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(Redirected from List of Tonka video games)
Assist TONKA JOE in building a desert road, a city, a mountain resort and excavate a quarry. The only limit to your success is the use of 12 different heavy duty equipment and your imagination.
Industry | Toys and games |
---|---|
Founded | Mound, Minnesota, United States (June 22, 1946) |
Founder | Lynn Everett Bake, Avery F. Crounse, Alvin F. Tesch |
Key people | Russell L.Wenkstern Nathon Tonka[1] |
Parent | Hasbro (1991–present) Funrise Toys (2011-present) |
Website | tonka.funrise.com/ |
Tonka toys
1960s Tonka truck
1978 model Tonka bottom dump truck
Tonka is an American producer of toy trucks.[2] The company was known for making steel toy models of construction type trucks and machinery. Maisto International, which makes diecast vehicles, acquired the rights to use the Tonka name in a line of 1:64 scale diecast vehicles, featuring mostly trucks.
- 2In other media
- 2.2Filmography
History[edit]
Mound Metalcraft was created in 1946 in Mound, Minnesota, by Lynn Everett Baker (1898–1964), Avery F. Crounse, and Alvin F. Tesch. Their original intent was to manufacture garden implements. Their building's former occupant, the Streater Company, had made and patented several toys. E. C. Streater was not interested in the toy business so they approached Mound Metalcraft. The three men at Mound Metalcraft thought they might make a good side line to their other products.[3]
After some modifications to the design by Alvin Tesch and the addition of a new logo created by Erling Eklof (based on a University of Minnesota drafting student's sketch by Donald B. Olson who later became the company Chief Industrial Engineer; with the Dakota Sioux word 'Tanka' or Tonka, which means 'great' or 'big'), the company began selling metal toys, which soon became the primary business.[4] In November, 1955, Mound Metalcraft changed its name to Tonka Toys Incorporated. The logo at this time was an oval, showing the Tonka Toys name in red above waves, presumably honoring nearby Lake Minnetonka.[5] In 1964, Tonka acquired the Mell Manufacturing Company in Chicago, allowing it to produce barbecue grills, eventually under the Tonka Firebowl label.[6]
In 1987, Tonka purchased Kenner Parker, including UK toy giant Palitoy, for $555 million, borrowing extensively to fund the acquisition. However, the cost of servicing the debt meant Tonka itself had to find a buyer and it was eventually acquired by Hasbro in 1991.[7] In 1998, Hasbro began a licensing deal with Funrise Toys to manufacture and distribute Tonka trucks. The deal began with versions of the trucks fitted with electronics for lights and sounds, but grew to encompass the entire brand.[8]
In 2001, Tonka trucks were inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame at The Strong in Rochester, New York.[9]
Tonka has produced a variety of toys over the years, including dolls (Star Fairies, Bathing Beauties, Maple Town, and Hollywoods) and other toys aimed at girls like Keypers and aimed at boys like Gobots, Rock Lords, Spiral Zone, and Steel Monsters. It was the original manufacturer of the Pound Puppies toy line, and in the late 1980s licensed products inspired by Maple Town.
Tonka produced video games, including Tonka Raceway, and purchased the rights to distribute and market the Sega Master System after Sega of America stopped competing against the Nintendo Entertainment System in the U.S. However, the Master System's market share declined, since Tonka didn't have experience with video games or how to market them. Hasbro sold the digital gaming rights for various properties (including My Little Pony, Magic: The Gathering, Tonka, Playskool, and Transformers) to Infogrames for US$100 million in 2000, buying back the rights for US$66 million in June 2005.[10]
The Winifred Museum in Winifred, Montana, has a collection of more than 3,000 Tonka toys.[11]
In other media[edit]
Video games[edit]
Fifteen video games based on the toys were released between 1996 and 2006.[12]
Game Title | Release Date | Developer | Publisher |
---|---|---|---|
Tonka Construction | August 20, 1996 | Vortex Media Arts | Hasbro Interactive |
Tonka Search & Rescue | October 15, 1997 | Media Station | |
Tonka Garage | April 7, 1998 | ||
Tonka Construction 2 | October 2, 1999 | ImaginEngine Magellan Interactive | |
Tonka Raceway | December 6, 1999 | Media Station | |
Tonka Space Station | November 6, 2000 | Data Design Interactive | |
Tonka Monster Trucks | September 25, 2001 | Data Design Interactive | Infogrames |
Tonka Search & Rescue 2 | November 15, 2002 | Artech Studios | |
Tonka Town | Late 2003 | ImaginEngine | Atari |
Tonka: Rescue Patrol | November 18, 2003 | Lucky Chicken Games | TDK Mediactive Atari |
Tonka Firefighter | February 27, 2004 | Unknown | Atari |
Tonka: On the Job | November 15, 2006 | Webfoot Technologies | THQ |
Tonka Computer Game Download
Filmography[edit]
TV series[edit]
Title | Premiere date | End date | Network | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|
Challenge of the GoBots | September 8, 1984 | 1985 | First-run syndication | co-production with Hanna-Barbera Productions |
Pound Puppies | September 13, 1986 | December 19, 1987 | ABC |
Free Online Tonka Construction Game
TV movies and specials[edit]
Title | Premiere date | Network | Co-production with |
---|---|---|---|
Star Fairies | October 26, 1985 | Syndication | Hanna-Barbera Productions |
Pound Puppies | ABC |
Films[edit]
# | Title | Release date | Co-production with |
---|---|---|---|
1 | GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords | March 21, 1986 | Hanna-Barbera Productions and Clubhouse Pictures |
2 | Pound Puppies and the Legend of Big Paw | March 18, 1988 | Tristar Pictures, Carolco Pictures, Atlantic/Kushner-Locke, The Maltese Companies, Cuckoo's Nest Studio, and Wang Film Productions |
3 | Tonka Tough Truck Adventures: The Biggest Show on Wheels! | September 28, 2004 | Hasbro Studios, SD Entertainment, and Paramount Home Entertainment |
In 2012, an animated movie based on the trucks toy line was in development. It was to be produced by Sony Pictures Animation, Hasbro Studios, and Happy Madison Productions, and to be distributed by Columbia Pictures.[13] A script was written by Happy Madison alumni Fred Wolf, and was to be produced by Adam Sandler and Jack Giarraputo, Brian Goldner (CEO and president of Hasbro) and Bennett Schneir (Hasbro’s senior vice president and managing director of motion pictures).[13] Mouse troubleshooting windows 7.
References[edit]
- ^Published: January 22, 2000 (January 22, 2000). 'Russell L. Wenkstern, 87, Toy Chief and Dump Truck Co-Developer'. The New York Times. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
- ^ANTHONY RAMIREZPublished: February 1, 1991 (February 1, 1991). 'Tonka Accepts Offer from Hasbro'. The New York Times. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
- ^'Tonka`s Troubles Nothing To Toy With As Ghostbusters Line Fades'. Chicago Tribune. August 19, 1990. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
- ^Dennis David and Lloyd Laumann, Tonka (MBI Publishing Company, 2004) p. 14
- ^'Tonka Logo'. i4.ebayimg.com. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
- ^Dennis David, Lloyd L. Laumann, Tonka, 2004, MBI Publishing Company, pp. 85–6, ISBN0-7603-1868-9
- ^ANTHONY RAMIREZPublished: February 1, 1991 (February 1, 1991). 'Tonka Accepts Offer From Hasbro'. The New York Times. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
- ^Hirsch, Jerry (May 10, 2015). 'For Arnie Rubin, selling toys has been all fun and games'. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
- ^'Tonka Trucks'. National Toy Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
- ^Hasbro Reacquires Digital Gaming Rights From Infogrames for $66 Million, Hasbro press release, June 8, 2005.
- ^'Winifred Museum - Russell Country Montana'. Russell.visitmt.com. Archived from the original on April 17, 2012. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
- ^Game Search: 'Tonka'. GameFAQs.
- ^ abFleming, Mike (June 11, 2012). 'Sony To Make Tonka Trucks Animated Pic'. Deadline. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
External links[edit]
Tonka Construction Videos For Kids
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tonka Toys. |
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tonka&oldid=917739270#Video_games'
Developed by
Vortex Media Arts
Released
1996
Also For
Macintosh
Published by
Hasbro Interactive, Inc., Playskool
Vortex Media Arts
Released
1996
Also For
Macintosh
Published by
Hasbro Interactive, Inc., Playskool
Educational
Pre-school / Toddler
ESRB Rating
Kids to Adults
Genre
Educational
Misc
Licensed
Pre-school / Toddler
ESRB Rating
Kids to Adults
Genre
Educational
Misc
Licensed
Description
Tonka Joe and his animated pals guide children through a variety of construction projects using 'real' Tonka brand trucks in this game from Hasbro Interactive. There are rocks to crush, skyscrapers to build, and roads to pave spread throughout the five environments of Tonka Land. Fourteen different virtual Tonka vehicles are available to accomplish these tasks and as projects are completed, the player earns printable certificates to show off their construction skills. Ultimately, a child who completes all seven projects earns the title of 'Master Builder' and the respect of the Tonka team.
Although not overtly billed as educational software, Tonka Construction does emphasize learning how to follow a design plan and how to select the right tool (truck) to resolve a problem. As a bonus, virtual 3D Tonka trucks are much safer than the sharp cornered metal Tonka toys responsible for so many childhood injuries in the 70s (although they aren't as much fun to use in the sandbox).
Although not overtly billed as educational software, Tonka Construction does emphasize learning how to follow a design plan and how to select the right tool (truck) to resolve a problem. As a bonus, virtual 3D Tonka trucks are much safer than the sharp cornered metal Tonka toys responsible for so many childhood injuries in the 70s (although they aren't as much fun to use in the sandbox).
From Mobygames.com. Original Entry