March 2009 New Specialty Toys — Board Games

Players add or subtract 1, 2 or 3 to the number on the top card of the pile to determine if they have a card that can be played next. It sounds simple, but with everyone playing simultaneously, the options are constantly changing. The first player out of cards wins. The game is for two to four players and offers "quick, easy and fun mental math practice," Leah Osterhaus, VP of marketing for Out of the Box Publishing, told TDmonthly. Awards: Parent's Choice Award 2010. Launch date: July 15, 2009.
Awards: 2009 Major Fun; 2010 Parent's Choice Silver

On each turn, one team flips over a category card. Team members frantically brainstorm words that fit the category while the opposition tries to sidetrack them. The team must agree on a word and pull each letter of that word one lane closer to their side of the street, all before the time runs out. "It has excellent educational applications but feels like a party game," Leah Osterhaus, VP of marketing for Out of the Box Publishing, told TDmonthly. Awards: 2009 Oppenheim Gold Award; 2009 Major; 2010 Dr. Toy Best Vacation Products; 2010 Mensa Select. Launch date: June 2009.
— "A great language skills development game. I wonder if they are going to make a Spanish version," Jennifer Shuman, owner of 1SmartNoodle, told TDmonthly at Toy Fair 2010.

The Golden Dragon has been discovered and ninja players must be the first to reach its location. To move throughout the game, players roll one of two sets of dice and solve the number challenge rolled. The skill level of each player determines which set of dice that ninja will use. To win the game, ninjas will solve four word challenges. While moving throughout the lands, other ninjas will try to trap opponents and block their way to the Golden Dragon. "Players will be having so much fun they won't realize they may actually be reinforcing their math skills while playing," Tami Murphy, marketing manager of The Haywire Group, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2009.

Rubber chicken meets disc golf in this ridiculously fun game.  Players each choose a different colored rubber chicken.  One player throws the target nice and far!  The target becomes the "hole," like in golf.  Players then take turns flickin' their chicken at the target.  If you don't make it on the target, throw again from where it landed. Each throw counts as a point.  Try to land any part of your rubber chicken on the target within the least amount of throws as possible. The player with the lowest score after nine-rounds is the winner.  For 2- 4 players. 

Players race to get rid of the cards in their hands by creating sets and runs in the middle of the table. Don’t have the right cards? No problem — grab from a set or run already on the table, or play your cards on any existing set or run. It's "the fastest Rummy game available," Leah Osterhaus, VP of marketing for Out of the Box Publishing, told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 15, 2009.
Awards: 2009 Major Fun

Force Play capsulizes the excitement and strategy of baseball: Run or hold up? Steal or play it safe? Pitch to the slugger or walk him? While taking only five minutes to learn and 20 minutes to play, Force Play is a fast and fun way to enjoy the game of baseball indoors. "Force Play is the funnest and easiest baseball board game ever made, incorporating real play-action decisions in a fluid format that allows for three exciting innings in only 20 minutes. This game has been tested extensively on baseball players and non-baseball players alike [and] on gamers and non-gamers alike, and the consensus is the same — it's exciting, easy and launches you into the thrill of baseball immediately," Riley Drake, president and inventor of Force Play LLC, told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 8, 2009.

Farmer Eggbert just loves fried eggs. Who can find the same number of chickens as eggs in the pan? Whoever collects th most fried eggs wins!

Claim your fortune! Twenty different Ancient Coins of unique design await your skill, luck and desire. As player’s strategies unfold, the quantity of each Coin continues to build. The temptation to claim each Coin increases as well – but don’t claim too soon, yet don’t wait too long! Players strive to claim as many of each coin as possible. As they play their cards to matching quantities of coins, their claim to their fortune begins. Sounds easy, but players encounter a few twists along the way...and a challenging strategy unfolds. Game play 30-40 minutes. Launch date: April 15, 2009.

It's a rolling polar bear jam. Roll the colored dice to collect high-scoring polar bears from the rink. Roll doubles to trip up opponents or "Free Skate" to take your pick of the pack. But press your luck too far and you may wind up flat on your face. The player with the most points skates away with the victory. Launch date: March 2009.

Players engage in the adventure of completing a mission in space. Safety is paramount as lives are at stake so every player has an important role. Players gain wisdom and knowledge as the game progresses. This game is quick moving and requires strategic decisions.

This is an urban version of the game Community that employs a higher level of strategy. Players aim to develop a stable economy and decide what works among many options as they develop the city’s economy.

Players work to build a caring and happy village and in the process learn to handle bad feelings. In this game, everyone wins.

Players must develop strategies to solve the many problems facing the fictional nations inhabiting Planet Earth. Solutions come when the world leaders are quick thinking and compassionate. The game is won when problems are solved, lost when war breaks out.

Threatened by natural disasters and sometimes the need for safety measures, up to eight players must work together to construct as many homes as possible. The houses are from various cultures in various stages of history, offering an educational slant on the many different kinds of shelter in the world. It comes with a 12” x 12” board, diecut homes, and natural disaster, safety measure and rebuild cards.

Players travel around town on a journey to collect the most passengers in a game that teaches math skills and helps players sharpen strategic thinking skills. Available in English, Spanish and French.

By encouraging children to build a weather scene, the game teaches strategic thinking and understanding of weather from season to season. Available in English, Spanish and French.

Get ready to touch, time, see, balance, bluff, listen, locate and laugh your way through this outrageous game! Teams race to perform all kinds of fun, easy to play challenges spread over ten sense-ational categories.

New adventures from Frog and Toad bring to life the charming artwork of Arnold Lobel. The unique “create asyou go” game encourages kid’s creative thinking and problem solving. For one to four players. Launch date: February 2009.

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.

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.

Late for the Sky's City games help preserve both the memory of home and the excitement of going somewhere new. Whether as a souvenir or a homesick cure, all the familiar places are there. "This is a newly released board game for people who love The Queen City — made right here in Cincinnati. We chose from some favorite landmarks, like Fountain Square, the Taft Theatre and Sawyer Point. We mixed in some chili cheese coneys, a few flying pigs, great traditions, riverboats and some BIG FUN," Carla Miller of Late for the Sky Production Company told TDmonthly. Launch date: December 2008.

BANDthology is the fun and interactive board game that challenges your musical knowledge and creativity. Play as individuals or teams and get ready to have the most fun you've had with a board game in years! The object of BANDthology, is to be the first individual or team to win 6 musicians to form your own Supergroup. Bandthology appeals to music lovers of all ages and different musical interests. It plays very well as a party game or with large groups. There is no limit to the fun because BANDthology is a different game every time you play. You don't need to be a music expert to be great at this game. Our fun and funky band members will have you trying harder to collect your favorite first. So whether you like pop, rock, metal, alternative, blues, jazz, rap, hip hop or country music... BANDthology is... Your Music. Your Game.
Awards: Creative Child Magazine 2009 Preferred Choice Award.

BANDthology is the fun and interactive board game that challenges your musical knowledge and creativity. Play as individuals or teams and get ready to have the most fun you've had with a board game in years! The object of BANDthology, is to be the first individual or team to win 6 musicians to form your own Supergroup. Bandthology appeals to music lovers of all ages and different musical interests. It plays very well as a party game or with large groups. There is no limit to the fun because BANDthology is a different game every time you play. You don't need to be a music expert to be great at this game. Our fun and funky band members will have you trying harder to collect your favorite first. So whether you like pop, rock, metal, alternative, blues, jazz, rap, hip hop or country music... BANDthology is... Your Music. Your Game.
Awards: Creative Child Magazine 2009 Preferred Choice Award.

The CAMP Travel edition is very compact and mobile, with a unique wood design. Up to 4 multi-level players, and has fun “setback” and “move forward” functions. All new outdoor trivia cards, with vibrant full color images, includes content highlighting all 50 states.
— "The board game Camp has sold well in our store. Happy to see the travel edition that kids and parents can play together," Marlene England of Dancing Bear Toys & Gifts, told TDmonthly at Toy Fair 2010.