Categories / Film and TV, Gadgets and Tech, Toys and Games

Magnum P.I. on your mobile phone

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Remember Magnum P.I.? Trashy 80s nonsense, with an ex-military man in a moustache and Bermuda shirt solving crimes around Hawaii. Fancy re-living it? You can on your mobile phone.

Developed by Ojom, it’s an old-style platform game for your phone where you control Thomas Magnum through over 20 levels of challenges, scouring Hawaii for known criminals, picking up stolen loot and finding evidence to lock the bad guys away and becoming the best P.I. on the island.

Which all sounds like jolly fun for the daily commute. Available for most handsets, check for prices and retailers with the company.

Find out more at the Ojom website

Categories / Kids, Toys and Games

Mountain Railway

Train_2In the days before video games, every boy wanted a train set for Christmas. And whilst some replica steam engines may fail to excite, this Mountain Railway still has a charm that is sure to appeal to some children as well as anyone who hasn’t grown out of toy trains.

Produced by Czech company Kovap, it is made from traditional tin and has a wind up operation. Track complete with alpine scenery is supplied.

It is available to buy from Luxeville priced just under £50.

Categories / Design and Interiors, Gadgets and Tech, Toys and Games

Voyager handcrafted arcade machine – with 36 games

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Fancy re-living the days of the gaming arcade in your own living room? You can with the Voyager, which is based on classic machines of the 70s and early 80s.

It’s a handcrafted gaming machine of the vintage variety, featuring an 8-way joystick, rapid-fire buttons and an internal PC system that allows 36 games to feature in the one unit. And we’re talking all the classics – Space Invaders, PacMan, Scramble, Donkey Kong, Dig Dug – the list goes on.

Each one is handcrafted from a choice of wood, with a 14-inch horizontal screen, a choice of free or coin play (you can access your coins with a key), two-player option and casters for easy transport. The only downside is the price – £1,799.99.

Find out more at the Drinkstuff website

Categories / Toys and Games

Trumpton chess set

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Not just childhood nostalgia, but a game too – the Trumpton chess set.

I’m guessing ‘chess’ is a rather loose description, there doesn’t seem like enough pieces on the board – and the board itself might throw the seasoned chess pro. But there’s no denying the hand-crafted pieces are eye-catching and I’m sure there’s a game in there somewhere. And if there isn’t, well you can always use it for display.

Available online, it’s yours for £29.99.

Find out more at the Daft 4 Arts ‘n’ Crafts website

Categories / Toys and Games

Hamleys mod and punk-themed skateboards

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I’d be very surprised if a child of ‘five years plus’ will be bending their parents’ ears for mod and punk-themed skateboards this Christmas, but Hamleys might make a few quid out of bigger kids with them.

The designs are pretty obvious – a target on the mod board, as well as union jack and a flyer, with the punk one featuring…well…something similar, but in pink and without the target. And the words ‘British punk rock’ in case it isn’t clear.

Each skateboard is a 100 per cent Canadian maple deck, pressed with American stuff glue and with 53mm super-high rebound wheels. They retail for £44.99 each.

Find out more at the Hamleys website

Categories / Art and Photography, Toys and Games

Keith Haring Dominoes Set

Kharingjigsaw_2Continuing with the Eighties nostalgia, one of the most recognisable artists from that decade would have to be Keith Haring, who made his name with graffiti style art around New York. He believed in getting his work out to as wide an audience as possible so it has always been available on numerous products, such as cards and t-shirts.

One of the more interesting items available is the Keith Haring Dominoes Set. Featuring his distinctive pop art animal characters, it makes a nice alternative to the standard spotted dominoes, and is especially suitable to teaching children the game.

Halfpint Village Store have a set available to buy on their Ebay store, priced just under £23.