Battle of the Fun Factories

With savvy marketing, toymakers aim to write their own Christmas lists

Here's some crucial Christmas advice, kids: Don't let Mom and Dad sneak off to the toy stores until they've done their homework. It's a jungle out there, full of Thundercats and Sectaurs, Pound Puppies and Glo Worms, GoBots and Transformers--in short, no place for the innocent. What could be more embarrassing than to have the old folks, however well intentioned, come home with the wrong stuff! Remember what happened when you sent them shopping for video games a few years ago, and they returned with an Etch-A-Sketch? What they need is at least three hours in front of the tube on...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!