July 2012 New Specialty Toys — General Games

A mysterious shooting star has fallen to earth and is stuck on the clothes line. Now players can try to give back the rays to the little star as carefully as possible, without letting any pieces fall down.  Some rays will stick to the star, while others will not. For 1-5 players.

Our Competition Kubb game is crafted of solid hardwood (not Pine) designed to be the same size and weight as the official VM - Kubb game used at the World Championship in Gotland, Sweden. Kubb set also includes a sleek, easy-to-pack travel bag made of  a 600 denier polyester fabric. It has sturdy coil zippers, a shoulder strap and an extra outside pocket for the rules. The KUBB bag has a P.V.C liner and is water resistant.

MADD CAPP™ CHECKERS adds a strategic twist, more risk and more fun. What's the twist? A unique dice popper means players can move their own dog bowls and even their opponent's bowls.
— As of 12/6/2012 this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 1 review on Amazon.com.

To begin, one card is randomly drawn from those not given to players. This is placed in the middle of the table, date-side up and is the starting point of a chronological line which will slowly be built by players. The first player then chooses one of their cards. If the player thinks that the invention on their card came before that of the initial card, the player places their card to the left of the initial card. The player's card is then turned date-side up. If the player was right, it remains on the table. Otherwise, the card is discarded and a new one must be drawn to replace it. Play proceeds clockwise. The more cards which are correctly played, the harder it is to correctly place new ones.
— In a February 2014 survey, Julie Steinbach, owner of Rainbow Toys in Falmouth, Maine, told TDmonthly that Timeline from Asmodee was a best-selling game at their store.
— David Stelzer, owner of Shananigans in Baltimore, Md., told TDmonthly in an October 2014 survey that Timeline was his store's best-selling tween item.
— In a February 2015 survey, two out of 11 retailers told TDmonthly that Timeline was their best-selling game.

Eternas is a four in a row style game in which the first player to place four bead of their color in a row, either vertically, horizontally or diagonally, wins the game. Conceived around the shape of the circle (the symbol for eternity) Eternas was designed for borderless play. The rules have been drafted so that there is always a winner, no ties, stalemates, or cat's games. Hand crafted from high quality hardwoods, Eternas is pretty enough to be left out on the coffee table or bookshelf to be played again and again. Playing time: 5-10 minutes; 2 player game.
Awards: 2012 Dr. Toy Best Classic Toys

Kids can build models that move with classic K'NEX pieces. Includes 300+ pieces and ideas to build 30 models like a truck, helicopter and dune buggy. Made in U.S.A.
Awards: 2012 Dr. Toy Best Classic Toys
— Dalene Lockhart, owner of Toy Town in Casper, Wyo., told TDmonthly in a May 2013 survey that K'Nex was one of her best-selling construction toy brands.

The Pharaoh's Egypt puzzle captures a significant event of historical relevance in ancient Egypt. Details that define the location or time are vividly portrayed throughout this 300-piece puzzle.  Icons depicting the historical theme border the finished puzzle and are hidden within the artwork.  A day in the life of the Egyptians along the Nile of Pharaoh’s time becomes a second game once the pieces are in place. Look around the border and deep inside the scene to “find it” – a list of 40 Egyptian items from sandals, sword, necklace, wine jar and pottery, to animals like a cobra, crocodile, leopard, jackals and monkey. Instead of putting the pieces back in the box for another day, consider framing the handsome historic scene. The included key explains the significance of each found object. Puzzle features vibrant artwork from painter Rachel Land and are suitable for framing. Finished puzzle measures 20.75" x 15".
Awards: 2012 Dr. Toy Best Classic Toys, 2012 Dr.Toy Best 20 for $20

Match It! First Words Memory is a fun memory game that will challenge problem solving and develop memory skills of young children as they try to find a pair of matching cards. Bright, colorful illustrations help children learn first words through images and reading.
Awards: 2013 TDmonthly Seal of Approval

Match It! Mathematics Memory is a fun memory game that will challenge problem solving and develop memory skills of young children as they try to find a pair of matching cards. Bright, colorful illustrations help children learn basic addition and subtraction.

Day & Night is a game that evolves in step with children's growing skills: Hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. Ages 3 and up: Visual perception of colors and shapes. In the day everything is bright and clear so the day side of each challenge shows kids all the details of their playing pieces and the shapes needed to create the scene. Ages 4 and up: Visual perception and logical reasoning. At night, when it's dark, kids can only see silhouettes so the night side of each challenge only gives kids the outline of what they have to create.

Anti-Virus is a sliding puzzle game with a new twist: Tiles that only slide diagonally and can move in groups. 60 challenges with 5 levels to keep the body and mind healthy.

What do you get when you combine a word and a number? A wumber! Paying tribute to William Steig's CDB!, best-selling book, cre8ors Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld have wri10 and illustr8ed this s2pendous book that is 1derful 4 readers in kindergar10 and up. If we've confused you, just take a look at the book — 4tun8ly it has helpful pictures. Kids will get it ins10tly. Launch date: May 30, 2012.

Using Bernoulli’s principle Fascinations has engineered a way to float a disc in the air over 18 inches high. Of course at that height it can become difficult to balance any object on a cushion of air but that’s where all the fun begins. How long can it stay in the air and how long can it fly? It’s cooler than magic because it’s real science at work.

Now the whole family can play a fast paced hidden object game with the Deluxe Find It Game containing over 70 hidden items. The Deluxe Find It hidden object game includes a deck of cards, a spinner, a timer, the check off pad, and instructions for 6 ways to play and variations to adapt to younger players. The basic play starts with each player being dealt seven cards that vary in point value. At the beginning of each turn use the spinner to determine the action required prior to play (add points, miss a turn, trade hands etc.) Look fast! Players will have 30 seconds to try to find a many items as possible. Play continues until someone finds all of their items and runs out of cards.
Awards: 2010 Creative Child Magazine Seal of Excellence; Tillywig Sterling Fun Award Winner

15th century princes from the Loire Valley devote their efforts to strategic trading and building in order to bring their estates prosperity and prominence throughout Burgundy. Two dice set the action options, but the players always make the final choices. Trading, livestock farming, city building or scientific research many different paths lead to the prosperity and prominence of the players. The many ways to gain victory points in this building game require careful thought and extensive planning ahead. The different estates ensure that no two games are alike and that the game remains challenging for long time.

Collect the magic gems and free the Wizard in Electronic Labyrinth. The enchanted Labyrinth is in danger. The evil witch Grimelda banished the wise wizard Akata, guardian of the Labyrinth, into a magic book. Can players break her evil spell and free the wizard? Dangers lurk everywhere; Grimelda has put a curse on anyone who has tried to save him and turned them into mythical creatures. Contents: 1 playing board, 1 magic book, 37 Labyrinth cards, 17 object cards, 5 treasure chest cards, 4 mission scrolls, 4 magic keys, 4 playing pieces, 60 gems, instructions. For 2-6 players. Playing time: 45-60 minutes.

Duple is a quick-thinking game of symbol matching and word-finding. Players flip letter cards in turn until the symbols on two players' cards match. Matching players face-off by being the first to shout a word which contains the letters on both cards. Correct answers must be at least 5 letters long and conform to ever-changing categories. Wild Cards and Cascades create unexpected face-offs and the All Play card gets everyone facing off a once. Distributed by Everest. Launch date: February 2012.
Awards: 2013 TDmonthly Seal of Approval

Contents: 61 colored domino blocks, 6 pieces of untreated wood, 1 ball, 1 building block clamp, 1 arched clamp with little bell. Endless building fun with abundant options for experimenting. Helps kids learn cause and effect.

This set comprises of 19 wooden house parts and 1 board. Kids can stack the interchangeable pieces any way they like to create their dream home. Encourages creativity and helps kids develop their fine motor skills. The pegging board and colored stacking pieces are made from solid beech wood.

Polar Eclipse is an educational board game created to raise awareness about climate change and lifestyle choices. Published in 2011 by turn 4 turn llc. based in Park City, Utah, the game is created for global citizens 8 years and older. Designed, tested and re-tested with students who attend a Utah K-8 charter school, the game offers players the opportunity to add their ideas to the discussion and move toward their survival by doing so. The game board is a warm to cool, and past to future grid; a game about time and temperature. The object of the game is, as one of five species, to make it into the future and get cooler, to survive. If you hit 100 your species becomes extinct and you are out of the game. The motivation to create this game comes from the inventors background as an elementary teacher and the concern for the natural world. By playing the game, it is hoped that the mix of experience that sparks awareness, concern and stewardship to protect the natural world will expand. Knowledge is power. The game includes a die to set your place in time, 184 event cards to experience cause and effect, 64 arctic cards to offer open-ended and multiple choice questions, five players/species, the game board and a rules and reference booklet. Playing time ranges from twenty to forty-five minutes depending on the set of cards you play and number of players. Eight blank event cards are included to create your own events to add to the game. A secondary activity is to sort the event cards into sets of eight cards, by a symbol on the card, and assemble puzzles that make up the photographs on the cover and sides of the game box.
Awards: 2012 Dr. Toy Best Green Toys

Rockboard takes boarding to an all new level in 2012 with the brand-new Descender, the first of its kind! Featuring innovative high-performance treads never before applied to the boarding experience, this unique cross-over board bridges the gap for summer and winter outdoor sports enthusiasts, enabling riders to “surf” down grass and all-terrain hills. With its four treads positioned around triple sets of wheels for maximum traction and power, The Descender extends the fun of snowboarding and surfing into every season. Launch date: June 2012.
Awards: 2012 TIA Outdoor Toy of the Year

The Classic Game of Threezer® Riddles. The fun starts with three seemingly unrelated clues.  What do Roses, Doughnuts and Jurors have in common? Players win the card if their team guesses, “They come in dozens.”  How about A Violinist, An Archer, A Fancy Gift? (They all have bows!) First team to collect the winning number of cards claims victory. TriBond “Threezers” are challenging, clever and contagious. The game’s edge-of-your-seat excitement has sparked sales of over 3 million copies. Launch date: July 2012.

The MLS Light Up Soccer Goal and Ball Set encourages active play even when the sun goes down. This complete soccer set features a goal with glowing edges, and a red light up soccer ball. Now, kids can play their favorite sport with excitement day or night. Includes stakes to hold the goal securely in the ground, light up goal, light up ball, and 1 3V battery. 6 AAA batteries also required, not included. Goal measures 37.5 inches x 24 inches.

This outdoor game combines the fun of soccer, kickball, ying discs, and golf. The Kickin' Putt 2 player game is complete with 2 kick around golf balls and the ying scoring disc. Toss the scoring disc to set the hole, and get ready for a game of soccer meets golf. The scoring disc is made in the USA from wheat based plastic and the kick around golf balls are made from natural rubber.