Lower-cost toys finding favour

Moxie Girlz Dolls and the Zhu Zhu pet hamster.

A magnetic battle robot, an "individual" doll and a puzzle word game are expected to be top sellers this Christmas, one of the country's leading toy distributors says.

Jeremy Kirk-Smith, the chief executive of Planet Fun, said the economic situation meant people were spending less on each item compared with previous years - but it wasn't stopping them from spending.

"It has been a tough year for many Kiwi families." he said.

"We've found that while kids aren't missing out, people are definitely more careful about how much they spend and smart about the brands they choose ... Toys $60 or under with well-known brands take up the most space under the Christmas tree in 2009."

Mr Kirk-Smith said inexpensive "pocket-money brands" made a big comeback this year, with the collectible Gogo's Crazy Bones toy featuring as the fastest-selling product.

Mr Kirk-Smith's predictions for this Christmas are based on overseas trends and sales throughout the year.

Top pick is Bakugan Battle Brawlers starter pack, recommended to retail at $27.99.

Popular for boys in primary school, Bakugan are small spheres that pop open into powerful Bakugan monster action figures when rolled on to the game's magnetic cards. G-Force points are added up to reveal the winner.

Moxie Girlz Dolls, selling from $34, are next. Some models allow girls to personalise and colour their clothes to create individual looks.

Third is Bananagrams Word Game, an anagram game that comes with a zip-up banana as packaging and retails for about $30.

In fourth place, the Ben 10 Ultimate Omnitrix, about $50, is a watch with which children can become Ben 10 and help defend the planet, according to its promotional blurb.

It has a mini translucent figure that attaches to the watch, lights up and unlocks each alien's special sound.

Gogo's Crazy Bones, selling from about $8 and touted as the fifth most popular toy, are small packs of colourful characters, each with a unique face and name. Apparently there are hundreds to collect.

LeapFrog Scribble & Write, in sixth place, sells for about $58.

It teaches how to write upper- and lower-case letters. Children press the letter they want to write and a light on the screen shows them how to do it, together with verbal coaching.

Ripstik Caster Board ($220) has been compared to snowboarding on dry land. The independently rotating platforms and two inclined caster wheels generate speed and create a carving motion on the pavement while allowing tight twists without pushing.

Mixi Chix Fashion House, in eighth place, sells for about $70.

It's an innovation from Beados, the small-bead craft that became the top seller last year. Mixi Chix are similar to Beados in that the pieces stick together after a spray of water, but these are doll parts instead of beads.

Pony in My Pocket Little Homes, ninth favourite, is about $18 and is a collection of small pony toys to collect, with Little Homes that connect and stack to build a pony neighbourhood.

At tenth is the Tech Deck Sk8 Shop Bonus Pack, about $30, replica skateboard collectibles.

Toyworld was reluctant to reveal its annual "Top 20" list before the list is made public this week.

But an Auckland store manager said the more popular toys included the Sylvanian Families Pleasure Boat, revised board game Monopoly City, Lego's Space Police game and metallic game Battle Strikers and the Devastator toy from Transformers.

TOP TEN CHRISTMAS GIFTS OF 2009

1. Bakugan Battle Brawlers starter pack (below) - RRP: $27.99
2. Moxie Girlz Dolls - RRP: from $34
3. Bananagrams Word Game - RRP: $29.99
4. Ben 10 Ultimate Omnitrix - RRP: $49.99
5. Gogo's Crazy Bones RRP - from $7.99
6. LeapFrog Scribble & Write - RRP: $57.99
7. Ripstik Caster Board- RRP: $219.99
8. Mixi Chix Fashion House - RRP: $69.99
9. Pony in My Pocket Little Homes - RRP: $17.99
10. Tech Deck Sk8 Shop Bonus Pack - RRP: $29.99

ZHU ZHU HERE IN FEBRUARY

A furry worldwide phenomenon, the Zhu Zhu Pet mechanical hamster (above), will not be making it to these shores this Christmas because of overseas demand.

It is so popular that New Zealand suppliers can't get stocks of it until next year.

Toy distributor Planet Fun's chief executive Jeremy Kirk-Smith said Zhu Zhu Pets - a mechanical hamster with "artificial intelligence" - was the number one toy on the planet.

Stocks have been selling out so fast that distributors can't get enough to supply the New Zealand market until February.

"These things have gone absolutely crazy," he said. "They're really neat. It's what I call a toy of the decade."

Selling for between $20-$30, the pets come with accessories, such as tracks and playgrounds, which cost about the same.

The hamsters make up to 40 sounds, "drive around in cars, zip up ramps and spin down slides, run in their hamster wheels and get into all sorts of crazy situations", the website reads.