The latest installment in the ongoing Tomb Raider series, Tomb Raider: Underworld, isn’t due in stores until the middle of November, however, Xbox 360 and PC gamers can enjoy an early look at the game this week. A playable demo is available now for download via the Xbox Live application and a PC demo is scheduled for release on Friday (October 13). As of now, there are no plans for previews on other game systems.

Tomb Raider: Underworld will find Lara Croft in an all new expedition to uncover the mythical hammer of Thor, the Norse god of thunder. The full version game will be released on November 18th for the PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, DS, PS2 and PC platforms. This game is rated T (Teen).

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Halloween has always been one of my favorites holidays with respect to spending time with my kids. The choosing of the costume (always a long hard decision), trick or treating, and Halloween parties have made Halloween a huge event. (In recent years, the trend has continued to grow as more and more adults look to the holiday as one just for themselves and their families.)

However, I’ve always had one problem with Halloween: When Halloween falls on a Monday through Friday, trick or treating is difficult to monitor because most homes have one or two parents working. The sun sets in most parts of the country by 5:30 pm, which means a parent needs to leave work early (often not an option), or take their kids trick or treating in the dark (not the safest option).

Small towns across are now taking matters in their own hands. They are establishing daytime trick or treat hours on the Saturday or Sunday nearest Halloween for their residents. While I agree with traditionalists that you should not try to change the date of Halloween is celebrated, I am a big advocate of allowing parents to be part of the “trick or treat” activity, not only making it fun for the whole family, but also safer for our children.

What’s your opinion? I’d like to hear from you.

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From TheToyGuy!

The day has finally arrived! High School Musical 3: Senior Year opens in theaters across America today. It’s hard to believe but the tween juggernaut that is High School Musicalonly premiered two years ago as a Disney Channel original movie. The first HSM was a huge and fast hit with Disney’s audience and propelled it’s then, relatively unknown cast including Zac Effron, Vanessa Anne Hudgens, and Ashley Tisdale into tweeny-bopper stardom. 

The original was followed up the following year on the Disney Channel with High School Musical 2, which reunited the cast in a summer vacation plot. Once again singing, dancing, and working together took center stage as the kids focused on the summer talent show. 

Today marks the first theatrical release for the HSM franchise with HSM 3: Senior Year premiering to stellar advanced sales around the world. It’s the final year of High School for the gang and the latest movie will show the kids dealing with issues such as college, saying good bye, and, of course, the prom!

High School Musical 3: Senior Year opens today (October 24) in theaters everywhere.

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Chances are pretty good that if you have kids, especially tween girls, you are very familiar with High School Musical. Hopefully you already have your pre-sale tickets for this Friday’s theatrical release of High School Musical 3: Senior Year.

In anticipation of Friday’s big release, Disney Interactive Studios has released High School Musical 3: Senior Year DANCE! and I’ve got some great news for parents and adults. This game will be fun for you as well as the kids. HSM3: Senior Year DANCE! is, as the title may imply, a dancing game, which means players will be up off the couch and dancing as they progress through the game–think Dance Dance Revolution with the music and characters from HSM. Kids will love interacting with their favorite characters in familiar settings as they dance to music from all three High School Musical movies. Adults might not be as excited as the kids to see Troy, Gabriella, and Sharpay but they will have a great time getting active and trying to keep up with the dance moves.

High School Musical 3: Senior Year DANCE! is in stores now for Nintendo’s Wii. The Xbox 360 and PlayStation2 versions will be available the first week of November.

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Video games are everywhere. You’d think with all of this distraction and hype that parents would want to learn more about what was going on in these virtual worlds consuming their kids, but alas, the fact that they’re everywhere seems to have the opposite effect.

Increasingly parents trust their kids to make appropriate gaming choices and find a comfort in the moments of silence these video games afford them. I, however, refuse to be left in the cyberdust of my tech-savvy kids. Through my work in the toy industry and research on the topic of gaming, I’ve learned that some video games can actually help kids learn important skills and, when balanced with other types of play, gaming can provide great family time. Here are my tips for breaking into the gaming space without turning your kids off entirely.

• Passwords are public domain. Especially when it comes to online gaming, make sure you have access to all of the gaming sites your kids frequent. Don’t abuse the access and cramp your kid’s online style, but familiarize yourself with their virtual gaming world so that fear of the unknown doesn’t breed gaming anxiety.
• Get playing. No game, no matter how silly or complex, is beyond your grasp. Your kid’s semi-explanation about their game play is no substitute for powering up or logging on yourself to experience it first-hand. For younger kids this can be a great “teaching” moment wherein they teach you all the cool stuff they know – and a great many things you don’t. For older kids it may require a more covert approach – perhaps best executed when they’re out of the house.
• Keep on top of trends. The internet is your friend. Go online. Find game and game system reviews, and then have a conversation about gaming with your kids that won’t send eyes fluttering into the back of their heads. Check out this site for gaming reviews (TTP link to gaming page) and visit www.commonsensemedia.org to learn what all of those labels really mean.

• Games they love about stuff they can use. Believe it or not, many video games have potential to boost kids’ brain power. Parents can get more bang for their buck by investing in games that combine the action-packed play kids love with educational content you want. Success equals picking games that feature characters they know with age-appropriate content that challenges and entertains them for more than thirty seconds.
• Game time as a sugar-free bribe/reward. Video game time can be a powerful motivator in trying to enforce homework or household chore rules. It works, with fewer cavities.
• Limiting game time. Every family is going to have different rules, but have some. Whether it’s a certain amount of hours a week, or not till homework is done, or whatever you feel is appropriate, clear rules let your kids know you mean business and that as much fun as these games are, there are other activities to balance game time.
• Games/computers in common space. You may want the kids out of sight, but keeping the computer or gaming system in shared areas and not in bedrooms helps keep kids part of the family, even if they’re immersed in a fantastical game world.
• Get Brave with a Family Game Night. Not for the faint of heart, try designating one night a week as “game night” to give those multiplayer games a run for the their money. It’s also a good idea to “power off” at a set time every day – parents and kids. 

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One afternoon not very long ago, I got a frantic call from a mom who reached me through a series of mutual friends.

“You’ve got to help me,” she said.

“I will if I can,” I replied.

“My son is in the living room, playing ‘Grand Theft Auto,’ and I’m worried about the violence in the game.”

“How did he get it?

“I bought it for him.”

“What??””

“Well, he said he wanted it, and so I got it for him, but I didn’t realize that there was so much violence in it. Now, he thinks he’s the coolest kid on the block, and his friends are coming over to play, and I’m afraid to take it away from him.”

Okay.

Let’s look at all the problems in this.

First, what are you doing giving your kids games that you haven’t vetted? I mean, “Grand Theft Auto” is one of the hottest video games of all times, but it’s clearly rated “M,” which means that at most stores these days you can’t even buy it if you’re under 18.

Of course your kids want this game. It’s getting a lot of hype, and it’s “forbidden fruit.” It’s like getting in to see an “R” rated movie or sneaking a look at adult magazines or web sites.

But come one, people. Let’s use a little common sense. At least with the video games. The Entertainment Software Review Board is very careful about what they review. So, even if you don’t know the game, check that rating first. It’s on every video game package. When a game says “M,” it usually means it. And maybe your kid is sophisticated and can handle it all, but why would you want him to?

It’s your house, and you get to control what comes into it. Sorry. Those are the rules.

As for taking it away, that’s a little tougher. But sometimes you have to admit you made a mistake. This can be an opening for conversation, and if you’re honest about your feelings about something, you can usually communicate. Sometimes, saying “I made a mistake,” can be very powerful and earn the respect of your kids.

The result, my caller did take the game away and said that she had made a mistake. She and her son then had a long conversation about violence and what it means. They then went together and bought another game that they both agreed on.

“You’ve just got watch every second,” she said to me after the whole event was over.

“Yes, you do,” I said.

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It’s like Fall 2005 all over again with Microsoft’s Xbox 360 generating some tantalizing headlines. First came the announcement that Microsoft was dropping the price on all 360s and last week the news got even better for anyone considering purchasing a 360 – free games!

The entry level 360, the Arcade version, which now retails for $199, will come with six games, including Pac-Man, SEGA Superstars Tennis, and Uno. Stepping up to either the Pro or Elite 360s ($299 and $399 respectively) will get you a free copy of Lego Indiana Jones and Kung Fu Panda.

Even at $200, this is still a pricey toy so should you run out and buy a 360? That depends. If you already own a 360 and it’s working fine then no, you don’t need another one. And all you PS3 owners (what were you thinking?) this could be a good opportunity to pick up the system you should have bought in the first place. Wii owners, if you’ve got the cash on hand then you should consider buying the 360. The 360 and Wii are two totally different systems and you’ll find that you’ll get a great deal of play out of both systems.

All three Xbox game systems with free games should be in stores later this month so make sure to double check that you are buying the one with the games included.

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It’s back to school time and families everywhere are getting back into the swing of managing busy schedules and commuting needs. As you embark on your carpooling duties – or prepare your child to be a good passenger – there are some things you can keep in mind to keep things on time and at ease.

1. Safety first. If multiple car seats are involved in your carpool commute, ensure that they are properly installed for every trip – no matter how short. Window locks can also be useful when carting around a younger crowd.
2. Necessary paperwork. Gather emergency contact info for all little commuters in your care, including 2-3 contact numbers for each child. In some cases, such as nannies or caregivers responsible for the carpool, a medical consent form is worth keeping on-hand. Many online services offer free, customizable forms, such as:www.agreementsetc.com/medical-consent/
3. Be on time. Whether it’s your turn to drive or your kid’s turn to be picked up, timeliness is the most sure-fire way to endear yourself to your carpool compadres. It’s next to impossible, but always worth a shot.
4. DJ. Have kid’s music channels programmed into your radio or keep kid-friendly CDs close at-hand. Momentary sanity is only a button push away.
5. Snacks. For long commutes, steer clear of high-sugar treats as they’ll likely ignite a backseat burst of energy when you can least expect or control it. Your fellow carpool drivers may appreciate as mess-free a snack as you can dream up when shipping your kids in their care. Think Goldfish crackers or dried fruit.

Most kids won’t remember how they got to and from in their little worlds – and those that do likely won’t acknowledge the effort. Any sane moments you can steal during these chauffering years may be your only reward. Drive on.

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Listening to the financial analysts we talk with, they want us to believe that it’s going to be a late holiday shopping season. It may, in fact, be just that. There are five fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas than last year.

There are many reasons to put off shopping till the last minute, not the least of which is the pace of contemporary life.

Many parents want to wait until they get the “final” letter to Santa to communicate directly with the North Pole. And then there’s always the thought that there are going to be last minute sales. All of these are understandable.

But if what your kids want are the “hot” toys of the year? Well, that may be a different story. All our sources—both in the continental U.S. and the extreme north tell us that hot items like Elmo Live and Bakugan will be sold out by the first weeks of December. You’re unlikely to find deals on these products, and inevitably you’ll add to your frustration if you end up racing around to find them at the last minute.

Our best advice: If you know you want something and you see it. Buy it.

Better yet, most retailers have very generous return policies. Some up to 90 days. So, aside from tying up a few dollars, you have very little risk. Just be sure to check each store’s policies and save your receipts.

We think it’s also a good idea to get the little ones writing those letters to Santa early in the season. You can have a lot of fun with this as well, encouraging creative thinking. (We’ll post again on this in a couple of days.)

As for online shopping; it’s pretty much the same as going to a store. These shops have limited supplies of products as well, and while everyone is doing what they can to maintain in-stock positions, replenishing inventories can take a couple of weeks.

Our feeling is that a little bit of advanced strategic planning can minimize the stress of toy shopping. We’ll also write more about managing expectations in the next few days as well.

Of course, what are you going to do on December 22 when a little one announces for the first time that the only thing they want is a toy you’ve never heard of before? Well, that may call for some scrambling and a little bit of luck. But check back, and we’ll have some ideas for that as well.

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