Insights and Observations
One of my favorite pastimes is thinking about things. Sometimes I write those things down!
A Beanie Baby Birthday
The little stuffed animals that saw us through Y2K are back! Get in the Ford Taurus and join Arch on a nostalgic safari through his local gift shops.
25 Years of Furby
Hasbro has put a whole new generation of alien fluffballs up for adoption. What did it mean in 1998? What does it mean now? Wax poetic with Uncle Arch about Christmas, family, and robots.
Becoming a Monster: The Return of Monster High
It’s 2022 and the Monster High ghouls are set to sashay away from the grave and back out onto store shelves. Will Frankie and friends once again catch lightning in a bottle?
D&D x Yahtzee: An Unexpectedly Thoughtful Tie-In
WotC owner Hasbro has been trying to leverage the sustained modern success of Dungeons & Dragons for several years now. A special edition Yahtzee game is an unexpected indication that they are beginning to understand where the game’s charm comes from.
The Trading Card Game Avalanche of the Early 2000s
In the wake of Pokémon’s runaway success, the early 2000s brought us some very unusual and unexpected trading card game tie-ins. Time has proven that they can’t all be zingers.
Disney Magic Enters the TCG Space
A beautiful new trading card game is coming in fall 2023, but will it have the staying power of time-honored heavy-hitters like Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering? Ravensburger and Disney make a big gamble to bring a portfolio of beloved characters to life in the form of collectible cardboard.