- Line of Smart Figures, Trading Cards and More Available First at Toys“R”Us Stores Nationwide Starting, Saturday, July 1
- Pre-sale to Begin Online at Toysrus.com on Monday, April 17
OAK BROOK, IL, 2017-Feb-20 — /EPR Retail News/ — TOMY International, the master toy licensee for Lightseekers, announced today (February 18, 2017) that the world’s leading dedicated toy retailer, Toys“R”Us®, will be the first brick-and-mortar retailer to bring Lightseekers smart figures, trading cards, accessories and more to all of its stores nationwide beginning Saturday, July 1. Pre-sale for the assortment will begin online at Toysrus.com starting on Monday, April 17.
Lightseekers, the critically-acclaimed action adventure role-playing game from PlayFusion, is far more than just a game; it’s the fusion of fantasy and reality powered by a proprietary technology platform. Integrating video games, smart action figures with artificial intelligence, augmented reality, interactive trading cards and more, Lightseekers creates the most ambitious transmedia entertainment platform ever envisioned. TOMY will manufacture, distribute and market the entire toy line.
“As the leading toy retailer with a history of supporting some of the most innovative products in the marketplace, we’re very pleased to partner with Toys“R”Us as our exclusive in-store retail launch partner for the Lightseekers toy line,” said Masayuki Nagatake, President and Chief Operating Officer of TOMY International. “We’ve worked with the team at PlayFusion for more than two years to develop a product offering that will disrupt the category and the toy industry as a whole, and are excited to see it on Toys“R”Us shelves this summer.”
Gamers need to be prepared for smart toys and connected play like never before! Lightseekers, a story-rich action adventure RPG (role playing game), built for mobile and tablet. The FusionCore, the high-tech, powerful mini-computer embedded within each action figure and the “brains” behind the smart connected toys, completely eliminates the need for cumbersome NFC portals, allowing the game to seamlessly connect to TOMY’s 7” collector-quality, articulated smart action figures. The characters’ unique attributes, accomplishments, social circle and lineage are stored on the FusionCore in perpetuity. In other words, the game automatically remembers the last character played, enabling on-the-go play without figures in the state that it was when it was last connected. Lightseekers melds together augmented reality trading cards, smart action figures, interchangeable accessories and more.
“We’ve worked with TOMY and PlayFusion to bring Lightseekers to market and see it as a truly unique player in the video game category,” said Richard Barry, Executive Vice President, Global Chief Merchandising Officer, Toys“R”Us and Babies“R”Us. “With six decades of toy industry experience behind us, we are constantly searching for new, innovative products to bring to our shelves and are excited to be the first brick-and-mortar retailer to bring this toy line to our customers, making Toys“R”Us the go-to destination for all Lightseekers fans.”
A crucial piece to the transmedia world is the interactive collectible trading card game, with 385+ cards at launch,that further enhances the Lightseekers universe. The digital game, the physical trading cards and figures can be enjoyed independently of one another, but when played together it creates an even more-enhanced game play. Each card, when scanned by the Lightseekers game, delivers immersive augmented reality experiences, rewards game players and unlocks powerful in-game abilities. In addition to cards, the Lightseekers game can reward players for interacting with almost anything—songs on the radio, shows on TV, movies, posters on the wall and much more. Beginning Saturday, July 1, gamers can also find signage at all Toys“R”Us stores across the country that will unlock in-game activities and rewards – providing players with the ultimate gaming experience.
Lightseekers also offers next level interchangeable accessories. Equipping a weapon or accessory onto an action figure will have an immediate effect in the game and vice versa, opening up new abilities and adventures. In addition, flight packs can be added to any hero, allowing players to magically control their in-game character by moving the toy.
“Two years ago, PlayFusion set out with a vision to create the future of transmedia entertainment. Today is the first time we’re providing the industry with an opportunity to experience our platform, and we’re delighted that industry leader Toys“R”Us, recognized the innovation and potential of Lightseekers, has come aboard as our retail partner,” said Mark Gerhard, CEO and Co-Founder of PlayFusion. “We’re thrilled to partner with toy industry icons like TOMY and Toys“R”Us to help bring our vision to life.”
About TOMY
TOMY International (www.tomy.com) is a leading global designer, producer and marketer of a broad range of innovative, high-quality toys sold to preschoolers, youths and adults under the TOMY® and Ertl® brands as well as products for parents, infants and toddlers marketed under the The First Years®, JJ Cole® Collections and Boon® brands. TOMY International also markets its products under popular licensed properties such as John Deere, Pokémon, Chuggington, Sonic the Hedgehog, Lamaze, Zootopia, Inside Out, Miles from Tomorrowland, The Good Dinosaur, Winnie the Pooh, Princesses, Cars, Fairies and Toy Story, and other well-known properties. TOMY International’s mission is to make the world smile. TOMY International reaches its target consumers through multiple channels of distribution supporting more than 25,000 retail outlets throughout North and South America, Europe and Australia. TOMY International is a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan-based TOMY Company, Ltd. (Tokyo Stock Exchange Code No. 7867). © TOMY
About Toys“R”Us
Toys“R”Us, Inc. is the world’s leading dedicated toy and baby products retailer, offering a differentiated shopping experience through its family of brands. Merchandise is sold in 885 Toys“R”Us and Babies“R”Us stores in the United States, Puerto Rico and Guam, and in more than 795 international stores and over 259 licensed stores in 37 countries and jurisdictions. With its strong portfolio of e-commerce sites including Toysrus.com and Babiesrus.com, the company provides shoppers with a broad online selection of distinctive toy and baby products. Toys“R”Us, Inc. is headquartered in Wayne, NJ, and has an annual workforce of approximately 62,000 employees worldwide. The company is committed to serving its communities as a caring and reputable neighbor through programs dedicated to keeping kids safe and helping them in times of need. Since 1992, the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund, a public charity affiliated with Toys“R”Us, Inc., has donated more than $125 million in grants to children’s charities. For more information, visit Toysrusinc.com or follow @ToysRUsNews on Twitter. Follow Toys“R”Us and Babies“R”Us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Toysrus and Facebook.com/Babiesrus and on Twitter at Twitter.com/Toysrus and Twitter.com/Babiesrus.
About PlayFusion
PlayFusion is an independent, employee-owned, game and technology developer with studios in the UK and USA that is pioneering the future of mixed media connected play. PlayFusion’s proprietary technology platform uniquely fuses video games, robotics, toys, and transmedia entertainment for game developers, toy manufacturers, and other content and brand owners. PlayFusion recently unveiled their new original IP Lightseekers coming in 2017 along with smart toys and trading cards from master toy licensee TOMY.
Contact:
Tel: 1 (973) 617-5900
Press@toysrus.com
Source: Toys“R”Us, Inc.