Bright Things is the developer of a games comsole and software for the pre-schools market. It has reached agreement with Bondai UK for the exclusive distribution rights of its educational games console. Bondai has guaranteed to purchase 100K consoles and 200K units of associated software in the first year of a 3-year agreement. Bondai's quote is: "We are very pleased to be associated with what will prove to such a high profile property in a competetive market place. The TV titles which are already in place, and many more in the pipeline for future use, will give the 'Bubble' games platform tremendous appeal to young children'.

BGT are Play of the Week (26/5/05). Good write-up that gives useful info. Quick summary:
- recounts things that could go wrong: technical problems delaying launch; parents don't like the look or think games too expensive at 17 on top of 50 console price;entry problems into US/Europe; impact of competition shortening product life. Nothing there to worry.
- team's terrific track record with Eidos
- easy to use with few buttons and infra-red link to DVD
- games only cost 150K to develop; clearly that's where BGT see money being made; 6 games available at launch plus 10 titles per year
- losses in first two years then PE of around 10 in 2007 then ballistic profits until a 'buble bursts' due to comeptition or boredom.

Really helpful piece written with an element of caution. Only looking for sp of 150p in under a year. Funds raised at 150p so institutions will be looking for more. As a Grandad, I'll be buying one and reckon this will really fire the imaginations of parents and be a must for Play Schools.

Hi Daws - I'm still out here. Thanks for your work posting updates. Must admit that there was so little activity on the board that I've been keeping an eye on some other sites BBs. Was just about to post the RNS but you beat me to it. All is looking promising with everything on schedule and I was particularly impressed by the list of outlets who will be stocking the Bubble.

For anyone new to this board this press release from late July gives a good summary of what the Bubble is all about:

- Fun and learning for preschoolers -

Bubble is a unique and brand new DVD games console that transports pre-school children into the actual world of their favourite TV characters, allowing them to interact, play and learn directly with familiar faces in their imaginary worlds.

Bubble is a wireless unit that works with a household DVD player and TV to create an edutainment centre for the home. Using state-of-the-art, video pre-programming, Bubble takes character interaction a leap forward enabling children for the first time to take an active role in how their imaginary adventures unfold.

To see Bubble in action, come and join us for a demonstration Monday, 18th July at National Magazine House. Further details are available at the end of the release.

There are six launch DVD titles including leading BBC childrens programmes Teletubbies, Tweenies, Fimbles and Balamory, along with two other much-loved TV programmes Noddy from Chorion and HIT Entertainments Thomas & Friends. Each DVD title has a set of unique games that sit naturally within the narrative of the story and are specially designed to compliment the style and tone of the individual programme whether it be Fimbles or Noddy.

Rosie Bayles from Bandai comments: Bubble is totally unique as it lets pre-schoolers enter the actual world of TV characters. So now, rather than just watching the likes of Noddy, Thomas, Tinkie Winkie and Milo, children can actually play and learn with their favourite characters. For example, the Teletubbies can be put to bed at the touch of a button, you can colour in with the stars from Balamory and make music with the Tweenies.

Featuring easy to use lighted buttons, a touchpad and audio prompts, Bubble provides fun feedback to the child helping to improve a key range of recognised pre-school skills such as Numeracy, Literacy, Personal & Social Development, Music Skills, Physical Development, Creative Development and Knowledge and Understanding of the world.

Each title comes with its own interactive activity book and game cartridge so that play can be saved at any point and revisited later on. Bubble can also be used as a portable stand-alone console allowing away play (for example in the car) using the smart cartridge and book.

The Bubble console which comes with one DVD game is priced around 60. Additional DVD games, priced around 17 each.

- ends -

Notes to Editors
* Made in China, Bubble and Bright Things and Bright Things 2005. Patents pending. All rights reserved.
* Distributed by Bandai UK Ltd. a subsidiary of the third largest toy company in the world, Bandai Co. Ltd.
* The Bubble console comes with interactive book, DVD game, game cartridge and storage case as well as set-up book and set up disc
* Bubble works with most major brand and over 1000 different types of DVD players. For more information visit www.worldofbubble.com
* Bubble console requires 4 C batteries (1.5v C size, LR-14, UM-2)
* Bubble will be available from August 2005 from most major national toy retailers including: Woolworths, Argos, Toys R Us, Mothercare, Boots, Early Learning Centre, Harrods as well as selected independent toy retailers, For more information on stockists please call Bubble customer line on (T) 01489 790 944
* Any Bubble consumer product questions or queries can be directed to customerservice@bandai.co.uk

For further information or photography please contact the Bubble Press Office on (T) 020 7684 6969 or (e) bandai@cowpr.com



I've got a 3 year old daughter and she loves almost all the characters listed on here. They really hook in the kids these days. You've got CBeebies on satellite, cable and Freeview which runs from 6am-7pm and plays pretty much a continuous loop of these characters. In my day it was Sesame St for a couple of hours in the morning and then 15 minutes of Rainbow or Fingermouse at lunchtime.

You've also got all the merchandising with Teletubbies, Fimbles etc on party plates, cuddly toys, you name it there's something with them on which just reinforces the kids' love for them.

And then you've got the parents who don't think twice about treating the TV as a babysitter so they can get on with things in these increasingly manic lives we lead.

There's also a sense of giving the kids a headstart. With so much competition for even nursery places let alone schools parents are buying more of the "educational" and "culture" toys as shown by the advent of Mozart for babies CDs etc - now you would never have got those in my day.

Combine all of these; the kids' love of the characters with the parents placating their guilt trips of sticking them in front of the TV with the knowledge that it's educational and these are on to a winner. If the product comes close to what I think it's capable of we should be looking at impressive sales. Let's hope the adverts at the end of this month reflect our expectations.

The share price has been making a nice steady increase in recent months unlike the too vertical shift earlier in the year. I don't think this is on many peoples radars just yet but once the adverts start hitting and the press coverage increases we should quite quickly make up the previous highs of 2+ which would be a 25% increase in a matter of weeks. After that who knows...

All my own opinion DYOR etc etc

Cheers

SH

Seamus,

Good summary. Good to see your still around, was starting to think i was the lone shareholder lol. Must say i feel very confident in this companys ability to deliver what it promises and with all the promotion this should be getting from now up until christmas... i think we'll be making a a bit more than 25%. The chart looks sexy, sustained news flow over the next 6 months, everything is now in place!

Daws

That's my hope Daws. 25% prediction was just for the next 2-3 weeks as this starts hitting the shops and we break through 2.

Have to say that this is great timing coming out just before the schools go back and education is on the minds of parents as they're out shopping for older bothers/sisters.

It also means that everything should be in place for Christmas which shops of this size will have already started stocking up for. The last thing you want is a hurried launch and delays in getting stock to the shops in the actual run up to Christmas. With this coming out now any teething supply problems should be sorted out in plenty of time and a distribution company with Bandai's experience will know all about this.

Another nice day today, nothing to shout about.. but if we carry on at this rate we'll have our 25% return within a week! lol
Really don't see much downside with this share at the mo, can't wait for the launch :-)

And again today. That's more than 10% in the last week. Last chance for a top up I think before the tv ads and press coverage start to kick in.

I have funds due at the end of week, don't want it to rise to much!

Seamus, well looks like another good day for bgt. Looks like people are getting on board for the run up to the launch etc, expect we'll be testing new high very soon :-)

I might even buy my daughter one with the profits ;-)

LOL buy 2 instead!

haven't noticed any press over the weekend yet. Expect we should be attacking new highs this week. Anybody else into this gem yet? Think me and Seamus are the only holders...!

daws

I went into the Early Learning Centre at the weekend and the only thing they have that vaguely resembles the bubble is more of a traditional games console with only about 5 disney titles of which Winnie the Pooh was the most famous character. I asked the Saturday girl if she knew of a release date for the Bubble but I may as well have been talking Chinese for all she knew :-) Didn't seem to be any management about so I left it at that.

Good investigation work there Seamus, i like. Mostly buys yesterday, the trend is very much our friend for the time being and with news immanent a think we should be achieving new highs soon. Even had a cheeky top up last week! Forget all this talk about the bubble being for kids, it looks great ,might buy myself one..!

It's in Argos:

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=3801&productId=155561

And you can download the first ad here as well as entering a competition to win a Bubble...

http://www.worldofbubble.com/

Cheers

SH

Nice links Seamus. Nice few buys coming in at full price, mm must be short? We've been moving up on low volume for the past month now! Expect to be attacking new highs soon.

Daws

Seem to be building up steam for next push up, some nice buys today.
Earth calling Mr Robson - Eric are you still around these parts lol Should be sat on a pretty profit by now i think!

Daws