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

Buzzlewords® The Spelling Bee Game Level 1 - 1st & 2nd grade by THE SPELLING BEE GAME INC.

This is a fast-paced, fun Spelling Board Game that teaches spelling, vocabulary and reading as it's played using spelling words taken directly from any child's grade-appropriate spelling list. Also available in challenging Adult level for those who think they can spell but might find out otherwise.The fast-paced game teaches spelling, reading and vocabulary. "There are no other board games on the market which allow each player to spell words selected from their own grade level and which combine elements of chance, strategy and spelling knowledge in a way that makes learning to spell fun and easy," Richard J. Sullivan, president of The Spelling Bee Game, Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: July, 2009.
Awards: 2010 Creative Child Magazine Game of the Year, Children's Educational Board Game Category; 2011 Creative Child Magazine, Game of the Year, Children's Educational Board Game Category. ( Watch Video) 6/29/2009 (Price: $14.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Txtpert (Card Game) by GAMES PLAY UK

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. 6/29/2009 (Price: $15) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

2-Player Perpetual Commotion® by GOLDBRICK GAMES

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. ( Watch Video) 6/17/2009 (Price: $8.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Perpetual Commotion® Expansion Pack: Black & White Edition by GOLDBRICK GAMES

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. 6/12/2009 (Price: $7.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Word Pirates!® by HAYWIRE GROUP

Spell words, build bridges, and block your way to the Treasure, matey! Arrgh! Players make their way towards the treasure by creating paths of words and bridges across the shark infested waters.  Cunning pirates make good use of rock walls to block their enemies from reaching the pirate loot first. Now more game play! Enjoy endless play with a two-sided dry erase game board.  Pick the original game board or the new updated shark attack mode.  For 2-4 players. 6/11/2009 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Magical Rainbow Boardgame and Playset by CROSSEN CREATIONS

The Magical Rainbow is a magnetized game that takes children on a special adventure through its lands. Players race to a pot of gold, watching out for Paddy the Leprechaun, who on every turn travels from land to land protecting his gold. Throughout the journey players will try to collect gold coins, avoid the Leprechaun and his lucky trinkets, and use strategy to win the game. This game is designed to teach children color recognition, sequencing, patterns, counting, strategy and sharing. "It’s more than a board game, it’s a tool for releasing the imagination in every child," Crossen Creations President Frank Crossen told TDmonthly.
Awards: 2009 Family Choice Award 6/9/2009 (Price: $24.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Quelf by IMAGINATION INTERNATIONAL

Players pick one of eight quirky characters and make their way around the board answering "Scatterbrainz" categories and "Quizzle" trivia, or acting out "Stuntz" and "Showbiz" cards, all while following the "Roolz." "Quelf provides cross-generational appeal that is active, wholesome and hilarious fun that the whole family can enjoy together. It is the most random and silly game on the market and will provide players with a memorable night!" Jill Schneiderman, in marketing for Imagination International, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2005. This game has received the following awards: 2007 Creative Child Seal of Excellence, 2007 iParenting Media Award, 2006 Major Fun Award, 2006 National Parenting Center Seal of Approval, and 2005 Upbeat Magazine Board Game of the Year. 5/28/2009 (Price: $15)

Monster-opoly by LATE FOR THE SKY PRODUCTION

In this game, the goal is to collect monster friends. Kids learn more about each monster by flipping over their deed and reading the bios. Players can also learn cool monster jokes to share with friends. Launch date: June 2009. 5/28/2009 (Price: $15.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Know It or Blow It by PATCH PRODUCTS INC.

Know It or Blow It tests teams’ knowledge of general information and fun facts, such as the three singing chipmunks, the five Great Lakes and Santa’s eight reindeer. For each round, a team captain picks the order in which teammates will respond. If a player knows an answer, great. However, if they're not absolutely, positively sure, they can stop rather than risk their team’s points. "The best part about Patch Products new party game, Know It or Blow It, is that one person doesn’t have to know everything. Instead, teammates work together to know it all," Jessica Wineke, PR coordinator for Patch Products, told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 7, 2009. 5/28/2009 (Price: $25.00)

Travel Pop The Pig by GOLIATH GAMES

Everyone takes turns to spin the hamburger to see how many bites the pig will take. Players move the pig's hand to his mouth each time he takes a bite. With every bite the pig's stomach gets bigger, bigger and bigger. But the player who feeds him too much loses the game. This game has no loose parts, making it ideal for fun on the go. Launch date: July 2009. 5/22/2009 (Price: $12.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Travel Litterbug by GOLIATH GAMES

There is a fly hidden in the trash can. Players take turns filling up the trash can by pushing the buttons on the outside of the trash can with different types of trash on them. At random, one of the buttons will make the trash can spring open and release the fly. To reset the game, players just push the fly back down and close the lid. Each time, the button that opens the trash can randomly changes so players never know when the fly is going to fly out. This game has no parts to lose, so is ideal for trips. Launch date: July 2009. 5/22/2009 (Price: $12.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Stixx by GOLIATH GAMES

In this colorful family game of strategy and bluffing, players try to capture all the STIXX of their own color. They can bluff by also taking different colored STIXX in an attempt to thwart opponents. Players who believe they know their opponent's secret color can call them out but will lose a turn if wrong. Launch date: 2008. 5/22/2009 (Price: $24.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Rolit Travel by GOLIATH GAMES

This family oriented strategy game for two to four players is simple to learn and comes in a plastic case that snaps shut and is designed for ease while traveling. The object for each player is to surround their opponents' playing pieces and switch them to their color. The person who has made the most pieces of their color at the end of the game is the winner. Launch date: 2008. 5/22/2009 (Price: $11.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Rolit Junior by GOLIATH GAMES

This simple game is designed to be learned in about a minute and played with the entire family, with kids from 4 to 10 years old. Game play takes about 15 minutes. The object is to surround opponents' playing pieces and switch them to your color. The person who has made the most pieces of their color at the end of the game is the winner. Launch date: 2008. 5/22/2009 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Up Turn by GOLIATH GAMES

Players take turns placing their tiles in the correct sequence, racing to get rid of them in this fast-moving game. The game can have unexpected turns as special tiles let players change direction, give tiles to opponents, skip opponents, or play wild cards. The game includes 106 high-quality tiles and four holding racks. Launch date: 2008. 5/22/2009 (Price: $34.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Tayu by GOLIATH GAMES

Tayu is named after the legendary Chinese hero who saved his country from flooding by creating a series of waterways. In the game, each player trys to create as many water channels from one side of the board to the other, while at the same time blocking his competitor. Twists and turns are the norm in this fast-packed strategy game. "Choosy, quality toy-store owners agree that this game is of the highest quality and provides the most fun for the money," Jodi Swindle, operations manager for Goliath Games, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2008. 5/22/2009 (Price: $29.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Le Bloq by GOLIATH GAMES

Players place the Bloqs to try to surround unused squares on the board, and the player who can isolate the most of these squares wins. All of the playing pieces in the game are the same but can be played in many different ways to create space to win. Launch date: 2008. 5/22/2009 (Price: $34.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Trapdoor Checkers by GOLIATH GAMES

This game was designed to transform checkers into a game of cunning and luck where kids can beat their parents. On each turn, players spin to see if they either move, or open and close trap doors. If a checker is on one of the trap doors, it might fall through. Trapdoor Checkers features "quality components that stand the test of time," Jodi Swindle, operations manager at Goliath Games, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2008. This game earned a 2009 Major Fun Award. 5/22/2009 (Price: $29.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Passing the Bar by P&R EDUCATIONAL GAMES

Passing the Bar is a board game tested and approved by practicing attorneys. It was designed specifically as an entertaining supplement for law students to help them prepare for the multi-state bar examination. Passing the bar is "the only board game/gift/study aid for the 1.2 million lawyers and law students that involves former bar exam questions. It is sold in close to half the law schools in the country," Adam Reinhardt, vice president of P&R Educational Games, told TDmonthly. 5/20/2009 (Price: $70.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Blurt!® by EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS INC.

Think fast! What word means “a partially dried grape”? Be the first to say “raisin,” and you’re on your way to winning this riotous game of rapid word recall. Players take turns reading clues aloud, competing to blurt out the correct answer first and move ahead on the board. The first person or team to circle the board wins. Sounds simple, right? But as the race for the right word heats up, and the blurting gets boisterous, it’s easy to get tongue-tied! Blurt is a great vocabulary builder for kids, a hilarious addition to adult parties, and a must for family game night. Includes junior version for ages 7 to 9. For 3 to 12 players. ( Watch Video) 5/20/2009 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

PatchWord™ by KNIGHTWEAVER GAMES LLC

In this fast-paced word game for two to five players, players trade two-sided letter cards between elegant wood racks, to create words, or steal them from each other. It may be used for family game nights as well as in educational settings. Game play takes 30 to 45 minutes. "PatchWord employs a unique game mechanic using cards with different letters on the inside vs. the outside, which trains logic, memory and sequencing skills, as well as spelling and vocabulary skills," Daniel Weaver, founder of Knightweaver Games, told TDmonthly. This product has won the following awards: 2009 Dr. Toy Best Vacation Children's Products; and 2009 Game of the Year for Educational Word Game from Creative Child Magazine. Launch date: January 29, 2009. ( Watch Video) 5/19/2009 (Price: $19.99)

Patchwork™ by KNIGHTWEAVER GAMES LLC

Patchwork is a fast-paced logic game for two to five players designed to build logic, memory and patterning skills in a fun setting. Players trade colorful, two-sided cards between elegant wood racks to create sets, or steal them from each other. Game play takes 20 to 30 minutes. "The game employs a totally unique game mechanic that is easy to learn, fun to play and teach[es] logic, memory and sequencing skills," Daniel Weaver, founder of Knightweaver Games, told TDmonthly. This product has received the following awards: 2009 Oppenheim Gold Seal; 2009 Dr. Toy Best Vacation Children's Products; 2009 Seal of Excellence for Kid's Strategy Game from Creative Child Magazine; and 2009 Outstanding Products iParenting Media Award. Launch date: January 29, 2009.
— "It is an engaging game that encourages player to think logically while trading card with other players.  You have to use logic, memory and create pattern sets to win the game," said Angel Stahl of Angel's Toy Barn in Greensburg, Pa., who especially liked this game at the 2009 ASTRA Marketplace.
Editor's Note: Gamewright announced May 25, 2010, that it signed an agreement for the worldwide publishing rights to Patchwork. Play will remain the same; however, Gamewright will re-launch the game as FlipOut in late 2010 or early 2011. ( Watch Video) 5/19/2009 (Price: $19.99)

WordQuest by GOLIATH GAMES

This word search race game includes 20 different word search puzzles. The object is to find the words and mark them with your color tile. Whoever has the most tiles when the puzzle is complete is the winner. Launch date: 2008. 5/19/2009 (Price: $29.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Loop It by GOLIATH GAMES

In Loop It, players connect their tiles to any of the twisting lines on the board and score points based on the point value of the tile they played, the place they played it and other neighboring tiles. "This international sensation is new to the U.S. but a great new twist on an old favorite," David Norman, president of Goliath Games, told TDmonthly. "[The] game combines logic, spacial reasoning, math and fun in a great game that is really easy to learn." Launch date: July 2009. 5/19/2009 (Price: $29.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Round Up by FAMILY PASTIMES

The horses have been running wild on the range, and the players' job to round up as many as they can and bring them back to the Ranch Corral. Some may be in the box canyons, or grazing along the trail. As players ride out, they'll have to get some lassos and binoculars and watch out for falling rocks that could block up a trail and leave a beautiful horse trapped. Players have to work together as a team, sharing equipment and talking over ideas. Because of the random setup, each game is a new adventure. It includes a 12" x 12" board, rocks, lassos, wild horses and binoculars. Launch date: April 30, 2009. 5/19/2009 (Price: $15.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]