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

Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG Panther Warrior Collectible Tin by UPPER DECK ENTERTAINMENT

This Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Collectible Tin - one of six new tins now available on the Upper Deck Store - contains five of the best booster pack releases (Dark Beginning- Volume 1, Soul of the Duelist, Rise of Destiny, Flaming Eternity and Dark Revelation- Volume 1) plus one new exclusive card never distributed outside of Japan (six different to collect)! Each of the five booster packs - except Dark Beginning- Vol. 1 and Dark Revelation- Vol. 1, which each contain 13 cards - contains nine cards per pack! Each collectible tin is able to hold two deck boxes, plus, on the outside, the tins have an embossed design highlighted by the monster that is on the exclusive card inside. Start collecting these new tins now! 1/10/2006 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

2005-06 Upper Deck Basketball Retail Trading Cards by UPPER DECK ENTERTAINMENT

A perfect companion for the 2005-06 NBA season, this edition of Upper Deck Basketball features the same superb photography, player selection and high quality inserts that this brand has long been known for. First to grab collectors' attention are the array of memorabilia cards (inserted 1:12 packs, on average), led by the always popular UD Game Jersey cards (inserted 1:20 packs, on average). Plus, collect Star Rookies cards (inserted 1:4 packs, on average) of top names from the 2005-06 rookie class, like No. 1 pick Andrew Bogut of Milwaukee, New Orleans' talented point guard, Chris Paul, or University of North Carolina heroes Marvin Williams (Atlanta), Sean May and Raymond Felton (Charlotte). Of course there's much more to this product, like the one special “Rookie Scrapbook” bonus card found in each retail pack on average so order your retail box (comprised of 24 packs and nine cards per pack) now! 1/10/2006 (Price: $71.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Mythmatical Battles: Norse/Egyptian by 4R INC.

This card game teaches multiplication while educating kids and adults on the gods, goddesses, heroes, monsters, minions, weapons and magic of Norse and Egyptian ancient cultures. Players compete, each using a different deck, to plunder each other’s spoils using the strengths of each character card in their deck. Hidden within each deck is a mysterious adventure card that players can use to solve a special secret. Great for schools, this game would also work well for anyone who's inquisitive about ancient legends and mythology. Mythmatical Battles was called the "flashcards of the future" by Scholastic Magazine and has won multiple Educational Toy Awards. 1/9/2006

Flocks by DREAM GREEN

Oh my, what have we here? A self-described "crazy cuckoo card game with sneaky birds and fowl play?" This could get out of hand. Literally, that is, as players compete to collect the most flocks from the 21 different types of bird cards using such cards as the Spying Spectacle Bird that allows players a sneak peek at other players' cards and the Crazy Cuckoo Bird that lets players snatch away someone else's flocks. It's best for two to four players. 1/5/2006 (Price: $4.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Rhyme Thyme by OUTSET MEDIA

Rhyme Thyme is a fast-action matching game for 2 to 5 players that will have kids racing to get rid of their cards first. When players spot a rhyme in another player's hand, they race to be the first to call out the match. Players need keen eyes and fast hands to "catch the match" in this game. Rhyme Thyme helps children develop their hand-eye coordination, word recognition and reading vocabulary skills. It includes an instruction booklet and 108 illustrated cards. 1/5/2006 (Price: $12.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

InStructures by MARBAN INDUSTRIES INC.

InStructures is a family/party game in which two teams race to build a structure with building blocks. However, only their "Foremen" get to see the blueprints. Good verbal communication is the key to winning.
— This game turns block-building into a competitive sport.
— The high-quality wooden building pieces make the game aesthetically pleasing, too.
— MarBan took “tons” of pre-orders for InStructures at Toy Fair, said vice-president Jenna Banks. The game will be available in June 2006. 12/15/2005 (Price: $29.95)

Halli Galli Kidz card game by FUNDEX GAMES

A best-seller in Europe, Halli Galli Kidz is designed for 2 to 4 players. Players have to be the first to spot the matches and ring the bell — but, subtle differences may cause players to accidentally hit the bell and lose points. 12/15/2005 (Price: $9.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Lari Safari by HABA USA/HABERMAASS CORP.

To play, place five cards in a circle. Everyone gets to look and study. Each card depicts an animal performing a silly motion, like flapping its wings, jumping up and down or dancing. Now the cards are flipped upside down (and mom and dad are now at a distinct disadvantage to the kids). Roll the dice to see how many hops the wooden Safar man takes. The player has to remember and act out the action on the card, then flip it over to see if he or she was right! If right, she gets a chip. If not, it’s the next players turn. Hilarious fun for all ages. 12/9/2005 (Price: $10.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Bremen Town Musicians by HABA USA/HABERMAASS CORP.

A little like the beloved “rock, paper, scissors,” this fast moving card game has two variations for which cards “beat” the others. Both players turn over a card at the same time, glance to see if their character wins or loses against the other player’s card, then quickly scrambles to grab for either a green wooden figure if the card wins or red wooden figure if the card is the loser. Whoever guesses correctly first and grabs the right man—wins. If the “cheat” card is flipped over, the game is an entirely new version! For 2 players. 12/9/2005 (Price: $10.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Wordzzo by WESTWIND GAMES

Wordzzo is the only game that combines games of words and sentence building in one set of cards. Most games can only be played if the rules are followed. The Wordzzo game cards will still work for players who want to change the rules and create different games. Instead of forming one of the sentences on the list, kids can use the word cards to form funny lines such as "a giraffe has 151 feet." Letter cards are drawn or traded to form words. In the advanced games, words are formed to get Word cards and players try to construct one of the sentences on the rules sheet. Players can change the rules and set time limits to create a wide variety of different games. The game is for two to eight players and the deck includes 200 cards with instructions. READ MOM REVIEW 12/9/2005 (Price: $9.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Perpetual Commotion® Expansion Pack: Silver & Gold 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®. 12/7/2005 (Price: $7.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Fluxx by LOONEY LABS

The card game with ever changing rules. It starts out simple, with just the Basic Rule card: draw one card and play one card during each player's turn. But New Rule cards quickly make things chaotic. Even the object of the game will often change, as players swap out one Goal card for another.
― “Fluxx: A card game from Looney Labs. A game where the rules and win condition[s] are always in 'flux.' Fluxx had been a best seller since we opened [in 2004],” said Ed Evans, owner of All Things Fun! in West Berlin, N.J., in March 2007. 11/28/2005 (Price: $16.00)

Rat-a-Tat Cat by GAMEWRIGHT

Players get rid of the high cards (rats) and go for the low cards (cats) in this poker-style game with cat- and rat-decorated cards. As children play Rat-a-Tat Cat, they develop a sense of timing and an understanding of basic, but essential, mathematical concepts. They also begin to develop an intuitive sense of probability. It’s won an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award, Dr. Toy’s Best Vacation Products, Mensa Select and a Canadian Toy Testing Council “Children’s Choice” Award.
— Mark Truax, store manager at Try & Buy Toy Stores in Katonah, N.Y., said this game is “up there in the top” of its best-selling card games.
— “Gamewright is a strong seller for us,” Colleen Nelson, owner of Goodie Gumdrops in Burien Wash., told TDmonthly in summer 2008.
—  Five percent of 64 retailers named Rat-a-Tat Cat as one of their top-selling card games in August 2008, and three of 38 echoed the same in late summer 2009. “It’s been our best seller for seven years,” Jennifer Schneeweis, owner of Izilla Toys in Seattle, told TDmonthly in August 2009, citing sales of 24 units monthly. 11/28/2005 (Price: $9.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]