Skylanders is taking over the world, one junk food brand at a time.

Having already inked deals with General Mills for a new line of fruit snacks and Frito-Lay for a promotional contest this year, Activision is now teaming up with McDonald’s for the second year in a row to feature new collectible Skylanders toys as coveted Happy Meal prizes.

At McDonald’s fast food stops across the United States and Puerto Rico, a collection of eight different Skylanders toys will begin appearing in Happy Meals between March 28th and April 24th. Hungry, hungry Happy Mealers will also receive coupons for $10 off the Skylanders SWAP Force Starter Pack and $1 off a Skylanders game character.

The toy collection includes figures for Chompy, Eruptor, Free Ranger, Freeze Blade, Magna Charge, Prism Break, Rattle Shake and Wash Buckler. Browse the gallery underneath this sentence to see what they all look like.

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For the third year in a row, Activision is teaming up with Frito-Lay for a Skylanders promotional contest.

This year, the partnering companies are turning to the franchise’s dedicated fanbase to help choose and name a new playable character for the next Skylanders game due out sometime this year.

Until March 21st, you can visit www.fritolay.com/skylanders and first choose one of the three heroes (pictured in this post) you want to see as a character. From there you will make up your own name for the character and describe the inspiration behind the name in 200 characters or less. Then in May, a panel of judges will select one fan-created name for each character and the three finalists will be put up to a fan vote to choose the one hero that will be brought to life in the game.

Sometime later in the year, the top vote-getter will be revealed and the fan responsible for the submission will win a $100,000 scholarship, in addition to the immortality of having their named hero appear on packaging materials and in the game itself.

On the Frito-Lay side of the promotion, specially marked variety packs of snacks like Lay’s potato chips, SunChips, Doritos, Cheetos and Fritos will contain coupons for Skylanders products, as well as promotional information about the hero naming contest, throughout the spring while supplies last.

Which character is your favorite? And what would you name it?

The Skylanders brand is a juggernaut right now. With a portfolio of more than 175 licensees, the best-selling action figure line and video game franchise for kids continues to branch out and become even more unstoppable. And it doesn’t look like anything is going to stop it anytime soon.

Activision has now established relationships with Crayola and General Mills to further expand the Skylanders merchandising empire. Licensed Skylanders products already include things like carrying cases, game accessories, sleepwear, school supplies, lunch boxes and party supplies. With these new partnerships fans can look forward to Skylanders-themed coloring activities, as well as fruit snacks shaped like favorite characters from the game. Say wha?

• Activision and Crayola will introduce unique Skylanders-branded color and activity formats. The specialty line will include Crayola’s signature formats including Color Wonder, Giant Coloring Pages and Xtreme Coloring, among other new platforms and will be available this holiday at top retail channels worldwide.

• Starting in June, a new promotion with General Mills will release Skylanders-shaped Fruit Flavored Snacks to fans all over North America. This relationship marks Activision’s first entry into the category and will bring six character favorites, including Chompy, Gill Grunt, Jet Vac, Kaos, Stealth Elf and Eruptor to grocery stores, supermarkets, drug stores and mass market retailers.

So, who’s ready to scarf down some Skylanders fruit snacks? If it were 10 years ago I’d be all over these, but sadly nowadays my teeth just can’t take the chewy, sugary goodness anymore without aching.

Nintendo is putting together two new Wii U console bundles for the holiday shopping season.

In addition to the currently available limited edition Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD bundle, the Deluxe Wii U model will, as of November 1st, come in a new bundle containing New Super Mario Bros. U and New Super Luigi U on a single disc. The copies of the Mario and Luigi games will replace the existing Deluxe Set pack-in game Nintendo Land, which will have its retail price (in stores and on the eShop) dropped to $29.99, also starting on November 1st.

Rumored to be discontinued, the white Wii U Basic model will also return this holiday season in more of a family-focused bundle featuring a Skylanders: SWAP Force starter pack and a disc copy of Nintendo Land. This bundle is scheduled to hit retailers on November 15th.

Both of these new bundles will sell for $299.99.

Activision’s been playing coy about its plans for Call of Duty: Ghosts on the Wii U, leading many to believe that the blockbuster FPS, like countless other core third-party games coming out on those other consoles this fall, will not be appearing on Nintendo’s home gaming system. Well, we can finally put all the speculating to rest: Call of Duty: Ghosts will be available for Wii U, on November 5th, the same launch date as all the other platforms.

Ghosts leads a squad of five other Activision games due for Wii U release beginning this summer and continuing into the holiday season. However, the other games are about what you’d expect from a third-party publisher on a Nintendo platform: casual-gaming fluff that will no doubt range from good (Skylanders SWAP Force) to budget bin shovelware (Wipeout Create & Crash).

Activision’s upcoming Wii U roster goes a little something like this:

Call of Duty: Ghosts – Featuring an all-new world, story, characters and experiences, all powered by a new engine, Call of Duty: Ghosts is a stunning leap forward for the blockbuster franchise. For the first time in Call of Duty, gamers play as the underdog, fighting as part of a single squad against an enemy that has superior numbers and firepower. Call of Duty: Ghosts’ genre-defining multiplayer delivers gameplay innovations throughout, including dynamic map events, character customization and other features yet-to-be-announced. The title includes Wii Remote and second-screen Wii U GamePad support and more. Call of Duty: Ghosts is scheduled for release on November 5, on Wii U and is not yet rated by the ESRB.

Skylanders SWAP Force – Activision’s Skylanders SWAP Force continues to build upon the success of the award-winning franchise’s signature gameplay and collectible toy experience with the introduction of an innovative feature – dynamic swapability. Kids and gamers will have unprecedented levels of choice in how they explore Skylands and battle KAOS by swapping the top and bottom halves of the toys to transform 16 SWAP Force characters into more than 250 unique combinations. Set in a richly detailed world of next generation visual fidelity, Skylanders SWAP Force takes kids on an all-new adventure with 32 never-before-seen heroic characters that each offer unique powers and personalities. The game also features new abilities – such as flying, climbing, and teleporting – which can be used in special areas of Skylands. Additionally, fans can play with their entire collection of 100+, forward-compatible toys from both Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure® and Skylanders Giants. With Wii U, the GamePad allows fans to keep track of stats and view leaderboards, as well as fans’ character collections and upgrades – right in their hands. Additionally, the game is fully playable on the GamePad so kids can enjoy the game when other family members commandeer the TV. Skylanders SWAP Force is set to release in North America on October 13, Australia on October 16 and Europe on October 18 and is rated E10+ by the ESRB.

Angry Birds Trilogy – The game offers more than 100 hours of awesome Angry Birds action gameplay that spans the breadth of Angry Birds, Angry Birds Seasons and Angry Birds Rio titles, as well as 40 hours of bonus levels previously not on disc. The game features animated cut scenes and interactive backgrounds – all tailor-made in 1080p HD graphics with surround sound support. The new Wii U GamePad swap capability lets players use the GamePad touch screen controls to fling their birds with accuracy as they climb the online leaderboards for the world’s high scores. The game is scheduled for release on August 13, and is rated “E” (Everyone) by the ESRB.

Angry Birds Star Wars® – Join the Angry Birds in a galaxy far, far away… where a group of desperate rebel birds face off against a galactic menace: the Empire’s evil Pigtroopers! The game evolves the core game design and hilarious tone of previous entries in the series with new characters, challenges, and environments that pay homage to the iconic hallmarks of the Star Wars universe. This title adds twenty never-before-seen exclusive levels – on top of the already two-hundred from the original Angry Birds Star Wars® – and, for the first time ever, two new multiplayer modes. Play alongside your friend in cooperative mode to achieve a combined high score, or compete against family and friends (up to four players) in competitive mode. In addition, the game delivers online leaderboards, beautiful, high-definition graphics, and unlockable bonus levels, items and content. The game is scheduled to release on October 29, and is not yet rated by the ESRB.

SpongeBob SquarePants: Plankton’s Robotic Revenge -In this original story, Bikini Bottom’s very own Sheldon J. Plankton and his new legion of evil robots have destroyed the Krusty Krab and stolen the safe that houses the famous Krabby Patty formula. Join SpongeBob and his friends to locate the hidden keys for the safe before the secret is lost forever! Blending platforming, action, and puzzle-solving, SpongeBob SquarePants: Plankton’s Robotic Revenge features references and humor from the hit Nickelodeon TV animated series, as well as the voices from the show’s cast. Fans and gamers of all ages and skill levels can get together with co-op gameplay action, creating an experience that’s fun for everyone. Players can choose between their favorite Bikini Bottom characters including SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidward, Sandy, or Mr. Krabs as they scour the town hunting for hidden keys and collectibles. The game is expected to release this fall and is rated “E10+” (Everyone 10 and older-Cartoon Violence) by the ESRB.

Wipeout Create & Crash – Based on ABC’s popular TV game show, the game gives players greater control as they test their agility, endurance and abilities. For the first time ever, players can design, play, and share their very own chaotic courses with the all new Course Creator. Choose from easy, medium or hard obstacles and try to beat your course, and then share the unique code with your friends and family! In addition, compete as either fan-favorite or all-new characters in over-the-top new courses like Prehistoric Panic and Wipeouts Ahoy with all new themed obstacles. You can also challenge your friends to reign supreme in side-by-side or team local multiplayer! The game is expected to be released this fall and is rated “E10+” (Everyone 10 and older – Comic Mischief and Mild Cartoon Violence) by the ESRB.

Man, this whole Skylanders craze just won’t quit. I suppose it’s fitting, though, that Activision’s toy-based video game hit has teamed up with USAopoly for the franchise’s next cross-promotional endeavor.

Yep, Skylanders is the latest licensed property to inspire a special edition of Hasbro’s most famous board game, Monopoly. Skylanders Monopoly, available now throughout North America for $39.99, follows traditional Monopoly rules, only with huts instead of houses, castles instead of hotels, and collectible metal game pieces and board properties inspired by characters and locales from the Skylanders universe. For example, Thumpback’s Thundering Tide Pool and Zap’s Lightning Race Track take the places of Boardwalk and Park Place, the two most sought after properties in the game.

Below you will find more details about the game’s board features, along with additional product images.

Key Features:

• Custom Skylanders-Licensed Design: The Monopoly®: Skylanders box top and game board showcase custom art featuring the most popular Skylanders characters, so fans can jump right into the world of Skylands.

• Familiar Monopoly Gameplay: Players will buy, sell and trade popular locations based on characters in the world of Skylanders.

• Re-imagined Locations and Game Pieces: The game board includes 22 “newly discovered” Skylands locations such as Stealth Elf’s Ninja Dojo, Chop Chop’s Boneyard, and Trigger Happy’s Bank Vault, while other classic features such as metal game tokens, the Community Chest and Chance cards have all been reimagined for the fast-paced, high stakes world of Monopoly.

• Unique Collectible Metal Game Tokens: The familiar game tokens that players use to navigate through the game board have been completely redesigned for Skylanders fans. Players may choose to use one of six collectible metal tokens — KAOS, Sheep, Cannon, Pirate Ship, Swords or Chompie — as they traverse the world of Monopoly®: Skylanders.

Game Board:

• Boardwalk: Thumpback’s Thundering Tide Pool
• Park Place: Zap’s Lightning Race Track
• Green: Stealth Elf’s Ninja Dojo, Tree Rex’s Tree house, Stump Smash’s Nut Crackers
• Yellow: Chop Chop’s Boneyard, Cynder’s Haunted House, Eye Brawl’s Optometry
• Red: Eruptor’s Hot Springs, Hot Dog’s Lemonade Stand, Ignitor’s Medieval BBQ
• Orange: Trigger Happy’s Bank Vault, Drobot’s Oil Change, Bouncer’s Roboball Court
• Magenta: Spyro’s Chompy Diner, Pop Fizz Flavor Laboratory, Ninjini’s Bottle Shop
• Light Blue: Lightening Rod’s Cloud Gym, Jet-Vac’s Indoor Skydiving, Whirlwind’s Rainbow Lounge
• Brown: Terrafin’s Mud Spa, Crusher’s Home Improvement
• Railroads: Flynn’s Blimp Tours, Air-Pirate Express, Molekin Mine Train, Dread Yacht Delivery Service
• Comm. Chest: Treasure Chest
• Chance: Luck-O-Tron
• Electric Co: Core of Light Electric
• Waterworks: Drill-X’s Boxed Beats
• Income Tax: Auric’s Traveling Store Taxes
• Luxury Tax: Persephone’s Gem Shop
• Custom Money: Gold Coins
• Houses: Renamed as Huts
• Hotels: Renamed as Castles
• Dice: Traditional
• Tokens: KAOS, Sheep, Cannon, Pirate Ship, Swords, Chompie

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Skylanders Giants is the videogame equivalent of one of those hustlers fronting a three-card monte operation on a New York street corner. As you stand there watching exactly how you’re totally being taken, you can’t help but admire the speed and expert design by which it’s all happening.

The difference is that Giants doesn’t deal in quickly flipped cards and your spare five-dollar bills; it offers cute collectible figures at $10-15 a pop and then serves up a game that all but forces you to buy a stack of them to enjoy the full experience.

Because of that irresistible collect-‘em-all vibe, Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure was at once a colorful wonderland for tech-loving kids, the bane of some parents’ existence and one of 2011’s surprise sales-figure champions. Given that Activision never met a franchise it didn’t want to ride into the ground like the second coming of Secretariat, it’s not at all surprising to see the sequel appearing a mere year later. Hell, the massive surplus of original Skylanders figures hasn’t even been discounted out of your local Target and Toys R Us yet.

And that’s okay, because the figures you amassed last year are fortunately compatible with the new 16-chapter adventure offered up in Skylanders Giants. (The Giants, obviously, aren’t compatible with Spyro’s Adventure.) The action revolves around the history of how the new Giants, eight new oversized and powerful figures, were separated from their teenier brethren by the mists of time. Mostly, it’s just a new and inviting excuse to tool around a new set of colorful environments, smashing everything in sight and pummeling on Kaos some more. Four of the eight Giants have yet to debut at retail.

They certainly look impressive, with their “lightcore” technology that filters the light from the no-longer wireless Portal of Power up through the figure, illuminating eyes, jewels and weaponry. They play pretty well, too. As you’d expect, they’re more powerful than your standard Skylander in the game—they can heft and hurl boulders, reveal hidden areas by pounding the ground and pummel boss monsters in ten seconds or less. Appropriately, they’re also plodding as hell. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you’re going to ace a timed hero challenge with T.Rex, the woodsy Giant who comes packed in the starter set.

The Portal of Power mechanic is as amazing as it ever was. I’m still awed that Activision managed to make these collectible figures non-platform specific—that’ a stroke of genius that ensures Wii and 360 kids can always play co-op or versus together. It seems to work smoother with Giants as well—none of the jerks and hiccups in gameplay that sometimes accompanied rapid character switches in Spyro’s Adventure. Even with copious amounts of jump pads sprinkled throughout the game’s environment, it’s still jarring that none of the Skylanders can jump. (Shades of the original GoldenEye!)

Other touches seem baldly capitalistic, like the fact that more than half of the 48 “new” figures are actually familiar characters with new poses. Sure, the lightcore versions of these figures look extra cool when they’re camped on the Portal of Power, but if you already own Stealth Elf, it’s not like her lightcore variant unlocks a new section of gameplay—it’s just another version for completists to add to the shelf alongside your basic and legendary versions. It’s easy to imagine how another 6-10 months of development could have yielded a full roster of new and interesting Skylanders. Clearly, that didn’t fit the Holiday 2012 business plan.

The game’s soul gems, meanwhile, are just plain insidious. As before, every one you find unlocks an in-game commercial for a character you probably don’t yet own. And just like that, ShroomBoom isn’t a dopey dude with a slingshot; he’s a gotta-have addition to your collection. Cha-ching.

Younger gamers, the ones who make up Giants primary target audience, aren’t likely to care about these things. Neither will the parents who sit down and play a few co-op levels with them—when you get right down to it, Skylanders remains one of the best ways to experience that addictive Diablo vibe with your children (or on your own) sans splashes of blood and half-clad demonic succubi.

Still, every one of Activision’s franchises eventually hits a tipping point, that magic moment where it either has to evolve and offer something different (think Call of Duty: Black Ops II) or face inevitable development extinction (think Guitar and DJ Hero). Skylanders Giants doesn’t quite reach that point, but unless there’s a major overhaul of the gameplay and presentation, the next entry in the series likely will.

Pros:
+ RPG-lite gameplay formula remains entertaining
+ New Giant figures add an entertaining new wrinkle to the mix
+ Lightcore figures look awesome

Cons:
– Not a lot of innovation
– New figure series features a ton of new poses for figures you probably already own
– Um, why can’t we jump?

Game Info:
Platform: Reviewed on Xbox 360, also available for Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Wii/Wii U and PS3
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Toys for Bob/Vicarious Visions/n-Space
Release Date: 10/21/2012
Genre: RPG
ESRB Rating: E10+
Players: 1-2
Source: Review copy provided by publisher

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Mario Tennis Open (Nintendo 3DS):
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Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion (Nintendo 3DS):
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Risen 2: Dark Waters (PC, PS3, Xbox 360):
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Aliens: Colonial Marines (PC, PS3, Xbox 360):
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Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City – Spec Ops DLC (PS3, Xbox 360):
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Mass Effect 3: Resurgence Pack (PC, PS3, Xbox 360):
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Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning – Teeth of Naros DLC (PC, PS3, Xbox 360):
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XCOM: Enemy Unknown (PC, PS3, Xbox 360):
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Spec Ops: The Line (PC, PS3, Xbox 360):
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Way of the Samurai 4 (PS3):
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Ninja Gaiden 3 – DLC 1 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360):
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Double Dragon: Neon (PSN, XBLA):
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Marvel Pinball: Avengers Chronicles – World War Hulk (XBLA, PS3 and PS Vita via PSN):
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Pokémon Conquest (Nintendo DS):
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Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure -Warnado, Camo and Wham-Shell Toys (3DS, PC, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360):
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Skylanders Cloud Patrol (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch):
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FIFA Soccer 12 – UEFA EURO 2012 Digital Expansion (PC, PS3, Xbox 360):
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Primal Carnage (PC, PSN, XBLA):
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The Witch and the Hundred Knights (PS3):
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Mugen Souls (PS3):
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Legasista (PS3):
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