I never have, I’m allergic to peanuts. Unfortunate hmm? 
In all seriousness though, I’ve always pondered why they haven’t done a tour of sorts. I can imagine costs would be pretty rough, but I feel like the end would justify the means. Not only would they be sprouting potential customers, but also finding new talent that they have been missing at the contests people may not be able to travel to.
Monday night, I was practicing a bit while my 3-yo was doing Gymnastics. Another kid who was waiting says to me, “Is that an 888?”
I did a double-take. “You know what an 888 is?” He nodded and explained that a friend of his used to have one that he tried. Conversation went on for a while and I offered to let him try my yoyos (I had a shipment from YYE with me!). He declined for a long time then finally gave the SS Whistling Yoyo a go.
If he’s there next monday I’mma give him my PGM. During the conversation he mentioned that he’s always wanted a lightweight metal yoyo since that 888, but he seemed like a humble, modest and good kid… I’m sure he’d appreciate the PGM anyhow.
The moral of the story is, some kids have heard not only of yoyos, but of 888s and bind returns!
I was at a Wedding a few weekends ago and went up to the Kids table to ask if any of them YoYoed. They all looked at me puzzled and asked what a YoYo was. I was very surprised since they were aged 6-13. I pulled out my YoYo and did a series of tricks, it was like they were staring at a martian, they had no idea what I was doing. They not only didn’t know the word YoYo, they had never even seen a YoYo. I told them this was going to be the next big thing and to get involved, but I don’t think they believed me. It shocks me that something that was once so common that ever kid had one or had used one, and now kids look at it puzzled wondering what it is. But I bet they all now what an iPad is and Angry Birds.
Same here :D.
One thing on this topic that I think has not been brought up is that there have been times when yoyoing has become a current fad among young people. I wonder what the circumstances were that brought that on. I would guess companies marketing their products has a bit to do with it. I remember when I first picked one up in 1988 ish, there were alot of my friends and classmates in 6th grade messing around with one.
I further wonder if manufactures nowadays are happy with just supporting a niche market of old “idiots tied to a string” to support the industry, but how long can that last? There has not been a yoyo fad outbreak in these kid’s lifetimes. Thus the question posed to the OP: “What is that?”. Are the new throwers nowadays just making an impulse purchase at Toys R US from an endcap display of Duncans and Yomegas?
Well I pick up a yoyo in 2005 everyone at my school had one! I was around 8 I think.
If you watch contests or browse these forums, I think it’s evident that oldsters like me are actually still in the minority. It’s very much a young person’s pursuit (and I don’t necessarily mean “kids”, but people in their mid-twenties and younger), which I think is great.
While I agree with what you guys are saying here, I would also like to point out that you should be careful about generalizing all videogames as the same thing.
Videogames is just another form of medium, just like books, films, audio are different media. There are many great literature like Shakespeare just as well as pulp fiction. I think it’s rather impertinent to dismiss all games as infinitely inferior to others, because a medium is just a a tool of human expression, it is neither good nor bad.
Not all games are instant gratification. There are many that actually requires patience and persistence to develop skills in, as well as many other lessons that are just as effective as other forms of media.
I think what we should guard against, rather, is the reduction to materialistic commercialization. Art is when you create something to inspire people. Commercial creation is something targeted for the purpose of commercial reception. Both of these are good things, it is entirely possible for something to be both. Pixar films are a great example of such. It only becomes bad when commercial reception becomes the sole purpose of the creation, it becomes materialistic. This is yet another example of means and ends reversed.
I’m not anti-video game. I own quite a bit of gaming hardware and my kids also play it. One just busted her Nintendo DS, I’m rather angry about that but that’s an issue not for here.
With video games, you can get up and “moving” faster. Granted, in some games, there’s a learning curve and it takes a while to master it. I get it. I’ve been there.
However, in my case, having success with a skill toy is a far better sense of accomplishment than over a video game. You show someone you can “do this” in a video game and it’s like “OK… and the purpose of that was?”, because it’s a game. It lacks the same weight.
Take a skill toy. You’re actually getting up and doing something, something amazing that involves more movement than one’s butt planted on a sofa and motor skills beyond rapid thumb movements.
I get it. Parents these days are busy. I know I am. I’m trying to raise 4 kids while trying to keep my formerly successful consulting business afloat. It’s hard to deal with time sensitive requests for tech support when the kids all want to beat the crap out of each other and/or have a screaming contest. We buy them toys that blink and flash and beep and talk to instant entertain them. We plant them in front of the TV for movies or programming. I admit to being guilty of some of this, which is in part why I am going with skill toys and many other classics.
I’m sick of batteries in toys. It seems we can’t buy a toy these days without batteries needing to be involved. The toys practically play themselves. Imagination is dwindling over the general population.
The yoyo, among other toys, is an amazing toy, limited only by one’s own creativity and willingness to put in an effort. The same is true regarding many other skill toys. The Cube is a bit different, because while the imagination portion is reduced, it does encourage logic, looking ahead and planning, coupled with motor skills for those work on their speed game. Juggling has nearly endless varieties and you can always bump up the objects to increase the challenge and variation. These toys engage the brain more. Kendama is the “hot” skill toy right now. I got one, I need a better one. It’s more variation on the skill toy game.
Onto another favorite topic: Lego. Make your own toys!! A more durable version of building blocks, since they won’t necessarily come part. Of course, Lego isn’t the only game in town. There are other building toys, such as K’Nex, which is fortunately compatible with Lego. Tinker Toys and Lincoln Logs are other classic toys that kids “back in the day” grew up with.
Our societal shifts due to many issues have pushed us away from things like the yoyo. With the economy, we have to work harder to keep our jobs, and employers are being less and less understanding of people having things like pets, relationships and children. Our world has become too fast paced. We want it now! We also want it cheap, and so we outsource to drive down costs, but then we end up with cheap crap that breaks, which is a whole other arena: the disposable society. We want to be entertained now, we want satisfaction now, and we want it fast and cheap, because that’s where society has evolved to these days for most of the world.
We’ve shown how video games can easily exceed yoyos as far as “cost of hobby”. Again, I’m not knocking video games. I’m thinking though I’ve spend more on yoyos than video games, but I’ve also done a lot of shopping around of stuff to get the best prices I could. We give the games to our kids, or we get the games for ourselves, or kids request the games as gifts, and it’s done. Instant entertainment. And I’m no better. I can simply vegetate for a bit playing Nintendogs or Animal Crossing Wild World on my Nintendo DS, or play something on my older Game Boy devices(advanced, Color, Pocket, Pocket Light, Play It Loud or Original), or fire up the GameCube(sorry, no Wii, I haven’upgraded yet) or some other device. I actually kind of have an urge to pull out the Virtual Boy, as I really liked the Tennis game on that one. The 3D Tetris is a butt-kicker.
I think many of us “older” people forgot about the yoyo. I nearly did. I guess it’s good it re-surfaced.
I also think that because WE(those who do play with yoyos) have collectively FAILED to promote the hobby and sport, and similarly, the hobby and sport has FAILED us right back, it’s hard to get this in front of the eyes of the masses. We do contests in public places, and honestly, to US, the throwers, we are having a fantastic time. For the vast majority of those passing though the malls we hold contests in, we’re annoying shop owners and bothering shoppers. We do turn a few heads here and there, but sadly, we’re not holding the interests of the majority. We do catch the attention of a few, of any age. Despite all the amazing yoyos being made, and the new start-up companies making amazing stuff, I am frankly surprised at the number of people taking the risks. But, at the same time, most aren’t doing this to support their families, it’s just another outlet of expression, creativity and business.
I’m old by the standards here. 40. I’ll be 41 in 18 day. I really got into this at 39. Yeah, welcome to my midlife crisis. Most guys get a muscle car or do some very inappropriate relationship behaviors. What do I do? I buy toys. Seems I can’t get anything done right. But, through age, I have memories, at least while they last. I remember seeing the Smothers Brothers reruns and specials broadcast on TV. I’d see the yoyo being played on TV. I saw Duncan commercials. I got a yoyo in 1978 when it was the hot toy for boys that year. I was 7 then, and my parents could at least throw and gravity pull it back, however, I was failed to be shown this all so critical throw, and so my start in yoyo was an utter failure. I remember earlier than that, when I still lived in San Francisco, within walking distance of Golden Gate Park and the Bandshell where BAC is held, seeing “big kids” playing with the yoyo and doing simple stuff I can do now, but back then was just absolutely amazing. However, that’s not what I want to do, whine about my childhood. I also remember seeing the YYF Fast 201 commercials on TV a couple of times.
The society has shifted. The only way we can correct this is by taking the yoyo back in ways where we are making better opportunities to place it in a proverbial spotlight. I’m not talking about cramming it down people’s throats, but more passive ways at first. Movies always need background extras. Why not hire a few throwers who can be just randomly doing tricks, while the main action is foreground? Why not integrate yoyo into sitcoms and other TV shows the same way? Why not see if yoyo can get a little corner at big sporting events, where it can be cut to as portion of a bump in or out of a program before or after commercial breaks? The idea is to attract interest. “What’s that?” That’s often all that’s needed.
I think commercials are in order. Why? Well, Duncan as a product line has matured, and they’ve done it before. Has Yomega done commercials? Regardless, they have a decent product line coming down and now that they’ve kinda joined the rest of the community again, it’s time. YYF is doing sales through Toys R Us now, so they are now doing mainstream sales. YYJ needs to jump on this as well. TRU should be making commercials showing 5 seconds or more of skill toy play as part of a larger commercial.
Please note, I’m not trying to take attention away from YYE or their sales, but we have to build momentum somewhere. I don’t think YYE really wants to put the risk into the cost of producing a commercial, then to pay to have it broadcast on a national basis. I simply don’t think the return on the investment is economically viable for YYE. Again, as BIG as YYE is, in a bigger scope of things, it is a small company. Besides, people who start their journeys with TRU will outgrow them and end up at YYE anyways.
Retailers have mostly relegated yoyos and skill toys to a mostly forgotten end cap display for the most part. Why? Society has placed it there. Now, new throwers have to make an effort to get in again. Barriers to entry, always a bad thing. We’re limiting access to it. This is another part of the problem. Not to contradict myself, but when someone shows an interest, there’s a short period of time between “interest shown” and “needing to get the item”, which is more true with yoyo than anything else. Interest can fade quickly if this isn’t indulged.
Yeah, I’m spending a lot on yoyos. My problem. Why don’t I snarf up a bunch of inexpensive ones to give out? Too much background to go into, but let’s say after many cycles of losing everything or having too much stolen from me, I’ve become selfish in many ways. We’re not talking like little things. Well, yes, we are, but little things that can quickly add up to over $10K and an idiot insurance company that refuses to honor the insurance policy. And not just once, but a few dozen times. Doing shows and union slobs walking away with my mics or my direct boxes or my cables and not leaving me any recourse of action due to their union protecting their sticky fingers. But I’m digressing and ranting.
Back on topic. When someone is interested, I direct them to the local Toys R Us or online stores. TRU is the best choice, they are all over the place and usually have an OK collection to get people started.
In the meantime, I play at my kids’ school and quietly trying to get people interested. When I do events at the school, I also throw, but now kids ask their parents. Now parents and kids are talking to me. I have a gig at the school on the 17th. Do you hear what I hear? That’s right, stocking stuffers!
Enough for now. I need to pretend I’m interested in this teleconference I am on. Someone screwed the pooch and is blaming me for their incompetence. I’ve offered to drive there and fix the problem, but someone has an ego and won’t let me do this task which I’m not even responsible for anyways. I just know management is getting angry, and I’m positioning myself as a hero to save the day. If this project fails, it will NOT be my fault. I may have to just show up, work with security to get me access to the facility(easy procedures, totally legit) and then go fix it myself while my facilities escort watches.
Well ranted, Chris. Well ranted. 
I usually feel like the one who lives under a rock, but never having heard of yoyos just screams too much television.
and because of yoyos I valley play any video games plus you don’t get into the news paper because of playing a video game you do yoyoing!
WE SHALL START THE NEXT CRUSADES
WE MUST ENLIGHTEN THESE SAD CHILDREN
Used to be living in a boarding school so I decided to take up a quick hobby. I tried card stacking, sudoku but I believed that my brother introduced me to yoyo specifically yyf One, I got hooked up instantly. 4 years in hostel environment studying, I have taught like 3 generation of juniors and seniors. I believe that yoyo will never run out of style as it is both casual and fresh.
let’s create a bunch of memes and shoot them out into cyberspace
no
easiest way to raise awareness
Well, I agree that electronics are taking mass control, but I do play video games, around three hours ever other day at most. I prefer to get outside, and yo-yo. I do Homework on my pc, but it's programming...My Major. I still read paper back books and comics..it love the smell of older paper, which is why my comics are mostly 90's comics by Dark Horse which I got lucky in finding at my local Comic store. I actually get splitting migraines if I'm on a pc for more than 4 hours in a row..it hurts. So, never hearing of a Yoyo surprises me, cause I saw once saw a girl, must've been 4, she obviously had mental instabilities, and was mute, Saw me yo-ing, and she looked at her mom, did a basic yo-yo motion, her mom nodded to her, and the girl Smiled at me, and watched as I did some tricks. I mean, there's hope for this child..Most kids these days that I see, they're lazy. Some of 'em even refuse to help out in the house with basic chores. I knew an old buddy who pulled crap like this...He was an example of what our society is becoming slowly. Then again, I know my other buddy, Overweight as heck, helps his Family a lot. He has a real low Metabolism, but he exercises, and thinks my yoyo shenanigans are awesome.
So I dunno, but it seems to me like children need to get out more, and stop being overly Spoiled by technology. but that could just be me. I remember when Windows 98 was a BIG DEAL to own..Even then, I rarely used it. I rarely play my games at all, I prefer playing Pool at my college. much more of an adrenaline rush for me than some cruddy FPS like Halo 4. Although, Metroid 4 (Metroid Fusion) still gives me a blood rush when I play it. Oh well.
Yup.
An observation:
We have all this social media and social networking to keep us “more connected”, but it’s like the second picture, we’re actually becoming further disconnected from reality and more connected to this fabricated electronic “proto-existence”
I like Disneyland. Since 2006, I’ve gone at least once a year, except in 2007 when I went to Walt Disney World. For 2011/2012, we got annual passes to Disneyland. Let me focus on Disneyland since I saw the problem more there.
As many of you know, Disneyland is kind of expensive to get into. Unless you’re under 3(most people abuse that rule, waiting until the kid turns 4), everyone going through the gates is charged. Doesn’t matter if you’re old, young, pregnant, have a disability, if you’re going through the turnstiles, you’re being charged. Of course, this isn’t anything surprising, so does every place else.
What gets me was in 2006, the vast number of teenagers with their faces buried in their phones, texting and texting. I’m not sure how connected Facebook was with apps back then. I don’t know, I don’t care. In 2007, I was too busy just enjoying WDW and didn’t really observe as much texting going on. Yes, I did see some. In 2008, I got an iPhone the day before my trip to Disneyland that year, and I noticed the same thing I saw in 2006, except now I also saw kids in strollers or walking around either with cell phones texting or else with a Nintendo DS in hand, on and engaged in it. 2009 and 2010 I saw noticable increases. On my first visit in 2011, November, the same month I was informed I had been made a ForumXpert(thank you!), I was on this trip. I was also checking out the new YYE app while my wife and most of my kids(the ones who were awake) enjoyed their final ride of the trip. While using the YYE app, I responded to the news on the forum near the Small World gift shop as I awaited the return of my family. Other than that, out of necessity, I would check email a few times a day. On my other trips 3 to Disneyland in 2012, the phone was rarely outside my pocket. It was used to text and receive texts between myself and my wife so we could meet back up inside the parks when we split the group up. However, during those trips, I’ve noticed more smaller kids, teens, young adults, older adults(with and without kids) and clearly parents all more enthralled with their cell phones than the entertaining environment of Disneyland.
While I’m looking around and seeing if they’ve changed topiaries, what signs are different, what’s new, checking out the Christmas decorations, searching for hidden Mickeys, enjoying the whole environment, talking with cast members, I’m having to avoid people with their nose buried in the cell phone. People using the PhotoPass photographers, they put down the phones long enough for the picture, then when done, it’s back to the phone and meandering somewhere else through the park. I wonder how many are playing Angry Birds… no, actually, I don’t want to know.
Did I mention Disneyland sells yoyos too? Yeah. ProFly’s, ProYo’s, Butterfly’s and Imperials, all at 2-3 times YYE retail prices. Silly me, walking around the park with my DM2 on a yoyo holder clipped to my belt loop.
My vacations at Disneyland are my purposeful break from reality. I don’t want to use the phone unless I have to, and sometimes I have to.
As much as I enjoy Disneyland, we go there to be entertained. We move from location to location to be entertained in different ways. Live music, street performances, fireworks, parades, canned shows(Enchanted Tiki Room, Captain Eo, It’s Tough To Be a Bug for example), live shows, character meet and greets, thrill rides, slow dark rides, boat rides, car rides, a train ride around the park. There’s rides you get wet on, rides you can get scared on. Even interactive live shows like the Jedi Training Academy and Turtle Talk with Crush. There’s even “how to draw” sessions now, which can make even a hack like myself come up with something that doesn’t totally suck.
With yoyo, we have to put in a greater effort. We have to invest time and energy into learning a skill. Honestly, we do this to engage and entertain ourselves, and if we aren’t totally horrific, we can actually entertain others, but that’s kind of a bonus.
While video game systems come and go, people’s tastes and demands will change. I remember firing up my Genesis and loadin that up on my 50" Sony Plasma and thinking “OMG, that looks like crap”, where-as my N64, which while fared better, was still kinda sub-par. My GameCube, which is as current as I get, did look the best. Gee, no surprise there. People do expect better quality in the images.
Girls still play with dolls, the oldest toy. Yoyo refuses to die, which is good. These classic toys have stood the test of time for a reason. However, what’s going on is my generation is probably the last one that will make more of an active effort to push classic toys, hoping our kids grow up and remember those “primitive play things” and feel that “hey, these might be something MY kids would enjoy as well” when the time is appropriate.
I also feel that there is enough material and content being generated within the community to make a monthly yoyo special. Considering a regular TV show only has to fill 22 minutes with content and 3 commercial breaks, that can go fast. The show can start off with “contest results and new releases” and product reviews, as well as maybe a feature interview. The middle section can be new performance videos, be it stuff people are making or contest footage. as well as live in-studio performances(as applicable). That can be anywhere from 2-4 elements, with commentary in between. The last segment would be “learn a trick” where a guest instructor teaches one ore more tricks to a kid, group of kids, adults or mixed group. The first should would be the basics: gravity pull, sleeper and maybe rock the baby. Then, at the end, the next trick(s) would be announced, along with the recommendation for what kind of yoyo you need, that way new throwers can be prepared. End the show with credits scrolling over the instructor doing a freestyle to music. Play it once a week for a month.
Now, if the content is slow, open up the content to include spin tops(OK, maybe not the best one due to lack of constantly releasing products and lack of demonstrators), diabolo and other skill toys. Kendama is hot, dedicate a whole segment to that toy. Have magicians and illusionists teach “tricks you can do at home with stuff around the house”. Juggling, foot bags. Speed cubing. Heck, Slinky if you gotta. Viewer emails and tweets(not Craig Ferguson style, but that could be cool), trick requests. The issue is how can it be done in a manner that this would appeal to advertisers and what channel would this be most ideal for? Bravo? A&E? Nick? Disney? The Discovery channel and their network? A news network? ESPN? Can it qualify as educational and have local stations arm-wrestle to the death over it? The advantage is that the show doesn’t need to be done live. If segmented properly, it can be sliced and diced and then placed on YouTube after it’s broadcast month is over.
We’ve got a ton of material to pull from. People like JD, Andre, Dr. YoYo, Steve Brown, YYF Ben,and I’m sure dozens of others would love to contribute. Since segments can be filmed in advanced, say at contests and other gatherings, this is just an another resource to pull content from.