September 2009 Notable Toys — Card Games

Wizards of the Coast calls Magic the biggest of the collectible card games. With millions of players in tournament and casual play, there is a strong market for all new releases. Zendikar features new Planeswalkers, a relatively new type of card with game-changing powers. One new Planeswalker is Nissa Revane, who came to fame in the Xbox Live Arcade game “Duels of the Planeswalkers.” Fifteen-card booster packs are listing at $3.99. Intro packs, consisting of a 40-card deck, 1 premium card, 1 booster, a learn-to-play insert and a strategy insert, are $12.29. Fat Packs, made up of eight booster packs, a card box, player's guide, learn-to-play insert, land pack, and an excerpt from the upcoming “Path of the Planeswalker” graphic novel, are $34.99. Launch date: October 2, 2009.

Kwizniac is a trivia countdown game designed to test your knowledge under pressure. The object of the game is for players to accumulate as many points as possible by correctly answering as many trivia questions as possible. Because Kwizniac consists of only cards and the players’ brain power, it can be played everywhere and at any time. Kwizniac can be played with just two people or a whole group. Watch Kwizniac: Top-5 Video, Toy Fair 2010

Selection is the company's most popular game and can be played with 1 to 7 players. Players have to select hands that match the categories on the playing sheet. The game takes about 25 minutes to play.

This educational card game is great for teens. Launch date: 2009.

This card deck sports a new suit: stars. Each of the five suits also has its own distinct color. Also, the #1 makes an appearance for the first time in a card deck, which makes it easier for kids to learn to play. However, the aces haven't been excluded. Finally, a new princess card joins the royal family, to make the deck more appealing to girls. Five jokers brings the total number of cards in the deck to 80. All of the traditional card games can be played with this deck, but the increased number of cards allows a greater number of players to join the fun.

In this game for two to four players, participants aim to gain cards by matching or adding cards from their hand to equal the number on another card, then adding up the ingredients and measuring the powers indicated to earn the most points. Playing time is about 20 minutes.
—  Shana Hack, owner of Moon Rabbit Toys in Santa Fe, N.M., told TDmonthly in early September 2009 that her store sells about 25 Frog Juice games per month.
— Ten of 38 retailers named something by Gamewright when asked about best-selling card games.

In this fast-paced word game, two to four players race to alter the present four-letter word and be the first to get rid of their cards for the win.
— Scrabble Slam is the best-selling card game at The Toy Store in Highlands, N.C., where it sells 36 units per month, Owner Michelle Bears told TDmonthly in August 2009. “One person has it, and it spreads,” she said.

This collection of trading cards takes players right to battle, with dragon-type Pokémon, including Rayquaza and Charizard, along with new characters and Pokémon SP. The collection, which includes special, photographed clay designs of characters as well as some Shiny cards with unique numbering, features more than 150 cards in various packs.
—  Aunt Jean’s Toys & Treats in Montclair, N.J., sells about three dozen Pokemon card packs per month, Owner Jeanette Lauture told TDmonthly in August 2009.

The five shards of Alara meet conflict in Conflux, where Bant Knights battle Naya Behemoths and displaced vampires add to the havoc. Conflux features 145 expansion cards and is available in intro and fat packs as well as boosters.
—    In late summer 2009, three of 38 retailers named Magic as their best-selling card game. Fifteen of the top 25 card games at Toy City in Keene, N.H., are Magic units, Owner Steve Levy told TDmonthly in August 2009, at which time his store had sold 850 Conflux boosters for the year.
—    Mike Lane, manager of Hobbytown in Cumming, Ga., told TDmonthly in late summer 2009 that his store attracts up to 25 kids for Friday night Magic tournaments. He cited sales of about 50 packs of month of Magic: The Gathering cards.

Like its counterpart, in Bailout! The Card Game; debt is king. You will get caught up in this non stop gotcha action experience.  Just when you think you have the upper hand; the Bailout cards will be flying.  

This game creates fierce competition and there are no guarantees that any of your actions will save your bank.

Players compete as their favorite bank (Bankruptcy O’ America, Worth Farless, No Cashvia, Liquidation Brothers, Greedy Investors of America, or Washed Up Mutual)  to compile Bailout Bundles and get a Bailout.

To better your chances of getting Bailout Bundles you engage in hostile takeovers, risky sales and acquisitions with rival banks to get Bailout Bundles to obtain the bailout. Your conduct causes other banks to focus on your bank as a target.

Can you keep your doors open long enough to get enough Bailout Bundles to get a Bailout?

Be the Bank, Lose Billions, Get a Bailout!

Numbers of Players: 2-6 | Ages: 12 to Adult | Play Time: 10-30 min.

Made in the USA

Visit www.bailoutthegame.com for more information.

THIS PRODUCT IS NOW DISTRIBUTED BY MELISSA & DOUG
This box features 52 classic, interactive games that don't require dice, boards or equipment. Launch date: September 15, 2009.

THIS PRODUCT IS NOW DISTRIBUTED BY MELISSA & DOUG
With 52 questions, this game is designed to let players know how well they you know their BFF, and how well their best friend knows them. Launch date: September 15, 2009.

Kids can learn state facts fast in this card game that's available for 11 states: California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. Six fun ways to play include matching, trivia, and rummy-style games. The card facts and graphics include more than 40 state facts including state map, symbols, trivia, spelling and true-or-false. Launch date: January 2008.

CrossCribb® is the award winning, exciting strategy game that takes the traditional favorite, cribbage, and multiplies the fun times five. CrossCribb uses conventional cribbage scoring rules as you try to build five high scoring cribbage hands while simultaneously sabotaging your opponents' hands. It's easy to learn, but difficult to master.

Intended to bridge the gap between entry level and advanced game play in the extensive Magic the Gathering trading card game system, the Classic two-player game is comprised of 350 cards from a wide variety of the line’s various expansions. 
— Two of 49 retailers surveyed in July 2009 told TDmonthly Magic the Gathering is their top-selling collectible toy line.

In this techno trading game, players try to diversify their hands with the best inventions from each invention family by 'doing deals' (trades) with other players. Deal Maker cards give an added zing to play. There's an inventor’s die and an inventions pocket guide. It "puts the future in childrens’ hands like no other game before it!" Geoffrey Moran, President, Evolving Toys, told TDmonthly. This product was a Museum Store Association Buyer’s Choice Award Finalist 2009. Launch date: August 15, 2009.

Each players pits his dinosaur against an opponent’s in this deck-dueling challenge, while watching out for Dino Danger. Players can learn about dinosaurs and their world in this prehistoric card game featuring action elements and a dino die to change up game play. It also comes with a dinosaur pocket guide. "Children will learn dinosaur taxonomy and time periods long before they even realize they’ve been learning!" Geoffrey Moran, president of Evolving Toys, told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 15, 2009.

Did you know the constellations are grouped by astronomers into families – like the Hercules, Heavenly Waters and Ursa Major families – whose members are in the same region of the night sky? After playing this game a few times, individuals may be connecting constellations all over the sky. It includes action cards and a galactic die to change the game play up in lots of spacey ways. An awesome constellation pocket guide is included. "Constellation Connect! is an attractively packaged game with a lively blend of fun and educational attributes, making it suitable for home, vacation or classroom use. It introduces the deep beauty of the starry skies to children in a friendly, fun and non-overwhelming way," Geoffrey Moran, president of Evolving Toys, told TDmonthly. This game received a 2009 Dr. Toy Best Vacation Children’s Product award. Launch date: August 15, 2008.

No reading is required for this fast-paced, card-swapping game for the young Thomas fans. The Stanley Comes Aboard deck can also be used to play Snap and Memory games. It is made in the USA of recycled materials. Launch date: March 31, 2009.

Kids can learn to appreciate the highest achievements of civilization in painting, sculpture and architecture. This product is designed to cover the world of art across time and culture, introducing children to basic terminology and famous artists. The Professor Noggin series has won more than 12 awards. Launch date: July 30, 2009.

This addictive puzzle is currently available on all major mobile phone cariers in the USA and on Iphone Worldwide. It is also available daily in the USA TODAY newspaper in a daily puzzle. Txtpert the card game works exactly the same way as all the other brands. Launch date: June 2009.

2-Player Perpetual Commotion is the original Perpetual Commotion specially designed for two-player speed and excitement. Play as many cards as you can into a center Arena to earn points. Gain extra points by being the first to empty your Feeders pile—but watch out! A single roll of the eight-sided die can change your score.

One of two Perpetual Commotion Expansion Packs, this set allows players of Perptetual Commotion to make room for four more players. If players thought Perpetual Commotion was total chaos with six players, they'll need to brace themselves to now be able to include up to 10. Not for use with 2-Player Perpetual Commotion.