If your kids aren't a Doctor Who fans yet, this just might sway their favor. This inflatable Dalek -- available at Amazon -- has 360-degree rotating capabilities, ten Dalek sounds and catch phrases, and movable arms.

If only it came in adult sizes.

The LEGO Group celebrates 80 years of ingenuity with a short film about the company's history. The colorful building blocks were the brainchild of Danish toy maker Ole Kirk Christiansen, and the video tells the story from the perspective of the founder's grandson, Kjeld.

[mashable]

In a direct assault on the bank accounts of geeks everywhere, Disney World's gift shop is getting a build-your-own-droid area.

Right after exiting the recently-revamped Star Tours ride, you can stop into the Tatooine Trader's Droid Factory and assemble a custom combination of droid body, dome and legs in various shapes and colors.

As a nod to blister-pack-obsessed collectors, the finished figures even come in their own packaging.

The Droid Factory debuts on May 18 (during Disney World's next Star Wars Weekend) and will be open at least until June 10. Somehow I suspect it will be popular enough to keep running long after that, though.

[dvice.]

Time to Play has a first look at the Mattel toy version of Batman's new aerial vehicle, The Bat, from The Dark Knight Rises.

This is our closest look at The Bat since it was spotted outside of Pittsburgh last summer. But, more importantly, the toy actually launches a Batman figure through the air.

So Christmas-listed.

[superherohype.]

F.A.T. Lab and Sy-Lab have teamed up to create a set of 3D-printed toy adapters that connect pieces from popular construction toys like Lego, Tinkertoy and K'nex.

The Free Universal Construction Kit works with 10 systems in total, and the patterns for each of its pieces are free to download from Thingiverse.

The kit's creators also envision future adapters for new construction toys, so that Duplo blocks and Lincoln Logs will always be able to interoperate with the next hot building system on the market.

Legally speaking, they feel they're on solid ground, because the patents for most of the toys have expired, and 3D-printing a design for your own non-commercial use isn't considered infringement.

Long story short, as long as you have a 3D printer that can handle the level of detail in these adapters, your K'nex and Lego bricks can finally play together after all these years.

[fffff.at]