Old favourites hold their own against new toys

OLD favourites like Barbie and Furby have once again kept their place alongside the latest technological toys on this year’s ‘must-have’ Christmas lists.

In Britain, Barbie Pegasus Annika and the Steam Along Thomas train set are among items listed by toy sellers as their ‘hot dozen’ for this year’s festive season. The British Toy Retailers’ Association picked the top 12 based on feedback from shoppers, children and the latest trends in products. But although Thomas and Barbie have been around for more than a generation, all the toys are new or updated versions of proven successes.

Technology is also a big draw for parents buying Christmas presents, with an electronic, handheld version of the Japanese number game Sudoku featuring in the Top 60.“Some of the toys are completely original concepts while others are innovative twists on current favourites,” said TRA chairman Ben Green.

Another likely favourite is Hasbro’s Star Wars Darth Vader Voice Changer which allows kids mimic the voice of the dark lord of the movie trilogy.

According to Tesco Ireland, girls everywhere will be sure to ask Santa for the all-new Furby. It features a range of emotions, advanced voice recognition and an impressive vocabulary of English and Furbish, and can dance, tell jokes and sing songs. Also popular with younger ladies should be the Bratz, the girls with a passion for fashion who appear in Rock Angel and Bratz BabyZ packs this year.

The world of prehistoric creatures is also to the fore, with demand for Roboraptor likely to match that of the 2004 toy of the year, Robosapian. The 32-inch dinosaur has advanced artificial intelligence and features distinct moods in the form of hunter, caution and predator, while infrared vision lets it to detect objects in its path.

Other popular stocking fillers include the Irish edition of Monopoly Here and Now, Tamagotchi Connection and Star Wars Electronic Lightsabre.