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

Simon Flash by HASBRO INC.

It’s four Simon games in one. The Wonder-Link technology lets the cubes know where players shuffle them, when they win and what they scored. The yellow game is Simon Lights Off. The red game is Simon Shuffle. The blue game is Simon Secret Color, there’s only one order that will show the same color on all four cubes. The green game is Simon Classic Stop shuffling.  Can be played as a group or alone. High-tech twist on the legendary Simon game tests memory and logic skills. Includes 4 electronic cubes, game case, rules and quick-play card.
— As of 10/18/2011 this product had 3.8 out of 5 stars from 22 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: No rating below 3 stars; different modes of play keep it interesting. Cons: Expensive; not challenging. 10/19/2011 (Price: $29.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Electronic Yahtzee Flash by HASBRO INC.

Thanks to innovative Wonder-Link technology, these super-smart dice know what was rolled, what the player decided to hold and automatically re-roll the rest. Choose from four ways to play - Poker, Max, Wild or Flash. Can be played as a group or solo. It comes with 5 Electronic Yahtzee dice, a game case, Rules and Quick-Play Card. It includes 5 button batteries.
— As of 10/18/2011 this product had 3.5 out of 5 stars from 21 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Ideal for single player usage; nice storage case. Cons: Screen can be difficult to read; scoring happens too quickly; not as fun as the original. 10/19/2011 (Price: $32.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Angry Birds on Thin Ice Board Game by MATTEL INC.

The game of exciting skill and action game based on the best-selling phone app, Angry Birds On Thin Ice, lets players build, launch and destroy with fun features, including pigs with helmets, breakable ice block building pieces, an "exploding" TNT box and the large red bird character. Players draw a card and build the structure shown before their opponents launch Angry Birds in an attempt to knock down the structure-and the pigs-to win points. Includes 2 Angry Birds, 3 green pigs, 1 slingshot-style catapult launcher, structure pieces and mission cards. 10/5/2011 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

BOO by GameBrotherZ inc.

The goal is to reach the exit before Sweet Little BOO gets upstairs. Who will succeed? Laura, Elliot, Albert, Rose, Alec, or Fixela? Together or by themselves, family members can engage in this exciting race. With each roll of the dice, some players will move faster, some will have to step back, others will discover secret passages, but everyone will have fun. Includes 1 game board, 7 character pawns, 3 dice, and Instructions.
Awards: Parent Tested Parent Approved Seal of Approval; Creative Child Magazine Seal of Excellence Award. 9/26/2011 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Spuzzle by GameBrotherZ inc.

Spuzzle is a fun-filled race to see who can finish their puzzles first. Designed for children, this game will challenges kids to finish their five puzzles first. Includes 5 sets of 20 puzzle pieces (blue, yellow, purple and red), 1 game board, 28 Spuzzle cards, and Instructions.
Awards: PTPA Seal of Approval, Creative Child Magazine Preferred Choice Award, National Parenting Center Seal of Approval. 9/26/2011 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Codigo Cube by FOUR CLOWNS GAME & TOY CO. LLC

Codigo Cube is a socially interactive trivia game that uses players' web-enabled camera phone, a free app, and a patent-pending 2D bar-coded die. Codigo Cube is updated with new questions daily. Whenever breaking news happens Codigo Cube gets updated. Playing is fun and easy. Players simply download a free QR code reader for their phone, then scan any side of the cube. Roll the cube, scan the code, and answer the question from a list of four multiple choice answers. Guess correctly and re-roll. Guess wrong and the cube is passed to the next player. Launch date: October 2011.
Awards: TDmonthly Top Toy Award, January 2012; 2011/2012 The Toy Man Award of Excellence; 2011/2012 The Toy Man eChoice Award; 2011 The Toy Man Top 50 Toy Of The Year Award.
— Why it won: Codigo Cube is harnessing new technology for an innovative and inexpensive new game. Players simply scan the QR code on the die with their Smartphone to access a trivia question online. The trivia questions are constantly being updated, so the game never gets old.
— As of 9/21/2012 this product had 4.7 out of 5 stars from 23 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Easy to use; more variety than a traditional trivia game because questions are always being updated. Cons: Needs to be played in a well-lit area or the QR code readers can scan the codes properly. ( Watch Video) 9/26/2011 (Price: $9.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Labyrinth 25th Anniversary Edition in a Tin by RAVENSBURGER

Players take turns to search the Labyrinth for their magical objects and characters by carefully moving through the constantly changing maze. The treasure cards are divided between the players, without revealing them to the other players. The maze cards are randomly placed on the playing board and the first player uses the extra card to start moving the first wall. Players strategically move the walls so they can collect their treasures, but block the path for the other players. Labyrinth comes complete with 1 game board, 34 moving wall cards, 24 treasure cards and 4 different colored playing pieces. This 25th Anniversary Edition of the game comes packaged in a high-quality and stylish tin. Content: 1 game board 34 maze cards 24 treasure cards 4 playing pieces Instructions. 1 game board, 34 maze cards, 24 treasure cards, 4 playing pieces, Instructions. 9/26/2011 (Price: $29.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Whoowasit? by RAVENSBURGER

Whoowasit? is an interactive board game with an exciting electronic feature. Players must find the magical ring that was stolen from the wise king by a castle resident under the spell of the evil wizard. Playing against the clock, players move through the castle rooms to uncover clues to who stole the precious gem. Along the way, talking animals help players solve the mystery of the stolen ring with the help of a treasure chest that randomly supplies clues on behalf of the animals. Players must seek food, communicate with and then feed the animals to receive clues that help eliminate the suspects. Whoowasit? helps reinforce memory, tactical and teambuilding skills. Playing time 40 minutes. Contents 1 game board, 4 doors (to place on the board), 1 electronic chest, 4 playing pieces (red, yellow, green, blue), 1 ghost, 1 cat (game board), 9 food tokens, 4 key tokens, 10 suspect cards, 1 die, 1 ring, 1 ring base.
Awards: Children's Game of the Year 2008 in Germany 9/26/2011 (Price: $39.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Learn A Map by ROCKFORD MAP GALLERY

This is a brand new double sided, laminated, educational desk map. Learn A Map is a terrific learning tool for children. It's easy to read and easy to use. It is double sided and laminated so it can be drawn on and easily erased. Learn A Map can be used anywhere, at home, at school, or on the road. Bulk ordering is available and there is free shipping on orders of 100 or more. Launch date: 2011. 9/16/2011 (Price: $3.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Sidewalk Games by eeBoo corp.

Take the fun outdoors with eeBoo Sidewalk Games. Set includes a gold coin to toss, four vibrant chalk sticks and a booklet of instructions for sidewalk games such as Hopscotch, Skelly, London Calling and more. "A child, a coin, some colored chalk bring hours of fun to a plain sidewalk. Learn games that generations played when fun and toys were all homemade!" Regina Gelin, sales & marketing associate for eeBoo, told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 2011. 9/16/2011 (Price: $8.50) [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][?]

Star Wars Ultimate FX Lightsaber by ENTERTAINMENT EARTH INC.

The Ultimate FX Lightsaber puts users in the action with battle sounds and glowing blade. Clash the blade or power up and down to hear power activation humming and other sounds. Includes 3 "AA" batteries. Launch date: October 2011. 9/8/2011 (Price: $49.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Founding Fathers by JOLLY ROGER GAMES

Founding Fathers is a game for 2-5 players competing to be the man remembered for the writing on the US Constitution.  Play revolves around delegate cards that can be used for several options. "The game also comes with a brief history of the constitutional convention as well as the delegates," Jim Dietz, president of Jolly Roger Games, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2011. 9/8/2011 (Price: $65.00)

Flashwordz by U.S. GAMES SYSTEMS, INC.

This exciting new word game requires a quick hand and a keen eye. Players create words by combining letters from their own racks with letters from another player's rack. With double-sided letter cards, everything can change in a flash. When the timer goes off it becomes  a free-for-all FlashRound. Game includes 100 two-sided letter cards, 4 card racks, FlashWordz Timer, and FlashRound Token. Launch date: July 2011.
Awards: 2011 Creative Child Preferred Choice Award. 9/8/2011 (Price: $19.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

SLOTTER Tabletop Coin Game by CHANNEL CRAFT & DISTRIBUTION INC.

Play more than 20 classic tabletop coin games with this unique contraption- Basketball, Baseball, Football, Hockey and many more. Includes the official SLOTTER, flip card & instructions in a Peg Pack package. Launch date: May 2011.
— In a February 2014 survey, Dean Smith, owner of Jazams Toys in Princeton, N.J., told TDmonthly that Slotter is their best-selling wooden toy. They sell around 10 each month. 9/2/2011 (Price: $5) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Black Gold by FANTASY FLIGHT GAMES

Black Gold is a game of drilling and discovery for 2-5 prospectors, in which players try to gain more wealth than their fellow competitors by exploring the terrain for oil wells, surveying the possible sites, and building derricks. Players earn the most money if they can transport their oil to one of three companies and win the right to sell at auction. Immersive and detailed game components, powerful Action cards, and a modular board make Black Gold a thrilling challenge. During the game, a ruthless Oil Baron draws ever closer, his train counting down the rounds of the game’s thrilling ride. Players race against their opponents to earn the most wealth before he reaches his last track. Players must outbid, out-bluff, and out-strate- gize their opponents to become the next tycoon. "The tiny plastic oil wells that have tiny plastic oil drops that click into them, giving the appearance of oil spouting out of the derricks, is delightfully fun," Molly Glover, sales associate at Fantasy Flight Games, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2011. 9/2/2011 (Price: $59.95) [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][?]

Wooden Marble Game Board - Aggravation by CHARLIE'S WOODSHOP

The Aggravation Game Board is a 20" Hexagon, made of solid Black Walnut, with the addition of (24) Inlaid Birch Pegged Spots, and with a beautiful wood grain enhanced by a non-toxic hand rubbed natural oil finish. The set includes: (24) 25mm (1") dia. solid opaque glass marbles of which there are (4) each of (6) different colors, plus (6) colored Dice to match the (6) sets of colors of the glass marbles. Plus instructions along with a velour pouch with a double drawstring. "The game board is designed to be able to set out permanently on display as a decorative piece when not being played with. This type of setting invites family participation more often. The family that plays together enjoys life a lot more," Charles H. W. Hall, owner of Charlie's Woodshop, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2009. 8/29/2011 (Price: $162.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Elder Sign by FANTASY FLIGHT GAMES

Elder Sign lets players control investigators who must successfully endure adventures within the museum in order to gather clues, items, and the eldritch knowledge they need to seal the rifts between dimensions and prevent the Ancient One’s arrival. A clever and thematic dice mechanic pits their exploration against monsters and the sheer difficulty of staying sane and healthy while investigating the most dangerous exhibits and most terrifying instances of insanity. Elder Sign recreates the Lovecraftian thrills of eerie suspense and mind-numbing horrors in a cooperative game players can finish in one to two hours. Rules, card text, and innovative dice mechanics expertly designed by Richard Launius and Kevin Wilson, the designers of Arkham Horror, all blend in a game that’s quick to learn, quick to play, strategic enough to reward frequent replay, and eccentric enough to immerse players in the museum’s supernatural intrigue. "For those who love Arkham Horror, Elder Sign provides faster gameplay with an easier-to-understand mechanic. Dice add a bit of chance to the fun of it all, and the horror theme brings a bit of spookiness," Molly Glover, sales associate at Fantasy Flight Games, told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2011. 8/29/2011 (Price: $34.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Twilight Imperium: Shards of the Throne Expansion by FANTASY FLIGHT GAMES

Shards of the Throne is an epic expansion for Twilight Imperium, adding new races, new units, and many new options to create a power struggle in the far reaches of the galaxy. Mercenaries, Mechanized Units, and all-new Flagship units give players more options for customizing their fleets and Ground Forces, while the Political Intrigue option will crank up the agendas and espionage of the political phase. Also adding Race-Specific Technologies, alternate Strategy Cards, new System Tiles, Space Domains, and an all-new scenario that puts one player in control of the legendary Lazax Empire, Shards of the Throne creates a completely new way to wage galactic conquests. "There are no other games like Twilight Imperium. It's a fascinating game of interstellar diplomacy and strategy that captures the imagination from the first turn," Molly Glover, sales associate at Fantasy Flight Games, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2011. 8/29/2011 (Price: $59.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

A Game of Thrones: The Board Game (Second Edition) by FANTASY FLIGHT GAMES

In the second edition of A Game of Thrones: The Board Game, three to six players take on the roles of the great Houses of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, as they vie for control of the Iron Throne through the use of diplomacy and warfare. Based on the best-selling A Song of Ice and Fire series of fantasy novels by George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones is an epic board game in which it will take more than military might to win. Through strategic planning, masterful diplomacy, and clever card play, players spread their influence over Westeros. "Devotees of A Song of Ice and Fire need look no further to get their Westeros fix. This updated edition of the beloved Game of Thrones board game deepens the experience, bringing the intrigue, military might, and cunning of the fight for control of the Iron Throne to players' tables," Molly Glover, sales associate at Fantasy Flight Games, told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 2011. 8/29/2011 (Price: $59.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Deadwood by FANTASY FLIGHT GAMES

Deadwood is a board game of cowboys and control for 2-5 players, and is playable in 1-2 hours. Players control a gang of cowboys and send them into the vulnerable town of Deadwood to control businesses and collect as much money as they can. The player with the most cash at the end of the game is the winner. The 26 possible buildings that can be constructed in Deadwood promise variety in each game. With three possible ways for the game to end, your every decision either to stay at a building, instigate a shootout, or build the railroad can change the course of the game. "This fast-paced, family-friendly game is a winner with anyone who appreciates the Wild West, dueling, and immersive gameplay," Molly Glover, sales associate at Fantasy Flight Games, told TDmonthly. September 2011. 8/29/2011 (Price: $34.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Ticked Off! by R&R GAMES INC.

Ticked Off is a game that gives players the opportunity  to crush and impress their friends with their vast smartitude. Fast, fun and easy to play. 1. Bet on the first category...highest bid sets the mark to beat. 2. Reveal the Mystery Category. Start the timer. 3. Jot down as many answers as you can before the timer goes off. "A whole new twist on party games involving categories and matching answers, plus it comes with a unique 45 second electronic timer! You just gotta get TICKED OFF!" Frank DiLorenzo, president of R&R Games, Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2011. 8/29/2011 (Price: $24.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

1st & Goal by R&R GAMES INC.

Players Roll, Pass and Kick their way to victory in this head to head football game. The game pits two football teams in a classic gridiron match.  Playable by 2-4 players, ‘coaches’ call plays using the cards available in their hands. Yardage gained or lost is determined by the roll of the dice. Strategic play calling makes all the difference... The right offensive play might get a lot of yardage... unless the defense sets up correctly to stop it. Fumbles, interceptions, sacks, penalties, deep passes, breakaway runs... it’s all in here. "This is the most fun football board game in a box AND there will be 6 expansion sets available that allow you to completely customize the game with 24 different teams," Frank DiLorenzo, president of R&R Games, Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: October 2011. 8/29/2011 (Price: $29.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Hide & Seek Safari Junior by R&R GAMES INC.

A plush version of our smash hit Hide & Seek Safari that is especially geared for younger children.  Hidden animal calls out to the child with their own sound while the children race to find it.  New for 2011 are the Panda, Cat, Dog and Cow. It's a "Unique yet simple game that is both a plush friend and an interactive game playable right out of the box," Frank DiLorenzo, president of R&R Games, Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2010.
Awards: 2010 Creative Child Top Toy of the Year; 2010 NAPPA Honors 8/29/2011 (Price: $34.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]