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

Flowers Are Forever by FAMILY PASTIMES

In these four mathematical games, players are partners, forming as many good flower gardens as they can using their trowels to dig up the weeds that threaten to choke off the flowers. The basic mathematical skills of adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing are all practiced in gameplay. 20 tiles, 12 garden trowels and rules are included. 8/19/2010 (Price: $8.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Littlest Pet Shop Go Fish Card Game by HASBRO INC.

In this game, players compete to collect the most matching pets.
 — As of 8.12.10, this product had 5 out of 5 stars from tworeviews on ToysRUs.com and was listed No. 4 in best-selling toys and games. PROS: Durable, easy to use, interactive. 8/12/2010 (Price: $5.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver 2010 Collector Tin by POKEMON USA

In this collectible card game, players work with powerful Pokémon to become a Pokémon trainer. Each tin expands increases game play choices, and contains one promo foil card and four booster packs.
— In July 2010, five percent of 38 surveyed retailers told TDmonthly that Pokémon cards are a top-selling collectible. 8/9/2010 (Price: $11.99)

Magic: The Gathering 2011 Booster Pack by WIZARDS OF THE COAST

The collectible card game's 2011 Core Set is available in booster packs featuring five different cover art images. Each pack includes 15 cards.
— In a July 2010 survey, two of 38 specialty retailers told TDmonthly that Magic: The Gathering cards are a best-selling collectible item.
— In August 2010, three percent of 43 specialty retailers named Magic: The Gathering a best seller in the card game category. The game was also mentioned as a top-selling overall item. 8/9/2010 (Price: $3.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Sequence NUM6ERS by JAX LTD INC.

For 2 to 6 players, or up to 3 individual players, Sequence Numbers is similar to the original Sequence game, except the cards are a mathematical equation, whose answer is a number found on the game board. First player or team to achieve the required amount of Sequences wins the game. 8/9/2010 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

S'Quarrels Card Game by LION RAMPANT IMPORTS

S’Quarrels is a card game based around the theme of squirrels collecting acorns before winter arrives. Under a nearby oak tree, embark upon the rigorous task of collecting and storing acorns before winter sets in. Your opponents are trying to take them all before you do. Whirlwinds, Ambushing, Quarreling, and Hoarding are all part of the game. Get the coveted Golden Acorn, while avoiding the Rotten Acorn. The player to store the most Acorns before Winter arrives wins.
— "What's selling really well for me is S'Quarrels," Jude Larene, owner of Izilla Toys in Seattle, told TDmonthly in July 2010. "I'm selling piles of it and I need to order more today. It gets into a neighborhood and everybody wants it."
— S’Quarrels received a great reaction from The Board Game Family. “Bring out the S’Quarrels cards,” they explained, “and kids can automatically picture being a little squirrel running around gathering acorns.” However, the reviewers cautioned that younger players may get “more frustrated when they aren’t quick enough to slap the hoard pile when that card is played.”
— As of 10/30/2012 this product had 4.6 out of 5 stars from 7 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Easy for kids to learn, but enough strategy is involved to appeal to adults; fun for groups. Cons: Not as fun with less than three players. ( Watch Video) 8/6/2010 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Cosmic Encounter by FANTASY FLIGHT GAMES

In Cosmic Encounter, players choose from dozens of alien races, each with its own unique power to further its efforts to build an empire that spans the galaxy. Many classic aliens from earlier editions of this beloved game return, such as the Oracle, the Loser, and the Clone. Newly discovered aliens also join the fray, including Remora, Mite and Tick-Tock. This classic game of alien politics returns from the warp once more. Cosmic Encounter features 50 alien races, flare cards to boost their powers, 100 plastic ships, a host of premium components, and all-new tech cards that let players research and build extraordinary technological marvels. Fantasy Flight Games Sales Associate Rick Nauertz told TDmonthly, "No two games are the same!" 7/28/2010 (Price: $59.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Wings of War: WWII Deluxe Edition by FANTASY FLIGHT GAMES

Wings of War: World War II Deluxe Edition is a great place for new users to start playing Wings of War, the action-packed game of aerial combat and World War II dogfights. This limited deluxe edition includes the complete rules of Wings of War (including the dive-bombing rules from Wings of War: Fire From the Sky), a full set of player boards, maneuver decks, and tokens, and four beautifully-painted and accurately-sculpted miniatures, based on the four major planes of the early days of World War II: the Spitfire, Messerschmitt, Zero and Wildcat. Rick Nuaertz, Sales Associate for Fantasy Flight Games, told TDmonthly, "Each plane has a specific maneuver deck with its own unique options, so players fly differently from game to game." 7/28/2010 (Price: $69.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Wings of War: Famous Aces by FANTASY FLIGHT GAMES

Wings of War is a game series that merges card and board game mechanics to recreate aerial combat. The first series of Wings of War games focus on the "knights of the air" age, World War I, portraying the abilities of the fighting planes of this period. Wings of War: Famous Aces is the first set of the WWI collection. It includes five types of planes: the Spad XIII, Albatros D Va, Sopwith Camel, Fokker Dr1 and the Sopwith Triplane. Each plane was flown by an ace: Baracca, von Richtofen, Rickenbecker, Fonck, Olieslagers and Baker. Fantasy Flight Games Sales Associate Rick Nauertz told TDmonthly, "By selecting from his maneuver deck, each player can plot out the loops, rolls and twists that his dogfighting plane will undertake." 7/28/2010 (Price: $34.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Yu-Gi-Oh! Collectible Tins by KONAMI

These collectible tins can store decks, cards and other Yu-Gi-Oh! accessories. Each tin includes a Secret Rare variant card of the monster depicted on the tin, along with four additional Super Rare variant cards and five booster packs. 7/27/2010 (Price: $19.99)

Dominion by RIO GRANDE GAMES

In this tactical card game, players are monarchs who rule small peasant kingdoms. The players compete to enlarge their kingdoms by claiming as much land as possible. The game is for two to four players and can be played in approximately 30 minutes.
— As of 1.06.2011 this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 128 reviews on Amazon.com and was No. 29 on the top 100 bestselling toys and games. PROS: Variety keeps players entertained. CONS: Cards are easy to lose. 7/26/2010 (Price: $44.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Unusual Suspects by FUNDEX GAMES

In this game, everyone plays the role of detective and suspect. At the beginning of the game, each player blindly draws a card from the deck, and the character on the card becomes their secret identity. The dealer deals the cards and roll the dice to set up the crime scene. Players can “solve the case” by matching their six fingerprint cards to the six fingerprint dice, and can "tamper with the evidence” by drawing a new card, or re-rolling one of the dice. ( Watch Video) 7/13/2010 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

SplashJack floating playing cards by MILLIWIK LLC

The SplashJack set of cards allows for card play in the water. SplashJack is simply Slap Jack, but played in water. To play, distribute the deck of cards evenly among all of the players. The player holds their pile of cards face down. Each player takes a turn placing their card face up in the middle of the group on the water. When someone places a Jack down in the pile, the first player to splash the pile of cards wins the cards. Play continues until a player has acquired all of the cards from the deck. Splashing the cards may also happen if the same number is laid down twice in a row or the same number sandwiches only one other card. 7/12/2010 (Price: $11.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Splashimals by MILLIWIK LLC

Splashimals can be played anywhere there is water but it can also be played on dry ground too. For ages 2 to 5+, depending on the age, children can use the cards for animal recognition, for creating new animals by mixing the combinations, for a game of memory, and for practicing reading skills. 7/12/2010 (Price: $14.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Ringling Brothers Classic Card Set by DISCOVERY BAY GAMES

This playing card set consists of four timeless card games - Crazy Eights, Hearts, Old Maid and Go Fish - each designed with its own vibrant and vintage Ringling Brothers artwork. 6/29/2010 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

WOKER by LCT ENTERPRISES, LLC.

WOKER is Word Poker. The cards represent letters and the goal is to make the highest scoring words based on the points associated with each letter. The cards are dealt as in three popular poker games. "It can be a family game, a party game or an educational tool," LCT Enterprises President Lisa C. Teore told TDmonthly. 6/25/2010 (Price: $11.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Word FRENZY Card Game by TAME TIGER LLC.

Word FRENZY is a fast-paced, word-forming card game that aims to foster spelling, vocabulary, word association and math skills. Playing with letter cards, players try to be the first to collect cards that spell a four-letter word relating to a category. "It's stealth education made fun!" Tame Tiger Marketing VP Steve Kam told TDmonthly.
Awards: 2009 Parents' Choice Approved Award; 2009 Dr. Toy's Best Picks; 2009 The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval; 2010 Family Review Center Gold Award; 2010 Family Review Center Editor's Choice Award 6/25/2010 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Booray! by WINNING MOVES GAMES

Booray! is a fast-paced New Orleans-themed poker game. The first player to obtain 400 Booray Bucks or to be the last player standing wins. This game consists of 52 custom-designed cards and 108 Booray Buck cards, and is designed for three to six players. 6/23/2010 (Price: $9.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Musical Chairs The Card Game by PB&J TOY COMPANY, INC.

In this card game, when a player gets four-of-a-kind in his hand, it is just like the music stopping in a traditional round of musical chairs. The player grabs a chair and all other players react and grab for a chair, too. There is one less chair than the number of players in the round and the player without a chair is out. 6/18/2010 (Price: $7.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Question Guys Chat Pack by WILLIAM RANDALL PUBLISHING

The Chat Pack contains 156 cards, each featuring a question meant to get people talking. This game is designed for dinner parties, family gatherings, car trips, and classroom activities. ( Watch Video) 6/16/2010 (Price: $9.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Les Mess Card Game by LES IS MORE

Les Mess is an organizational card game designed to encourage kids to pitch in when it comes time to clean and get rid of clutter. By completing one of the tasks on the cards, children earn a prize while making the home more organized.
— Jennifer from The Dirty tShirt tried the cards and found them simple enough for even her toddler. She recommended Les Mess “to everyone trying to teach their children the wonders of organizing their things.”
— Quiverfull Family’s Jennifer used Les Mess to get all of her children excited about cleaning and organizing. She said Les Mess is best “when approached with a light heart, and a fun-filled attitude.” ( Watch Video) 6/14/2010 (Price: $19.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

FlipOut by GAMEWRIGHT

Formerly called Patchwork, FlipOut 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 plastic racks to create sets, or steal them from each other. Game play takes 20 to 30 minutes. 6/11/2010 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Multiplication Flash Cards by SCHOOL ZONE PUBLISHING CO

Kids can learn to multiply numbers 0 to 12 with these 55 pocket-sized flash cards. ( Watch Video) 6/7/2010 (Price: $2.99)

Billionaire by FUNDEX GAMES

In this game, three to eight players get the chance to be seriously rich but must beware of the Taxman. Participants fiddle in finance, dabble in real estate, or make millions in movies, and should be clear thinking, quick of hand and shout the loudest. There is no set order of play. Players simply shuffle cards according to the number of players, deal, then shout or trade their way to build up a full set of cards and make a billion dollar fortune. ( Watch Video) 6/3/2010 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

BrainBox - Nature by MINDWARE

This clever memory recall game challenges players to memorize as many details as they can in just 10 short seconds. To play, turn the timer over, concentrate on the card and try to memorize as many details of the picture as you can. Players then roll the die to determine which question will be asked and quiz each other on what they remember. Is the starfish red or blue? What 'giant' creature is shown? Is a purple coral shown? The nature theme will keep young minds engaged in this fast-paced game of concentration and detail. 5/28/2010 (Price: $14.99)