Toy and game sales to adults are growing

Global market research company Euromonitor International has found that games and puzzles registered 8% growth in 2016 – outpacing construction toys as the fastest growing toy category globally, but also recording the highest growth for the category since 2002.

Globally, construction toys grew 7.8% in 2016 compared to double-digit growth from 2015, but continued to hold the largest share of the traditional toys and games market at US$10 billion, followed by games and puzzles at US$9.5 billion.

Construction toys are expected to make a comeback as the fastest growing toys category globally with a forecasted compound annual growth rate of 6.8% from 2016 to 2021.

“Continued growth in sales to adults illustrates that children are retaining interest in toys into adulthood on a scale not seen in previous generations,” says Matthew Hudak, Toys and Games Analyst at Euromonitor International. “Categories with proven multigenerational appeal like construction, remote control, and action figures are therefore expected to see the fastest growth over the next five years.”

posted from Bloggeroid

ANA app to help passengers relax, take minds off takeoff

Source: App Store.

Japan’s largest airline, All Nippon Airways (ANA), has created an app for the most stressful part of the flight journey. Its survey of US airline passengers found that the most uptight of flyers particularly hate takeoff  (68%), leading to the development of ANA Takeoff Mode, a mobile app designed to help passengers relax and take their minds off the takeoff portion of the flight. 

The app takes the form of a simple puzzle with relaxing music playing in the background. What really makes the app truly unique is that it measures** the amplitude and frequency response of the ambient noise inside the aircraft cabin. When the aircraft’s engines are at full throttle during takeoff, the audio profile triggers an animation and message for the user. 

In the ANA survey, puzzle games ranked second only to listening to music when it came to ways that passengers relaxed while flying (61% of people relax by listening to music; 56% by playing puzzle games). Reading, watching TV and falling asleep came in not far behind (54%, 48% and 46% respectively).

ANA Takeoff Mode is one of the first smartphones apps to take advantage of the US Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s announcement on October 31, 2013 that airlines can safely expand passenger use of portable electronic devices (PEDs) during all phases of flight.

“It is important to ANA that we pay attention to every single detail to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable flight for all our passengers. We’ve put in much thought and consideration into each stage of the passenger journey, from our flagship lounges in Tokyo to our award-winning in-flight dining programmes, The Connoisseurs," said Mitsuo Tomita, General Manager of ANA’s Singapore office and Vice President of Marketing and Sales, Asia at ANA. 

“Our latest offering, the ANA Takeoff Mode is another example of how we are always trying to improve the customer’s flying experience. We hope that it will help to ease and relax flyers, allowing them to enjoy their flight with ANA from the very beginning.”

Additional findings from the ANA survey:

· Women are about twice as likely to be concerned about flying with 63% of women and 37% of men reporting that they worry about flying.

· Older people (45 years old or more) are much calmer about flying than younger people (18 to 44 years). Of the always-apprehensive group 66% are under 45. On the other hand, 47% of the calm group are under 45.

· Nervous flyers are most concerned about takeoff (68%), whereas people who get stressed about flying less frequently find the thought of turbulence more anxiety-inducing (60%).

· Eight in 10 respondents surveyed play puzzle games. Nearly all (97%) find such games to be relaxing.

· Nearly half (46%) of respondents say they find flying during peak festive periods more stressful than other times of the year. Top reasons for this extra stress are crowded airports (69%) and delayed flights (63%).

The free app can be downloaded at the App store here. Watch the associated video here.

*ANA commissioned an online survey of 1,000 air travellers from across the US that was conducted from October 29 to November 2, 2014.

**The surrounding environment may affect how the app detects takeoff.

The Great Escape from the Asian Civilisations Museum

The Asian Civilisations Museum in Singapore is organising two evenings involving movies and lockdown games in Night at the Museum: The Great Escape from Asian Civilisations Museum.

Billed as the first-ever lockdown game in a museum in Singapore and probably the world, participants have to solve puzzles, uncover secrets of the museum and learn the hidden meanings behind ancient objects in order to 'escape'. Winners stand a chance to win movie vouchers for Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb.

Participants can also enjoy free screenings of Night at the Museum and Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian on a first come, first served basis*.

The first of nine game sessions is a corporate challenge, where all team members have to be from the same company, but participants are free to join any of the other sessions. 

Game Play Schedule
12 December	13 December
*6.30pm – 8pm (Corporate Challenge)	5pm-6.30pm
8pm-9.30pm	8pm-9.30pm
9.30pm- 11pm	9.30pm-11pm
11pm-12.30am	11pm-12.30am

Tickets cost S$25 per person, with early bird discounts in force till 24 November. Teams must consist of four to eight people. Book tickets here.