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

Sparring Cards by WHITE BOARD DESIGN GAMES

This combat card game with a martial arts theme contains 54 cards and is for two or more players. Participants can choose to use one or more deck for this fast-paced game of attack and defense that simulates the discipline of martial arts sparring. Opponents may spar cooperatively or competitively. Players can expand play with an add-on deck, and fly, spin, duck and dodge their way to victory. It includes rules for single-round play through a six-belt tournament, and there are special rules for beginner, intermediate and advanced play. Launch date: December 2009. 1/14/2010 (Price: $12.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Anomia by ANOMIA PRESS

Anomia is a  game where common knowledge becomes uncommonly fun. Anomia plays off the fact that our minds are positively brimming with all sorts of random information: things to eat, pop songs, websites, etc... Sure, under normal circumstances, it's easy enough to give an example of a frozen food, or a dog breed; but you will find that your brain works a little differently under pressure. Easy to learn, fun to play over and over again, Anomia will have any group of friends, family, even perfect strangers, shouting and laughing out loud as they try to beat each other to the punch. It can be your turn at any time and anyone can be your opponent.  For 3 to 6 players. One round lasts about 30 minutes. Launch date: Fall 2009.
—  They sell "15 to 20" Anomia games per month at Magic Box in New Orleans, said manager James Dello Stritto in early 2011.
—  Four of 12 retailers who attended ASTRA 2010 named Anomia as one of their favorite products at the show.
—  “Anomia is really great; I’ve been told for the last year to get it,” said Kristen Pollard, owner of Mudpuddle Toys in Marblehead, Mass., in summer 2010.
— In an August 2010 survey, nine percent of 43 retailers said Anomia is a card game best seller. Barbara Fineblum, owner of Barston’s Child’s Play in Baltimore, Md., told TDmonthly the same month that her store sold 89 Anomia games in one month. ( Watch Video) 1/14/2010 (Price: $16.00)

Seven Card Samurai by MINDTWISTER USA

A family card game set in feudal Japan during the era of the Samurai which depends on skill, strategy and planning. It is a time where bandits roam the countryside stealing the precious rice from villages. Yours is one of those villages. Defend your rice with Samurai and Ronin, use bandits and Ninjas to steal other villages’ rice and eliminate their Samurai, and plead with the local Shogun to conscript help for you. But be warned, for the other villages are doing the exact same thing. Launch date: 2010. ( Watch Video) 1/11/2010 (Price: $19.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

StoryPlay Cards by THINK-A-LOT TOYS

StoryPlay Cards is a deck of storytelling and playing cards designed to delight, inspire and intrigue kids of all ages. The card deck has 90 illustrated cards along with a carrying pouch and two guidebooks. Children can use these cards to tell stories, play card games like Spoons, Poker, Sets and Concentration, or use them to engage in thoughtful conversation by choosing the card or cards you are attracted to and talking about what they mean to you. Launch date: Feb. 14, 2010. 12/16/2009 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The VirtueGame by VIRTUE TOYS LLC

The VirtueGame is a card game designed to bring out the best in people. It's a lighthearted, fun way for kids to learn about and practice virtues such as responsibility, compassion, thankfulness and trust. Can you be trusted with a treasured pet fish? Or name five things you have in common with the person next to you? Players should be prepared for silly fun. "The VirtueGame is the first Character Education game on the market. It coincides perfectly with our cultural trend towards things that matter and the renewed interest in family time and personal values," Anne Brunell, Founder, Virtue Toys, told TDmonthly. Awards: 2009 Best Practice Award, Character Education Partnership. Launch date: March 2009. 12/16/2009 (Price: $25.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

26! Card Game by YOVICH GAMES

26! gets its name from the 26 letters of the alphabet and consists of 54 playing cards. Each card shows a letter from A to Z, and a number 1 to 26. The object of 26! is to use six dealt cards and a seventh card from a drawing deck to create a 3-, 4-, or 5-letter word and then, with the remaining cards, form an arithmetic equation that equals 26, using any combination of addition, division, multiplication, or subtraction. Up to four players can play from one deck of cards. In addition to its entertainment value, 26! helps international students learn English, povides enrichment for students in science and math, and benefits remedial students studying spelling and arithmetic. Launch date: November 2009. ( Watch Video) 12/14/2009 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Fair Share Chore Cards by ROBIN DOWNES DESIGN

Fair Share Chore Cards eliminates dreaded arguments among who does what chores and takes the phrase "that’s not fair" out of the housework equation by leaving chore assignments to the luck of the draw. The chore cards have helpful directions printed on each card on how to accomplish each chore safely and efficiently. The only Ace in the deck serves as a "get out of a chore free" card, giving one a lucky break from a chore. ( Watch Video) 12/7/2009 (Price: $14.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

What's Wild by GOLIATH GAMES

Collect hands full of herds and caravans over the course of 10 rounds of play and be the player with the least amount of points at the end to win! But be careful…the wild card may change when you least expect it, and you’ll be left to ask, “What’s Wild?!” 11/4/2009 (Price: $9.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

A-B-C OY! by DREAM GREEN

A-B-C OY! contains eight surprisingly adaptable word, spelling and alphabet based games for any age or ability level. Players can learn letters backward and forward with ZOOM OY! or speed spell with SLAPSPELL OY!. They can use the blank cards included to make their own foreign alphabet. The deck contains 120 cards, which includes both capital and lower case letters. Instructions are in English, French and Spanish and include comprehensive information for parents and educators. Launch date: 1996. 10/29/2009 (Price: $10.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Instructional Videos for Dream Green Games by DREAM GREEN

Instructional videos are available for the following Dream Green games: Tic Tac Chec, 1-2-3 OY!, A-B-C OY!, Noble Celts and Uthini/Mancala. Launch date: October 6, 2009. 10/29/2009 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Triplica by FUN Q GAMES, INC.

Players compete by placing cards to line up three in a row of the shape that matches their secret Goal. The first player to score five Goals wins. But beware ... placing a card can help opponents as easily as it can help you. Triplica includes two multi-player games and an addictive solitaire version. "Triplica is a challenging and competitive game based on the very simple idea of making three in a row," Jeanine Calkin, president of Fun Q Games, told TDmonthly. Launch date: December 2009. ( Watch Video) 10/29/2009 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Circle Out! Game by CIRCLE OUT GAMES LLC

The Circle Out! game is a game of abstraction and visual memory. Twelve to 16 cards are laid out and players race to find the most circles of the largest size. The “circle” aspect of the game is all abstract. Each card has two features — a top and bottom triangle of different colors. Circles are formed by connecting cards of the same color together: red to red, blue to blue, etc., until the same color connects the chain of cards together at both ends. Bottom Triangles only link to Top Triangles and vice versa. A circle of three linking cards are worth one point, four linked cards are worth two points, and five linked cards are worth three points. ( Watch Video) 10/22/2009 (Price: $9.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Jukem Football by FLYING PIG GAMES, INC.

Jukem is a fast game that can be played in 20 minutes or less. The game lasts two times through the deck. No prior knowledge of football is required.
Awards: Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products - 2010 ( Watch Video) 10/20/2009 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Thoughts and Feelings 2 - Sentence Completion Card Game by BRIGHT SPOTS GAMES

This all-new sentence completion game is the vibrant sequel to the original Thoughts and Feelings, new sentence stems, new illustrations, and new ways to engage children of all ages. This deck compliments and adds to Thoughts and Feelings 1, and is a great way to build a set of therapeutic tools. Thirty five cards are included. ( Watch Video) 10/20/2009 (Price: $19.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Thoughts and Feelings - Sentence Completion Card Game by BRIGHT SPOTS GAMES

This cheerfully illustrated therapeutic tool for parents, teachers, and mental health professionals is designed to engage children of all ages.The deck contains 35 cards especially effective in helping children identify, process and work through a variety of issues, including changes within the family, trauma, grief, anger, depression, anxiety and fears. It's also available in Spanish. This product was named one of Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products 2009. ( Watch Video) 10/20/2009 (Price: $19.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

TastyTalk Conversation Cards for the Entire Family by U.S. GAMES SYSTEMS, INC.

Why do onions make you cry? Where was the first hamburger served? The TastyTalk deck is full of delectable tidbits about food, with intriguing questions that get conversations cooking. Each deck contains 50 illustrated cards, ideal for family time. "The delightful artwork and open-ended questions make this conversation deck appealing and engaging," Lynn Araujo, communications director of U.S. Games Systems, Inc., told TDmonthly. 10/5/2009 (Price: $6.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Fantasy Wizard Card Game by U.S. GAMES SYSTEMS, INC.

Wizard apprentices develop their powers of premonition by predicting the exact number of tricks they can win in each round of this enchanting card game. Humans, dwarves, elves and giants compete for power, but none can conquer the all-powerful Wizards. The game includes 60 character cards, a scorepad of truth and a set of instructions. "Building on the worldwide popularity of Wizard, this new card game bridges the markets between traditional family card games and fantasy gamers," Lynn Araujo, communications director for U.S. Games Systems, Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2009. 10/5/2009 (Price: $9.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Bakugan 7 in 1 Maxus Dragonoid by SPIN MASTER TOYS

More than just a card or just a toy, the Maxus Dragonoid is a monstrous combination of six Bakugan Traps and a Dragonoid Bakugan. The package also includes a Gate Card and an Ability Card. The year 2009 saw growth in the line with new mechanics and game play modules, as well as a second season of the cartoon show. Launch date: October 2009. ( Watch Video) 9/30/2009 (Price: $39.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Magic: The Gathering “Zendikar” by WIZARDS OF THE COAST

Wizards of the Coast calls Magic the biggest of the collectible card games. With millions of players in tournament and casual play, there is a strong market for all new releases. Zendikar features new Planeswalkers, a relatively new type of card with game-changing powers. One new Planeswalker is Nissa Revane, who came to fame in the Xbox Live Arcade game “Duels of the Planeswalkers.” Fifteen-card booster packs are listing at $3.99. Intro packs, consisting of a 40-card deck, 1 premium card, 1 booster, a learn-to-play insert and a strategy insert, are $12.29. Fat Packs, made up of eight booster packs, a card box, player's guide, learn-to-play insert, land pack, and an excerpt from the upcoming “Path of the Planeswalker” graphic novel, are $34.99. Launch date: October 2, 2009. 9/30/2009 (Price: $3.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Kwizniac™ The Trivia Countdown Game by THE BRAND CAFE / KWIZNIAC

Kwizniac is a trivia countdown game designed to test your knowledge under pressure. The object of the game is for players to accumulate as many points as possible by correctly answering as many trivia questions as possible. Because Kwizniac consists of only cards and the players’ brain power, it can be played everywhere and at any time. Kwizniac can be played with just two people or a whole group. Watch Kwizniac: Top-5 Video, Toy Fair 2010 ( Watch Video) 9/16/2009 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Selection by 5º DIMENSION INTERNATIONAL

Selection is the company's most popular game and can be played with 1 to 7 players. Players have to select hands that match the categories on the playing sheet. The game takes about 25 minutes to play. ( Watch Video) 9/9/2009 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Einstein Playing Card Game by 5º DIMENSION INTERNATIONAL

This educational card game is great for teens. Launch date: 2009. ( Watch Video) 9/9/2009 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

5D Playing Cards by 5º DIMENSION INTERNATIONAL

This card deck sports a new suit: stars. Each of the five suits also has its own distinct color. Also, the #1 makes an appearance for the first time in a card deck, which makes it easier for kids to learn to play. However, the aces haven't been excluded. Finally, a new princess card joins the royal family, to make the deck more appealing to girls. Five jokers brings the total number of cards in the deck to 80. All of the traditional card games can be played with this deck, but the increased number of cards allows a greater number of players to join the fun. ( Watch Video) 9/9/2009 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Frog Juice by GAMEWRIGHT

In this game for two to four players, participants aim to gain cards by matching or adding cards from their hand to equal the number on another card, then adding up the ingredients and measuring the powers indicated to earn the most points. Playing time is about 20 minutes.
—  Shana Hack, owner of Moon Rabbit Toys in Santa Fe, N.M., told TDmonthly in early September 2009 that her store sells about 25 Frog Juice games per month.
— Ten of 38 retailers named something by Gamewright when asked about best-selling card games. 9/8/2009 (Price: $10.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Scrabble Slam Card Game by HASBRO INC.

In this fast-paced word game, two to four players race to alter the present four-letter word and be the first to get rid of their cards for the win.
— Scrabble Slam is the best-selling card game at The Toy Store in Highlands, N.C., where it sells 36 units per month, Owner Michelle Bears told TDmonthly in August 2009. “One person has it, and it spreads,” she said. 9/8/2009 (Price: $6.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]