In a recent TDmonthly Magazine survey of 44 specialty retailers, more than 25 percent of those planning to attend Toy Fair '09 indicated they are most looking forward to finding great new games at the show. Want a sneak peek? To help you plan your booth visits and potential orders, here are some of the companies exhibiting, and what they'll be showing off:
Consensus is not a trivia game or a strategy game. It is a game about opinions that allows its participants to express themselves as individuals or as part of a group. Ideal for parties or family settings, the game has a subtle, yet strong, educational component. Consensus consists of 300 Noun Cards, 100 Adjective Cards and 80 Voting cards. An average game lasts about 30 minutes. Although Consensus can be played with as few as three players, the greatest benefit can be derived when there are five or more players participating. The more players, the more opinions, and hence, the more debating and bonding that takes place. Launch date: August 2008. — "This fun and fast-paced social game takes about a minute to learn and requires no prior knowledge of anything whatsoever," Marshall Chrein, CEO of Mindlogic, told TDmonthly. "It is a game where you can learn how your friends and family view all sorts of things."
TRIVIATHON... fast-paced trivia for smart AND stupid people! Triviathon will have players singing, dancing, arm wrestling, cheering, cheating, and more as they compete in a game that puts each player's cognitive, physical, and social skills to the test, while they try to win a race moving at speeds of 0, 1, 2, or 3 spaces based on trivia questions they don’t even have to know the answers to. Made in the USA, this game is designed for 2 to 12 players. Triviathon has received the following awards: Creative Child Magazine’s 2009 Game of the Year; PTPA Media 2009; iParenting Media Award 2009; The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval 2009, NAPPA Honors 2009; and Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products 2009. — "A trivia game that you can win without having to know the answers. Now some of us might agree that that is our kind of trivia game. Super fun and fast paced. A great choice for family game night. My own children are going to love this game!!" Jennifer Shuman, of 1SmartNoodle, told TDmonthly at Toy Fair 2010.
Calculated chances and strategic choices will place the odds in favor of players as they let the five dice roll them to a win with Yamslam. After each roll, a player chooses the dice that will get the best combination. Each combination is worth a different value and has only four chips, so it's important to take the best ones before they run out. Players race to get special bonuses before their friends do, keeping the suspense rolling until the end. The game has appeal for all ages and is convenient for travel, as it is "self contained in a beautiful tin box," Adeline Bertrix, sales manager for Blue Orange Games, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 15, 2009. Awards: Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products 2009;2012 TDmonthly Top Toy Award. Why it won: This dice-rolling game from Blue Orange is fun for both kids and adults. With each roll of the dice players must strategize how they can win the chip with the highest point value. Without even realizing it, kids are learning basic math skills like addition and probability. The game is self-contained in a red tin, making it easy to play on the road or tote along to a party. — Yamslam is on the best-seller list at Golden Apple Learning Store in Pleasanton, Calif., Owner John MacDougall told TDmonthly in summer 2009. — "Right now, a game called Yamslam is our best-selling game," said Sue Banducci of Games Unlimited in Danville, Calif., in late 2009. She was anticipating sales of about 250 units during December. — Three of 38 retailers cited Yamslam as a best-selling game in Feb. 2010.
GOLONG Dice Game is based on America’s favorite sport, football. The game play features many elements of real football. Players roll to gain yardage, make first downs, kick field goals, and score touchdowns. But there are sacks, penalties and turnovers standing between them and the goal line. It’s head-to-head football action at its best. "There is nothing on the market like our dice games. All follow the same successful formula: Fast, fun, addicting, easy to learn, portable, affordable and difficult to master," Patrick Shea, president of GoZone Games, told TDmonthly. Launch date: October 2008.
This educational board game jump-starts the road to reading by incorporating basic phonics and more than 300 sight words in an engaging activity. The cards comprise up to 90 percent of beginner-level reading material and more than 50 percent of all English text. The game takes new readers on an adventure through literacy land complete with common landmarks and street signs. They earn a bonus roll after correctly identifying a game card. The first player to reach the library is the winner. "Through repetitive interaction with basic phonic sounds, sight words, and their definitions, new readers enhance their reading skills while playing a fun game. Er-u-di-tion provides families and schools with a useful tool for preschool and elementary school students," Owner Denise Bossard of Acumen Associates told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 20, 2008.
In this fast-paced card and dice game for the whole family, players take turns as the sushi chef by rolling four sushi dice. Other players then race to match sushi cards in their hand to the sushi that was rolled. The first to do so says "Order up!" and lays down his or her cards. Whoever gets the most sushi cards by the end of the game wins. Players can use Wild Wasabi to help, but must beware the dreaded Stinky Sushi card. "It is easy to play, and the whimsical theme keeps you coming back for another hand," Mike Richie, game developer for Mindtwister USA, told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 2009.
Bagazoo is a wonderful game for the whole family and an ideal game for children's parties. Eight different games can be played with the Bagazoo. It received a 2008 iParenting Media Award. "Bagazoo is set up to provide more opportunities to play than a normal bean bag toss game. It provides more challenge for the older children, while still accommodating the very young ones," Mary Pepin, project manager for Bojeux, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.
Name that Vanity is the addictive and contagious license plate guessing game. Players play the game to their favorite song, and once the song ends, so does one round. It's designed for fun on the road or at home. Launch date: February 15, 2009.
Gobblet Gobblers utilizes the awesome strategy of Gobblet and adds personality and character to the game. Players pick their Gobblers family and line up three in a row to win the game. The Gobblers have a strong appetite and can gobble up smaller Gobblers. These cute little characters will test strategy and stimulate memory. The all-wooden game has a bright, distinctive design and is earth friendly. "We plant two trees for every tree used in creating our games," Adeline Bertrix, sales manager for Blue Orange Games, told TDmonthly. Awards: TDmonthly Top Toy 2009. Launch date: February 15, 2009.
LOL! (which stands for Laugh Out Loud!) is a new, fresh and exciting game of Internet lingo that involves acronyms, shorthand and Web slang used in chat rooms, email and text and instant messaging. The goal is to be the first to yell out "'LOL!'" to give the answer to the net lingo. Launch date: February 15, 2009.
Full-size sports fun with these double-sided magnetic dartboards. With super strong magnets, the blunt-end darts hit and stick tightly on the board for hours of safe, game-time fun. Choose from Hockey/Lacrosse or Baseball/Soccer SportDARTS. 18"X14" flexible dartboard with eight magnetic darts.
With Flibbix™, players build their own board game, make their own rules and then play. It's super easy and lets players rebuild and replay the game as much as they want. Players race to the finish, but things can get wacky along the way — even the game board and rules can change during play. “It's the first-ever build-a-board-game set: Players can easily build and play their own, custom board game with Flibbix. Because each game is different, it has great replay value and players can make a game that’s fun and perfect for them,” Jason Ivan of Merillian told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 2008.
Each player is a powerful wizard with a dragon companion, and resources in the region are getting low. Players must take on the other wizards as well as their dragons to survive, collecting treasures to gain power and battle it out to rule the world. The game uses cards, dice and miniatures, as well as luck- and skill-based game-play elements. "No matter if it's parents and their children, experienced players or someone absolutely new to the game, everyone can jump in and play and expect an even playing field that's easy to learn and fun to play," CEO Ray Farrar of Ascended Games told TDmonthly. "They can expect innovation and clever ideas at every turn, such as the unique aspect of eliminated players being able to still influence the game's outcome." Launch date: April 2009.
ChalkTalkSPORTS SportACTION Card Games are fast playing and action packed for popular team sports. Varieties include Baseball, Lacrosse, Football, Soccer and Hockey. These card games provide hours of intense fun as players race to be the first to assemble their winning team. Strategy, skill and fun make them entertaining for the entire family. "Our SportACTION card games play like the real sport. Its a race to pull together your team first as you watch out for penalty calls," President Julie Lynn of ChalkTalkSPORTS told TDmonthly.
Charge Large comes along just in time to provide society with an educational and entertaining board game about credit cards. The goal of Charge Large is to increase competition among players as they battle against each other to be become part of an elite class of Black Card Members. Players begin with their entry level Gold Credit Card and Cash to set forth on their journey to purchase companies, stocks, buildings and most importantly to Charge Smart while Charging Large. Ultimately, Charge Large teaches players not to fear credit cards, but simply learn how to leverage themselves wisely. It is therefore time for society to practice how to Charge Large Responsibly!
The DGT Electronic Chessboard is an accurate and fast chess-move input device for the computer paired with a wood board. You can play against your favorite chess program or an Internet opponent, plus broadcast chess games over the Internet. The games are automatically stored in the board's memory during play and can be retrieved later as PGN. The beautiful, inlaid-wood board features official FIDE tournament-size squares (5.5 x 5.5 cm) and is only 1.8 cm thick (the same as a normal chessboard). The board comes with classic Staunton wooden chess pieces with a king height of 95mm (3.75"). The board can also be connected to a DGT XL Clock (not included).
From Barbados, Eezee Kricket continues the cricket tradition on a board with 64 squares, each representing an event during an actual match. It will appeal to players with a fondness for cricket heroes, knowledge of the game’s history and a competitive spirit. “The teaching, learning game” was conceptualized by ICT Specialist James Corbin and can be modified to suit any region or market. It will be further available on the Internet and mobile phones. “It succinctly captures the history and nuances of the real cricket game in a way that makes it invaluable as a teaching and team-building tool,” Corbin told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2007.
Endango™ is an environmental board game that teaches kids how to go green. With a unique game strategy, it links children's behaviors to their indirect environmental consequence – the fate of endangered animals. When playing the game, each player is responsible for three endangered animals in an environment. The points players earn as they navigate the human track affect the fate of the endangered animals in their environment. Positive points for “green behavior and knowledge” help save the animals; negative points for “less environmentally friendly behaviors” move the animals toward extinction. This product received a 2009 Parents' Choice Recommended Award.
In Blackout, players drop dice into the package top, then rumble, tumble down a chute. If any number on the dice matches numbers on a player’s cards, it’s a blackout! Players try to be the first to black out the final number on five different cards. The fun is in the roll, but strategy is key in this rolling bingo game for the entire family. Launch date: 2009.
Kids (and adults) will give two paws up for this risk-taking game where being sent to the “dog house” actually makes you the winner. Come inside the “Hot Dog” casino and roll the dice. Each player has a bag of numbered poker chips and a “doggy doo doo” chip. Simultaneously, players blindly pull a chip from their bag and reveal which chip they pulled. But don’t pull the “doggy doo doo” or you lose your turn. Players can take a chance and keep going back to the bag for additional chips. At this casino there can be two winners each round. Players move their dog across the board until someone reaches the winner’s circle – the dog house. Designed for two to four players. Launch date: February 2009.
Late for the Sky's City games serve as great connections to preserving both the memory of home and the excitement of going somewhere new. Whether as a souvenir or homesickness cure, all the familiar places are there. And if players are living in the city the game is designed around, it’s fun playing with places they can see out their window. "We chose some favorite landmarks and traditions, mixed in some Rocky Mountains, professional sports, music, a great big amphitheater, and some BIG FUN ... and voilà [vwä lä] -behold; Denver-OPOLY!" Carla Miller of Late for the Sky Production Company told TDmonthly. Launch date: December 2008.
In this game of secret colors and surprise endings, someone will have four in a row before you know it. Players reach into a bag and pull out a token, which might be their color, an opponent's color or a wild card. Players can place their tokens on the board to extend their row, block another player, or fool others into thinking they have a different color then the one they really have. The ultimate goal is to get four tokens in a row. "The whole family can play this simple-to-learn strategy game," Barbara Uebelacker, PR manager for Patch Products, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2009. THIS PRODUCT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE
JUMBULAYA: The Rearranging, Ever-Changing Word Jumble Game by LEGENDARY GAMES
JUMBULAYA is an award-winning, multi-faceted word strategy game in which players rearrange, add, and trade tiles on the board to build and claim longer and longer words each turn. As players build words horizontally, they also look for a Jumbulaya - a word of seven or more tiles that can be seen vertically on the game board. "Jumbulaya is a word strategy game where players need to THINK ON MULTIPLE LEVELS simultaneously," said Karl Archer, CEO and cofounder of Platypus Games. "It incorporates strategy into the game play, as players are able to add, as well as remove, tiles from the board and think many moves ahead in order to try to win." It has won a 2008 Mensa Select Gold Seal and iParenting Media Award. Launch date: 12/15/2007.
Monsterpocalypse is a fast-moving, action-packed strategy game played with high quality collectible miniatures portraying the most fearsome giant monsters ever imagined. Each battle takes place in a city, which opposing players construct by placing models of buildings on a city map. Players will then build their force from their respective collection of models. Each force will consist of a giant monster model, and several supporting units (tanks, flying vehicles or creatures — depending upon which of the themed factions you decide to play). Purchasing Booster Boxes will expand your collection, giving you more tactical options and abilities to better suit your strategy. Launch date: October 10, 2008.
Ultimate Spinner consists of 12 games, some of which help children learn alphabets and letter recognition, numbers, math, and how to tell time. Others promote active play, such as running or dancing. — TDmonthly's Roundtable appreciated the fun, quality and educational appeal of this game. "It was fun to see them folding paper into shapes, drawing, acting things out, and interacting with each other," reviewer Sue Christensen said of her 7- and 11-year-old sons.
This portable strategy game is similar to chess or checkers, but with a twist — the magnetic stones with unmarked north and south poles can jump out of their position at any point during the game, giving players a whole new element of challenge. "Jishaku" is the Japanese term for "magnet." The game received a 2008 National Parenting Center Seal of Approval, an iParenting Media Award, a Major Fun Award and a Mr. Dad Seal of Approval. Launch date: June 3, 2008. — Tutoring Toy in Salt Lake City sells about 20 per month of this game, Buyer Casey Sartain told TDmonthly in fall 2009.
In this multiplayer strategy game, each player sends five followers out onto the wheel-shaped board of Samsara, dividing four moves per turn between them. One player’s followers absorb other followers, making them harder to be absorbed themselves. When a player’s followers have absorbed enough other followers, they can send others out of play (to nirvana). The winner is whoever controls the most followers when someone loses his or her last. Variant rules provide various levels of difficulty. “For game players that abhor dice and card decks, this game is very easy to learn, very difficult to master,” CEO Mark Salzwedel of Strategic Space told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2009.
S’MATCH is a classic memory game with a twist. Players are challenged to make matches according to specific attributes such as color, number or category. However, it's the S’Match Spinner that decides which way to match – and every player gets a spin. Pictures and words allow pre-readers and early readers to play together and enjoy hours of memory-building fun.
Shape the World is a game for everyone, everywhere. Using the universal language of shapes and numbers, imagination and simple shapes are combined to create images of objects in the world around us, providing economical and intergenerational play with no drawing skills required, and no advantage with age. Just a little luck gives all players a chance to win. Easily customized, players can shape their own world. For one to six players, each player has one minute to draw up something to fit the designated category using the shapes available. Players decide if the drawing fits the category or not.
PetTalk is a title in the expanded and updated TableTalk Conversation Card series. With charming illustrations, each of the 50 cards presents fascinating facts about favorite feathered, finned and furry friends. Fun questions get kids eagerly involved in conversations at home, school, parties and on the road. There are 16 titles in the series, including GreenTalk, WeatherTalk and MusicTalk. "TableTalk decks provide a unique format for engaging kids in conversations with topics that educate and entertain," Lynn Araujo, communications director for U.S. Games Systems, told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 20, 2009.
Writer's Bio: Julie L. Jones has written articles for both newspapers and magazines. Before joining the staff of TDmonthly Magazine, she worked as a communications writer and provided editorial support for a market research company. Read more articles by this author
Writer's Bio: Julie L. Jones has written articles for both newspapers and magazines. Before joining the staff of TDmonthly Magazine, she worked as a communications writer and provided editorial support for a market research company. Read more articles by this author
