TDmonthly's Toy Fair 2007 Preview
Category: Family Games

Canvas Collection by THE CANADIAN GROUP

The 1,000-piece Canvas Collection brings four images to life as real art. Both box and puzzle feature a linen texture offering the look and feel of the original painting. The beautiful imagery features magnificent country scenes that may take the puzzler to another place. 5/4/2010 (Price: $12.99)

Studio Series by THE CANADIAN GROUP

The Studio Series is an assortment of four 500-piece round puzzles with real wooden pieces that features top rated images by renowned artists Hansel, Sundrum, Daniel and Boehme. Sue Harrison of The Canadian Group told TDmonthly, "Great images and a great feel provides a premium puzzling experience!" 5/4/2010 (Price: $12.99)

Sandkidz Beach Guide by SANDKIDZ.COM

The Sandkidz Beach Guide contains games and crafts for a full day or weekend of beach fun for the whole family. All items come in a vinyl pouch attached to the guide and can be replaced as needed for more beach activities. The Sandkidz Beach Guide was awarded the 2009 "Seal of Excellence" by Creative Child Magazine. Launch date: June 12, 2008. 5/3/2010 (Price: $14.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Gourmet Magazine - Homemade Jams Jigsaw Puzzle by NEW YORK PUZZLE COMPANY LLC

This 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle features a delicious assortment of berries and jams from the cover of Gourmet Magazine. Adam Silver, CEO of New York Puzzle Company, told TDmonthly, "The Gourmet line of jigsaw puzzles includes three free recipe cards based on the puzzle theme to make at home." 4/30/2010 (Price: $16.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

New Yorker - Beachgoing Jigsaw Puzzle by NEW YORK PUZZLE COMPANY LLC

This bustling beach has plenty of detail to satisfy even the biggest of puzzle aficionados. The 1000-piece Beachgoing puzzle features the July 8, 1939 cover of the New Yorker.  Adam Silver, CEO of New York Puzzle Company, told TDmonthly, this product is "made in the USA from extra-thick puzzle board to ensure for better play and a better fit." 4/30/2010 (Price: $16.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Children's Playland by NEW YORK PUZZLE COMPANY LLC

Puzzlers can visit the Duck Pond, Noah's Ark, Llama's Castle and more at this Children's Zoo Wonderland. This 500-piece jigsaw puzzle can be a family activity. Adam Silver, CEO of New York Puzzle Company, told TDmonthly, "All of our jigsaw puzzles are made in the USA from extra-thick puzzle board to provide for better play and a better overall fit." 4/30/2010 (Price: $15.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Adventures of Tommy the Tomato Playing Cards by Tommy the Tomato

The Adventures of Tommy the Tomato Playing Cards is an extension of the alphabet book for children. It is a memory, "go fish" and trivia game all in one. The games are designed to teach children literacy though the alphabet as well as the benefits of nutrition while being interactive. 4/30/2010 (Price: $9.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Popular Mechanics - Classic Cars Jigsaw Puzzle by NEW YORK PUZZLE COMPANY LLC

This is a great puzzle for the vintage muscle car fanatic. Puzzlers piece together the profile of 12 mid-century American automobile icons featured on the cover of the February 1957 edition of "Popular Mechanics." Adam Silver, CEO of New York Puzzle Company, told TDmonthly, "All of our puzzles are made in the USA from extra-thick puzzle board to ensure a better fit." 4/30/2010 (Price: $15.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Ploughshares by FAMILY PASTIMES

This is a game of collaboration, learning and discussion full of strategy, with each player making an important contribution. Set in 1895, players are a group of peaceful Christian villagers in Russia who drive wagons through the countryside, visiting homes to collect firewood and weapons for the building of ploughshares in the village center, all while avoiding confiscation and imprisonment by the Tsar's patrolling soldiers. The game includes a 17" x 17" board, special playing cards, movers, dice, collection chart, wagons, and rules for regular and advanced games. 4/30/2010 (Price: $31.50) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

U-Build Connect 4 by HASBRO INC.

U-Build Connect 4 combines the family favorite of Connect 4 with customizable U-Build bricks that create a unique game experience every time the game is played. Start by building a grid using U-Build bricks that snap into the game unit. Once the grid is built, players drop their red and yellow checkers into the top of the game and watch as the checker bounces down into a row. Add U-Build bumper arms to the top of the grid to help to steer a checker into a chosen row in an attempt to get four in a row. Bumper bricks can be used to assist a score or used as a defensive move to keep the opponent from scoring. Players must drop the checkers and see where they land to slide, bump and block their way to victory. Package includes 158 building parts (110 U-BUILD bricks & 48 construction pins), 21 red checkers, 21 yellow checkers, one game board with stand, assembly guide and game guide. Launch date: Spring 2010. 4/30/2010 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Messages by FAMILY PASTIMES

Messages consists of three games for those who love playing with words and ideas. Players must express their cleverness, creativity and sense of humor by using symbol tokens to form picture phrases and sentences, known as rebuses. Players pool their ideas to make rebuses to fill the board, red spots add challenges, and each game played is a different experience. The package includes a 7.75" x 7.5" board, 100 symbol tokens, a glossary of suggested meanings, rules and a storage bag. 4/29/2010 (Price: $11.50) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Early Years by FAMILY PASTIMES

Early Years are four cooperative card games for the younger ages. Each game is designed to nurture and encourage a blend of close observation, communication, imagination, and some academic, social and memory skills in a non-threatening, self-esteem-building atmosphere. The pack includes four sets of 35 cards each: a “domino” word game, an animal memory game, a number/math skills game, and a storytelling game. Jim Deacove, president of Family Pastimes, told TDmonthly Early Years is "a big bargain with lots of play value, and just plain fun to play! Special group game rules are included for accommodating as many as 36 players." 4/29/2010 (Price: $15.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

SHAKE ‘N TAKE™ by OUT OF THE BOX PUBLISHING

In this game, Aliens are on the loose and it’s up to the players to capture them. Everybody’s got aliens, but there are only two capture markers. Catch as many aliens as possible before the next player grabs the capture marker. The first to capture all of their aliens wins. For two to 10 players. Launch date: 2010. 4/26/2010 (Price: $24.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Zip!™ by GAZIMA GAMES INC

This fast-paced dice game challenges players to Zip their way to the winner's circle. Players simultaneously roll their dice, keep any aside and re-roll the rest. The object is to be the first to roll the correct combination and move across the board to the finish. Launch date: 2010.
This version of this game is not currently available. 4/26/2010 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Count Your Blessings by FAMILY GAMES INC.

Count Your Blessings is the Chicken Soup for the Soul-inspired game with an attitude for gratitude. Players try to be the first to flip their four tokens from "Stressed to Blessed", "Tired to Inspired", "Frazzled to  Dazzled", and "Mad to Glad" simply by looking on the positive side of life. The package includes: one sun spinner board, 215 game cards, 24 tokens, six heads or tails coins, one pair "Look on the Brightside" glasses, and instruction booklet. Launch date: 2010. 4/26/2010 (Price: $24.98)

Clicker Crab Toss and Grip by MELISSA & DOUG

This twist on a classic backyard game includes two soft balls and two charming crabby "catchers". Launch date: 2010.   4/22/2010 (Price: $11.99)

Not an Island by FAMILY PASTIMES

This game is designed to nurture imagination, listening, self-expression, collaboration and clear thinking, using a story-telling format. The setting is science-fictional and the issues presented everyday and real, tackled by players with role-playing, values discussions, dialogue, problem-solving, and creative writing. Not an Island is adaptable to any group situation and includes 55 situation cards, 55 resource cards, six life force markers, two booklets of scenarios, and rules for basic, medium and hard levels of play. Launch date: 2003. 4/16/2010 (Price: $15.50) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Yin Yang by FAMILY PASTIMES

In this cooperative game, players try to develop a series of balanced patterns. The moving principles are simple, but the variations and complexities of play are almost infinite. This is a game for those who like abstract, meditative endeavors. A simpler game, Clarity, is included for the beginner or younger players. The game also includes a 12" x 12" board, three sets of colored "pebbles," and scoring sheets. Launch date: 1973. 4/16/2010 (Price: $17.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Choices by FAMILY PASTIMES

This values-oriented, moral-dilemma game of discussion and evaluation presents challenges an individual encounters from childhood to old age. The situations and questions appear on cards with choices to make. Players can create their own responses and more situations to enter into the game. This game is a useful tool to stimulate values discussion in a non-competitive framework and includes a 14" x 18" play pad, four sets of questions (for childhood, adolescence, middle years and old age), mover, die, game and complete rules. Launch date: 1976. 4/16/2010 (Price: $12.50) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Starwords by FAMILY PASTIMES

Starwords is a cooperative word game in which players make words to cover as many Star Spaces as they can. Each word must be about what players see in the picture. The picture changes, letters get recycled, and letters are given away. Players can discuss, share and compare ideas in a natural, friendly way. Word wizards can play the Advanced Version in which dice are rolled to see what kind of word has to be formed. The game includes a 13" x 17" board, die, reference chart, 100 letter tokens, and a collection of unusual pictures. Jim Deacove, president of Family Pastimes, told TDmonthly, "Our games foster the spirit of cooperation. Players help each other climb a mountain, make a community, bring in the harvest, complete a space exploration... They are never against each other." Launch date: 1983. 4/16/2010 (Price: $24.50) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

You Robot by ASMODEE EDITIONS

In this coordination game, teams must imitate the robot movements shown on the cards. The team that is the best at controlling their 'robot' teammate with gestures and reaching the robot position faster than their opponents wins. Asmodee Marketing Manager Ruby Nikolopoulou told TDmonthly, "The price point is interesting for gifts." Launch date: October 2009. ( Watch Video) 4/14/2010 (Price: $12.99)

LEGO Games: Creationary by LEGO

Roll the LEGO® Dice to select one of four exciting building categories (vehicles, buildings, nature or things) in this interactive game for three to eight players. With three levels of difficulty, this game allows families and friends to test their imagination, creativity, building and guessing skills. Game includes one buildable LEGO Dice, one LEGO minifigure, one LEGO microfigure, 96 cards, 1 rule booklet and 341 building pieces. Launch date: 2010. 4/5/2010 (Price: $34.99)

Bambino Dino by FAMILY PASTIMES

Players are charged with the challenge of rescuing a baby dinosaur stuck in a canyon threatened by a flash flood. Players must work as a team to save little Dino by lowering the water level until he is dry and also help give him his favorite food. Bambino Dino is simple to grasp, with color-coded dice that indicate when to pick a helpful Tool or some Food and also when to build the Water higher and higher. The game includes a 6" x 12" board, water pieces, rules, bucket and food cards, dice and stickers. Launch date: 2001. 4/2/2010 (Price: $15.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Snowstorm by FAMILY PASTIMES

In this game, a winter storm hits Little City. Granny and Grandpa, Uncle and Aunt, Mom and Dad, and Best Friend's Family have things to do, places to go and errands to run. Players must help them complete these tasks together by driving to the places on their lists and returning them safely home. Deep snow? Bad ice? Players decide when and where to do some plowing or spreading of sand while the weather constantly changes. The game includes one 12" x 12" board, weather reports, errands, cars, places, snow and ice, and service trucks. Launch date: 1994. 4/2/2010 (Price: $15.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

DGA-TV by FAMILY PASTIMES

DGA-TV is a co-operative game about running a TV station. Players are producers who run 7 Studios, featuring everything from children’s shows to current affairs, working together to bring award-winning programming to the viewing public. They must deal with the critics, ratings, sponsors and the actions of people behind and in front of the cameras while putting together as popular a TV program as possible in order to avoid cancellations and earn awards. The game includes eight player game boards, rules, six movers, seven success markers, a program marker, 41 thumbs up and 45 thumbs down cards, and a rules summary chart. Launch date: 2006. 4/2/2010 (Price: $22.50) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]