Playmates Toys
 | |
| Formerly | Playmates Industrial |
|---|---|
| Type | Public |
| SEHK: 869 | |
| Industry | Toy industry |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Founder | Sam Chan |
| Headquarters | |
Key people | To Shu Sing (chairman) |
| Website | playmatestoys.com |
Playmates Toys Limited is a Hong Kongese toy company. The company was founded in Hong Kong in 1966 by Sam Chan as Playmates Industrial, manufacturing dolls for other companies.[1] In 1975, Playmates began marketing their own line of pre-school toys, and in 1977 opened an American subsidiary in Boston. Another subsidiary was founded in California in 1983, and in 1984 the company went public.[2]
The company's first big success was in 1986, with the marketing of an electronic baby doll named Cricket.[2] In 1989, the company marketed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures, which became highly successful.[2]
Proprietary brands[edit]
- Amazing Dolls
- Amazing Pets
- Hearts For Hearts Girls
- Kinder-Garden Babies
- Nano Pets[3]
- R.E.V.s
- Waterbabies
- WOW Pals
- Yo Stick
- King Kong (2005-present)
- Struts
- Ooglies
- Kuroba
- Tiny Toes
- Voltron Legendary Defender
- Mysticons
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1988-present)
- Ben 10
- Power Players
- Star Trek
- Earthworm Jim
- Terminator
- Little Robots
- The Simpsons
- Family Guy
- Frozen 2
- Atomic Betty
- Superhuman Samurai Syber Squad
- Ronin Warriors
- Exosquad
- Skeleton Warriors
- Wild C.A.T.s
- Darkwing Duck
- Hero:108
Playmates Interactive[edit]
Playmates Interactive Entertainment Inc. was founded was a subsidiary of Playmates Toys Holdings, also the parent company of Playmates Toys, in 1994, co-located with Playmates Toys' US branch in La Mirada, California.[4] In September 1996, Playmates Toys' US branch and Playmates Interactive relocated their headquarters, including 50 employees, to Costa Mesa, California.[4] At the same time, the company was joined by Gary Rosenfeld and Chris Archer as vice-president of business affairs and producer, respectively.[4] In August 1997, Playmates Interactive's president, Richard Sallis, resigned and was succeeded by Ron Welch.[5][6] Playmates Interactive was defunct by May 2000.[7]
List of Published Titles
(Playstation port)
(Playstation port)
- Burning Road
- Duckman: The Graphic Adventures of a Private Dick
- Doom Troopers
- Earthworm Jim (video game)
- Earthworm Jim 2
- Exosquad (Sega Genesis)
- Into the Void (video game)
- Meat Puppet (video game)
- MDK (video game)
- PowerSlave
- Skeleton Warriors (video game)
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Crossroads of Time
- VMX Racing
- Wild C.A.T.s (Super Nintendo Entertainment System)
- World Heroes 2 Jet (Game Boy port)
References[edit]
- ^ "History". Playmates Toys.
- ^ a b c Ward, Arthur (2020). Action Figures: From Action Man to Zelda. Crowood. ISBN 9781785006883.
- ^ "Nano Babies Go Up Against Tamagotchi and Gigi Pets". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 97. Ziff Davis. August 1997. p. 26.
- ^ a b c Johnson, Greg (17 September 1996). "Playmates Toys to Move Offices to O.C." Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Johnston, Chris (26 April 2000). "Konami, Playmates Appoint New Presidents". GameSpot.
- ^ Johnson, Greg (8 August 1997). "President of Playmates Toys and Sister Company Resigns". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Nutt, Christian (2 May 2000). "Toshinden Subaru (Import) Review". GameSpot.