Wiisdom: October 2013

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Skylanders SWAP Force Legendary Zoo Lou and Legendary Night Shift Release Dates via Toys'R'Us Wish Finder

Hey Everyone!

In the event I don't get to upload anything else before Thursday...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

I really do enjoy Halloween..It is a great time of the year and a lot of fun.

This video is kind of a cross between a Channel Update and a Heads Up on some new Skylanders SWAP Force Related News.

^The video is taking a long time to process, just use the link until I can embed it etc.^

I will highlight everything with some quick cliff notes to the video.

Channel Update

General Info
-I am 100% Caught Up on the SWAP Force Unboxings
-All the Info and some cool, exclusive pics can be found here on the blog
-I will get back on the Blog Polls as soon as time allows
-I have recorded a little past Chapter 1 in SWAP Force WiiU
--I will edit and upload that ASAP now that I'm caught up on unboxings
-I've got really cool stuff planned for the previously mentioned Blog Polls
-I'll get to the blog comments tonight if all goes well

Skylanders SWAP Force WiiU
-I will likely be doing a "Series" format for SWAP Force
--The Playthrough will be a Series (Part 1-?? etc)
--The Character Introductions will be a Series (Part 1-??)
--Extra Modes will also likely be independent Series
---This is my decision to try and accommodate the really high # of new characters and SWAP combos etc, while keeping the playthrough flowing well...

Skylanders SWAP Force 3DS
-The 3DS Version of SWAP Force is AWESOME!
-I can't tell you how cool and convenient having the entire collection handy has been
-I am really enjoying the story and gameplay thus far

Halloween 2013
-I will be going as Steve/Stevie from Minecraft for Halloween-My Nephew will be an Enderman, also from Minecraft
-There are a lot of Skylander "off the shelf" options and limitless custom routes
--If you made your own Skylander costume, send me pics and I'll feature it on the blog!!
---Do the same with any Skylander Pumpkins

Toys'R'Us Wish Finder
-They mailed their Wish Finder (Christmas Gift Book) today (10/29/2013)
--Skylanders SWAP Force is HEAVILY FEATURED in the Wish Finder
---The special mailing includes a really nice character poster/checklist
-The Wish Finder itself has the same poster/checklist, just not on as thick a paper
-The featured character on the front is Wash Lou (yep, watch the video to see what I mean)

TRU Legendary Release Dates
-Legendary Zoo Lou is out this Sunday, November 3rd, 2013
-Legendary Night Shift is out next Sunday, November 10th, 2013
-A TRU Exclusive Dino-Rang is out Sunday, November 17th, 2013
--I don't know if this is standard fare just on a new production run and they will be the only store to get him, or if they have slightly tweaked the boomerangs etc...watch the vid for details...I will update you on anything I learn

TRU Bonus Stuff
-Free PowerA Show & Go Case with purchase of $50 in Skylanders Merch
-Free Limited Edition S2 Gill Grunt with purchase of $100 in Skylanders Merch

Conclusion

There is a little more info in there, but it is 620 AM and I'm pretty tired...The internet connection is super slow, so the video may take awhile to process and go live...I will add pics from the Wish Finder tomorrow.

I hope everyone has a great Halloween!! Remember, send in any Skylander related costumes or pumpkins to get them featured on the blog! Don't forget to head to TRU this Sunday to pick up Legendary Zoo Lou!

Monday, October 28, 2013

Skylanders SWAP Force Unboxing Series 3 Mega Ram Spyro

What: Mega Ram Spyro, Magic Element, Series 3 Skylander
Where Did You Get It? Special Delivery
What Did It Cost? $9.99 plus tax
What Was Stock Like? Well Stocked!
What is Included: Mega Ram Spyro, Stat Card, and Sticker Sheet

Unboxing Mega Ram Spyro

Mega Ram Spyro
Magic Element, Series 3 Skylander

Slogan: "All Fired Up!"

Card Stats
Power: 75/200
Armor: 60/200
Agility: 110/200
Luck: 65/200
Totals: 310/800

Dark Spyro (S3), and Mega Ram Spyro

Spyro, Dark Spyro (S1), Dark Spyro (S3), S3 Mega Ram Spyro, Legendary Spyro (S1), Spyro (S2)

Skylanders SWAP Force Unboxing Series 3 Anchors Away Gill Grunt

What: Anchors Away Gill Grunt, Water Element, Series 3 Skylander
Where Did You Get It? Toys'R'Us
What Did It Cost? $10.99 plus tax (BOGO40%)
What Was Stock Like? Well Stocked!
What is Included: Anchors Away Gill Grunt, Stat Card, and Sticker Sheet

Unboxing S3 Anchors Away Gill Grunt

Anchors Away Gill Grunt
Water Element, Series 3 Skylander

Slogan: "Fear the Fish!"

Card Stats
Power: 105/200
Armor: 80/200
Agility: 40/200
Luck: 95/200
Totals: 320/800

Back: Gill Grunt (S1), Gill Runt (SSA Sidekick), S2 Gill Grunt, Front: Anchors Away Gill Grunt

Skylanders SWAP Force Unboxing Series 3 Big Bang Trigger Happy

What? Big Bang Trigger Happy, Tech Element, Series 3 Skylander
Where Did You Get It? Toys'R'Us
What Did It Cost? $10.99 plus tax (BOGO40%)
What Was Stock Like? Well Stocked!
What is Included? Big Bang Trigger Happy, Stat Card, and Sticker Sheet

Unboxing S3 Big Bang Trigger Happy

Big Bang Trigger Happy
Tech Element, Series 3 Skylander

Slogan: "No Gold, No Glory!"

Card Stats
Power: 100/200
Armor: 30/200
Agility: 70/200
Luck: 120/200
Totals: 320/800

Legendary Trigger Happy (S1), Big Bang Trigger Happy (S3), Trigger Happy (S2), Trigger Snappy (SSA Sidekick), Trigger Happy (S1)

Skylanders SWAP Force Unboxing Series 3 Twin Blade Chop Chop

What? Twin Blade Chop Chop, Undead Element, Series 3 Skylander
Where Did You Get It? Toys'R'Us
What Did It Cost? $10.99 plus tax (BOGO40%)
What Was Stock Like? Well Stocked!
What is Included? Twin Blade Chop Chop, Stat Card, and Sticker Sheet

Unboxing S3 Twin Blade Chop Chop

Twin Blade Chop Chop
Undead Element, Series 3 Skylander

Slogan: "Slice and Dice!"

Card Stats
Power: 95/200
Armor: 130/200
Agility: 70/200
Luck: 25/200
Totals: 320/800

Skylanders SWAP Force Unboxing Series 3 Lava Barf Eruptor

What? Lava Barf Eruptor, Fire Element, Series 3 Skylander
Where Did You Get It? Special Delivery
What Did It Cost? $9.99 plus tax
What Was Stock Like? Well Stocked!
What is Included? Lava Barf Eruptor, Stat Card, and Sticker Sheet

Lava Barf Eruptor
Fire Element, Series 3 Skylander

Slogan: " Born to Burn!"

Card Stats
Power: 110/200
Armor: 95/200
Agility: 35/200
Luck: 70/200
Totals: 310/800

Back: S1 Eruptor, LightCore Eruptor, Volcanic Eruptor, S2 Eruptor

Front: S3 Lava Barf Eruptor

Back: S1 Eruptor, LC Eruptor, S2 Eruptor

Front: Volcanic Eruptor, S3 Lava Barf Eruptor

Skylanders SWAP Force Unboxing Series 2 Heavy Duty Sprocket

What? Heavy Duty Sprocket, Tech Element, Series 2 Skylander
Where Did You Get It? Special Delivery
What Did It Cost? $9.99 plus tax
What Was Stock Like? Well Stocked!
What is Included? Heavy Duty Sprocket, Stat Card, and Sticker Sheet

Unboxing S2 Heavy Duty Sprocket

Heavy Duty Sprocket
Tech Element, Series 2 Skylander

Slogan: "The Fix is In!"

Card Stats
Power: 80/200
Armor: 140/200
Agility: 50/200
Luck: 50/200
Totals: 320/800

Sprocket (Giants-S1), Heavy Duty Sprocket (SF-S2)

Skylanders SWAP Force Unboxing Series 2 Super Gulp Pop Fizz

What? Super Gulp Pop Fizz, Magic Element, Series 2 Skylander
Where Did You Get It? Special Delivery
What Did It Cost? $9.99 plus tax
What Was Stock Like? Well Stocked!
What is Included? Super Gulp Pop Fizz, Stat Card, and Sticker Sheet

Super Gulp Pop Fizz
Magic Element, Series 2 Skylander

Slogan: "Motion of the Potion!"

Card Stats
Power: 80/200
Armor: 50/200
Agility: 50/200
Luck: 130/200
Totals: 310/800

Back: Punch Pop Fizz, LightCore Pop Fizz, Pop Fizz

Front: Super Gulp Pop Fizz

Skylanders SWAP Force Unboxing Series 2 Blizzard Chill

What? Blizzard Chill, Water Element, Series 2 Skylander
Where Did You Get It? Special Delivery
What Did It Cost? $9.99 plus tax
What Was Stock Like? Well Stocked!
What is Included? Blizzard Chill, Stat Card, and Sticker Sheet

Unboxing S2 Blizzard Chill

Blizzard Chill
Tech Element, Series 2 Skylander

Slogan: "Stay Cool!"

Card Stats
Power: 45200
Armor: 120/200
Agility: 50/200
Luck: 95/200
Totals: 310/800

Back: Legendary LightCore Chill, Chill (S1-Giants), LightCore Chill, Front: Blizzard Chill

Checking Out Frito-Lay's Halloween Fright Rider Promotion

This is a follow up to the post I made back in September about Frito-Lay's Halloween Fright Rider Special Edition Figure: https://www.1ofwiisdom.com/2013/09/frito-lay-spearheads-halloween-with.html

I said it in the video, on Twitter, and even in the video description if anyone reads those...

But a big thanks to Tim, Arlene, and Anthony from Riverside, California!

Checking Out Frito-Lay's Halloween Fright Rider Promo Bags

They had seen my tweets back-and-forth with Frito-Lay inquiring about the whereabouts of the Fright Rider promotional bags and felt for me...They appreciated the videos I've made in the past and heads up I try to give everyone on Skylander deals...

They actually sent me a code to try and win Fright Rider. I would have been quite content knowing that people appreciated what I do enough to even think of sending a code, but the fact that it won makes things even better! Tim got his wife, Arlene hooked on the game after his brother Anthony introduced it to him...It has turned into a nice little hobby/obsession like it has for so many of us. It is people like this, despite being relatively few and far in between, that make up for all the scalpers and ebay pirates in the world. You always hear the negative, but rarely the good, when it does happen. So again, a big thanks to Anthony, Arlene, and Tim for helping me out here!

I literally was at the point of throwing in the towel on this one...I had been looking since day one and never found signs of these bags existing locally. I got to a point where I checked with a stoker at Target and two managers at my local grocery stores...They reported the same thing I had seen, no signs of them...

My stores have always had plenty of stock here lately, the stock has even been Halloween themed with Frankenstein on the bag...However, this past week those bags were gone and they were back to Classic and Flavor Mix bags with no promo at all.

By whatever freak chance of nature, my Toys'R'Us had just gotten bags in?! I thought it was weird and the employees shared my shock...They actually couldn't get the bags to ring up with the UPC or an item code and had to manually enter it. The chips were there with the PowerA SWAP Force gear and I guess it was the Ancient Portal Masters looking down on me...Granted this was a few days AFTER Tim and Arlene sent over a code, BUT it gave me the chance to bring this to light and alert all of you to check your local Toys'R'Us, as odd as that still seems.

The Quick Draw Rattle Shake bags have already been hitting stores across the country, but I've once again yet to see a sign of them in my area. I will now actually check Toys'R'Us in the event they are specifically getting the special, promotional bags.

The price was $6.99, which is actually what standard fare is around my area, although they routinely go "on sale" for $5.99. I am quite happy with the purchase and I am still blown away by the generosity of Tim and Arlene for sending in a code just to try and help.

If you are in, or around the Riverside, California area, I suggest you check out their Facebook page to help area Skylander fans.

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Review of PowerA's Skylanders SWAP Force Stackable Tackle Box

What: PowerA's Skylanders SWAP Force Stackable Tackle Box
Where Did You Get It: Toys'R'Us
What Did It Cost: $24.99 plus tax
What Was Stock Like: Decent Stock
Any Sales: Yes! Spend $25 on Skylanders or Accessories and get a FREE Show & Go Case

Overview of PowerA's Skylanders SWAP Force Stackable Takcle Box and Show & Go Case

Despite how cool the new PowerA line up items are for SWAP Force, I noticed a recurring trend amongst followers...The most interesting item PowerA had that was a "must buy" was not Flynn's Ship or the FunPlay HideAway, but rather the Stackable Tackle Box.

No one can deny how cool Flynn's Ship or the Island Display set is (especially if stores set up a demo, or the packaging has a good detailed view...I've seen both in person and I think they will be hot ticket items for Christmas), but there is something else no one can deny...

If you are a Skylanders veteran, or SWAP Force hooks you on the series, you are going to have a LOT of Skylanders. For those of us who have been around since SSA, or even many that discovered the series with Giants, space is at a premium.

Most of us can only display a select few of our very favorite Skylanders, or rotate out "the display." This means that a lot of your Skylanders need a nice, safe place to reside when they aren't on the Portal of Power being called upon to thwart one of Kaos' plans for world domination and the spread of "The Darkness."

I've seen some folks using boxes and bags...Others pick up Stanley tool boxes to sort the collection some...My method is those cheap $2 shoe containers from Target...although I do keep the giants in a shoe box...It has the hinged lid and fits the taller giants perfectly while standing upgright...

However, what if I were to tell you that your Skylander Collection could be stored safely, neatly, and organized all at the same time? Want all your Legendary and "special" figures together? Or do you prefer to sort by Element? Maybe you like to divide things up by the game, keeping Green, Orange, and Blue based Skylanders apart...

Regardless of your method, PowerA's Stackable Tackle Box has you covered!

Not only will this house a lot of Skylanders, it is adjustable so you can sort them as you please and maximize the interior real estate for either maximum capacity, or optimum showcasing!

The biggest perk though is going up...The Stackable Tackle box allows users to purchase multiple units and stack their Skylanders with the same, small foot print of floor space!

The top lid has a raised lip around the entire perimeter to keep the above box perfectly in place. Working double duty, the Stackable Tackle Box has small risers on the bottom that anchor perfectly when stacked inside the lip of the case below.

The lid is a SWAP Force green with Elemental logos etched onto the surface....it is very sharp. The lid is held in place with two side clasps and a frontal slide tab (great insurance for the times the case may be grabbed by the lid without the side clasps secure. It is very light and easy to carry with hand pockets just below the two side clasps.

The interior consists of black plastic dividers. The longitudinal dividers are fixed into place with pre-positioned slots for smaller, dividers to slide in place. You can choose to configure it as is (nice capacity and accommodating several sizes of figures), or custom tailor it to your needs.

Can you name all the Skylanders? See anything else out of place?

The other perk is as opposed to a tool box, molded case, shoe box, or any other work around, the PowerA case features full character artwork on 3 sides! This, coupled with the lid, makes for a very slick setup that is sure to please any Skylander fan.

Coming from PowerA you know the quality will be there and you'll have years of service from the product. When not used solely for "storage" the cases work great as a "transit" to get those all important favorite characters to a friend's house or cross country on a trip.

I picked mine up Thursday night and thanks to the promotion at Toys'R'Us (Spend $25 on Skylanders or Skylander Accessories) I was able to land a FREE PowerA Skylanders SWAP Force Show & Go Case. This is great for quick trips and kids who have a vested interest in checking out their favorite characters. It isn't the same great solution for mass storage, but will work perfectly to keep a few characters and most importantly, take them on the go with you!

The Show & Go Case retails for $14.99 and features clear, see-through windows on both the front and back sides to allow for easy viewing. The center has a nice, sturdy velcro divider that can be used, or removed. Both the front and back sides have independent zippers to help keep things extra secure. Up top you will find a nice, stitched handle to easily carry around a few of your favorite characters.

Something to note on both products is that I believe their estimates on "holds up to xx Characters" has been greatly under rated. I could easily exceed the limits on either case and feel fine doing so...

My local stores have yet to get the big ticket items like Flynn's Ship or the island based FunPlay HideAway, but be sure to check them out when you get the chance...I am one of the few to see them in person, and I'm not sure the picture and videos really do it justice...I think you will be very impressed if you check it out in person!

That said, the buzz among veterans was correct...This Stackable Tackle Box is a great storage solution for any Skylanders collection. It looks great and performs its task quite efficiently.

Skylanders SWAP Force Unboxing LightCore Warnado

What: LightCore Warnado
Where Did You Get It? Toys'R'Us
What Did It Cost? $13.99 plus tax (BOGO40%)
What Was Stock Like? Well Stocked!
What is Included: Warnado, Stat Card, and Sticker Sheet

Unboxing LightCore Warnado

Warnado
Air Element, SSA Original, Absent in Giants, LC in SF

Slogan: "For the Wind"

Card Stats
Power: 60/200
Armor: 130/200
Agility: 100/200
Luck: 45/200
Totals: 335/800

On the Portal, Front Side View:

On the Portal, Backside View: