TDmonthly's ToyFair 2006 Preview--Puzzles & Skill Product Category

Puzzibits™ Flexible 3D Puzzle Art™ - Ocean Depths by MANHATTAN TOY

The 150 flexible, interlocking pieces included in this set can be used to create three 3D designs — a turtle, a seahorse and an octopus. ( Watch Video) 1/30/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Spindow© by UNCLE SKUNKLE TOYS, INC.

The spinning wheel strategy game is as simple as checkers, yet as intriguing as chess. The game’s creative design allows players of all ages to spin the color wheel and try to get a winning combination of five across or down. Launch date: September 2008. 1/29/2008 (Price: $54.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Rapid 4® Plastic by UNCLE SKUNKLE TOYS, INC.

The quick connection game involves both luck and strategy. Players take turns dropping marbles through the maze of levers in order to get a winning combination of four marbles in a vertical, horizontal or diagonal. The removal of a fifth marble in a column allows for continuous play and unexpected twists. Launch date: January 2008. 1/29/2008 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Duck O's and X's by Russimco Limited

This game of X’s and O’s is intended for two players. The game comes with a 15cm x 15cm wooden board and wooden ducks. Sheep and snail versions are also available. 1/29/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Tweedledum and Tweedledee by Russimco Limited

The two-player game tests both dexterity and patience. The challenge is to find out how quickly the two 16cm characters can be taken apart and put back together using only chopsticks. This item is part of Russimco Limited’s Ecotronic line, a line of electronic toys that doesn’t require batteries. Launch date: 2008. 1/29/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Rubik's Icon by WINNING MOVES GAMES

This sleeker version of the original Rubik’s cube plays like the original, but features cubes in black, silver and white.
— “Right now, all kinds of Rubik’s Cubes are great,” Co-owner Jay Demircift of Puzzle Zoo said in early 2008 of this best-seller in his stores. 1/29/2008 (Price: $14.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Deluxe Pente by WINNING MOVES GAMES

This new edition of the classic 80's game includes updated graphics, new stone colors and special rules. The game comes with four sets of colorful stones, four velour drawstring stone bags and a board that rolls up to fit in a travel tube. Players must arrange five stones in a row or capture ten of their opponents’ stones to win. 1/29/2008 (Price: $25.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Julie Frame Puzzles by AMERICAN GIRL LLC

The puzzle set includes three full-color puzzles featuring scenes from stories about nine-year-old Julie Albright, who lives in 1970s San Francisco. When assembled, the puzzles can be framed in the included oval frame and displayed. 1/18/2008 (Price: $9.99)

Puzzibits Prehistoric Predators by MANHATTAN TOY

Kids can create an alligator, a shark or a T-Rex in 3D puppet form with this 450-piece set. Each set offers three different design projects from simple to complex. The puzzle pieces are flexible, hexagonal and interlocking, allowing kids to be as creative as possible. A completion guide is also included for kids who wish to create the pre-determined projects. Launch date: January 2008.
— This construction toy has been a best seller for a year at The Parent-Teacher Store & Toys Too in Louisville, Ky., Owner Kimberly Kopatz reported in fall 2009. 1/8/2008 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Crash Cribbage by ABLEKANE ENTERPRISES

This twist on cribbage uses the same basic card play as traditinal Cribbage, but enables the score pegs to interact on one shared score track. Players gain or lose points when their pegs are "crashed" into by an opponent.
— “Cribbage lovers have the benefit of having a traditional cribbage board right on the back of Crash Cribbage so there is no-risk at all in purchasing our product, Joe Kane of Abelkane Enterprises told TDmonthly. Additionally, the board is “made from high-quality hard wood…[allowing it to] last for generations to come.” 1/2/2008 (Price: $24.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Puzzle Frame-It by BUFFALO GAMES INC.

The Puzzle Frame-It is a quick and easy solution to framing completed puzzles. The set includes 108 inches of flexible framing solutions — enough materials to frame two 300- or 500-piece puzzles or one 1,000-piece puzzle. Launch date: January 1, 2008.
— “The one quality that sets this product apart from all others is the ease and convenience of use,” Christopher Thorpe, manager of product marketing and public relations at Buffalo Games Inc., told TDmonthly. “The frame material clamps onto the puzzle holding it firmly in place and only requires scissors for a fine mitered edge.” 12/28/2007 (Price: $8.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Ball of Whacks - Multi-Colored Edition by CREATIVE WHACK COMPANY

The new Ball of Whacks features six brilliantly contrasting colors, creating 30 magnetic pyramids that can be arranged into a multitude of shapes and mosaics. Additionally, the pieces can be configured according to the included color-design challenges for even more brain-teasing fun. Launch date: February 2008.
— “Unlike most brain-teasers or puzzles, there are no wrong ways to play with the Ball of Whacks,” Creative Whack Company Communications Director Lynn Araujo told TDmonthly. “Every time you pick it up, you'll be inspired to find new ways to play with it.”
— The Ball of Whacks is a best seller at Kazoodles in Vancouver, Wash., Co-owner Mary Sisson told TDmonthly in early 2008.

Past Videos:
ASTRA 2008 ( Watch Video) 12/28/2007 (Price: $35.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

CubeEdu by elogIQ

The game is played by matching colors on all sides of the cube. Along the way, players must determine how many and which color squares each face must have alone and in common with adjacent faces.
— “This puzzle enhances logic and mathematical thinking,” elogIQ Educational Marketing Manager Ayala Rom told TDmonthly. 12/28/2007 (Price: $9.00)

Tic - Tac - Ku by MAD CAVE BIRD GAMES LLC

This is an all-new game with a great twist on an old favorite. It features a solid wood playing board and 81 marbles in two colors, taking tic-tac-toe to a new level of fun, skill and strategy. Played on a nine-square board, your play dictates where your opponent(s) can play. It is for two or four players, and the person or team that captures five ( or the majority) of squares wins. 12/20/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

ColorKu Expansion Puzzle Packs by MAD CAVE BIRD GAMES LLC

NEW!  ColorKu expansion puzzle card packs now available in three great ways.  Each new pack contains 104 all new puzzle cards and a solutions book.  Pack 1 contains all easy/beginner level puzzles; Pack 2 contains all advanced/more difficult puzzles, and Pack 3 contains puzzle cards in all five levels of difficulty.  Sugg retail:  $9.95 12/20/2007 (Price: $9.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Build a Robot Spinner Game by eeBoo corp.

Kids construct a 2D robot, piece by piece, according to the where the arrow on the spinner lands. The spinner game features colorful illustrations by Saxton Freymann. Launch date: January 1, 2008. 12/19/2007 (Price: $15.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

North Pole Camouflage by EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS INC.

Using snow and ice to camouflage the polar bear and blue water to conceal the whale and fish, players arrange and rearrange six transparent puzzle pieces so that the animals are camouflaged in their correct environments. The single-player game gets progressively more difficult after each game, with four levels of difficulty. Puzzle pieces and cards store in the game board’s pull-out drawer, making this the perfect on-the-go game. The game comes with a game board, 48 challenging puzzle cards, six puzzle pieces and a solution book.
— Camouflage is a highly popular game at Evan’s Toy Shoppe in Hamden, Conn. Owner Lori Hershman told TDmonthly in December 2007 that they sold “close to 300” in a single month. 12/13/2007 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Tylz! by ENGINUITY GAMES

The game sharpens abstract thinking and spatial-relations skills by asking players to place magnetic tiles on a board, matching as many color edges as possible. As the game progresses, the board becomes a colorful mosaic and scoring points becomes more challenging. The game includes 80 magnetic tiles. The game is “fully magnetic, including the scoring markers - no paper or pencil needed,” Andy Daniel, president of Enginuity Games LLC, told TDmonthly. This product is a 2007 Parent’s Choice Award winner. Launch date: September 15, 2007. 12/7/2007 (Price: $24.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Arranging Game Paletti by HABA USA/HABERMAASS CORP.

Who makes which pattern where? Paletti is just the thing. Shapes in three different depths makes for unusual relief effects. 36 pieces. Made of beechwood. Frame approx. 10" x 10". 12/7/2007 (Price: $40.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Flower Fairies Magnetic Puzzle by HABA USA/HABERMAASS CORP.

A good first introduction for making real jigsaw puzzles. The magnetic jigsaw pieces adhere to the base. Suitable for travel and wall art! Includes nine pieces and wooden frame board (8" x 8"). MSRP $12.00. Available in three styles: Flower Fairies, Pirate's Ship, and Fire Brigade. 12/7/2007 (Price: $12.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Eiffel Tower blueprint (medium) by TOYSMITH

Amazing three-dimensional replica of the Eiffel Tower with finished size of 3 feet high by over 2 feet wide. Thirty-two pieces, blue print instructions included. Also included is a fact file on the historical building. Other historical buildings/sites/items available include Empire State Building, Golden Gate Bridge and dinosaurs. 12/7/2007 (Price: $44.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Chocolate Fix™ by THINKFUN

This game of deductive reasoning involves life-like candy play pieces. Players examine all the clues on the cards before making a move. Once they discover where to put a chocolate piece, they combine this knowledge with the clues to learn more information. Some clues give exact or possible locations, while others just give you the token color or shape. Narrow down all of the possibilities to fill each candy assortment. Challenges range from beginner to expert. Awards: TDmonthly Top Toy 2008.

Where to Buy: Rocking Horse Toy Store; Berkira

( Watch Video) 12/5/2007 (Price: $16.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Illuminated W.O.R.D. by TECHNO SOURCE

Play Word Search, Text Tumbler, Letter Train and Alpha-Mixer all on a hand-held, fully illuminated touch screen device. The games feature multiple levels, varying skill levels, animation and sound effects. This product is a 2008 iParenting Media Award winner. Launch date: Fall 2007. 12/5/2007 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Realistic 3D Plastic Puzzles by INCREDIPUZZLE

Incredipuzzles are three-dimensional plastic puzzles that resemble the object they are designed to represent. The puzzles are made of durable plastic so they can be handled without falling apart and can be assembled many times. Launch date: November 2004. 11/30/2007 (Price: $12.95)

Pirate's Life Jigsaw Puzzle - Blackbeard's Revenge by CHANNEL CRAFT & DISTRIBUTION INC.

The puzzle is designed by “Morgan’s Rum Artist,” Don Maitz. When completed, the 550-piece puzzle measures 18” x 24”. 11/14/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]