October 2012 Notable Toys — Family Games

This handcrafted 8 in 1 game includes Backgammon, Checkers, Chess, Chinese Checkers, Cribbage, Dominoes, Magnetic Darts and Poker. The pieces for each game are individually wrapped in black drawstring pouches and stored inside the beautiful black wooden box for safekeeping. Instruction guide included. Dimensions: 10 ½" square x 3". Launch date: December 2012.

It’s the fast-action domino game. Start with one tile in the middle of the play area. At the same time all players start matching their tiles to tiles that are in play as they race to be the player to get rid of all their tiles first. It’s fast, frenzied family fun with 3 levels of play! For 2 to 4 players, ages 6 and up. Contents: 49 tiles, rules. Launch date: February 2012.

Players must turn over a category card then roll the letter dice. Everyone tries to match the letters with something related to the category. If they’re looking for “Vehicles” — take the “T” and yell out “Truck!”, then keep on looking for more. The first player to get 20 points wins.  For 2 to 4 players, ages 8 and up. Contents: 7 dice, dice cup, 30 category cards, score pad, rules. Launch date: June 2012.
Awards: 2012 Family Fun Toy of the Year T.O.Y. Award

A great new brainteaser with 100+ different puzzles, from the inventor of "Kanoodle" (TM) Fun microbe shaped pieces come stored in a cool petri dish carrying case. Launch date: 2012.

The new Dice Dude brings more excitement and fun to every game. It comes with four different dice, giving kids tons of options for game play. Choose the interchangeable die/dice that they wish to use, twist and remove Dice Dude’s clear dome hat, insert the die/dice, twist the dome hat back into place, and then start shaking away. Watch Dice Dude’s big, green eyes move side to side as he is shaken. This dude stands 5 1/2” tall and has a diameter of 3 1/4”. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.

Fun way to learn essential math skills about money. Each set includes 3 game series - total of 18 full color activity cards to reinforce visual recognition and discrimination, and actual size plastic bills and coins (14 bills and 24 coins).  Activity Dollar includes actual size and accurately designed play money, as well as 3 matching games to: - reinforce recognition of each coin and bill (dollar bingo), - market games to support the values of each bill and coin to arrive at the correct price and - comparison game to introduce the concept of greater and less than. Launch date: January 2012.

They’re all there! The Goths, the Geeks, the Jocks and Cheerleaders are all vying to become the top clique in school. Players must chart their own path to the top of the popularity ladder by deciphering their opponents’ intentions. Each turn, players play a single card. They can either attack or choose to defend their clique. But they must watch out; if they make a mistake they’ll lose their popularity. Launch date: 2012.

In this calorie-free contest, players aim to build the largest area of their favorite kind of chocolate (milk, white or dark), one tile at a time. Players must be careful...Sugar-craving adversaries will try to disrupt their plans by getting their delicious treats out first. Launch date: 2012.

Players must try to make as many connections between tiles as they can before the timer runs out. Players can be as creative as they like, but their fellow players will decide if their play counts or not. Fast-paced and perfect for a crowd. Launch date: June 2012.

SET Junior is two games in one box. Its two-sided game board allows kids to start playing as young as age 3. Side one is just matching. Match each tile to its square on the board using colors, shapes and numbers. Players earn point chips for each SET they complete. When ready, flip the board over and race to find SETs on their own. On side two, there are no turns and no luck. This game is fun, competitive and educational. Launch date: July 2012.

Players slip a photo into the clear Photoholder and draw. Players must get their teammates to guess what they're drawing, right on top of the photo. The photos help give their scribbles context, but it's not as easy as one may think; some things players have got to draw might seem obvious, but only to them. They've got 90 seconds to draw as many items from the list as they can, and then collect a Phototoken for each correct guess by their team. A secret red-reveal panel keeps everybody honest, dry-erase markers allow them to play over and over, and play is fast and hilarious. Launch date: November 2011.
Awards: 2012 Game of the YEAR (Party games category) from Creative Child Magazine

A game for 4 players in which players attempt to give their opponent clues from a list of words that all relate to the secret hidden word. First team to guess the hidden word wins the round and first to win three wins the game. The challenge is to make sure players don't give the easiest clues too early or their opponents may steal the word. Launch date: July 2012.
Awards: 2012 Games Magazine TOP 100 - Word game category

Two players co-star as they attempt to get the audience to guess 6 phrases. Trouble is, each only has half the phrase and it's up to the audience players to put it all together. Lots of laughs and fun in this charageous game for 3-8 players. Launch date: July 2012.
Awards: 2012 Games Magazine Top 100 - Party games category

Who will pluck the most popular pairs? Each player gets 60 seconds to pair up 11 images at the same time. 5 pairs and one bad apple. Players gain points by matching the most other players with the same pairs. Launch date: July 2012.
Awards: 2012 - Best Party game of the Year from Games Magazine; 2012 - Best Family Game of the Year from Creative Child.

I Go! is a fast-paced game that gets the entire family thinking on their feet. Players quickly draw cards in turns, trying to improve their hand. If a player things their card is the best, they declare “I Go!” Being alert and astute will help players win this game. Launch date: 2011.
Awards: 2012 6/6 Consumer Guide of Canada

Sonny the Seal moves and sounds like a real seal. Toss rings around Sonny’s bobbing head. When a ring lands around Sonny’s neck, he claps and barks to cheer. For every ring that lands around Sonny’s neck, the player gets a fish reward. The first player to get three fish is the winner.
— As of 10/15/2012 this product had 4 out of 5 stars from 2 reviews on Amazon.com.

Enjoy hours of fun with the Bop It Smash from Hasbro Toys. This toy features 3 game modes: solo, pass it and multiplayer. In solo mode, kids can play by themselves, smashing the lights as they appear slowly at first, then faster with every round. Pass it play allows friends to join in the fun as kids pass the toy between 2 to 6 players. In multiplayer mode, players will challenge others to pit their skills against their own.

The moment a card is drawn,quickly imitate the card hands pattern. The last one is the loser. Be aware of any illogical hand combinations. Can be played by up to 8 players...or even more. Launch date: February 2012.

Make a million and win the Monopoly Millionaire game. It's just like the classic property-trading game, but with a new twist. Everything's worth a lot more and there are more ways to play. Players pay rent, buy houses, collect their salary and buy properties just like the classic Monopoly game. But in Monopoly Millionaire, there's no need to bankrupt everybody. The first player to make a million dollars wins. Launch date: 2012.

Chocolate cards are played and nabbed, and played and nabbed right back. Players score points by reasoning out which confectionary card combinations will give them the most sweet satisfaction. TOOTHACHE cards, CARROT cards, and BOX-O-CHOCOLATES cards keep the game lively and surprising.

Sugary-scented bubble gum cards and bubble blowing thrills in a playful strategy game. Kids lay down their bubble gum cards in number order, and watch their bubble grow. If opponents play a "POP" card, the other player's bubble will burst. Luckily, they've got snitch cards and special bubble protector tokens on their side. Launch date: August 2012.

Urbania is a game of city renewal where players try their hand as a famous urban planner who is working on the re-development of a run-down city. To accomplish the job players must: hire the best specialists and designers. They must submit plans and create blueprints. Players must construct new and dynamic buildings to bring the city back to its former glory. If players can manage your projects well, they will become the most renowned planner and take credit for the city’s amazing turnaround. Launch date: 2012.

Keeping family and friends gathered around the holiday table doesn't take a miracle - just great questions. "What three values does your family cherish most?" and "What is the best Chanukah gift you have ever received?" are two of the 82 questions on these conversation-starting cards. Make way through the deck to share holiday memories, and create a new tradition with this box of 82 conversation-starters.

A House Divided simulates the epic struggle of the American Civil War that was fought over the twin issues of slavery and state's rights. The period from 1840 to 1861 saw these issues brought to a boil, and in 1861 the nation became tangled in a terrible war that lasted four long years. The game depicts the war between North and South from the First Battle of Bull Run (or Manassas Junction) to Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Courthouse (or Grant’s surrender at Harrisburg…). Each player leads one of these two nations and makes the strategic decisions which determine the outcome of the war. The game board represents the United States, north and south and from the Atlantic coast to just west of the Mississippi. Including Missouri, Iowa, Illinois Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia. The play map contains a number of boxes, each representing a city, town or locations important to the war. These boxes are connected by transportation lines – blue for rivers, tan for roads and black for railroads – which provide the paths to victory or defeat. Playing Time: 60 minutes. Launch date: 2012.