| Barbie games, Matchbox cars and other toys have | | | | tiny colored pegs and backlit the designs you created |
| seen some dramatic changes over the years. | | | | through black paper with a standard light bulb. The |
| Ever wonder what happens to the toys we left | | | | set-up was large, bulky, but good for hours of fun. |
| behind? Those with children of their own are able to | | | | Today, you can use a boxy set-up or the new flat |
| revisit the latest versions of old favorites, but for | | | | screen. If you opt for the box, you now have four |
| those who haven’t had an excuse to check out | | | | sides to choose from. Gone is the console style |
| Etch-E-Sketch 2.0, here’s a breakdown. | | | | backing in place of a newly designed lit cube ready |
| Realistic Barbie | | | | for your latest and greatest designs – four at |
| Doctor, lawyer and killer flight attendant, Barbie has | | | | once, that is. Or keep things compact, but opting for |
| done it all in three inch heels and tiny skirts. But now, | | | | the flat LITE-BRITE instead. While it might not be HD, |
| after almost fifty years of controversy, Barbie has | | | | it’s definitely a step up from what we had a |
| developed a new, thicker look. The original Barbie | | | | short generation ago. |
| was designed on a scale of 1/6. This means the real | | | | Matchbox Cars |
| life Barbie would have been 5’9.” The | | | | You might have played with Hot Wheels or |
| proportions of Barbie, however, were entirely | | | | Matchbox, but the style of cars was the same. Tiny |
| unrealistic. She would have had a 36 inch bust and 18 | | | | metal cars to collect, bury in the sandbox and leave |
| inch waist. Her original weight of 110 pounds would | | | | painfully underfoot have been enjoyed be |
| make her at least 35 pounds underweight for her | | | | generations of vehicle enthusiasts. Today, the basics |
| height. | | | | are the same, but the styles and accessories have |
| But after years of concern and scorn about Barbie | | | | been very updated. Naturally, the cars produced |
| promoting unhealthy body images and unrealistic | | | | today are indicative of the available auto lines |
| standards for the young women who played with | | | | produced the world over. |
| the many versions of the doll, Barbie is a new | | | | But in addition to that, children paying with Matchbox |
| woman. In 2000, Barbie gained a belly button and a | | | | cars have much more to do with their cars than we |
| wider waistline. Her waist also moved up into a more | | | | did a generation ago. If we were lucky, we were |
| natural position, ostensibly to make more modern | | | | able to secure a track and possibly a ramp for our |
| fashions fit more appropriately, but some wonder if | | | | cars. All sound effects and aerial acrobatics were |
| the changes are a long overdue response to criticism. | | | | performed by the driver – you. Today, you can |
| Waistlines aside, Barbie games are still intensely | | | | buy the basic die cast cars or you can branch out |
| popular with girls of all ages, and Barbie games have | | | | and buy the ones that make noise, play inspiring |
| also gone online where they are reaching even more | | | | music, or run on their own. Accessories for the cars |
| enthusiastic fans. | | | | include elaborate cities, race tracks, and parks where |
| LITE-BRITE Flat Screen | | | | cars can be levered or moved without your |
| Like the flat screen in your living room? Modern flat | | | | assistance. While most of the Matchbox cars remain |
| screen technology has a broad reach and now you | | | | true to the classic nature of the toy, if you want a |
| can enjoy flat screen technology while you play with | | | | digital micro-car experience, it is readily available. |
| your LITE-BRITE. Decades ago, LITE-BRITE took | | | | |