Activision's Skylanders erases the line between toy and video game

Here's the trick: by placing a toy on a portal that connects to your system via USB, you transport it into the game, level it up and unlock new powers and upgrades. You can switch out your playable character at any time, and a friend can likewise put a toy on to play with you. All the information is stored on the toy itself, so you can bring the action figure to a friend's house and keep your data. It's as fun in action as it sounds in print.