There’s never a downside to entertainment, so don’t expect the New York Toy Fair to go crying just because the economy sucks. There’s still going to be plenty of new stuff to see, so forget about economics for now and ogle the high-tech, retro and just plain weird gear that 2009 will bring.

Spin Master Air Hogs Laser Zero Gravity

This newbie not only zips across the floor like an R/C car should, it’s cool enough to drive up walls and zoom over ceilings. Plus the unique laser-guided control allows it to go wherever you point it.

Diamond Select Ghostbusters Minimates Box Set #1

Next to the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, having ANY of the original Ghostbusters on your desk is pretty sweet. So with the first film coming as a Blu-ray movie version this summer, and it being the 25th anniversary and all, having all four boys and even a Flashdance-garbed Dana and a Gozer dog as two-inch Minimates can't be beat. Just make sure you don't cross the beams.

Razor USA, LLC  Pocket Pros

Palm-sized action and finger skills combine to bring the Ripstick caster board to life. Deliver kick-twisting action and build your own Pocket Park by collecting all the colours.

WILD PLANET Lazer Tripwire

Fun’s fun, but this kind of hi-tech starts tripping out into security zones: emitters shooting out invisible lasers that wait to trap you in their beams and sound the alarm. It’s Mission Impossible when you set these up. What next – taser-wielding Teddy Bears?

ASA PRODUCTS Triton Three-Wheeled Cruiser

All this talk of green and still no hovercars? At least you can tool around on an adult tricycle that won’t embarrass, what with its unique steering, inflatable tyres and no-chain drive. Adjustable frame and padded seat, too.

MODELWORKS Bernie “he made off with my money” Madoff Action Figure

The only action you’ll want with this figure is to bust him up – especially if you were caught in his evil Ponzi scheme. The nice folks who made this mini-me version even in-clude a hammer for doing to him what he’s already done to so many others.

LEGO SpongeBob SquarePants Krusty Krab Adventures Building Set

A mouthful to say maybe (more a gulp, since it’s underwa-ter), but who wouldn't want to hang at the only place where you can get a Kraby burger? Mini-figures of the boys, sure, but also working doors, a delivery truck and a safe holding Mr Krab’s dearest love - money!

THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC Niton XL3 700 Series X-ray Fluorescence Analyzer

Toys are fun, but lead ain’t. So who’d have thought that the XL3 could be such an important accessory – especially to those mak-ing the toys – since it non-invasively detects lead levels?

TECHNO SOURCE Rubik’s TouchCube

Nostalgia gets a serious upgrade. This Rubik’s Cube uses touchscreen tech and an accelerometer to make the squares change colours and sides. Internal memory even saves your place for when you have to stop. What hasn’t changed is that it’s still just as infuriating and aggravating to get all those colours lined up properly – even if the tech-nology does charge the cube on its base or give you a choice of classic sounds to play with.

INTERACTIVE TOY CONCEPTS Duck Hunt

Don’t tell the SPCA, but shooting ducks is great stuff – provid-ing they’re not real and fly around on their own. Charge the ducks and toss them so they get a head start before your infrared shooter tries to take them down. They’ll drop like stones once their wings stop flapping from three direct hits. No feathers to clean up afterwards, either.

PLAYMATES TOYS Star Trek Communicator, Phaser, Tri-Corder

Take 30th Century retro and clean it up with the 21st to get bet-ter gear than the crew of the Enterprise ever had. Of course all three of these replicas from the upcoming Star Trek movie bleep and blap with digital sounds and lights. That makes them way cooler to carry around than any cellphone app can duplicate.

Bandai America Mugen Pop Pop

The guilty pleasure of popping bubble wrap goes digital – and keychain as well: each of the eight authentic-feeling bubbles de-livers that satisfying bubble-popping experience. There are even zany sounds playing at random, just to keep you intrigued.

Jazwares Astro Boy Urban Vinyl Figure

He may have been ‘born’ in the 1950s but this little robot’s got one sweet upgrade – so say hello to the six-inch urban vinyl Astro Boy. Other characters from the upcoming movie, sure, but why not start with the lead?

Carrera Digital143 Mario Kart Wii Slot Car Set

Okay, besides it being fun to tool around up to three drivers on the same track simultaneously (like in the vid game), having digital technology working through nine or so metres of track means real-time acceleration, breaking and changing lanes, and being able to plan your pit stops and top up virtual fuel tanks. Add options like wireless control, digital lap counter and 3D elevations, and 1:43-scale slot cars are zooming past the ana-logue horizon.

Uncle Milton Moon in My Room

Space may be the final frontier, but from a cosmic point of view the moon is pretty much next door. So hanging this model gives you all the look without the need of the personal tubing that a space suit adds on. And this moon even obeys a remote’s com-mand to simulate 12 different phases. It operates as an out-of-this-world nightlight, too.

Pressman Toy Corporation Seinfeld Trivia Board Game

If your idea of fun is ‘nothing’, then rejoining the sitcom gang from the ’90s  is where it’s at. Relive classic moments such as the ‘Puffy Shirt’, ‘Crab Bisque’ and others while racing around the board and stopping now and then at Monk’s Diner.

Basic Fun Guitar Hero Carabiner. Series II

Forget air guitaring and clamp this little guy to your keychain – a new white housing for the ‘i’ crowd. Better yet are the 10 new tracks and extended audio play.

Screenlife Games Scene It? The Simpsons Deluxe Edition and Scene It? Star Trek Deluxe Edition

Talk about longevity – board games using DVDs go back almost as far as the Simpsons – so for Bart’s 20th anniversary you get animation plus a game board, tokens, trivia cards and more.  Or a LOT more if Trekkin’s your thing: the embossed Starships or Captain’s tin tests your knowledge of all that is the Federation from every TV show and movie.

iToys i Pix Portable Video Player

Tech seems to come with the umbilical cord now – a port-able LCD video player downloading web-based content is something anybody would want. But this is for ages three and up – yes, that’s right, it’s for preschoolers!

HASBRO Wolverine Electronic Claw

When plain scratching just won’t do, a retractable claw featuring iconic Wolverine phases and sounds does the trick. Just remember to go easy on that itch.

JAKKS Pacific  Eyeclops Mini Projector and Eyeclops Night Vision Goggles

It won’t take the place of an HD projector, but being pocket sized, run by batteries and costing under US$100 means a big screen you can aim at a wall or even the ceiling (up to 70-inches courtesy of LEDs you can plug into). And by slipping on a pair of the Night Vision goggles you not only keep it dark enough for watching, but get the first grab at the popcorn.

Note: Don’t expect these toys to be available in NZ anytime soon, but you never know…