Toy company gives demo in local park

Junior Ramos caught a glimpse of a tent and quickly abandoned his former activity, splashing around in the Julie Penrose Fountain."What is this?" the 8-year-old asked as he rushed up.

Toy rep Andrew Marcous, 21 showed him. He gripped a trigger and launched a spinning top from the bottom of its handle in the still-unreleased game Battle
Strikers. It's like Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, but with tops instead of robots.

The America the Beautiful Park was a stop on the toy's summer promotion tour Wednesday afternoon for Marcous and Dami Adesegha, 20. They've been introducing the toy to kids throughout the West.

"It attracts a lot of attention from people," Adesegha said. "Usually, as soon as we set up, kids show up."

Battle Strikers, which began promotion in Hong Kong six months ago, are expected to reach the United States by August. . They will be available in major toy outlets for about $8.

"I think kids who like battling (with toys) will like it," Ramos said.

He stood, over the metal barrel that served as the arena, arms pressed against its rim.

His opponent: Juan Banfi, his 11-year-old cousin. Ramos pressed the trigger; the top accelerated and spun off.

"Yeah, it's easy," he said.

Banfi differed, noting the magnetic controllers, which guide the top, placed over their fingers seemed feeble.

But Ramos, guided his top, bumping its blue edges against his competitors'. Ramos' outlasts, he raised his arms, his blue swim trunks dripping wet.
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