The iPhone and toys

April 23, 2009

So let me ask you this, is Leapfrog’s new iPhone product a toy? That’s what I asked myself as I read a Playthings news piece entitled: “LeapFrog unveils first iPhone game.” As the article states: “LeapFrog Enterprises has launched the first of several planned iPhone learning games available for download through the Apple App Store.”

The game is not physical, it is virtual. Yet, it is a toy company that is producing it. A very smart toy company, I might add, because creating applications for the iPhone platform is a hot way to go to market. Think about it: No cardboard, no plastic, no containers, no customs, no warehouse, no petroleum, no nothing…except atoms. They are selling atoms.

I think anything a toy company makes is a toy. I think that anything that allows people to play is a toy. Go Leapfrog. Go Toy Nation. Let the games begin…

Posted by Richard Gottlieb on April 23, 2009 | Comments (2)

May 6, 2009

In response to: The iPhone and toys
Mary Jo Reutter commented:

I disagree about the "toy" argument. Having both developed an award winning software title that really should fall into the "toy" category, I had frustration in marketing because everyone wanted to call it a "game." It doesn't fall into a traditional game category. The idea of embracing a new category of "toy" in the virtual space is exciting. Whether the title Leapfrog launched is truly a toy, I can't speak to. But I do know there's room for new categories and the iPhone is proving that every day.

April 23, 2009

In response to: The iPhone and toys
LeapYear commented:

If K'Nex makes an automobile that requires you to be 16 years old to drive is it a toy? I agree it is a great idea, but just because they are a toy company does not make everything a toy. Maybe you need to cut back to one blog a week. Less posts and more quality because some of these recent posts are just silly. It is like you make no effort at all or it seems like you are getting paid by certain vendors to push a product.