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

Brain Quest DVD Game - Ages 6-8 by BRIGHTER MINDS MEDIA

This new educational DVD game lets a whole family play together in the comfort of their living room, using just a DVD player, TV and remote control. The game is based on Brain Quest, the No. 1-selling question-and-answer game for kids. The fun quiz questions are supplemented with logic, text and audio games to keep children interested as they learn. Exciting action games are offered as a reward, motivating kids to advance. There are two versions, including one for ages 8 to 10, with more than 450 questions and answers in each game. Each DVD game includes a free mini Brain Quest deck. Launch date: Fall 2006. 10/20/2006 (Price: $24.95)

WonkaZoid by NESTLE WONKA DIVISION

WonkaZoid is  the ultimate combination of the two things tweens love most: candy and video games.  The portable, affordable, colorful gadget keeps tweens entertained anytime, anywhere. WonkaZoid is a hand-held, refillable candy dispenser with a fun, one-of-a-kind video game that features Wonka-rific characters.  Each WonkaZoid comes with a full pack of WONKA® candy.  The introductory series of WonkaZoid includes four varieties to collect and play: Strawberry NERDS comes with the game NERDS Hockey, starring the Oompa Loompas; new Sour NERDS is partnered with NERDS Freeze Tag; SWEETARTS is teamed up with the SweeTarts Oompa Candy Flip game; and SWEETARTS Shockers is tied to the ever-challenging SweeTarts Shockers Shockball Showdown.  Launch date: November 2006. 10/4/2006

S2000 by PYRAMAT

Boasting a sleek, sporty design, the S2000 is the hot seat for the serious teen gamer.  Standard features include: 3-inch full-range speakers, 5.5 inch subwoofer, iPod/MP3 docking station, headphone jack, accessories storage pocket and breathable mesh fabric.  The S2000 is compatible with all game consoles and audio visual devices, including TV, VCR, DVD and MP3 player.  Using Audio Response Technology (ARX™), the S2000 vibrates and pulses in time to on-screen action, putting the player into the action. Launch Date: Launched early 2006. 10/4/2006 (Price: $129.99)

Pirate Poppers by BRIGHTER MINDS MEDIA

Players will collect rare gems, valuable coins and prized amulets, and piece together the elusive treasure map that will lead them to great riches and wild adventure. They’ll journey to exotic locales, past Cutthroat City and beyond Fire Mountain, where a glorious trove of treasure awaits. They’ll challenge themselves with the Puzzle mode, where they must use cunning and craftiness to win the game with a set number of cannonballs. 9/25/2006 (Price: $19.95)

Diner Dash by BRIGHTER MINDS MEDIA

Kids play Flo, who has ditched her boring desk job and is rolling up her sleeves and setting out to build her own empire of high-class restaurants. Flo will have to move fast to master the art of Diner Dash. She’ll seat the customers speedily, keep them happily fed and watch the tips and profits roll in. There are 50 challenging levels, 5 different types of unique customers and 2 modes of play: Career and Endless Shift. (Read Review) 9/22/2006 (Price: $19.95)

Plantasia by BRIGHTER MINDS MEDIA

Kids can enter magical gardens, where a fairy-in-training waits to show the way in this PC CD-ROM game rated “E” for “Everyone.” There, they will plant seeds, harvest flowers, restore fountains and watch their gardens bloom … but they must beware! Weeds, rocks, insects and the clock are all waiting to make this game a fun-filled challenge. 9/22/2006 (Price: $19.95)

VMIGO by JAKKS PACIFIC INC.

VMIGO’s line of interactive virtual pets allow owners to develop and nurture the pet of their choice and bring their pet to life and play with it as a character in video games on TV. VMIGO can be experienced in two ways. The portable handheld VMIGO pod unit, allows pet owners to interact with their virtual pet. Then, take the handheld pod unit and place it into the gaming console by plugging directly into the TV, and unlock interactive environments and videogames. 8/7/2006 (Price: $34.99)

Koala Brothers Outback by THE GAME FACTORY

Koala Brothers Outback Adventures is an action adventure game for the preschool audience. Kids take on the role of all the different characters from the popular Koala Brothers TV series. They can help the brothers find George’s lost mail or jump around as Josie the Kangaroo, searching for Mitzi. They can even play a tennis match with Archie or help Lolly serve ice cream from her ice cream van on a warm day. 6/9/2006

Superman Controllers by NAKI WORLD INC.

These high-quality controllers, through a licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, can be plugged into a variety of different video game consoles. They are emblazened with Superman's insignia. 6/1/2006

Fritz 9 Play Chess by VIVA MEDIA

Now players can experience chess excellence, with Fritz 9’s extraordinary new features. A beginner’s video course lets novices learn with interactive training modules, position explainer, friend mode and more. More experienced players can compete against fully interactive 3D opponents in hyper-realistic game environments. Multi-board viewing allows players to follow up to nine games in one window. Other games include Capture Chess, chess 960, Twin Chest and Ouk Chatrang. 4/12/2006 (Price: $29.99)

GT Legends by VIVA MEDIA

The Golden Age of Motor Sports has returned. Kids can now experience one of the world's most exciting racing series in GT Legends, including the legendary touring cars of the 60's and 70's. They can collect more than 90 original FIA GTC-TC team vehicles and demonstrate their driving skill on “real” European racetracks. Real Sounds: Completely authentic sounds recorded from the actual FIA racing cars. Leading edge graphics technology enables spectacular special effects and dynamic day and night cycles. Kids can challenge up to 15 opponents online. This product was launched in 2005. 4/12/2006 (Price: $39.99)

Agon: The Mysterious Codex (PC Version) by VIVA MEDIA

Driven by destiny and forbidden knowledge, Professor Samuel Hunt must travel the globe to find keepers that guard AGON. Embark on a fantastic journey to far lands. The quest for the truth will lead you to surprising discoveries, challenging puzzles and amazing characters. In three thrilling episodes, the quest for AGON will take you from London 's British Museum , north to the Polar Regions and south to Madagascar . The trail to AGON will lead you to precious secrets and deadly evil. Immerse yourself into the 3D world of AGON, to experience an adventure like no other! The game is new for 2006. 4/12/2006 (Price: $29.99)

Geniu$ by VIVA MEDIA

In Geniu$, the Tech Tycoon Game, kids get to be the entrepreneur, taking a small start-up company to a multinational level by combining invention, innovation and luck. The game features five locations around the globe: Detroit, Pittsburgh, London, Berlin and Melbourne and more than 40 types of buildings can be viewed in stunning real-time 3D graphics. Players can solve and apply more than 100 challenging physics puzzles and see key inventions of the 19th and 20th centuries and witness how they changed the world.The game is different every time it’s played. 4/12/2006 (Price: $29.99)

Golden Tee Complete 2006 Home Edition by ALLIED DISTRIBUTING INC.

Golden Tee Complete is one of the most exciting golf games a player can experience without holding a club in his or her hands. Golden Tee Complete 2006 is the next generation of this legendary golf series. Players experience courses like Mystic Hills, Blue Stone, Shadow Swamp and Kiwi Springs through Golden Tee Complete. 2/7/2006 (Price: $4195)

GRANDIA III by SQUARE ENIX

This video game tells the story of Yuki and Alfina. Yuki has idolized the legendary pilot Schmidt since he was a young boy and has been trying to build his own airplane ever since. Loving the freedom of flight, he dreams of one day leaving his small island and reaching the mainland. In the woods not far away, Alfina rides alone on a horse-drawn carriage. She is a Communicator, one of the few who can speak with the Guardians, gods that protect the world. She is hurrying to a temple to take the place of her brother, Emelious. Resentment of his obligated duty as a Communicator has turned Emelious into a cruel and violent being filled with hate. Fate will bring together Yuki and Alfina just as the world is about to fall apart. Launch date: February 14, 2007. 1/11/2006

Madden NFL 06 by ELECTRONIC ARTS

For the first time in 10 years, the Madden NFL Football franchise has revolutionized its passing game-giving Madden NFL 06 the most groundbreaking and innovative offensive arsenal ever created. The new QB Vision Control lets you scan the field, look off defenders, and make perfect throws within your quarterback's unique field of vision. QB Precision Placement lets you put the ball exactly where you want it. Madden NFL 06 brings authentic NFL passing to video games like never before. 12/29/2005 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Qmotions-Baseball Full Motion Game Controller by QMOTIONS INC.

The QMotions Full Motion Game Controller delivers actual "full motion" player participation in popular PC/Console-based video games. The player just steps up to the plate with the Batter-Up sleeve equipped foam bat and swing: full swing batting, bunting, pull, up-the-middle, and opposite field hitting. Control your swing & base running with foot activated buttons located on the Home Plate. These buttons determine various swing types: up, down and level swings, in addition to controlling on-base runners, steals and slides. (These options are dependent on their availability in various baseball games). It's available for PC and Xbox and works with EA Sports MVP Baseball 04 and 05. The unit measures 13-5/8" x 19-1/8" x 12-5/8". Batteries and game software are not included. 12/15/2005 (Price: $149.99)

Piano Wizard by ALLEGRO RAINBOW

Piano Wizard Premier combines the fun of a video game with the fundamentals of piano lessons. That means children can sit up to a keyboard today and play anything from Bach to Bon Jovi. What once felt like practice now feels like play. Children can choose from four different fantasy worlds to play in. They can change the speed, the instrument sounds, the skill level and more. And in addition to the MIDI songs that come standard with Piano Wizard Premier, thousands more can be downloaded from Internet libraries. The software can be sold with or without the keyboard. According to Allegro Rainbow’s Brian Metcalfe, "The Piano Wizard Method teaches anyone to easily play piano in 4 steps. With Piano Wizard, the child is playing the piano the instant the game is started. They learn intuitively to hit the right note at the right time." Allegro is planning on releasing the highly anticipated Guitar Wizard. Launch date: 2003. 12/9/2005 (Price: $199.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]