Another set of dolls, as time went on, developed a greasy-looking face. Television, and television advertising, also affected toys by creating a demand for those advertised, Auerbach said. Today, manufacturers aren't just selling one toy but an entire line of toys and accessories. Pokemon isn't just a video game, it's cards, a television show, a movie, and that all drives the interest. A product like Thomas the Tank Engine came out because there was a TV show.
Toys based on celebrities also have a long history.
Maldonado-Duran said because researchers know so much more about children's development today, there is a wide array of interesting toys designed for particular ages of childhood. At the end of the century, toy manufacturers and their cross-licensed corporate partners provide both the toy and the imaginary universe. Creighton disagreed, noting that children don't always play by the rules. If you give them a toy, they're going to play with it in their own way. Although today's toys may have more bells and whistles, Creighton said the basic concepts remain the same, and if adults really look hard at their children's toys, they will see some familiar things.