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

Chef Cuckoo! by BLUE ORANGE GAMES

Armed with a stack of Ingredient Cards and a given Food Challenge, create the yummiest or yuckiest meals with Chef Cuckoo. The best—or the worst—chefs will emerge from the kitchen with the stars to prove it. 12/16/2011 (Price: $13.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Spot It! NHL® Edition by BLUE ORANGE GAMES

Spot It NHL edition is great for die-hard hockey fans. Hockey themed symbols give Spot It its cool edge. The logo of every NHL team appears on the cards. 12/16/2011 (Price: $15.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Spot It! JR Animals by BLUE ORANGE GAMES

Finally, a Spot It for little ones. With a scaled down card deck and 6 symbols instead of 8, Spot It Jr. Animals is accessible for kids under 6. Adorable animals appear on all the cards, with one big animal centered on each card for easier spotting.
Awards: 2014 TDmonthly Top Toy Debut Award, 2013 TDmonthly Seal of Approval 12/16/2011 (Price: $11.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Gate by OOFDAH! GAMES INC

The Gate is a challenging strategy game for 2 to 5 players. It’s two games in one: beginner and advanced. The Gate combines the fun of a classic board game with the fantasy of a role-playing game. Fight dragons and other monsters, escape encounters, or buy weapons from the gnome. The stakes intensify as players advance through 3 exciting levels. Earn special fighting dice; battle friends for treasure. The first player to the Gate wins, but they mustn't forget their key. Launch date: November 2011. 12/9/2011 (Price: $59.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Donkey - It's a Kick! by CLEVELAND KIDS LLC

Donkey - It’s a Kick! is an all-play, action-packed, process of elimination card game (with plastic components) that will have up to 8 players (ages 8 to adult) engaging in simultaneous social interaction while at the same time sharpening their hand-eye coordination skills with every round of play. In addition to the playing cards, the "Kicker Cards" present group challenges for each round of play; this not only adds diversity to each round, it creates a platform on which players feel "safe" and "eager" to show off their unique creative talents. "Donkey It's a Kick! is the only game that makes “losing” FUN!... The losers get to stay in the game and wreak havoc on the remaining players!  Although the game will only produce one champion, everyone walks away feeling like a winner," Jayne Cleveland-Kolesar, secretary at Cleveland Kids, LLC., told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 2011.
Awards: 2011 The Toy Man™ Seal of Approval, 2011 The Toy Man™ Award of Excellence, 2011 The Toy Man™ Recommends Award, 2011 The Toy Man™ eChoice™ Award. 12/8/2011 (Price: $24.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Wangle by JESSE JAMES GAMES

Wangle is a picture themed game where Wangle Sticks add an exciting and fun twist.   Wangle is frantic play with all players in motion, at all times. Players build their hand, then try to be the first to sneak a Wangle stick. Launch date: October 2011. 12/8/2011 (Price: $29.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Cosmic ConneXion by N.E.T. & COMPUTING

Cosmic ConneXion is an entertaining and educational word search card game created to familiarize players with the Greek alphabet and objects of the cosmos. The deck consists of 2 sets of cards, letter cards and celestial point value cards. The letter cards consist of all 24 letters of the Greek alphabet from Alpha to Omega. Each letter card displays the name, uppercase & lowercase Greek letter, along with English equivalents and variants. The letter cards are played in a diamond arrangement to create words. The celestial point value cards consist of 28 objects of the cosmos from our local solar system to the constellations of the zodiac along with wild cards of the cosmos. For each word formed, a player acquires a celestial point value card from the draw pile. The object of the game is to acquire as many celestial point value cards as possible. However, after all the letter cards have been played, the player who has acquired the sun card during regular play has a final opportunity to score additional points during the bonus round by forming a grammatically correct sentence from the words formed during regular play. The player with the highest point value wins. "The greatest benefit of playing games with these cards is to increase player's familiarity with the Greek alphabet. The Greek alphabet is widely utilized in many fields of math & science, yet not widely recognized to the general public," Joseph Bongiorno, president of N.E.T. & Computing, told TDmonthly. Launch date: October 2011. 12/8/2011 (Price: $12.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

MathTwister by MATHTWISTER LLC

MathTwister is a brand new competitive card game for kids (eight years and older) to practice and enjoy the four basic computations of arithmetic. Educators and parents observe their students thinking, organizing and self-correcting their mental math concepts to form equations, as well as watching as students encourage others to demonstrate their math ability. MathTwister makes effective practice of mathematics fun. "Through a healthy level of competition MathTwister gets kids thinking mathematically, challenging them at their own ability level, sharpening fluency with basic arithmetic operations and developing comfort with numbers," Benjamin Bosley, creator of MathTwister, told TDmonthly. Launch date: October 2011. 12/8/2011 (Price: $24.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Ugh! by CALLIOPE GAMES

Ugh is the life of a caveman through the eyes of John Kovalic. In Ugh! players encounter the Stone Age life by pushing their luck against the deck and trying to lock in as many sets of cards as they can before they are abruptly shocked by a natural disaster… Ugh! Each turn players can flip over up to three cards, all of which are good options for their set. Contents: 110 cards, including 4 Wild Cards, 28 Ugh! Cards, and 78 Number Cards. ( Watch Video) 12/2/2011 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Got 'Em! by CALLIOPE GAMES

Players must trap their opponents' pawns in one of two games of escape and capture. In Bright Got 'Em! players must outsmart and corner their opponents through savvy card play, sly movement, and clever placement of blocking walls. In the still-casual but even-trickier Brainy Got 'Em!™ players toss aside card actions in favor of a purely strategic challenge. Both games share the same goal, the same exciting intrigue, and the same social fun. Contents: One game board,  The side with colored squares is used for Bright Got ’Em!, The side with white squares is used for Brainy Got ’Em!, 84 wall pieces, 55 Got ’Em!™ cards, 4 pawns.
Awards: Major Fun Award; 2011 Creative Child’s Seal of Excellence 12/2/2011 (Price: $28.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

MindTrap Card Game - Left Brain Right Brain by OUTSET MEDIA

486 puzzles, mysteries, conundrums and trick questions. Includes puzzles, mysteries to solve, conundrums & trick questions. Ideal for building problem solving, visual spatial skills & creativity. 12/1/2011 (Price: $8.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

SOUND IT! Card Game by WOWOPOLIS LLC

SOUND IT! is a hilarious new card game that offers two great ways to play: On one side of the card, guess the picture based on hearing the silly sounds other players make. On the other side, read the special clue and quickly identify the correct sound to make. Fun and challenging but simple to learn, a deck of 96 SOUND IT! cards offers unlimited possibilities. Launch date: February 2012. 11/29/2011 (Price: $9.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Sardines by DJECO

Players have a couple of seconds to observe the little sardines, memorize them and find them again in the box. For 2-4 players; game time is 15 minutes.
— Dean Smith, co-owner of Jazams in Pennington, N.J., told TDmonthly in a September 2011 survey that he sells 12-18 copies of Sardines each month. 9/15/2011 (Price: $16.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

TRI by GENIO TOYS LLC

TRI : 3-Way Thinking Games "TRI your brains, TRI your words, TRI your luck. Multiple Games for Endless Fun." This is a new game set that challenges players' perceptive, tactical and word powers. Instructions include 4 different games, and will be extensible to other new playing methods in the future. Launch date: October 2011. 9/13/2011 (Price: $8.50) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Test of Fire - First Bull Run 1861™ by MAYFAIR GAMES INC.

July 21, 1861 - the raw untried armies of North and South meet for the first battle of the American Civil War. Players can take the part of General Beauregard of the Confederate States of America defending Virginia, or the part of Union General Irvin McDowell seeking to stop the rebellion of the south and re-unite the nation. Simple game mechanics center on a system where command opportunities are determined by dice, action cards and the frustrations of command are eloquently portrayed. Simply put, the Union Army of Northeastern Virginia must seize Manassas Junction or rout the Southern Army to achieve victory. The Confederate Army of the Potomac & Confederate Army of the Shenandoah win by routing the Union army, avoiding rout, by seizing the Northern town of Centreville, or simply denying the Union victory. For two players; game time averages 45 minutes. Launch date: September 1, 2011. 8/30/2011 (Price: $30.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Ligretto by PLAYROOM ENTERTAINMENT

Ligretto is a fast-moving card game, where players must get rid of their Ligretto stacks as quickly as they can. Have fast hands and quick thinking, as the need for speed is key in this color stacking card game. Everyone plays at the same time, so there's no time to lose. Add different colored sets together for a lightning fast game for up to 12 players. Launch date: 2009.
Awards: Dr. Toy 10 Best Games Winner; 2009 Creative Child Preferred Choice Award; Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products Winner; Major Fun Award. 8/25/2011 (Price: $12.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Killer Bunnies and the Conquest of the Magic Carrot by PLAYROOM ENTERTAINMENT

Killer Bunnies Conquest is a follow-up to (and completely compatible with) the popular Killer Bunnies Quest card game series. Includes an entirely new array of wacky weapons, risky P-cards and wince-worthy Terrible Misfortunes. Morden's Metals Exchange is a new market where a player may buy and sell precious metals to earn Dolla. Kaballa's Market Two will sell the Radish and Milk needed to feed the bunnies. Some things are different, but the goal is still the same; survive long enough to claim the Magic Carrot and win the game. Launch date: 2011. 8/25/2011 (Price: $35.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Cthulhu Gloom by ATLAS GAMES

In Cthulhu Gloom, you control a group of Lovecraftian protagonists and guide them down a path of horror and madness to an untimely death, while keeping your opponents happy, healthy, and annoyingly alive. While your characters Gibber With Ghouls and Learn Loathsome Lore to earn negative points, you'll encourage your opponents to be Analyzed by Alienists and to Just Forget About the Fungus to pile on positive points. When one group finally falls prey to the interdimensional doom that awaits us all, the player whose characters have suffered the most wins. Cthulhu Gloom is printed on transparent plastic cards. Cthulhu Gloom is a stand-alone card game that's also fully compatible with Gloom and its expansions. It introduces Story cards and Transformation cards. Includes two decks of 55 transparent cards, and a rules sheet in a tuckbox. Launch date: August 2011. 8/23/2011 (Price: $24.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Launch Pad by STRATUS GAMES LLC

Players are battling to build the biggest, baddest rockets possible and send them soaring into space. Each rocket requires metal, fuel, and the expertise needed for liftoff. As players build their rockets, they must beware of their opponents, who are eager to steal their goods and sabotage their work— players may even have some tricks of their own to thwart their opponents' progress. All the while, the launch pad is being constructed—as soon as it’s ready, the rockets that are “go” for launch will blast off into space, leaving all others behind. For 2-4 players; game time is 30-60 minutes. 8/8/2011 (Price: $24.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Let's Make Pizza by FAMILY PASTIMES

In this game, the players are prep cooks in a Pizza Shop and have to help Chef fill the pizza orders coming in while keeping an eye on how hot the oven is getting. Players don't want to burn any pizzas. Often one player on a turn will set up the next player for a good move. Next time round, they may get help from someone else. That's the fun of co-oper­ative play. It allows different ages to play together. Comes with three levels of play- The red dot game is for beginners and young players. Add the green dot cards for a tougher game. Add the yellow dot cards for the most challenging version. Includes 36 Cards, consisting of 6 Pizza Orders, 5 Ovens, 25 Ingredients and Rules. 7/20/2011 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Party Gras by ZOBMONDO ENTERTAINMENT

Features 36 party gras bead strings, 300 party gras cards, 1 rule sheet, for ages 13 and older. 4 to 12 players. Party gras is a perfect way to spice up any social occasion. Unlike other games, you won’t be stuck sitting around a table. Players stand up, move around and try to cleverly complete the lively mission on their cards. Mind control: make someone refuse to throw away the trash. Caught in the act: catch someone text messaging. Talk it out: find someone who likes werewolves better than vampires. Players must use charm and wit to get those sparkly beads away from others, all while they’re trying to get beads from their opponents. Collect the most beads to win. 10 or more minutes to play. Created by GaZima Games. 7/6/2011 (Price: $29.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Wild Guess Chase by ALL THE KING'S GAMES

Who will be the player/team to win the most cards by guessing other players' words correctly the fastest, and with the fewest letters possible?  Players take turns making a word from the lettered cards in their hand, but they don’t show their word to any of the other players. Instead, they place each lettered card of their word face down on the table.  Then... the first letter of the word is revealed (and the timer is started) as the other players begin to shout out possible words for what the hidden word could be. A player must guess the word before the timer runs out... so if at any time two or more players agree to see another letter, another card is turned over and players continue to try and guess the word. The player who first guesses the hidden word correctly wins the number of cards that are still left face down... or ALL of the cards if the word is discovered with only one letter revealed. Launch date: June 2012. ( Watch Video) 6/27/2011 (Price: $12.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Smartrix by FOXMIND GAMES

Players place their cards so that the patterns match, aiming to create point-scoring sets. Smartrix can be appreciated on several levels; for beginners, it is a smart and fun matching game. As players' skills improve, Smartrix provides deep and captivating strategy, combining memory, risk-taking, tactics and a touch of luck.  Contents: 70 cards; Game rules. Launch date: June 2010.
Awards: 2010 6/6 Consumer Guide Canada 6/24/2011 (Price: $11.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Cards Against Humanity by CARDS AGAINST HUMANITY INC

Cards Against Humanity is a "party game for horrible people." The game is simple. Each round, one player asks a question from a Black Card, and everyone else answers with their funniest White Card. Includes 550 cards (460 White cards and 90 Black cards); over 13 duodecillion possible rounds (10^40) with 6 players; professionally printed on premium playing cards; includes game rules and alternate rules; shrink-wrapped in a custom box.
— As of 12/17/2012 this product had 4.9 out of 5 stars from 865 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Very interactive; humorous; great party game. Cons: One reviewer said some of the cards were "a bit too much;" some references might not be known by everyone. 6/16/2011 (Price: $25.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Zeven Card Zombie by MINDTWISTER USA

Zeven Card Zombie is like a Rummy game, but with Zombies and more interaction between the players. The object of the game is for players to lay down a matching hand of Seven Zombie cards first. Five cards are dealt, ten brain markers are given to each player, and during game play two cards are always picked up and discarded. Players play Zeven Card Zombie and collect cards to keep the brains of victims, while using the military Commando Team to rescue them from their opponents. Beware the Zombie Hunter as she will slay the minions on the spot- but don’t worry, for the wretched Grave Digger can always get what players need. Launch date: August 2010. 5/27/2011 (Price: $19.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]