November 2007 New Toys — General Games

The Great Word Race by TALICOR / ARISTOPLAY

Children of all ages will have fun challenging their spelling skills while playing The Great Word Race. Two to four players race their pawn from start to finish by moving it the number of letters in the word they build. Each player throws six dice with the letters of the alphabet, adding any Letter for Life cards he or she has collected. If one collects Letter for Life cards, he can double his spaces, or Pick a Card and follow its instructions. This game “makes learning and using words fun and exciting in a new way by building words in a fast-paced race setting,” Amber Davis of Aristoplay told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 2007. 11/30/2007 (Price: $25.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Bambooga® - The Human Puzzle Game by UNCLE SKUNKLE TOYS, INC.

In this human-puzzle game, players use color wristbands to bind their hands and feet to one another, leading to a sticky mess of people. The goal of the game is to crawl, walk, scoot or jump one’s way towards the finish line, all the while maintaining the connections determined by a shake of the Bambooga Shaker. Bambooga is safe and eco-friendly, adhering to "green-" manufacturing practices with second-generation, sustainable bamboo construction. “Bambooga is the result of a social-entrepreneurship project sponsored by Kids Ark Foundation of Thailand,...an organization that hopes to find a solution to the AIDS epidemic in Thailand,” Uncle Skunkle Toys Inc. Marketing and Communications Director Maya Cardoso told TDmonthly. A portion of "the proceeds from the manufacturing of Bambooga [is] recycled back to Kids Ark and [goes] towards projects to raise education and standards of living.” Launch date: April 2008.
Awards: Bambooga is a winner of "Dr. Toy’s 100 Best Picks Children’s Products for 2009" and also won Creative Child Magazine's "Toy of the Year Award" for 2008. Bambooga has also been recognized with a favorable review by The Old Schoolhouse, a magazine for homeschooling families. ( Watch Video) 11/30/2007 (Price: $34.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Altiustoons™ Bumpin' Die® DVD Board Game. by ALTIUS GAMES

Players race to help the seven little Altiustoons plan a space adventure and save the planet. The DVD features multiple levels of play for two to five players or teams. Players will enhance their matching and interacting skills, as well as learn about the environment and the constellations. Launch date: October 15, 2007. 11/30/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Family Night! by FAMILYSTORIES

Family Stories and Sterling Publishing introduce this “playbook” for busy families. The book includes games for every developmental stage, along with stories from families who know how to plan game nights, get a game going and lure reluctant players. “Family Night! is more than just a book. It contains great materials to engage family hearts, minds and spirits in the memorable fun of playing games together,” Lisa Hamm of FamilyStories told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 1, 2007. 11/30/2007 (Price: $17.95)

Pro Stars 2 Rod Hockey Game by iTOYS INC.

Giving the appearance of a realistic arena, this game offers non-stop, continuous play on a durable plastic base with smooth, easy-sliding rods. "This hockey set is ideal for the specialty toy market because of the set's quality and competitive price point versus other tabletop hockey games," iToys Inc. representative Laura Liebeck told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2005. 11/29/2007 (Price: $59.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Monkey Poker by THREE MONKEY GAMES

Learn poker along with Berry "The Bluffer" Bananahammock, "Fearless" Freddy Funkymunky, Albert "All In" Alexander and Mr. Bill "Bananas" Dole as they play Texas Hold 'Em. The game is easy to learn, and adds the entertaining randomness of such classic children's games as Monopoly and The Game of Life. The winner of each poker hand takes a card that dictates a certain task, such as “Take $1000 in Chi(m)ps from everyone, except for the person with the hairiest feet!" Launch date: December 2007. 11/21/2007 (Price: $18.00)

Beyond Chess Set by BEYOND CHESS

Beyond Chess comes with everything you need to play. The board is made of 64 high-quality, solid, plastic squares that measure 1.5"x1.5"x.25" and accommodate most chess pieces, plus two extra squares. This set includes standard Staunton-design chess pieces, a 12-page instruction booklet and a sturdy nylon backpack-style carrying bag. ( Watch Video) 11/21/2007 (Price: $34.99)

JARTS™ by FUNDEX GAMES

The classic lawn game has returned for more backyard fun. Players take turns tossing two safe Jarts into the target ring 35 feet away. Score a ringer and nab three points. The player closest to the ring earns one point. This aerodynamic take on Horseshoes is guaranteed to save backyard barbecues, one toss at a time!  Includes four Jarts, two target rings and instructions. This product is a 2008 iParenting Media Award winner. Launch date: January 2008. 11/19/2007 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Hip Hop Scotch by FUNDEX GAMES

Old school meets new school in this modern take on hop scotch.  No game has to ever be the same.  Players can even change the course after jumping and add movements like a 360° or touching the ground.  Take Hop Scotch to the next level and make each game more challenging and fun.  Play can be adapted for all ages.  Includes 22 hip hop mats and instructions. 11/19/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Phase 10® Twist by FUNDEX GAMES

Phase 10 Twist is a wickedly wild board game of risk, reward and terrific twists.  Based on one of the world’s best-selling card games – Phase 10, players complete rummy phases to move around the board.  Players landing on the unique TWIST space mush make choices which if successful, can offer big rewards or failure.  Three discard piles increase strategy and speed of play.  To win a player must complete one of 10 brand new phases!  It’s twisted from start to finish.  Includes game board, discard and draw card tray, two decks of Phase 10 cards, 1 deck of Twist Phase 10 cards, Twist Phase 10 card holder, 6 player pieces and instructions. 11/19/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

When Pigs Fly by FUNDEX GAMES

Blast-off into “Hog Heaven” and make the impossible; possible in the game “When Pigs Fly.”  Keep the kids squealing for hours when pigs are launched out of a cannon high into the sky, soaring in the clouds.  On each turn, players send a pig flying, add a pig to their pen, or give one of their pigs to another player.  The first person to get rid of all their pigs is the winner.  Includes 12 pigs, motorized spinning game board and instructions. 11/19/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Pirate's Life Jigsaw Puzzle - Blackbeard's Revenge by CHANNEL CRAFT & DISTRIBUTION INC.

The puzzle is designed by “Morgan’s Rum Artist,” Don Maitz. When completed, the 550-piece puzzle measures 18” x 24”. 11/14/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

OOgal! by MOUNTAINMEN ENTERPRISES

This fast-paced word game features 20-sided dice with consonants and six-sided dice with vowels, as well as a special OOgal die. It combines the strategy used in Scrabble with the luck of the roll players find in Yahtzee. A 60-second sand timer keeps play moving as a player goes through multiple rolls trying to build the highest scoring word. 11/14/2007 (Price: $15.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Origin of Expressions™ by DISCOVERY BAY GAMES

Can you guess the origin of “Hit the sack”? In this hilarious game, players guess the origin of common expressions, or bluff their friends. The game explains why we say what we say, revealing the startling beginnings of modern expressions. “This game answers the questions that we ask every day of “Where did that come from?” There are many websites on the subject, but this is the first game to answer the questions in a very fun way,” Carol Simon of Discovery Bay Games told TDmonthly. This product is a 2007 National Parenting Center Seal of Approval Award and 2007 Family Review Center Gold Award winner. Launch date: September 2007, available exclusively at Barnes & Noble. General availability: March 15, 2008. 11/9/2007 (Price: $29.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Be•Rhymed! by DISCOVERY BAY GAMES

This fast-paced rhyming game gives players two minutes to act, draw, or speak clues in order to get correct guesses from team members and rack up points. They go through as many cards as they can in each round of play, prepared to laugh at the goofy antics friends and family will go through trying to get these rhyming pairs across to their teammates. “There are many rhyming games, but the use of three different modes — speak, act, draw — of playing the game is unique,” Carol Simon of Discovery Bay Games told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 2007. 11/9/2007 (Price: $14.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Cuentamelo! by DISCOVERY BAY GAMES

Cuentamelo offers the same family fun for everyone that Baffle Gab™ offers. It just does it in Spanish. Everyone’s got a story to tell, and players can earn Bone Bucks telling theirs. A player gets five words and writes a sentence or story that includes them. Using the words correctly earns a player huesitos. And the player with the most huesitos wins. “This is built on the overwhelmingly popular Baffle Gab to bring the same storytelling fun to the Spanish-speaking or learning market. It has already won several awards in its own right,” Carol Simon of Discovery Bay Games told TDmonthly. This product is a 2007 iParenting Media Award winner. Launch date: September 2007. 11/9/2007 (Price: $29.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Barista, the Game™ by DISCOVERY BAY GAMES

Grande nonfat mocha with a single shot? Or tall soy cappuccino with a double-shot? In this game of strategy and match-up fun, players match the beverage shown on a roll of dice to make the perfect cup and win. But … other players can force one to spill a drink order, or they can change the drink order and mess up a hand. Or maybe a player is closer to finishing the drink order than you are and calls a Barista challenge. “Where better for a coffee game to be born than in the Seattle area, known for great coffee? It’s a unique game perfect for playing around the kitchen table or the coffee shop table,” Carol Simon of Discovery Bay Games told TDmonthly. Launch date: October 2007. 11/9/2007 (Price: $14.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Senet: The Ancient Tomb Treasures Game by MAZEOLOGY

For thousands of years, Senet was the most popular game in the ancient world ― until the rule book was lost. This game of Senet introduces a modern rule book, a colorful game board and 10 beautiful playing pieces. Easier than chess and more complicated than checkers, this two-player game is a combination of strategy and luck. It's simple enough for a 5-year-old to learn, yet interesting enough for adults. The hand-painted playing pieces are phthalate- and lead-free.
Awards: 2015 TDmonthly Magazine Top Toy Award ( Watch Video) 11/9/2007 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Dino Composition Book by MAZEOLOGY

Fun and colorful composition books that children never lose! Inside both the front and back covers are dinosaur mazes to solve with related fun, educational information too. 7.5” by 9.75”, color covers with 160 ruled pages inside. Also available – The Mummy Composition Book. 11/9/2007 (Price: $12.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Mummy Maze: The Tomb Treasures Maze Book by MAZEOLOGY

Join Professor Archie Ologist on the Mummy Maze expedition and encounter one surprise after another while collecting the clues to decipher the Mummy’s mysterious hieroglyphic message! Mummy Maze shelves like a book and uniquely folds open to 28 pages of 12” by 18” original illustrations that are also mazes. Every page is filled with educational facts about Ancient Egypt woven into a fun filled tale of adventure. Great for 8 to 12 year-olds; even some 6 year-olds can solve these difficult mazes. Maze answers are in the back. 36 pages, 9” by 12” closed. 11/9/2007 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Word Cube by AMERICAN CLASSIC TOY INC.

For one or more players, the Word Cube offers six different games: Crosswords, Challenge, Anagrams, Scramble, Word Master and Color Cube. Comes with a timer and a 80 page booklet. Launch date: 9/22/2008. ( Watch Video) 11/5/2007 (Price: $9.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Electronic Table-Top Air Hockey by INTERNATIONAL PLAYTHINGS LLC

This two-player game lets opponents slide, shoot and score on a table-top air hockey arena that features electronic action pucks gliding along on a cushion of air. It includes a manual scorekeeper, three pucks and two paddles.
— This is a best-selling item at Juggles in Wakefield, R.I., Storeowner Idanna Smith told TDmonthly.
— In a July 2014 survey, one out of 14 retailers told TDmonthly that Tabletop Air Hockey from International Plaything was their store's best-selling electronic / battery operated toy. 11/1/2007 (Price: $20.00)

No Brainer by HASBRO INC.

Players wear the “brain” and answer “yes” and “no” questions by nodding in this fast-paced game that tells each person whether he or she is right or wrong. 10/31/2007 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Good Manners Flash Cards by eeBoo corp.

On these 48 cards, polite pink pigs demonstrate good behavior in familiar situations. Two parent cards are included. "The vibrant artwork and great design coupled with quality material make our products a family favorite," Roisin Ross of eeBoo told TDmonthly.
— Lisa LeStrange owner of Lucky Duck Toys in Wayne, Pa., told TDmonthly in a November 2011 survey that as far as educational products go, "Lately, we have been selling a lot of the Eeboo Flashcards...We have sold maybe 10 this month so far." 10/31/2007 (Price: $12.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Good Citizenship Flash Cards by eeBoo corp.

Through fun photos of animals and accompanying text, these 48 cards encourage children to be responsible members of the community. Two parent cards are included. 10/31/2007 (Price: $12.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]