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

Treehouse by LOONEY LABS

Treehouse is a quick-and-easy game you can play just about anywhere. Packaged in a pocket-sized tube, these 15 colorful plastic pyramids are as fun to play with as they are cool to look at. Treehouse won the Origins Award for Best Board Game of 2006! Best of all, the pyramids can be used to play many other games! 9/27/2007 (Price: $10.00)

The World Cup Game Expansion Set 1 by GAMES FOR THE WORLD

The first expansion set includes boards for the Sweden 1958, Chile 1962 and England 1966 World Cup tournaments. The set even includes national flag tile for every World Cup. Launch date: September 10, 2007. 9/27/2007 (Price: $29.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Wits & Wagers (2nd Edition) by NORTH STAR GAMES

This is the first trivia game players can win without knowing any trivia. Everyone writes guesses to fun questions, and then places the guesses face-up on a betting mat. Players then bet on who has the answer that is closest to the correct answer. Players can bet on their own guesses, or the guesses of other players. Launch date: January 2008. 9/27/2007 (Price: $29.99)

25th Anniversary Wheel of Fortune® by PRESSMAN TOY CORP.

This special edition version celebrates the game show’s 25th Anniversary. The special metallic edition of the game includes additions such as twelve extra puzzles from the 1980s. Launch date: 2007. 9/27/2007 (Price: $15.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Magnetic Tangoes® Jr. by BEST OF BEST

Magnetic Tangoes® Jr. brings the fun, creativity and problem-solving challenges of Tangoes® to a unique toy designed specifically for kids. With a large playing surface, seven magnetic puzzle pieces and recognizable puzzles, children can create 11 classic tangram images. Each double-sided puzzle card has two levels: on Level 1, the individual geometric shapes that comprise the image are identified; the same image appears on Level 2, but only as a silhouette--making it more challenging as the child gets older. All seven puzzles pieces store in the side drawer and all 12 puzzle cards store beneath the playing surface. Tangoes® Jr. features an integrated carry handle, making it great for on-the-go fun. 9/25/2007 (Price: $24.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Game by BEST OF BEST

Based on Eric Carle's best-selling book, in this game children go on a journey of learning and transformation, seeing their caterpillar develop from an egg to a beautiful butterfly. Children practice their fine motor, counting and color recognition skills as their caterpillar game pieces eat their way across the board. 9/25/2007 (Price: $16.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

10 Days in Asia by OUT OF THE BOX PUBLISHING

This game takes two to four players on a trip around Asia, by train, airplane, ship or on foot. Participants chart their course with destination and transportation tiles as they attempt to outmaneuver their opponents. Play takes 20 to 30 minutes, and the game contents include 57 destination tiles, 22 transportation tiles, eight tile holders, a map game board and full-color rules.
“[You] learn geography without feeling like you are learning geography!” Matt Mariani, director of marketing for Out of the Box Games, told TDmonthly. 9/25/2007 (Price: $24.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Cathedral™ by FAMILY GAMES INC.

Within a Medieval walled city, rivals strategically battle to place all of their buildings on the gaming field and lay claim to their territory. Skilled players position their structures to create inner territories and block their opponent from gaining ground. Surround your adversary’s building and reclaim that land. Victory is your goal. 9/19/2007 (Price: $39.99)

Quirky™ by FAMILY GAMES INC.

An abstract strategy game combining luck of the draw and tactics. Accumulate points by placing or exposing pieces of the same color to build 3-D equilateral triangles on three dimensions. 9/19/2007 (Price: $29.99)

Jurassic Park Explorer DVD Game by BRIGHTER MINDS MEDIA

Brighter Minds Media, LLC joins Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group to introduce this DVD board game. The game consists of a game board, a game DVD, 25 dinosaur fact cards, four playing pieces and a six-sided die. The interactive DVD features over 300 dinosaur trivia questions, seven activities, clips from all three Jurassic Park movies, hours of all-new 3-D animation and more. Three distinct skill levels allow players of different abilities to play together. 9/18/2007 (Price: $24.95)

Take Your Best Shot by R&R GAMES INC.

With only one turn per player per round, players must act fast. Answer the question correctly and toss the correct ball into the Determinator. The first player to cross the finish line of the scoreboard wins. The game set includes 440 Question cards, fifteen Guessing balls, five player tokes, a game board and the Determinator. Launch date: January 2007. 9/18/2007 (Price: $24.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Cranium WOW by CRANIUM INC.

Constructed of urban vinyl, Cranium WOW is the first-ever designer board game. It features all new cards and 15 activities that will allow players to unleash their inner artist, actor, data head or wordsmith. Each game comes with four of twelve vinyl movers whose hats, hairdos and more can be exchanged to fit each player’s mood or personality. Launch date: September 2007. 9/18/2007 (Price: $34.99)

Calamityville™ by FUNDEX GAMES

The Gold Rush Boom and Bust Game! If you draw a “donkey goes wild!” card, the donkey bucks it’s legs to knock down one of your opponents’ buildings! This wild action is sure to keep you on your feet! Players build up the town during the Boom and the town goes broke during the bust. The player with the most assets when “the gold runs out” card is drawn wins! 9/7/2007 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Toss-a-Chore by BLUEBONNET GAMES

Make chore time fun time! Roll the Toss-a-Chore dice to determine your chores. Game includes 2 Toss-a-Chore dice. 9/7/2007 (Price: $2.99)

The Construction Game™ by THE WEEKEND FARMER CO.

THE CONSTRUCTION GAME™, gives players a first hand try at making it big in the world of big equipment and big deals. Bid on jobs, buy dozers, backhoes, excavators, and scrapers, then put them to work. Build slowly or borrow your way to the top! There is no free lunch served at the job site. Be the biggest contractor in the valley. 9/6/2007 (Price: $34.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Farming Game Kids™ by THE WEEKEND FARMER CO.

FARMING GAME KIDS™, helps develop skills in addition, subtraction, counting money, reading simple charts, and that most important lesson in farming, keeping a stiff upper lip when things aren’t going just right. For players ages 3—9 with three different playing levels. ( Watch Video) 9/6/2007 (Price: $23.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Ogres & Elves by FAMILY PASTIMES

The Royal Elf Family is coming to visit their Mountain Kingdom. They want us Elves to fill their Treasure Chests with the different Gems we Mine. However, Ogres have heard about the Visit and plan to grab all the Valuables for themselves. We must do our best to get Royals & Ogres alike to share the Goodies. 8/30/2007 (Price: $15.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Livin' the Tamagotchi Life Electronic Game by PRESSMAN TOY CORP.

Based on Bandai’s popular line of Tamagotchi virtual pets, this board game for two to four players allows fans to start out as an egg and try to be the first player to evolve to adulthood. An electronic “Tamascreen” selects players’ meals, toys, snacks and more, and Tamagotchi-themed challenges help players win. Launch date: August 2007. 8/29/2007 (Price: $15.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Scooby-Doo!™ Haunted House 3D Board Game by PRESSMAN TOY CORP.

Fans of Cartoon Network’s Scooby-Doo! TV series can join in the adventures with this 3D action game for two to five players. Players move around the haunted house and must avoid secret booby traps, such as a moving ghost knight, a creaky staircase and a haunted moose head. The player who reaches the top first wins. Launch date: Summer 2007. 8/29/2007 (Price: $20.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Marvel Heroes Breakout DVD Game by BRIGHTER MINDS MEDIA

Intended for the whole family, this game, starring Marvel favorites such as Spider-Man, The Hulk, The X-Men and more, features footage from Marvel TV shows as well as hours of brand-new animation, hundreds of trivia questions, and seven interactive DVD activities. Each game comes with a game board, a game DVD, 25 villain fact cards, four playing pieces and a six-sided die. Players can select from three skill levels for each player and can select how long they want the game to be. This product is a winner of the 2007 Creative Child Preferred Choice Award. 8/24/2007 (Price: $24.95)

Beleduc's Candy by HAPE

Beleduc's Candy is a game of speed.  Roll the dices and be quick about recognizing colors on these patterned wood pieces of candy.  Comes with a soft playing circle.  For children four years and up. Two additional games - Pomela and Schmetti Coloretti (Colorful Butterfly) are also available.  8/23/2007 (Price: $14.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Sizzletoad! by WIZERGAMES

This fast-paced, portable game for two to four players combines the timeless fun of "Rock-Paper-Scissors" and "TIC-TAC-TOE" to create an exciting leapfrog race around the pond. It takes just a minute to learn and only eight to 15 minutes to play. The set includes one folding gameboard, 24 playing cards, four durable, colored glass game pieces and one instruction sheet. This product was on Dr. Toy’s Spring 2007 Best Products List and received a 2007 MAJOR FUN Award. 8/21/2007 (Price: $19.99)

The Illegal Game by THE J.E.F. ALIENS GAME CORPORATION

This educational game in English and Spanish depicts the lives of illegal aliens in New York City. It begins as players arrive at JFK airport, get a job and begin a rollercoaster adventure of a life that might include getting mugged on the subway, learning ESL at school, getting fired from a job or winning the lottery. Players could even get arrested and deported, or get sick and die. “The game is an eye opener to anyone unfamiliar with the problems, effort and vicissitudes immigrants confront on a daily basis,” Jorge E. Freire of The J.E.F. Aliens Game Corp. told TDmonthly. “It’s a teaching aid for ESL schools and we hope it influences politicians’ minds as they work on the Immigration Reform Bill.” Launch date: October 12, 2007. 8/17/2007 (Price: $30.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Head1Liners Board Game by KVALE GOOD NATURED GAMES LLC

In each round of Head1Liners, players privately write a news headline to a shared, mysterious "front-page" photo card. Straightforward journalistic attempts or satirical, funny headlines alike are equally encouraged. Headlines are read in random, anonymous order by the round's editor, and every player votes for a favorite headline (not their own). Writers move one space for each vote received. Later rounds include intentionally surprising theme assignments that often result in hilarious headlines. According to Owner Tony Kvale, Good Natured Games is the only eco-friendly board game publisher manufacturing mainstream game concepts locally within the United States. The company’s website offers a free sample round of play. Launch date: November 2006. 8/16/2007 (Price: $38.99)

Chinese Checkers by WOOD EXPRESSIONS INC.

Like beating your buddies in a friendly board game? How great is that feeling of triumph? Well, Chinese Checkers is the absolute perfect way to claim victory on your friends! This particular set is our most popular one, including a beautifully crafted wood board with traditional glass marble pieces. Whether you're playing with 2 or 6 people, you'll have a blast competing with your friends, teasing them, and enjoying each other's competitive spirit. By the way, you think that Chinese Checkers was invented in China? Wrong! It was actually invented in the United States by a professor in Boston! 8/14/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]