May 2011 Notable Toys — General Games

Players take turns flipping over cards that show different shapes. The first to complete the correct action wins that card. The game keeps it exciting by shuffling the actions and their corresponding shapes after each round.
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From the best-selling book comes The Hunger Games: Training Days Strategy Game. Training Days allows 2-6 players to follow in the footsteps of their favorite Tributes as they compete in the days leading up to the arena. Includes 18 Tribute Cards representing the female and male Tributes from 9 districts, a deck of 45 Challenge cards featuring: 24 Events, 8 Special Events, 10 Alliances, and 3 End of Day cards. Plus, Effort Tokens for each District, Approval Rating Score Board, and 6-sided dice.

Similar to a Rubik’s Cube, this multicolored cube has seven rows and columns users have to align.

Phone Frenzy is a board game that uses everyone’s mobile phone as the primary game component for calling, texting, and sending photos.  Every turn, players are given a challenge or activity that can only be completed with the help of one or more of their phone contacts.  A challenge might be a race to receive a correct response to “Finish this lyric by Journey:  ‘Just a small town girl’…”  Players pick who they think are the right contacts from their phone and send them a text message with the question.  The first player to receive the correct text message wins the round. Launch date: Summer 2011.

One player draws a construction card and builds the structure shown. Next, an opponent loads an Angry Bird onto the launcher and catapults the bird to knock down structures and pigs. The player with the most points and knockdowns wins. Features three Angry Birds, four green pigs, one slingshot-style launcher, structure pieces and multiple mission cards. For one or more players. Launch date: May 2011.
— As of 12/17/2012 this product had 3.9 out of 5 stars from 252 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Great alternative to the app for parents who want to reduce kids' screen time; fun for the family to play together; helps kids develop dexterity and patience. Cons: Certain structures are too elaborate to build and don't seem to be grouped in the correct level of difficulty; kids with short attention spans may lose interest in building the structures; structures are easy to knock down, which can be frustrating for younger players.

Each puzzle image is randomly designed and cut in the oddest ways to make it as tricky as possible. The Baffler has no straight edges, no overlapping images and many unique shapes. Each of the three puzzles in the series has a unique piece count: 67 pieces, 69 pieces and 78 pieces. "The puzzles feature unique shapes and no straight edges," Emily Giurleo, marketing coordinator at Ceaco, told TDmonthly.
— David Campbell, owner of Amazing Toys in Great Falls, Mont., told TDmonthly in a Summer 2012 survey that puzzles from Gamewright/Ceaco were among his best sellers.

Mahjong Junior is an introduction to the classic game of Mahjong.  It’s not only fun, fast, and easy to learn, but the game teaches sequencing, odds, evens, patterns, promotes planning, strategy, organizational skills, and taking turns. The game offers players both an element of history and another culture. Mahjong Junior is a socially interactive game that lends itself to connecting people to people. It is challenging for both children and adults, and places varying ages at equal playing level. It is also an eco-friendly, fair trade produced game.

In the Tetris Link game, players battle to score the most points by linking colored Tetriminos, the iconic Tetris playing pieces, into an upright game tower while attempting to block competitors from linking their game pieces. The Tetris Link game is a strategy game that takes just minutes to learn and15 to 20 minutes to play. Each player begins by choosing a color and collecting all of the Tetriminos in that color. Players then take turns rolling the die and dropping their color Tetriminos into the game tower, attempting to link Tetriminos of the same color to earn points while blocking opponents from scoring. Earn three points for the first three Tetriminos linked, and score one point for each additional Tetrimino linked. Players can lose points for any holes that are left in the game tower. Players track their points in real-time with the built-in scoring markers and, when the tower is full, the player with the highest score wins the game. For 2 to 4 players. Launch date: Spring 2011.

The all new 20Q® is the next generation of the best-selling electronic handheld game of twenty questions that has sold millions and millions of units worldwide. Players think of any animal, vegetable, mineral or other object, and 20Q magically reads their minds by deducing the answer in twenty questions or less. The all new 20Q features updated game play and the most eerily accurate artificial intelligence (A.I.) to date. It’s so amazing, even if players try to trick it with incorrect information, 20Q will know exactly what they are thinking. The portable electronic handheld game allows for easy on-the-go play and offers adjustable sound control. Batteries included (2 AAA). Available in three colors: red, blue and pink. Launch date: Fall 2011.

In anticipation of Columbia Pictures’/Sony Pictures Animation’s 3D release “The Smurfs,” in theaters August 3, 2011, Pressman Toy Corporation announces a licensing deal to create games and puzzles based on the movie. Pressman Toy’s games and puzzles will be available for purchase at mass and specialty retailers nationwide in July 2011. Race to Smurfs Village is a board game where players choose their favorite Smurfs character and try to be the first to get to their village. Special spaces help players get closer to the village, while others will set them back. Launch date: Summer 2011.

This game of skill features Erik balancing atop of blocks of ice that must be carefully pushed out one by one. Pressman Toy has partnered with Warner Bros. Consumer Products to produce a line of board games and puzzles based on Warner Bros. Pictures’ highly anticipated computer-animated family film Happy Feet 2. A follow up to director George Miller’s 2006 Academy Award-winning Best Animated Feature Film, Happy Feet, Miller’s Happy Feet 2 will be presented in 3D and 2D and IMAX, and will make its theatrical debut on November 18, 2011. Launch date for game: Fall 2011.

Green Lantern Quickshot Game is an action-packed game that allows kids to put their dexterity to the test as they load up their shooters with marbles and try to pop out the Green Lanterns. The game was produced in conjunction with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, on behalf of DC Entertainment, and is based on Warner Bros. Pictures’ upcoming 2011 film “Green Lantern.” The movie will make its theatrical debut on June 17, 2011. Launch date: May 2011.