This week saw the release of Skylanders, Activision's yearly toys-to-life juggernaut that has become one of its central financial pillars. This comes just weeks after the release of Disney Infinity 3.0, weeks before the impending release of Lego Dimensions, and amid the continuous mad craze that is Amiibo releases. The so-called "toys to life" genre is definitely making a big impact on the industry. 

This week, the Chattycast examines the toy-game dynamic in its many forms. How sustainable is a business model that relies on physical collectibles? Are these toys just a physical form of DLC, or something more? What does Amiibo's wild popularity--despite hit-or-miss functionality in individual games--suggest about the trend? Is the tendency to lock content behind particular toys problematic for consumers? 

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