tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404046680226635672010-03-18T07:00:28.434-04:00I'm Tim Walsh and this is my playlog. I plog on toys and the essential skill of squeezing more fun from life. I've written two books on the history of toys, Timeless Toys and the WHAM-O Super-Book. Games that I've designed or developed include TriBond, Blurt! and Mad Gab. Coming later this year is TOYLAND, a documentary film about toy designers on which I am a creative consultant. It's a big year. Join the fun, seize the play!Tim Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18025955088626052366tim@theplaymakers.comBlogger155125SeizeThePlayhttp://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640404668022663567.post-60507091494947974862010-03-12T15:31:00.011-05:002010-03-12T16:20:53.102-05:002010-03-12T16:20:53.102-05:00

The countdown to the Sarasota Film Festival and the World Premier of our documentary film, Toyland continues. Here is the first trailer for the film. Find our more at www.sarasotafilmfestival.com. Director Ken Sons & I started this adventure nearly four years ago when we went to a local Wiffle Ball tournament on a whim and "shot some footage." A lot of ground has been covered since that fateful

Tim Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18025955088626052366tim@theplaymakers.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640404668022663567.post-86564109567871475502010-03-10T06:02:00.007-05:002010-03-10T08:18:52.055-05:002010-03-10T08:18:52.055-05:00

I'm prepping for the NESSEA show next week, aka ED EXPO. It's a trade show for "Suppliers and service providers that produce educational materials, furniture, supplies, and services for today's classrooms." Maybe it's because I had teachers who made learning fun, but I am very excited to be promoting Blurt at this show.I saw an Ad Council ad recently which was telling. I tried to find it online

Tim Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18025955088626052366tim@theplaymakers.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640404668022663567.post-37571370731146235692010-03-09T14:55:00.015-05:002010-03-09T16:25:30.993-05:002010-03-09T16:25:30.993-05:00

Click on the image above and zip over to flickr to download this printable postcard invitation. Add some fun to your party plans!

Tim Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18025955088626052366tim@theplaymakers.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640404668022663567.post-28572163809474047082010-03-08T01:27:00.007-05:002010-03-08T18:11:26.381-05:002010-03-08T18:11:26.381-05:00

Second trailer HERE! (such a geek)

Tim Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18025955088626052366tim@theplaymakers.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640404668022663567.post-17039545386111515162010-03-02T20:00:00.005-05:002010-03-04T16:47:28.118-05:002010-03-04T16:47:28.118-05:00

Kate & I just had some fun with an original Tip It game. Yet another game from Marvin Glass & Associates, Tip It was released in 1965 by Ideal Toys. Players alternate the colored discs in a stack on each small post and then must use the spatula-like tool to remove the disc matching the color they spin. It's wonderful fun to see the little acrobat balance on his nose precariously. Tip It is a well

Tim Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18025955088626052366tim@theplaymakers.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640404668022663567.post-39236079198791932802010-02-21T13:12:00.003-05:002010-02-21T13:16:31.996-05:002010-02-21T13:16:31.996-05:00

If you have not seen this yet, it's worth two minutes. Very powerful, emotional, combination of pictures and sound. Gets me every time.

Tim Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18025955088626052366tim@theplaymakers.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640404668022663567.post-74680088689020722342010-02-18T08:54:00.017-05:002010-02-24T05:58:55.447-05:002010-02-24T05:58:55.447-05:00

I'm not saying that ignorance is bliss, but there's something to be said for launching a career and not knowing how incredibly high the odds are stacked against you.I've been attending Toy Fair, the toy trade's biggest American trade show in NYC, since 1990. That was the year that we introduced TriBond to a very unimpressed, uber-competitive industry. We didn't know what we didn't know, and our

Tim Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18025955088626052366tim@theplaymakers.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640404668022663567.post-58737050167933565832010-02-11T14:51:00.023-05:002010-02-24T05:51:37.386-05:002010-02-24T05:51:37.386-05:00

Fred Morrison, inventor of the modern plastic flying disc died on Tuesday, at the age of 90. I had the privilege of interviewing Fred for my WHAM-O Super-Book a few years ago and he was full of great stories that had nothing to do with the toy he made famous. Here are a few:Fred was driving behind Spud Melin and Rich Knerr, the founders of WHAM-O, as they drove to a Frisbee event in 1965, the

Tim Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18025955088626052366tim@theplaymakers.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640404668022663567.post-18916165221796036122010-02-09T05:49:00.003-05:002010-02-09T06:00:15.347-05:002010-02-09T06:00:15.347-05:00

I know it was a great victory for the Saints, but I was just devastated after the Super Bowl was over. That shot of Drew Brees tearing up while he held his son and the confetti rained down almost made me forget, but then the reality of it all settled back in. The next morning my girls, who had gone to bed by the beginning of the third quarter, looked at me as if to say, "Well? Tell us!" It was

Tim Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18025955088626052366tim@theplaymakers.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640404668022663567.post-83480575883305531582010-02-03T16:34:00.013-05:002010-02-04T06:23:46.344-05:002010-02-04T06:23:46.344-05:00

In 10 days I head to the Big Apple to attend my 20th International Toy Fair. It doesn't seem possible that we've been tinkering in the toy business for that long, but the proof is in the photos. Toy Fair 1990. Yours truly, Ed Muccini, Dave Yearick, Staci YearickSuspenders anyone?We loaded our $10,000 booth into my beat up Jeep at 3:30am and headed down the New York State Thruway to the future of

Tim Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18025955088626052366tim@theplaymakers.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640404668022663567.post-74807619555083216462010-01-09T07:00:00.002-05:002010-01-09T15:33:47.540-05:002010-01-09T15:33:47.540-05:00

Check out this cool cupcake compendium of fun!Thanks to Colleen McCarthy-Evans for sharing the link on facebook.

Tim Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18025955088626052366tim@theplaymakers.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640404668022663567.post-89469567862523213792010-01-07T16:29:00.003-05:002010-01-07T16:36:21.153-05:002010-01-07T16:36:21.153-05:00

As long as we're talking about recapturing our youth with vintage soda...I was in Target trolling the toy aisle when an overwhelming thirst hit me, so on the way through checkout, I peaked into the refrig and found this gem! Now what are the chances? I hadn't had a MD in a looooong time so I got one. WOW... sweeter than I remembered. Well, it is made with REAL sugar.

Tim Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18025955088626052366tim@theplaymakers.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640404668022663567.post-15647701550379260122010-01-03T15:32:00.010-05:002010-01-03T19:10:46.693-05:002010-01-03T19:10:46.693-05:00

After my book Timeless Toys was published and the weight of actually meeting my editor's deadline lifted, I briefly contemplated doing two other books in a similar vein. The idea was to make them the same size as Timeless Toys so that the three books would sit side-by-side-by-side on a book shelf and lure readers back to childhood. The other two books would be Classic Candy and Simply Soda.

Tim Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18025955088626052366tim@theplaymakers.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640404668022663567.post-33744146934663825892009-12-05T10:38:00.008-05:002009-12-05T11:12:47.511-05:002009-12-05T11:12:47.511-05:00

Murray the dog was about to die, when Tom Wehrli taught him how to play with a circular hunk of plastic. The two of them traveled the world playing in Dog Disc competitions. They went to Korea, they tossed and caught in Amsterdam, twice in Japan. “Do you have any idea how many dogs Frisbee has saved?" Tom asked me when I interviewed him for my WHAM-O Super-Book. "All these dogs were sitting in

Tim Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18025955088626052366tim@theplaymakers.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640404668022663567.post-57372257429977075622009-12-04T15:53:00.000-05:002009-12-04T15:53:00.313-05:002009-12-04T15:53:00.313-05:00

Here's the audio from NPR. I was asked to comment on robotic rodents! I love my job.

Tim Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18025955088626052366tim@theplaymakers.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640404668022663567.post-66972753100597310252009-12-03T06:19:00.003-05:002009-12-03T06:22:44.382-05:002009-12-03T06:22:44.382-05:00

When I was 8-years old, my brother left for college and bequeathed me all his Iron Man comics. 'Nuff Said.

Tim Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18025955088626052366tim@theplaymakers.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640404668022663567.post-67577247360520789042009-12-02T15:27:00.010-05:002009-12-02T16:05:38.825-05:002009-12-02T16:05:38.825-05:00

Thank you Al Gore, for inventing this Internet thing. It really takes Word of Mouth Marketing, which in the past was known as powerful, but s-l-o-w, and made it quite timely. Take this little tale, for instance:This morning I got up early and headed to San Antonio to promote my game, Blurt! Before I left, I signed onto facebook and announced that I was headed this way. When I landed (after a "no

Tim Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18025955088626052366tim@theplaymakers.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640404668022663567.post-49807715048372878992009-11-23T13:52:00.013-05:002009-11-26T11:55:28.466-05:002009-11-26T11:55:28.466-05:00

Today is a day to reflect back, take stock in the present and acknowledge the gratitude we have for the millions of little things that make up a life. I can't possibly sum up the feelings of love and appreciation I have for my family, friends and the God who blessed me with them... in a blog post. You can't sum up a life, but a career? That's digestible.Last Friday night I had the incredible

Tim Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18025955088626052366tim@theplaymakers.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640404668022663567.post-4561794805012347582009-11-23T12:05:00.017-05:002009-12-01T02:45:13.535-05:002009-12-01T02:45:13.535-05:00

I've been on The John Williams Show numerous times over the past 15 years, but this one will go down as most memorable. I got to Tribune Tower early on Friday and stopped for a picture of the Showcase Studio before my segment.As you can see, the window at far left is intact as it reflects the white truck. I then headed into the studio reception area and relaxed.As I waited for the producer to

Tim Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18025955088626052366tim@theplaymakers.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640404668022663567.post-57971198877731786122009-11-22T09:53:00.002-05:002009-11-22T09:57:56.924-05:002009-11-22T09:57:56.924-05:00

I'm in the Windy City for the Chicago Toy and Game Fair and will post something in a few days on all the crazy details. Until then, here's a bit of fun on WGN TV!

Tim Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18025955088626052366tim@theplaymakers.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640404668022663567.post-88805466231107549952009-11-13T07:55:00.006-05:002009-11-13T08:08:39.665-05:002009-11-13T08:08:39.665-05:00

I was in our local Learning Express yesterday talking games with Mia McCormick of SNN News 6 and as we scanned the huge selection of games, we commented on our favorites. One that we both agreed on was a game called Sequence. There were others, but I'm curious to know what your favorites are.So what are your favorite games, and why?

Tim Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18025955088626052366tim@theplaymakers.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640404668022663567.post-54398996603521595582009-11-06T10:13:00.004-05:002009-11-06T10:20:08.603-05:002009-11-06T10:20:08.603-05:00

Maybe I'm obsessed with Mouse Trap because we've been editing our documentary film, TOYLAND which includes an interview with Burt Meyer, co-inventor of the game, but this commercial made me want to turn the crank on that classic piece of plastic. Thanks, Dave!

Tim Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18025955088626052366tim@theplaymakers.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640404668022663567.post-75659023278352471662009-11-04T12:38:00.004-05:002009-11-04T12:42:43.948-05:002009-11-04T12:42:43.948-05:00

Played some fun games on Daytime today with Dave Nemeth. Great guy! He really liked Djubi!Also check out:Jishaku: The Game of Magnetic Action from RSV Productions. Carefully place all your magnets before your opponent, but be careful! The magnetic force make the magnets AND YOU, jump! Suspenseful fun at its best. In my 20 years in the industry, I've never seen a strategy game that plays like a

Tim Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18025955088626052366tim@theplaymakers.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640404668022663567.post-8079892242788367032009-11-01T08:15:00.016-05:002009-11-01T18:03:17.977-05:002009-11-01T18:03:17.977-05:00

Checking a bag on United?$20Want an exit row seat on United?$15Peace of mind in knowing that The Great Pumpkin will be handling all the important procedures should we encounter an emergency?PRICELESS

Tim Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18025955088626052366tim@theplaymakers.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640404668022663567.post-6861538505866206772009-10-30T08:13:00.002-04:002009-10-30T08:19:38.825-04:002009-10-30T08:19:38.825-04:00

I'm in Minnesota, not far from the place where Tonka Trucks were first made, getting ready to head over to KARE TV for the Showcase Minnesota Show! Rob Hudson and I will be playing some fun games, including one of the biggest hits for this year.... Jishaku!Jishaku: The Game of Magnetic Action from RSV Productions. Carefully place all your magnets before your opponent, but be careful! The

Tim Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18025955088626052366tim@theplaymakers.com2