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

Alphabet Think & Blink by SCHOOL ZONE PUBLISHING CO

The game’s 26 flash cards come in a handy carrying case and feature an innovative combination of letters, pictures and picture words. Each card also features specialized lenticular printing, which allows for multiple 3D images on each card. The game helps children master essential reading skills, such as recognizing letters of the alphabet, learning the alphabet order and identifying beginning sounds. Launch date: October 1, 2007. 4/11/2008 (Price: $6.99)

University Games - Smart Ass® Card Game by UNIVERSITY GAMES

The card game is based on the original board game, but is packed with new topics and new clues.  It’s perfect to play on the road, or can be used in place of the original Smart Ass mystery clues. Launch date: Spring 2008. 4/11/2008 (Price: $9.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

University Games - 5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed Card Game by UNIVERSITY GAMES

The game introduces children to simple strategy and role-playing. The card game, which comes in a tin, lets children make matches and act out monkey actions. Launch date: Spring 2008. 4/11/2008 (Price: $9.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Oh, the Wondrous Places You'll Go! by THE WONDER FORGE LLC

The deck of cards describes 51½ wondrous places to visit. Each card features stunning photography, unbelievable facts, surprising history and brain-twisting trivia about the destination. Launch date: Spring 2008. 4/11/2008 (Price: $12.95)

TableTalk: MovieTalk by U.S. GAMES SYSTEMS, INC.

The conversation cards have become increasingly popular with parents as a fun way to get conversations rolling at home or on the road. Each colorful deck presents fascinating facts and poses intriguing questions. There are no right or wrong answers. Just pick a card and start talking. Available titles include AnimalTalk, ArtTalk, KidTalk, ScienceTalk, SportTalk and more. Launch date: June 2008. 4/11/2008 (Price: $6.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

State by State, Picture Playing Cards of the USA by U.S. GAMES SYSTEMS, INC.

The versatile 52-card deck cleverly incorporates the suit marks into the charming artwork. Each state card features an illustration and informative caption about the state’s history or natural beauty, and identifies the capital and abbreviation. Kids will have fun not only playing their favorite card games, but will be happily occupied spotting the hidden suit marks on the extra-large cards. Launch date: 2006. 4/11/2008 (Price: $6.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Optical Illusions Playing Cards by U.S. GAMES SYSTEMS, INC.

Based on the book Pentamagic, this deck of 55 poker-sized, optical illusion cards is perfect for travel. It can be used to play most card game favorites and also provides hours of visual entertainment. Launch date: 2006. 4/11/2008 (Price: $7.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Quick Count Football by FLYING PIG GAMES, INC.

Quick Count is a fast-paced, family football card game played by two to four people. A typical game lasts approximately 30 minutes and is played in quarters like real football. Games can be easily stopped after a few minutes and resumed later. Players can complete passes, run the ball, kick field goals and stop their opponents’ big play — all with a 54-card deck that fits in a pocket, purse, briefcase or backpack. “Quick Count is the first game where people can enjoy America's most popular sport (football) in 30 minutes or less, and because of its size and portability, the game can be taken or played anywhere with ease,” CEO Jeff Spelman of Spelman Media told TDmonthly. 4/11/2008 (Price: $7.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Numbers League: Infinity Level Expansion by BENT CASTLE WORKSHOPS

Infinity Level is a 60-card expansion deck to the original Numbers League: Adventures in Addiplication game. It adds 33 Superhero body parts (11 heads, 11 chests, and 11 legs) , 15 devices, and 24 villains. These expand the math skills used to incorporate addition and multiplication of simple decimals and multiplying by negative numbers. 4/10/2008 (Price: $9.95)

Pippoglyph Playing Cards by BENT CASTLE WORKSHOPS

Direct comparison alongside any common playing card reveals that all of the essential features of a deck have been maintained and aesthetically expanded. The customary suit symbols have been elaborated from simple spots to refined sigils, bringing attention to detail through the entire deck down to the lowest number card. The regal courts are clad in patterns based on their own pips that emphasize their suit relationships. The deck retains familiar favorites, such as one-eyed Jacks and a suicide King. 4/3/2008 (Price: $7.00)

Pegleg Pete's Deck of Royal Rogues playing cards by BENT CASTLE WORKSHOPS

Pegleg Pete's Deck of Royal Rogues is a pirate themed deck of playing cards, but what a deck!  You'll be hard pressed to find more beautifully illustrated cards.  With all of the traditional symbolism worked into the artwork, any game you can play with a standard land lubber's deck you can play with these here cards.  And old Pegleg didn't stop there, he added an extra Serpent card to each suit. This makes it possible to create strange new variants of classic card games.  In all the deck has 58 cards; the standard 52 plus 2 Jokers and 4 Serpent cards. The deck's four over sized indices make it ideal for right and left handed buccaneers of all ages.  Available with Red or Black backs. 4/3/2008 (Price: $9.00)

Skallywaggs™ Mix and Match Pirate Card Game by BENT CASTLE WORKSHOPS

Skallywaggs is a stand-alone card game for 2 to 4 players. Be the first to set sail by building a crew of rascally rogues before your opponents can complete their own collection of misfits. You'll need both luck and skill. But beware! This is Skallywaggs, and every pirate worth his parrot knows the tide is quick to turn. There's Scurvy, Hurricanes, and Cursed Sailors aboard, and if you can't batten the hatches your skallywaggs may be hauled off in irons or sent to Parley with Davy Jones. 4/3/2008 (Price: $18.00)

Babylon by ENDLIGHT LLC

The fastest strategy game in the world. Using just 12 'stone' tablets, players take turns stacking piles of equal height or of the same top colored stone. The last player capable of making a move wins! Incredibly simple and yet amazingly challenging and strategic. Plays in minutes and is a great travel game. 3/27/2008 (Price: $10.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The SENSEsational Alphabet Cards by SENSESATIONAL ALPHABET

Multi-Sensory learning perfect for typical and special needs. This fun and engaging card set lets your child feel the different textures of the Horse and Lizard, smell the distinctive aromas of Apples and Roses, and much, much more! Learn the entire alphabet and many beginning words in Sign Language and Braille. 3/27/2008 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

99™ by FAMILY GAMES INC.

In this fast-paced numbers game, players add number cards to the count pile. The count can quickly raise or lower at the flip of a card. The player who cannot keep the line at, or below 99 loses the round.  The game is intended for two to eight players. Launch date: 2008. 3/17/2008 (Price: $60.00)

Ticket to Ride - The Card Game by DAYS OF WONDER

Based on the Ticket to Ride board game, this card game version includes new game twists. Players collect sets of illustrated Train cards, attempting to complete Destination Tickets while watching out for “train-robbing.” The game is intended for two to four players and includes 96 Train cards, six Big Cities Bonus cards, 46 Destination Tickets and a rules booklet.  Launch date: May 2008. 3/12/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Bicycle Playing Cards – Take the Train™ by THE UNITED STATES PLAYING CARD CO.

The fast-paced sequencing card game, has players plan and strategize patterns and sequences. The deck includes wild cards such as End of Line, Transfer and Free Ride. The game comes with a deck of cards, 100 train fare tokens and a storage tray. Launch date: January 2008. 3/10/2008 (Price: $6.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Bicycle Playing Cards – 4-Mation™ by THE UNITED STATES PLAYING CARD CO.

The rummy-style card game requires players to plan strategically, creating sequences and matching sets. The deck includes “power cards” such as Imposter, Sabotage, Double-Cross and Revenge. Launch date: January 2008. 3/10/2008 (Price: $6.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Math Maze Mastery Set by MATH MAZE USA

This game allows learners to master positive and negative integers, fractions and whole numbers. The game apparatus includes a six-sided hex rod called a Mathematics Function Bar. One side indicates addition, the second subtraction, the third multiplication, the fourth division, and the fifth and sixth player's choice. The bar is used in conjunction with two sets of cards, Red Factor and Green Player, which are numbered 1 through 10. Players take turns creating and solving math problems using multiple operations, trying to get rid of their cards before their opponents do. Launch date: March 1, 2008. ( Watch Video) 2/29/2008 (Price: $19.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Math Maze Starter Set by MATH MAZE USA

Math Maze makes learning fun for the whole family by providing a platform to practice multiple skills and strategies in an exciting gaming environment. Kids can play by themselves or with their parents or friends. The cards are printed in both Spanish and English, and the Starter Game helps learners master the basic mathematical operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of whole numbers. Math Maze "is a fast-moving, fun game that takes the win or lose theme out of play. It allows family and class members to help each other learn," R.C. Glymph of Math Maze USA told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 1, 2008. ( Watch Video) 2/29/2008 (Price: $14.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

GreenTalk TableTalk® Conversation Cards for the Entire Family by U.S. GAMES SYSTEMS, INC.

Part of the company’s TableTalk series, this colorful 52-card deck is full of ideas for greener living. Each illustrated card presents a fascinating fact about the environment and a thought-provoking question about the choices we make every day. GreenTalk provides a fun way to get conversations rolling at home, in schools or while traveling. “From the delightful graphics to the engaging questions, GreenTalk was designed with kids in mind and makes it fun for young people to start thinking and talking about the active roles they can play in protecting our Earth,” Lynn Araujo of U.S. Games Systems told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 2008. 2/27/2008 (Price: $6.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Brain Ade™ Games by WINNING MOVES GAMES

The series of on-the-go brain exercise games contains three varieties: Pyramid Power, Square Deal and Puzz-ominos. Each game poses a different challenge that increases in difficulty with each strategic move. The games come in a handy, compact tin and can be played with friends or in a solitaire-fashion. 2/26/2008 (Price: $3.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Tiki Topple™ by GAMEWRIGHT

In this fast-paced strategy game, players try to maneuver their secret tikis to the top of the nine-tiki totem by playing the right combination of action cards. Each game comes with 55 cards, nine custom tiki pieces, four playing pawns, a game board and rules in both English and Spanish. Launch date: 2008. 2/26/2008 (Price: $15.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Pounce!™ by GAMEWRIGHT

In this card game, players are curious kitties who race to see who can make the most mischief while the owner is away. Players try to be the first to collect a set of room cards by quickly playing the matching cat cards. Either try for a set of the same room or press one’s luck pouncing around the whole house. The game is intended for two to five players and includes 51 cards and instructions in both English and Spanish. Launch date: 2008. 2/26/2008 (Price: $10.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Readers Digest National Word Power Challenge™ Game by McNEILL DESIGNS FOR BRIGHTER MINDS LLC

The game sharpens vocabularies, boosts test-taking skills and fosters a love of language in a fun ad competitive format. Players use facts from four categories — word origin, fill-in-the-blank, definition and synonyms — and gain an intensive knowledge of each word. The game also includes vibrant visual reminders to heighten vocabulary retention. "The unique game mechanic of asking for specific word clues causes players to scan and remember clues (accompanied by stimulating images) takes vocabulary building to a higher level!" McNeill Designs for Brighter Minds LLC President Martin Uniacke told TDmonthly. This product is a 2008 iParenting Media Award winner. Launch date: November 2007. 2/19/2008 (Price: $19.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]