This latest version of the classic game features lights and sounds and comes with an interactive banking unit.

Hasbro has unveiled its latest version of the classic property trading game, Monopoly Voice Banking.

The game’s iconic Monopoly top hat is now voice-activated, while the personality of Mr. Monopoly handles all of the game’s transactions, keeping tabs on players’ money and properties so there’s no cash or cards to think about.

When players talk to Mr. Monopoly he responds; if someone presses the button on their token and says “Buy St. James Place”, Mr. Monopoly will track the transaction and keep the game moving. To win the Monopoly Voice Banking game, players travel around the board as they aim to become the person with the most money and highest property value.

The Game includes the Top Hat banking unit, game board, four tokens, 22 title deed cards, one Get Out of Jail Free Card, four reference cards, 16 houses, 16 hotels, two dice, and game guide. The game requires three AA batteries, and is available at most major retailers nationwide.

Gibsons managing director, Kate Gibson, has been shortlisted for the employer of the year in the 2019 Women Mean Business awards.

According to the judges, they were impressed by the exceptional quality of applicants and the high standard of entries. Kate Gibson, alongside other shortlisted applicants, will now go forward to the next stage which is a 20-minute interview with the independent judges at Carshalton College on Wednesday, 17th July.

Kate has been shortlisted for the employer of the year award and for this category the judges are looking for the following attributes:

– A highly visible strategic approach towards employee investment, engagement and welfare, which supports women to achieve their full potential.
– A planned programme of employee engagement and two-way communication; and the opportunity for employees to have their say.
– A comprehensive training and development programme, including performance planning and management.
– Best practice in employee welfare, equal opportunities, flexible working arrangements, health, safety, security and well-being.
– Evidence to show the commercial benefits of the company’s ethos; including productivity, recruitment and employee retention.
– Strong leadership in taking initiatives forward.

The winners of all the categories, along with the overall businesswoman of the year, will be exclusively revealed at an awards ceremony in September this year.

Lisa has joined the team and will be working alongside editor Rachael Simpson-Jones.

A graduate of the University of Sheffield with a degree in English Literature, Lisa has honed her journalistic skills as a writer and deputy editor at the Tab Sheffield, a website covering youth and student culture. She has also produced an online blog following her adventures travelling in South East Asia and Australia.

Publisher John Baulch commented: “We are delighted to welcome Lisa to the team. Her writing skills, positive attitude and enthusiastic demeanour are sure to be huge assets to the company. We look forward to introducing her to the toy industry over the coming months.”

Many readers will be hearing from Lisa over the coming weeks as we work on our August issue (more information here) – to contact Lisa, email lisa@toyworldmag.co.uk.

Series two follows after the global success of plush brand, Rainbocorns, last summer. 

Leading international toy and consumer products company Zuru reveals series two of the popular sequin surprise collectible, the ultimate surprise egg.

Launched on 21st June worldwide, the official Rainbocorn Hatching Day, the new line brings even more surprises and unboxing to an already globally renowned brand. The company recorded significant sales for series one, with unprecedented global reorders before launch.

Each new Rainbocorn comes in a bright teal reusable egg with 10 layers to hatch, including the surprise sequin heart accessory, one of over 50 collectible Boo-Boocorns, Rainbocorn Poop and more. There are 13 sweet-scented collectible characters from six animal themes, plus the addition of a rare chaser Rainbocorn in the form of a golden Flamingocorn.

To coincide with the launch of series two, Zuru has extended the brand offering with the introduction of Rainbocorns Sparkle Heart Surprise, a small soft and squeezy version of its larger plush counterpart. Aimed at girls aged 3-10, the Sparkle Heart range retains the magical surprise egg theme and includes a surprise heart reveal, Rainbocorn Poop, and collectible Boo-Boocorns that change colour when dipped in cold water.

Aneisha Vieira, Zuru senior brand manager, said: “Rainbocorns series one had an incredibly strong launch that we’re aiming to not only repeat, but exceed with series two. The plush category has a strong and established heritage and it’s phenomenal to have something fresh and dynamic, and to have made such an appetite for more Rainbocorns. Series one was cited as a must-have Christmas item across several territories, nominated for seven esteemed industry awards, and achieved completely staggering media impressions. We’re really excited to see what 2019 brings for the brand.”

KeyForge, the ground-breaking Unique Deck Game by Fantasy Flight Games, and distributed by Asmodee, has hit a major milestone.

Asmodee has announced that KeyForge now has over 1m unique decks registered worldwide on the game’s Master Vault app.

Created by game designer Richard Garfield, KeyForge sees players duelling with pre-constructed decks, each of which is guaranteed to be a completely unique combination of cards that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. As well as an algorithmically generated deck name and card-back image, each deck comes with a QR code which can be used to register it on the Master Vault, to track players’ collections and record performance in Organised Play.

Following the release of KeyForge: Age of Ascension, the game’s second set which introduced over 200 new cards and paradigm-shifting new mechanics, the Master Vault has quickly swollen by over 250,000 registered decks. It passed the 1m mark less than three weeks after Age of Ascension hit stores.

Fantasy Flight Games has celebrated the milestone by awarding each user of the Master Vault 10 bonus Æmbershards, an in-app currency which players can earn by registering decks and competing in Organised Play, then exchange for prizes at KeyForge events.

KeyForge instantly became one of distributor Asmodee UK’s biggest-selling lines upon its release in November 2018, and the Age of Ascension set has started strongly in the same vein. What’s more, it’s understood that, though the 1m mark is a major milestone, the number of registered decks represents only a fraction of the total decks sold across the world.

Players can get started with KeyForge simply by purchasing one of the game’s unique Archon Decks (RRP £9.99), while the Two-Player Starter Set (RRP £23.99) – released as part of the Age of Ascension set – includes two unique decks and enough tokens for two players to explore the world of the Crucible together.

Everything you need to know about the August issue of Toy World, and how you can get involved.

This issue will include comprehensive category features on STEM toys, plush and wooden toys, as well as a comprehensive Autumn Fair preview and Touching Base feature with exhibitors.

Regular features such as Talking Shop, Viewpoint and Allegedly will also be included.

The deadline for editorial will be the 1st July, and the deadline for adverts will be the 12th July.

For further information regarding editorial opportunities contact Rachael Simpson-Jones, editor, rachael@toyworldmag.co.uk, or Lisa Currie, editorial assistant, lisa@toyworldmag.co.uk.

To find out more about advertising opportunities, contact Mark Austin, sales director, mark@toyworldmag.co.uk.

There will be awards in 32 categories, including Best Science/STEM Toy, Best Sustainable/Eco Toy and Best Collectible Toy.

UK toy review site MadeForMums has opened entries to the MadeForMums Toy Awards 2019.

The annual, consumer-facing awards celebrate the best toys for every age and stage from newborn to preteens, and are judged by child testers, child influencers and toy-industry experts. There will be awards in 32 categories this year, including Best Science/STEM Toy, Best Sustainable/Eco Toy and Best Collectible Toy. Winners will automatically be considered for one of the much coveted Editor’s Choice Awards, including a special award for Best Gender-Neutral Toy.

MadeForMums has built up a reputation for its honest online reviews, while its top-ranking toy review content drives over £380,000 of toy sales in the run-up to Christmas.

A MadeForMums Toy Award is recognised by parents and retailers as a sign of a toy’s outstanding quality and play potential. The Toy Awards are also rated by the national press, with the Daily Mail featuring detailed coverage of the winners for the past three years.

“MadeForMums is trusted by our users so they click through the links on our editorial content to buy the products we rate and recommend,” says Susie Boone, MadeForMums’ editorial director.

Toy manufacturers and PRs can enter their toys into the MadeForMums Toy Awards here. The winners will receive showcase editorial coverage, with a click-to- buy link on madeformums.com timed for publication at the peak of Christmas gift search traffic. Plus, social media promotion, a digital logo and automatic shortlisting for the Editor’s Choice Awards.

For more information, contact toyawards@madeformums.com or ring Helen on 020 7150 5197.