TDmonthly's ToyFair 2006 Preview--General Games Product Category

Livecube 2D Pentominoes Puzzle by LIVECUBE TBS INC.

Players solve the 12-piece 3D puzzle in two-piece segments, and then join the six groups to complete the whole puzzle. “The way to play this puzzle is similar to Tengram, but it looks different,” Min Shih of LiveCube TBS Inc. told TDmonthly. “It is much easier to start but more difficult to finish.” Launch date: March 2008. 5/1/2008 (Price: $12.00)

Imaginetics - Bob the Builder – The Machine Shelter by INTERNATIONAL PLAYTHINGS LLC

The 13-piece travel playset is based on the popular series “Bob the Builder.” Each piece is magnetized, so kids can create and recreate scenes endlessly.
— Three of 40 retailers agreed in March 2008 that Imaginetics are the best-selling travel games in their stores.
— Fifteen percent of retailers who spoke with TDmonthly in March 2008 said magnetic playsets are the best-selling travel products in their stores.
— "Any type of small travel games and magnetic stickers, such as Imaginetics," Jamie Burdette, owner of LB Toys in Media, Pa., told TDmonthly in March 2008, when asked to name his best-selling travel toy. 4/30/2008 (Price: $4.99)

Measure Match by IMPRESA Publishing

This award-winning game uses the popular memory format for a simple and fun way to learn. Reading is not required, and older players can help younger players learn colors, shapes or words. The durable and colorful card deck contains 34 pairs of equivalent time, length, weight and volume measurements. Players can set the level of challenge or speed of play by using as few or as many cards as they wish. “Measure Match can be adjusted to accommodate young minds with short attention spans, without diminishing its ability to impart knowledge and develop learning skills,” Joe Duray of Impresa Publishing told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2004. 4/28/2008 (Price: $12.99)

Pirate's Ship Magnetic Puzzle by HABA USA/HABERMAASS CORP.

The nine-piece puzzle features a durable magnetic board with a deep frame. The puzzle comes pre-assembled; when the pieces of the puzzle are removed, the treasures on the ship are revealed. “The quality and educational aspect of the playful drawings of the ‘outside’ and ‘inside’ of a ship can be taught,” Haba USA President Lea Culliton told TDmonthly. “The sturdy compressed boards will be sure to last when used and reused over and over again.” Launch date: February 2008. 4/28/2008 (Price: $12.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Gobsmacked™ by FAMILY GAMES INC.

Players attempt to memorize the pattern on the board before the board is spun around and another patterned plug is added into play. Get three in a row of the same color or shape and score a point. The game comes with a vertical board, a base, a pivot piece, a scoring block device, a score peg, 30 orange game pieces and instructions. Launch date: March 2008. ( Watch Video) 4/24/2008

Party Pooper by OUT OF THE BOX PUBLISHING

This 20- to 30-minute game for four to eight players comes with 432 event cards, a party cube and scoring chips. As participants consider the circumstances on each card, they discover the party animals and the party poopers in each group. 4/21/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Double Shutter Vintage by BLUE ORANGE GAMES

This vintage version of the self-contained Double Shutter comes with wooden dice. The entire game comes in a wooden box. A casino tin and junior version are also available. “Durable, easy to stow away and with minimal pieces this game is perfect to travel with,” Jeremy Smith at Blue Orange Games told TDmonthly.  Launch date: February 2008. 4/17/2008 (Price: $34.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Gobblet on the Go by BLUE ORANGE GAMES

This game is the travel version of the Gobblet board game. All pieces come in a little tote bag, making the game easy to store and transport. “The colorful nature of this wooden game makes the game durable to abuse and friendly in use,” Jeremy Smith at Blue Orange Games told TDmonthly. “The bright colors make the pieces hard to lose but easy to play with.” Launch date: June 2004. 4/17/2008 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Angles Flash Cards by WORLD CLASS LEARNING MATERIALS INC.

The 105 double-sided, easy to read, triangular-shaped 6-1/4” x 3-3/4” cards feature four levels of difficulty and practice solving for unknown angles. The cards address supplementary, complementary, vertical and right angles. Students will also learn to identify types of triangles based on the triangle’s angle measures – scalene, equilateral, isosceles and right triangles. Launch date: February 2008. 4/17/2008 (Price: $6.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Smart Snacks® Counting Fun Fruit Bowl™ by LEARNING RESOURCES INC.

The plastic play fruits separate into pieces to help children learn number sense, number recognition, counting (one to five) and part-to-whole relationships — a key early fractions concept. The five-piece set also encourages fine motor skills, healthy snacking and imaginative play. Embedded magnets (orange, apple and plum) and friction fitting (banana) make numbered pieces easy to assemble. All five fruits store in 7-3/4" bowl. Launch date: January 2008. 4/17/2008 (Price: $16.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Pretend & Play® Explorer Set by LEARNING RESOURCES INC.

The set invites kids to discover and observe bugs and plants, using a magnifying observation box, a viewer with tweezers, a butterfly net and more. The set also includes a write-and-wipe matching activity and fact page. All pieces in the set are durable, and come packaged in a convenient 14"L x 12"W x 3-1/2"H storage and carrying case. Launch date: January 2008. 4/17/2008 (Price: $32.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

LCR® Left Center Right™ Dice Game Blue Tin by GEORGE & COMPANY LLC

This addictive, fast-paced dice game is now available in a blue tin box. This edition includes three specially marked LCR® cubes. The game itself retains its original simplicity where the roll of the dice determines which players to the left, right or center get the chips; the winner being the player with the chips at the end. Simple, fun and even educational for growing minds. L-C-R also comes with 24 playing chips and game instructions. The game is designed for three or more players. 4/15/2008 (Price: $8.98) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

LCR® Left Center Right™ Dice Game 25th Anniversary Collector's Tin by GEORGE & COMPANY LLC

This addictive, fast-paced dice game is now available in a 25th Anniversary large tin box. This special edition comes with larger chips and a Dice cup. The game itself is as simple as looking left, center and right. The roll of the dice determines which players to the left, right or center get the chips, and the player with the chips at the end wins the game. It's simple, fun and even educational for growing minds. L-C-R comes with three dice, 24 playing chips and game instructions. The game is designed for three or more players. 4/15/2008 (Price: $13.98) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

ReFraze Junior Edition by REFRAZE

In the fast-paced game, the names of kids’ songs, movies, and TV shows are “rephrased” and players race to figure out the actual names. For example, “underdog” is the correct answer to the movie ReFraze “lower pup.” Launch date: January 2008. 4/11/2008 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

University Games - Smart Ass® Card Game by UNIVERSITY GAMES

The card game is based on the original board game, but is packed with new topics and new clues.  It’s perfect to play on the road, or can be used in place of the original Smart Ass mystery clues. Launch date: Spring 2008. 4/11/2008 (Price: $9.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

University Games - 5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed Card Game by UNIVERSITY GAMES

The game introduces children to simple strategy and role-playing. The card game, which comes in a tin, lets children make matches and act out monkey actions. Launch date: Spring 2008. 4/11/2008 (Price: $9.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Oh, the Wondrous Places You'll Go! by THE WONDER FORGE LLC

The deck of cards describes 51½ wondrous places to visit. Each card features stunning photography, unbelievable facts, surprising history and brain-twisting trivia about the destination. Launch date: Spring 2008. 4/11/2008 (Price: $12.95)

Yamodo! Good to Go! by IDEA STORM PRODUCTS, LLC.

Players think, draw and write out their own interpretations of inspired, made-up Yamodo! words. The game is ideal for families taking long car trips, the waiting time before a flight or any other situation that could use a creative distraction. There are over 1,000 uploaded Yamodos on the company website. Launch date: April 2008.
Awards:  Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products - 2010 4/11/2008 (Price: $9.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

TableTalk: MovieTalk by U.S. GAMES SYSTEMS, INC.

The conversation cards have become increasingly popular with parents as a fun way to get conversations rolling at home or on the road. Each colorful deck presents fascinating facts and poses intriguing questions. There are no right or wrong answers. Just pick a card and start talking. Available titles include AnimalTalk, ArtTalk, KidTalk, ScienceTalk, SportTalk and more. Launch date: June 2008. 4/11/2008 (Price: $6.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Continuo by U.S. GAMES SYSTEMS, INC.

The original Continuo, first introduced in 1982, is colorful, compact and perfect for travel. The goal of the one-rule game is to match as many sides as possible to score as many points as possible. Launch date: 1982. 4/11/2008 (Price: $10.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Quickword Magnetic Travel Edition by U.S. GAMES SYSTEMS, INC.

The fast-paced game gives players a wide variety of word-based challenges. Each game is different. The convenient fold-up case houses a magnetic game board, a built-in spinner, 200 Quickword cards, magnetic tokens, a score pad, a timer and instructions. Launch date: 2005. 4/11/2008 (Price: $16.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Optical Illusions Playing Cards by U.S. GAMES SYSTEMS, INC.

Based on the book Pentamagic, this deck of 55 poker-sized, optical illusion cards is perfect for travel. It can be used to play most card game favorites and also provides hours of visual entertainment. Launch date: 2006. 4/11/2008 (Price: $7.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Transformation Game by U.S. GAMES SYSTEMS, INC.

The game illuminates patterns, offers insights toward new directions, and supports change and transformation. The in-depth journey is marked with realizations, obstacles, angels and miracles. It is an excellent way to clarify important issues, resolve conflicts and creatively enhance relationships. 4/11/2008 (Price: $59.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Quick Count Football by FLYING PIG GAMES, INC.

Quick Count is a fast-paced, family football card game played by two to four people. A typical game lasts approximately 30 minutes and is played in quarters like real football. Games can be easily stopped after a few minutes and resumed later. Players can complete passes, run the ball, kick field goals and stop their opponents’ big play — all with a 54-card deck that fits in a pocket, purse, briefcase or backpack. “Quick Count is the first game where people can enjoy America's most popular sport (football) in 30 minutes or less, and because of its size and portability, the game can be taken or played anywhere with ease,” CEO Jeff Spelman of Spelman Media told TDmonthly. 4/11/2008 (Price: $7.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Numbers League: Infinity Level Expansion by BENT CASTLE WORKSHOPS

Infinity Level is a 60-card expansion deck to the original Numbers League: Adventures in Addiplication game. It adds 33 Superhero body parts (11 heads, 11 chests, and 11 legs) , 15 devices, and 24 villains. These expand the math skills used to incorporate addition and multiplication of simple decimals and multiplying by negative numbers. 4/10/2008 (Price: $9.95)