see what could have been!

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LEGO is transitioning from paper manuals to digital apps for instructions for sustainability reasons.
The digital shift in LEGO instructions can detract from the immersive and unplugged experience of playing with LEGO bricks.
Some LEGO sets, like Super Mario, now require downloading an app for building instructions instead of paper manuals.

War games like chess and Weiqi have long histories dating back centuries, serving as ultimate games of strategy and mental endurance.
The modern concept of war games, including role-playing games, traces back to the invention of games like _Kriegsspiel_ by Prussian military strategists for training officers in tactics and strategy.
The fascination with war games led to the growth of a leisure hobby around simulating combat situations, eventually paving the way for the commercial success of war games in the civilian world.