This summer, we are excited to engage with our HEXBUG fans through some of our favorite social media tools like Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and now Vine (@HEXBUG) and Instagram (@HEXBUGnano)!

Using our new gravity-defying Nano V2 tube-crawling robotic creatures as our inspiration, starting August 5, 2013 we are kicking off the launch of our Vine and Instagram accounts by hosting a #theycanclimb video contest! Vine is a mobile app that lets users create six-second looped videos, and Instagram is a mobile app that lets users create fifteen-second videos – both of which can easily be shared or embedded on your Twitter or Facebook accounts.

To participate, all you need is a Vine and Twitter account or an Instagram and Facebook account, know what a hashtag is, and include #theycanclimb with your entry. Your goal is to capture something that’s inspired by climbing, and incorporate HEXBUGs into the post whenever possible. You can see some of our very own #theycanclimb videos directly on our Instagram and Vine channels.

Every entrant will receive a $5 promo code off their next purchase on www.HEXBUG.com. Limit to one entry per week. To receive your $5 promotional code, simply post your videos to Twitter or Facebook, with the hashtag #theycanclimb, and we will direct message you with the code. We will also be picking a weekly winning #theycanclimb post to feature on our site www.nanov2.com, which we will share on our social media channels. Weekly winners will receive a Nano V2 Black Hole set equivalent to a $50 retail value.

For more information and official rules on the #theycanclimb contest, visit www.nanov2.com/contestrules

1. If you haven’t already, download the Vine and/or Instagram apps (available on iPhone, iPad and  Android mobile devices) and create an account.
2. Follow us on Vine @HEXBUG and on Instagram @HEXBUGnano
3. Create a video that is inspired by climbing, including HEXBUGs when possible, along with the  hashtag #theycanclimb
4. Share your Vine or Instagram videos to Twitter and/or Facebook with the hashtag #theycanclimb  to be eligible

That’s it! You have from 12:00 A.M. CST on August 5 until 11:59:59 P.M. CST on Sunday, September 29, 2013 to post your entries. This contest is open to anyone living in the 50 US states as well as Canada.

IFI and McDonald’s® Partner to Feature HEXBUG Micro Robots in McDonald’s Happy Meal®

Innovation First International, creators of the widely popular HEXBUG® Micro Robotic Creatures brand, today announced a partnership with McDonald’s USA LLC, the nation’s leading foodservice provider, to feature custom HEXBUG toys in McDonald’s Happy Meals at participating restaurants across North America.

The four week HEXBUG Happy Meal program will run from February 22 – through March 21, 2013 while supplies last. Participating McDonald’s restaurants across the United States and Canada will offer customers one of six collectible HEXBUG Micro Robotic Creatures with the purchase of a Happy Meal:

• Fast crawling HEXBUG Speed Beetle™ in Green and Red
• Slow crawling HEXBUG Beetle™ in Black and Orange
• Bump and go HEXBUG Nano® Pullback Blue and Black

“To be a part of the iconic McDonald’s Happy Meal experience is truly an honor,” said Chris Troyak, president of Innovation First Labs, Inc. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to reach millions of new and old fans directly with special, collectible HEXBUG toys that they can only get at McDonald’s.”

McDonald’s will support the partnership with a fully-integrated marketing campaign that includes television advertising, in-restaurant merchandising and custom packaging, coupled with an online web presence. The television advertising campaign will run from February 22 – March 21, 2013.

Designed to foster children’s creativity, develop their fine-motor skills, and fuel hours of imaginative playtime, HEXBUG Micro Robotic Creatures are innovative, high-tech toys with features and behaviors that enable them to react to their environment. The world-recognized brand is available at retailers nationwide and at hexbug.com.

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HEXBUG® Creator Inks Deal to Bring Kakerlakak to Retail in Europe this Spring

Innovation First International, masterminds behind the internationally recognized HEXBUG® Micro Robotic Creatures brand, today announced a new licensing partnership with Ravensburger, to introduce Kakerlakak – the world’s first HEXBUG themed board game. Due to crawl onto retail shelves in Europe this Spring, the Kakerlakak game will be on display at the Spielwarenmesse, International Toy Fair Nuremburg, Germany from January 30 – February 4 at Booth A12-D13 in hall 12.0.

“We are excited to add Ravensburger as a HEXBUG licensee for the debut of Kakerlakak, which introduces our innovative vibrating robotic toy to traditional family game play,” said Tony Norman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Innovation First International. “Ravensburger’s approach to product development goes hand in hand with our brand philosophy of delivering quality entertainment experiences that can be enjoyed by the entire family.”

Kakerlakak is a fast-paced action game, with a frenetic HEXBUG Nano® mini robot at the center of the action. The interactive Kakerlakak game requires rapid response and hand-to-eye coordination, and challenges children ages five and up to maneuver the skittering bug through the kitchen maze using a variety of kitchen utensils. The ultimate winner is the player with the most chips at the end of the game, which they earn by trapping the bug into their corner.

“We are very pleased to partner with Innovation First, whose wildly popular HEXBUG brand has enabled us to deliver a new and innovative board game that speaks to trends in popular culture and will help expand their growing European fan base,” said Thomas Zumbühl, International Product Manager of Ravensburger.

Ravensburger is Europe’s leading supplier of puzzles, games and craft products and one of the leading publishers of books for children and adolescents in the German-speaking area. The blue triangle is one of the most renowned trademarks in Germany. The programme comprises almost 8,000 different products (including all country-specific editions) that are sold worldwide and 85% of which are produced internally. In 2011 a workforce of 1,640 earned revenues of 319.5 million euros.

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A Spectacled Owl gets acquainted with HEXBUG through a review of the HEXBUG Spider.

A Spectacled Owl HEXBUG Review

“Many times when we have been in the toy aisle at Target, my kids have noticed the HexBug’s.  I honestly had no idea what they were or why they would be considered fun.  However, we (and I say we because I played too!) had the privilege to get one of the HexBug Spiders to review.  You would have thought it was Christmas up in here!  They begged me over & over again to open it and could hardly wait for me to take the pictures I needed for this review (“Mooooom!  Are you done YET?”  “Mooooooom, can we play with it NOW?”)”

Read the full review at: A Spectacled Owl

Highly Anticipated New Line of HEXBUG Products Hit Retail Stores Worldwide and Online at HEXBUG.com/Warriors

GREENVILLE, Texas – Aug. 2, 2012 – The creator of the popular HEXBUG brand of high-tech micro robotic creatures has unleashed the newest members of the HEXBUG family: the rough and tough HEXBUG^® Warriors Battling Robots. These futuristic fighters are tiny, collectible, micro robots that use the physics of vibration, similar to the famed patented HEXBUG Nano, to propel forward and challenge competitors in sleek new customizable Battle Arenas and Stadiums.

“We’re introducing some exciting new high-tech features and competitive elements with the launch of HEXBUG Warriors Battling Robots, including customizable armor, damage indicator lights, and shock sensors, that give kids new, interactive ways to engage in open-ended play with our toys,” said Chris Troyak, president of Innovation First Labs, Inc. “This is the first major extension of the HEXBUG brand that uses our successfully patented HEXBUG Nano technology, and it is just the beginning of what we have planned to roll-out for the holiday season.”

HEXBUG Warriors Battling Robots come in four colors – red, yellow, blue and green – representing four dueling science academies from the year 2087, Viridia Prep, Tronikon Tech, Bionika Cyborg & Caldera Prep. Kids can outfit each Warrior with strategic combinations of mechanical weapons and armor to outmaneuver their rivals, and control the fate of their academy’s Warrior fleet.  As each HEXBUG Warrior Battling Robot is turned on and powered up, the selected weapons come to life kinetically using the patented HEXBUG Nano vibration technology. As the battles rage on, each robot’s jabs activate an onboard Shock Sensor causing the Damage Indicator Light to blink more rapidly as the Warrior’s health decreases. Ultimately, only one HEXBUG Warrior Battling Robot is left standing victorious on the Battle Arena or Stadium.

Beginning today, HEXBUG Warriors Battling Robots are marching into retail stores nationwide including Walmart, Target, Toys“R”Us and RadioShack, among others. In September, they will also be available in Canada and the United Kingdom exclusively at Toys“R”Us stores. Kicking off the launch, HEXBUG Warriors Battling Robots will be showcased and demoed at two highly influential mom blog events being held in New York, NY, coinciding with the BlogHer 2012 conference, on August 2 hosted by The Big Toy Book and on August 3 hosted by BSM Media.

New HEXBUG Warriors Battling Robots now available include:

• HEXBUG Warriors Battling Robots – Kids can operate their HEXBUG Warriors in Training Mode, with unlimited health, for scrimmages and testing purposes. Once the Warriors are equipped and ready for battle, they can be powered into Match Mode and are set to enter into competition, where they crash, jab and jostle with their opponents until they win or lose by running out of health at which point they deactivate. Once put in Match Mode, each robot’s Shock Sensor activates its Damage Indicator Light which changes colors from green to red and blinks more rapidly as its health decreases. There are 12 assorted HEXBUG Warrior Battling Robots Single packs available for fans to collect. Each Single pack includes 1 fully-armored Warrior. MSRP is $7.99 and the product is CPSIA approved for kids ages 6 and up.
• HEXBUG Warriors Battle Arena – The battle arena is the perfect stage for HEXBUG Warriors students to hone their skills.  It comes with two HEXBUG Warriors with weapons and armor, two expandable battle arena pieces (compatible with Battle Stadium), three standoffs and extra bonus armor. There are four assorted HEXBUG Warrior Battle Arenas available for fans to collect.  Each features a different opposing pair of Warriors. MSRP is $19.99 and the product is CPSIA approved for kids ages 6 and up.
• HEXBUG Warriors Battle Stadium – The ultimate large scale battleground for all HEXBUG Warriors students comes with two fully-armored collectible HEXBUG Warriors, eight Battle Stadium Pieces (compatible with Battle Arena) and 12 standoffs. There are two assorted HEXBUG Warrior Battle Stadiums available for fans to collect. Each features a different opposing pair of Warriors. MSRP is $29.99 and the product is CPSIA approved for kids ages 6 and up.

For more information on their fierce futuristic rivalry, visit www.hexbug.com/warriors.

PR Contact:

Esther Rawlings, Cohn & Wolfe; Esther.Rawlings@cohnwolfe.com; 310-967-2953

About HEXBUG and Innovation First:

HEXBUG® is a product line developed by Innovation First Inc., and distributed and marketed by Innovation First Labs, Inc., both wholly owned subsidiaries of privately held Innovation First International, Inc.  The company was founded on the belief that innovation very early in the design process is necessary to produce simple and elegant product designs. Innovation First began developing electronics for unmanned mobile ground robots and is now an industry leader in research and development for the hobby, competition, education and toy markets.

Innovation First International’s three main subsidiaries, VEX Robotics, Inc., Innovation First Labs, Inc. (makers of HEXBUG® Micro Robotic Creatures), and RackSolutions, Inc. span the education, consumer and business-to-business markets. The VEX® Robotics Design System is the leading platform for middle school and high school education and competitive robotics. Leveraging the company’s core competency in electrical and mechanical engineering, the RackSolutions® division works closely with all major computer OEMs to provide custom mounting solutions and industry-wide rack compatibility for data installations of all sizes.

In 2009 the company added offices in Hong Kong, China and the United Kingdom to better serve the global marketplace. This network was expanded to Canada in 2010 with the addition of an office, warehouse and distribution center located in Toronto. With an advanced in-house metal fabrication plant, distribution center and corporate office located together in a 13-acre complex in Greenville, Texas, the company is poised to continue on a rapid growth path. Please visit www.innovationfirst.com for additional information.

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Download PDF Press Release

UK mom blogger and her two adorable sons share their thought on the HEXBUG Larva and HEXBUG Scarab.

Really Missing Sleep Puts HEXBUG to the Test!

Read the full review at: Really Missing Sleep.

HEXBUG Spider, the newest addition to the HEXBUG family, has been featured in a Quick Look by CrunchGear:

Check out the full post here.