July 2010 Notable Toys — All

This edition of Colossal Arena features updated components and a more portable format. Colossal Arena is a game of titanic battles and high stakes for two to five players. Designed by the legendary Reiner Knizia, this Silver Line classic is a new version of Titan: the Arena originally published by Avalon Hill. Features include 12 creature cards, 132 combat cards, 11 spectator cards, three referee cards, 25 bet tokens and a rulebook. Rick Nauertz, sales associate for Fantasy Flight Games, told TDmonthly, "A game as comfortable in your family’s closet as on a table at a gaming convention, Colossal Arena is must buy for all gamers!"

In Through the Desert, two to five players each control a tribe of nomads vying for control of the desert. By establishing caravans and taking over oases, the players gain points as their tribes increase in power. Game play is designed to be under an hour. Fantasy Flight Games Sales Associate Rick Nauertz told TDmonthly, "From the award-winning game designer Reiner Knizia comes a game of strategy, patience and cool plastic camels!"

Kingsburg is a game of city building and resource management for two to five aspiring medieval governors, and is playable in roughly 90 minutes. Players adopt the role of a governor, and vie for resources to build up their province, military power to defend their homes, and above all the influence of the King. Over five years (five turns) players rely on various advisors to the King for resources. From tangibles like gold, wood and stone to soldiers and portents, each acquisition will shape the future of your community. Fantasy Flight Games Sales Associate Rick Nauertz told TDmonthly, "Combining many of the best elements of European and American board game design styles, Kingsburg has been praised for its clever use of dice and its high level of player interaction."

In the Horus Heresy board game, a legendary battle unfolds across the razed plains of Terra and in the frozen orbit above, from the Emperor’s golden Inner Palace to Horus’s flagship, the Vengeful Spirit. Taking the side of either traitor or loyalist, two players control either fearless Space Marine legions or deviant Chaos Space Marines, mighty Titans, Imperial Armies both loyal and traitorous, and a fearsome array of other units, including the Emperor and Horus themselves. Horus Heresy uses an innovative order and initiative system that forces each side to carefully consider the commands issued to troops. A dramatic, card driven combat system incorporates escalating damage, gives players the opportunity to allocate resources between attack and defense, and brings to bear the unique special powers of each unit type. The game includes more than 120 detailed miniature models 10 plastic terrain pieces 200+ cards Map of the war-torn Terra. Rick Nauertz, Sales Associate for Fantasy Flight Games, told TDmonthly, "Horus Heresy is an epic board game for two players set in the dark future of Games Workshop's preeminent Warhammer 40,000 universe."

In the Warhammer world, four Gods of Chaos battle for supremacy: Khorne, the Blood God/Skulltaker, lusts for death and battle; Nurgle, the Plaguelord/Father of Corruption, luxuriates in filth and disease; Tzeentch, the Changer of Ways/Great Conspirator, plots the fate of the universe; and Slaanesh, the Prince of Pleasure and Pain/Lord of Temptations, lures even the most steadfast to his six deadly seductions. In the Chaos in the Old World board game, each player takes the role of one of the malevolent Lords of Chaos. Each god’s distinctive powers and legion of followers give the controlling player unique strengths and heretical abilities with which to corrupt and enslave the Old World. Yet, as the powers of Chaos seek domination by corruption and conquest, players must vie not only against each other, but also against the desperate denizens of the Old World who fight to banish the gods back to the maelstrom of the Realm of Chaos. Fantasy Flight Games Sales Associate Rick Nauertz told TDmonthly, "Chaos in the Old World takes place in the world of the Warhammer Fantasy Roleplaying Game, and Warhammer Online, and so is bound to garner some name recognition."

In Dust, 2 to 6 players command vast armies of technologically advanced tanks, submarines, aircraft and “mechs” (massive piloted robots), all produced at factories which can be purchased and placed. To win, players must take territory through dice-based combat, controlling the most “power centers” in order to finance the expansion of their forces. By controlling the most of these power centers, along with the most capitals, players score victory points. The first player to score a set number of victory points claims the win. The game includes two variant rulebooks (quick-playing “Premium” rules and grand “Epic” rules), a puzzle-cut game board, more than 800 plastic figures, 45 lavishly-illustrated cards, 10 custom battle dice, 25 game tokens and three player reference sheets. Fantasy Flight Games Sales Associate Rick Nauertz told TDmonthly, "A few unique mechanics keep Dust somewhat shorter than other epic games of global conquest. In each player’s turn, for example, there is a cap on the amount of building, moving, and attacking allowed."

In Cosmic Encounter, players choose from dozens of alien races, each with its own unique power to further its efforts to build an empire that spans the galaxy. Many classic aliens from earlier editions of this beloved game return, such as the Oracle, the Loser, and the Clone. Newly discovered aliens also join the fray, including Remora, Mite and Tick-Tock. This classic game of alien politics returns from the warp once more. Cosmic Encounter features 50 alien races, flare cards to boost their powers, 100 plastic ships, a host of premium components, and all-new tech cards that let players research and build extraordinary technological marvels. Fantasy Flight Games Sales Associate Rick Nauertz told TDmonthly, "No two games are the same!"

Age of Conan is a strategy board game for two to four players ages, and is playable in 90 minutes. In Age of Conan, players control the four major kingdoms of the Hyborian Age as they aggressively expand their borders and influence, competing to become the most powerful kingdom of the age. Each player's forces include Army units, which are used to invade provinces and fight battles by force of arms; and Emissary units, who form and break alliances via diplomacy and political maneuvering. Rick Nauertz, sales associate for Fantasy Flight Games, told TDmonthly, "Thief, barbarian, pirate, king. Robert E. Howard's tales of the exploits and adventures of Conan have inspired generations."

Wings of War: World War II Deluxe Edition is a great place for new users to start playing Wings of War, the action-packed game of aerial combat and World War II dogfights. This limited deluxe edition includes the complete rules of Wings of War (including the dive-bombing rules from Wings of War: Fire From the Sky), a full set of player boards, maneuver decks, and tokens, and four beautifully-painted and accurately-sculpted miniatures, based on the four major planes of the early days of World War II: the Spitfire, Messerschmitt, Zero and Wildcat. Rick Nuaertz, Sales Associate for Fantasy Flight Games, told TDmonthly, "Each plane has a specific maneuver deck with its own unique options, so players fly differently from game to game."

Wings of War is a game series that merges card and board game mechanics to recreate aerial combat. The first series of Wings of War games focus on the "knights of the air" age, World War I, portraying the abilities of the fighting planes of this period. Wings of War: Famous Aces is the first set of the WWI collection. It includes five types of planes: the Spad XIII, Albatros D Va, Sopwith Camel, Fokker Dr1 and the Sopwith Triplane. Each plane was flown by an ace: Baracca, von Richtofen, Rickenbecker, Fonck, Olieslagers and Baker. Fantasy Flight Games Sales Associate Rick Nauertz told TDmonthly, "By selecting from his maneuver deck, each player can plot out the loops, rolls and twists that his dogfighting plane will undertake."

Talisman takes players on a journey through magical lands, as they endeavor to reclaim the Crown of Command. Each turn will see a hero advancing, battling, gaining knowledge and power necessary to defeat the guardians lurking between the Portal of Power and the Valley of Fire. The game is designed for two to six players and is playable in one to two hours. The game includes a revised rulebook, a six-fold game board, 14 character sheets with matching plastic character figures, more than 160 Cards, six, six-sided dice, more than 190 tokens, and 30 gold coins. Rick Nauertz, Sales Associate for Fantasy Flight Games, told TDmonthly, "For those unfamiliar with this classic world of fantasy adventures, Talisman is a game like no other — indeed, it is no ordinary game at all, but a fantastic quest in a world of magic and monsters."

Middle-Earth Quest is set in the 17-year period between Bilbo’s birthday party and the Ring’s departure from the Shire, as described in J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel "The Lord of the Rings." One player takes the role of Sauron, who is attempting to dominate Middle-Earth with his nefarious plots and evil minions, while up to three other players take the roles of heroes who must hold the darkness at bay until Gandalf’s plans have matured. The game includes a rulebook, a 28.25" x 41" game board, five plastic hero figures, five plastic minion figures, 225+ tokens, more than 470 cards, five hero sheets, and eight plastic stands.

Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation is a two-player board game set in J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved setting of Middle-Earth, in which one player controls of the Fellowship of the Ring, and the other player controls the forces of Sauron. Fantasy Flight Games Sales Associate Rick Nauertz told TDmonthly, "At its heart, Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation is a game of out-bluffing and outmaneuvering your opponent."

StarCraft: The Board Game is an action-packed strategy game of galactic conquest! Terran, Zerg and Protoss alike battle for supremacy across multiple worlds. StarCraft: The Board Game is playable by two to six players in two to four hours. The game includes a rulebook 180 plastic figures, 12 planet tiles, 27 navigation routes, a conquest point track, six faction sheets, six reference sheets, more than 330 tokens, and more than 325 cards. Fantasy Flight Games Sales Associate Rick Nauertz told TDmonthly, "Starcraft: The Board Game is based on the hit computer game of the same name. With the highly anticipated Starcraft II on the horizon, this game should garner some name recognition." 

World of Warcraft: the Adventure Game is an exciting and fast-paced journey through the world of Azeroth for two to four players. Players choose their favorite hero and embark on an epic journey from humble beginnings to immense power, battling vicious monsters, powerful overlords and treacherous fellow players in order to become the mightiest hero in all the land. The game includes a rulebook, a game board, four plastic figures, 100 Bridge-sized cards, 220 small cards, a blue movement die, two combat dice (one red, one black), four challenge deck organizers, and 100+ tokens. Fantasy Flight Sales Associate Rick Nauertz told TDmonthly, "With 11.5 million subscribers to World of Warcraft, this title should garner some name recognition on your shelves."

World of Warcraft: the Board Game is a fantasy adventure board game for two to six players, based on the popular Massively Multiplayer Online Game from Blizzard Entertainment. Players adventure across Lordaeron, vanquish monsters, gain experience and power, and earn honor for their faction — whether Horde or Alliance. Players select one of 16 heroes from nine classes and eight races, advance their character and gather treasure, battle 13 different types of monsters, and ultimately challenge one of three invincible Overlords to determine the fate of Azeroth. The games includes a rules booklet, a game board, 135+ plastic figures, seven double-sided character sheets, two single-sided character sheets, more than 460 tokens, 450+ cards, three overlord sheets, two creature reference sheets, and 21 eight-sided dice.

In A Game of Thrones: The Board Game, three to five players take on the roles of the great Houses of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros as they vie for control of the Iron Throne through the use of diplomacy and warfare. Based on the best-selling "A Song of Ice and Fire" series of fantasy novels by George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones is an epic board game in which it will take more than military might to win. Through strategic planning, slick diplomacy, and clever card play, players must spread their influence over Westeros to finally claim the Iron Throne.

Tannhäuser puts players in the middle of a alternate timeline, where World War I never ended and the forces involved have chosen new ways to break the stalemate. Featuring the Pathfinding system, a revolutionary way to mark line of sight, Tannhäuser gets players in the thick of the battle quickly. Each side has unique characters and equipment, and must outfit figures to best advantage in order to win. Each force has a multitude of equipment and weapon options for customization. Tannhäuser is packaged with everything required for two to ten players to begin playing in the u-chronic Tannhäuser universe. The game includes a rulebook, a double-sided map board designed for use with the Pathfinding system, 10 finely detailed pre-painted miniatures, 10 illustrated character sheets, two 10-sided dice, and 162 game counters.

Squishlanders are fun, 3/4" rubbery animals in a plastic capsule that can be found in more than 300,000 vending machines around the world.  The squishie characters were first introduced 4 years ago as Pet Friends, and more than 55 million of the little creatures have been sold since that time.  Each Sqwishlander comes with a code for access to a new kid-friendly virtual world, www.Sqwishland.com.
— Squishies pencil toppers were on the top-10 best-seller list at Totally Thomas Toy Depot in San Diego in July 2010. “They are the hottest trend in Southern California as of this spring,” President Cynthia Wyatt told TDmonthly. “’Regulars’ and ‘Rares’ — they collect them all!”

Take-n-Play Thomas diecast railway models are high-quality replicas that measure 3” to 5” long. They are compatible with the discontinued Take-Along Thomas trains.
— Take-n-Play Thomas items were top sellers at Totally Thomas Toy Depot in San Diego in summer 2010. “Hiro is still the most sought-after engine since last year when the Great Discovery movie came out,” President Cynthia Wyatt told TDmonthly.

This set for critter families includes more than 40 furniture pieces and accessories, including a light-up fire place complete with tools and fire logs, a comfortable couch, arm chairs, a coffee maker, a telephone, a clock, newspapers and more. Cons: Lots of little pieces that are hard to assemble.
— In late Spring 2011, 4 out of 12 retailers said toys from Calico Critters were their best-selling play sets.
— Calico Critters made the top-10 best-seller list at Totally Thomas Toy Depot in San Diego in July 2010. “We sell a ton of critters and accessories of all sorts, but the Deluxe Living Room Set seems to be on everybody’s list,” President Cynthia Wyatt told TDmonthly. “These precious critters are absolutely irresistible as are the homes and accessories.”
AWARDS: 2010 TDmonthly Top Seller (entire Calico Critters line)

James likes to think of himself as a really splendid engine. This can occasionally lead to grandiose ideas about the sort of work suitable for such a noble creature, which invariably lands James in trouble. This engine measures 6” x 1.5” x 2”.
— Items from the wooden railway system were top sellers at Totally Thomas’ Toy Depot in San Diego, Cal. in the summer of 2010, according to Cindy Wyatt, president. “Since the Misty Island Rescue Movie is just making its debut, we expect to see our sales soar on Dash the Logging Engine and his buddies Bash and Captain,” she said.
— Thomas is a big hobby for little kids. Though she doesn't sell a lot during the year, ''I bring it in at Christmas time,'' said Jeanne McCullough, owner of The Children's Store in Boise, Idaho.

Candy dispensers shaped like your favorite train are ready for loading up with sweet treats.
— Thomas & Friends Pez candy dispensers were top sellers at Totally Thomas Toy Depot in San Diego as of July 2010, according to Cynthia Wyatt, president. “Yummy and collectible,” she said. “The perfect treat for any Thomas fan.”

With a wingspan of 30” and height of 31”, this nylon jet stunt kite features a fiberglass airframe and includes Skytails, a line and a dual-control handle. The wind rating for this style is 7 to 15 mph.
— “A personal favorite of mine are the Blue Angels Kites. Our store is down the road from MCAS Miramar (formerly Miramar Naval Air Station). Many military people live in our community and we see military aircraft regularly, so this kite is really popular. In general, our Brainstorm kites outsell all our others. They’re priced well and have some really fun styles,” Cynthia Wyatt, president of Totally Thomas Toy Depot in San Diego, told TDmonthly in July 2010.