First launched in 2000, Beyblades are glorified spinning tops used for head-to-head and multiplier last-person-standing style duels in contained plastic arenas. They gained such immense popularity that they were given a Manga style spin-off (no pun intended) TV show which ran in both Japan and the United States.
Beyblades operate through the use of a “launcher” device which rotate the object at a high speed. Older style Beyblades had a physical chord with plastic “teeth” that a child would pull through the base of the object to induce rotation, while newer Beyblades come with an updated launcher that induces rotation by clipping to and spinning the top of the object. Beyblade parts are interchangeable, allowing players to customize their blade to optimize different aspects which contribute to the battle style, such as weight, material, size, and shape.
My variation adds a rotation-charged spring into the base of the blade, adding an extra dynamic to the battle style and increasing the design thinking that goes into building your blade. This concept can be applied to add addition spring-powered components into the top of the blades as well (e.g. extrusions which periodically extend outward to knock opponents blade’s askew).
With regards to durability, Beyblade parts are either plastic or metal. The metal blades tend to be more effective in the battle arena and are more durable, thus it is logical that the plastic blades have effectively been phased out of the newer models. Nonetheless, the plastic blades were still fairly durable, given the amount of beating that toy was designed to take in everyday usage.
Users who adopt Beyblading will usually be between 8-14, however older players are not uncommon.
As a safety concern, smaller blades have components which may be a choking hazard for young children.