Toys are probably one of the best
inventions since the automobile.
Through the
many years of toy making, the variety and
market have no doubt increased by a
very large amount over the last few
years. The first toys were made of cast
iron
and showed up a little after the Civil
War. They stayed in the market for quite
a few years before being mostly replaced
with rubber, plastics, and tin. Most
toys nowadays are completly made of some
kind of plastic by-product, or diecast
metal. Allthough I don't collect
toys myself, I know many people who
do. It's
pretty easy to meet toy collectors when
you run a small toy shop. We have had
many interesting toys and people come
through our doors. Mainly diecast car
collectors. We occasionally get action
figure, lead figure, doll, plush and tin
toy collectors in, but not as often as
die-cast collectors.
Other than die-cast, some of the
best-sellers are the original Star Wars
figures, Mego figures, model trains,
Barbie, and Tonka. We don't only sell
collectables. Actually, our main idea is
to cater to the general puplic. Our
prices are pretty reasonable, for
example, we usually sell our action
figures
with all of their original acsessories
for around $3.00 each. Die-cast cars
usually go for about $.99 MIP, while
loose die-cast cars sell for around $.69.
We don't get too many MIP cars in
however, because we usually buy them off
of
collectors. Yes, after many years toys
are still around and selling well, and
collectors are still wheeling and
dealing.
And I hope it stays this way. Yeah, I
probably won't start collecting for
awhile, but when I do, I'll probably
collect old Hot Wheels. That, or else
Mego
figures. But everyone knows that
it's pretty hard to collect what you're
trying
to sell, and for that reason I think I'll
stick to buying and selling for the
time being.
Anyway I should probably be going now,
for there are shelves that need dusting,
toys that need cleaning, and lunch that
needs eating. So fare-well, fellow
toy-goons, and happy collecting!
-Mystery Toys-
Sandy and Dustin Kamps, owners
Penticton, B.C. Canada
PH# (250)770-2007
e-mail: mysterytoys@telus.net
|
| SEGA
ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF NEW COMPANY,
SEGA.COM, INC.; OFFERS REBATE ON SEGA
DREAMCAST HARDWARE FOR SEGANET ISP
SUBSCRIBERS New
Company Poised to Lead Online Console
Gaming, Redefine Industry Business Model
LAS VEGAS
(April 4, 2000) -- Continuing its mission
to drive the future of console gaming,
Sega® today announced at the company's
annual retailer summit a bold move with
the formation of Sega.com, Inc., a new
online interactive entertainment company
whose goal is to become the definitive
online destination for gamers.
Sega.com™, a privately held,
independent company will share marketing
resources with Sega leveraging the strong
brand equity and installed base of two
million Sega Dreamcast™ systems in
the U.S.
At the
core of Sega.com, is SegaNet™, the
only high-speed online console gaming
network, which will offer gamers 3D
multiplayer games, chat, community, cheat
codes, tournaments and content. SegaNet
is also an ISP service for Sega Dreamcast
and PC users, offering gamers the best in
speed, consistent low latency, customer
service and access to all other areas of
the web, including personal e-mail
(name@sega.net). Additionally, SegaNet
will provide gamers content on
complementary areas of interest,
including music, TV, movies, sports and
e-commerce.
The
Triple Threat
Sega.com is the only company with all
three necessary ingredients for success -
the delivery system, SegaNet; the
proprietary hardware and delivery system,
Sega Dreamcast; and the best videogame
content available in the market.
"We've got the Internet playing
field all to ourselves for at least the
next 18 months, during which time we will
become ingrained in consumers lives via
SegaNet and our compelling online
content, introduce them to the online
gameplay experience via a console and
further cement their loyalty to Sega - a
brand they already know and love,"
said Peter Moore, senior vice president,
Sega.
The
Games, The Rebate
SegaNet will launch in the U.S. on
September 7, 2000 with 10-12 online games
available by fall, including "Quake
III Arena™," "Sega
Sports® NFL 2K1," "Phantasy
Star Online™" and "Sega
Sports NBA 2K1" to name just a few.
SegaNet will launch in Canada by year's
end. In order to drive rapid adoption of
SegaNet, Sega.com is also announcing
today an innovative rebate program,
whereby consumers who signup for the
SegaNet ISP will pay only $21.95 per
month. Sega.com is also offering the Sega
Dreamcast system for zero cost to
consumers. "We believe this $200
rebate will drive consumers to retail
outlets where they will purchase
software, peripherals and other
e-services from Sega," said Moore.
Following are three ways consumers can
obtain the rebate in late summer 2000:
- Current
Sega Dreamcast Owners - By
signing up for SegaNet, consumers
will receive a $200 check and a
free keyboard (regardless of when
they purchased their system).
- Bricks
and Clicks Purchasers - By
signing up for SegaNet after
purchase of Sega Dreamcast,
consumers will receive a $200
check and a free keyboard.
- PC
Users - By signing up for
SegaNet, consumers will receive a
free Sega Dreamcast and keyboard.
The
SegaNet ISP Partner
GTE Internetworking, a division of GTE
Corporation (NYSE:GTE) and a leading
provider of business Internet services,
will provide the managed Internet access
services for the new SegaNet ISP. GTE
Internetworking provides a suite of
managed Internet services to leading
customers like the Los Angeles Times,
Yahoo! and BankOne.
As part
of the agreement, GTE Internetworking
will provide national and local access
for SegaNet, and will deliver high
performance connectivity. Combining
GTEI's network with tailored APIs, modem
technologies, servers, routers,
integration and a proprietary technology
that will reside within the games as well
as the servers called KAGE will ensure
for an optimal end user experience. The
combination of the KAGE API allows the
games to hit their maximum speed
potential with consistency and the lowest
latency offered on the Net today, for an
incredible multiplayer console gaming
experience.
Leading
Sega.com towards the dominant position in
this new market, is Brad Huang, who is
Sega.com's president and CEO. "The
Sega.com rebate will dramatically expand
the installed base. Sega.com will
benefit, as consumers will use the rebate
money to purchase software and extra
value-add services such as tournaments.
Additional revenue streams will come from
the SegaNet ISP subscriptions,
advertisements, e-commerce, promotions
and licensing."
"Sega's
mission is to take gamers where gaming is
going, which is undoubtedly online, but
also to do so in a way which redefines an
industry business model that is outdated
and inefficient," said Moore.
"In the past, hardware manufacturers
and publishers went through five-year
life cycles of developing a platform,
marketing it like hell to get an
installed base, achieving the proper tie
ratios between hardware and software and
then repeating the process.
Manufacturers,
retailers and software publishers lose in
that cycle so, true to our heritage, we
decided to buck the system and offer
gamers the 'next big thing' in gaming -
by embracing the Internet."
"Through
the formation of Sega.com, Inc. and
SegaNet, we are able to provide our
audience with a totally new experience of
online console gaming, while
simultaneously grabbing the first-mover
advantage in this nascent and lucrative
new market," continued Huang.
The
Timing Is Right for Online Console Gaming
Online console gaming is expected to
skyrocket and Sega is poised to grasp
this market. Consumer demand for online
gaming is rising with 22 million
consumers aged 18 and under citing their
primary Internet activity as gaming1.
In fact, 24 percent of the videogame
market revenue is expected to come from
online gaming by 2002.2 Today,
20 percent of Sega Dreamcast consumers
are registered for the Sega Dreamcast
Network - even though true 3D online
gaming is not yet possible. When
authentic 3D multiplayer online gaming is
available this summer, Sega expects the
adoption of the SegaNet ISP to explode.
Sega.com
is delivering a high-speed, low-latency
online console gaming experience via a
standard dial-up connection, thus
providing the company a substantial head
start in the marketplace. Later this
year, the company will offer an easy plug
and play broadband-enabling connector for
when broadband becomes more widespread in
the next two to three years.
The
Sega.com destination website will be
previewed at the Electronic Entertainment
Exposition in Los Angeles this May.
SegaNet will go live in August 2000, with
an official marketing launch on September
7, 2000.
About
Sega.com
Sega.com, Inc. is a new online Internet
entertainment company whose goal is to
become the online destination for gamers.
Sega.com also comprises SegaNet, the only
high-speed online console gaming network.
SegaNet offers gamers the best in 3D
multiplayer games, chat, community, cheat
codes, tournaments and content. SegaNet
is also an ISP for Sega Dreamcast and PC
users, offering gamers everything they
need to know about gaming and other areas
of interest that tie in with gaming and
other areas of interest that tie in with
gaming including music, TV, community,
movies, sports and e-commerce.
About
Sega
Sega of America Dreamcast, Inc. is the
arm of Tokyo, Japan-based Sega
Enterprises, Ltd. responsible for the
development, marketing and distribution
of Sega videogame systems and videogames
in the Americas. Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
is a nearly $2.5 billion company
recognized as the industry leader in
interactive digital entertainment media,
offering interactive entertainment
experiences both inside and outside the
home. Sega of America's World Wide Web
site is located at www.sega.com.
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