Editor’s Note: This incredible, extensive report on the International Toy Fair in New York in February is shown here with the permission of it’s author, Herb Levy, who published it in his own “Gamers Alliance,” an online newsletter. Gamers Alliance has been spreading the news of what’s happening and what’s new in the game world for over 25 years. (For years, Herb and I would meet for lunch at Toy Fair, and meet with Sid Sackson for one of the few times that he would take a break and just sit and chat.) I thank Herb for all the information below, which is made easily available (and very searchable) to visitors to this site. But you should really see the original on Herb’s Gamers Alliance website, where you can view photographs and have direct links to many of the games previewed. To get to the site, click here, and when you get to Gamers Alliance, click on the “Toy Fair 2011 Report” link.
International Toy Fair 2011
by Herb Levy
Romance took a back seat to toys and games as the annual International Toy Fair launched on Valentine’s Day this year, beginning on February 13 and continuing through the 16th in New York City. Despite WEEKS of snow storms (8 or 9 depending on how you count storms of varying degree over the previous two months), the weather warmed to the event as temperatures cracked 50. (Not warm to our readers in more southern climes but after waking up to temperatures of 6° F one day, this seemed like beach weather! Of course, that was Monday. By Tuesday, temps fell into the 30s again. In New York, February is fickle.) As always, the best part of the fair is connecting and re-connecting with friends, both old and new (you know who you are). But for the majority of our readers, the focus is on games. So here is our comprehensive view and YOUR advanced peek at what’s new and planned for the year ahead. Where available, we’ve included brief descriptions, number of players, game length and suggested retail price. Critical commentary and evaluations are reserved for upcoming issues of GA REPORT. Now let’s get down to it (in alphabetical order)!
ALLIANCE GAME DISTRIBUTION – This company is now distributing a World War II wargame done by Zvezda, a Russian game company. The game is called World War II: Barbarossa 1941. The game uses a variable game board and terrain and offers several scenarios and tactical missions for players. The look of the game is enhanced by using 3D plastic playing pieces. March release. $69.95. Expansion packs for the game consisting of additional airplanes and the like are priced at only $3.95 each.
ASMODEE – New and upcoming releases on display include:
7 Wonders – The reprinted edition of this runaway hit (featured in the Winter 2011 issue of Gamers Alliance Report) will be available in March. Also scheduled, the first expansion for 7 Wonders which will add “character cards” to the mix. (These cards get added to the decks and another type is removed to maintain the numbers of cards in play.) August release.
Dixit Odyssey – Follow-up to the Spiel des Jahres winner Dixit which allows up to 12 people to play. July release, $34.95
ASTUTE GAMES – Dabong! – Souped up version of UNO with lots of additional powers given to the cards found in the 55 card deck which includes suits in Fire, Air, Earth and Water and 3 Shaman cards. Be the first to go out by having played all your cards – and call out “Dabong!” – to win.
BLUE ORANGE GAMES – Several new games on display including:
Dragon Face – 2 player strategy game. Each player has 1 Emperor, 6 Ambassadors and 17 Governors. The Emperor moves like a King in chess, Ambassadors like rooks and Governors like pawns. When jumping over a piece, that piece FLIPS and joins YOUR side. Jump outside the main area onto the perimeter and your piece is lost. Get one of your pieces to the enemy back row and you can get that lost piece back! Lock in the enemy Emperor to win! For ages 8 to adult, 20 minutes.
Spell It! – Roll five letter dice and be the first to call out and spell a word related to the given theme using at least 3 of the 5 letters rolled. Get a chip which gives you another theme to play. For 2 to 6 players, ages 8 to adult, 20 minutes.
Fastrack – Skill and action game. By using the elastic cord in the center of the board, players send disks from one side to another. First to get all of his disks to the other side wins! For 2 players, ages 5 and up, 10 minutes.
Analyze Me! – Party game where you make educated guesses about the likes and dislikes of your fellow players. For 3 to 8 players, ages 18 and up, 5 to 20 minutes.
Trigger! – Party game where players answer “true” or “false” to statements as quickly as possible by slapping the target using their left hand for True and their right hand for False. What makes this difficult is that the statements can be bizarre. (Example: Groundhogs have teeth or Cows drink milk.) For 3 to 8 players, ages 8 to adult, 20 minutes.
COLDING ENTERPRISES – Cinematic Memories – New movie trivia game for 2 to 6 players, ages 14 and up.
DAYS OF WONDER – On display was Cargo Noir. Game play in Cargo Noir revolves around a changing set of notorious smuggling ports – Hong Kong, Bombay, Rotterdam, Panama, Tanger, Rio, Cape Town, New York and Macao – that are filled with various types and quantities of contraband. Players dispatch cargo ships loaded with gold to the ports that hold cargo they desire – hoping that it will be enough to snatch the goods away from any opponents. The acquired goods are then stored in the player’s warehouses until enough is accumulated to create valuable combinations to trade away for Victory Spoils. Serge Laget design. Cargo Noir is for 2 to 5 players, ages 8 and above. $50/€45 and it’s expected to be available in both North American and Europe in late March or early April.
DESTINA GAMES – WiseMoney – Two to four teams of travel around the board to learn about banking, investing, budgeting, payday, financial responsibility, financing, credit and identity protection. For ages 13 and up. $34.95.
DOEKAI GAMES – Doekai – Fast action card game for 3 to 8 players. Cards represents different clans. Played along the lines of Pit, players begin with a hand of cards and simultaneously offer cards in trade to attempt to get a complete set of a particular clan. First player to do so, claims a token. Get three tokens and you win. September release. $19.95.
ENDLESS GAMES – 50th Anniversary Password – Commemorative edition of the classic TV game show. To be issued in a gold box showing photos of Allen Ludden, the original host, and his wife (and celebrity guest player on the show), Betty White.
FAMILY GAMES – Plans are underway to convert the abstract tile matching game Tantrix (featured in the Fall 1995 issue of Gamers Alliance Report) into a boardgame format under the titles of Tantix: The Game and Tantrix Match. Planned for late 2011 release.
FIND IT GAMES – Celtic Challenge – This is an abstract game played on a hardwood board using 45 tiles bearing traditional Celtic symbols. The goal is to match symbols to remove all the tiles from the board. For 1 or 2 players, ages 8 and up, playing time of less than 20 minutes, $40; Oh Really! – Party game where players rank random items on the basis of their own priorities. For 3 to 8 players or teams, $20.
FLAGGO – Flaggo! – Trivial Pursuit meets Monopoly as players travel around the world answering questions covering wide-ranging subjects such as geography, history, arts, sports, architecture, science, literature and more. For 2 to 6 players, ages 12 and up. $29.99.
FOXMIND – On display:
Fauna – Embark on a journey around the world and make educated guesses (and bets) to get points. Designed by Friedemann Friese. For 2 to 6 players, ages 10 and up, 45-60 minutes, $45.
Taiga – A card is drawn showing an animal. There is a bunch of two sided animal disks. Players try to remember and deduce where the four animals of the matching drawn card can be found. For 2 to 6 players, ages 6 and up, 15-20 minutes; $24.95.
Paradisio – Tiles display idyllic scenes of land and sea and players attempt to link them together in a limited grid. Lose if you’re unable to make a legal placement! For 1 or 2 players, ages 7 and up, 10-15 minutes; $24.95.
Four in a Square – Players place colored balls onto the 3 x 3 grid to make a square of four balls in your color to win. But you can also MOVE part of the grid on your turn to change alignments! For 2 players, ages 7 and up, 10-20 minutes; price TBA.
FUN Q GAMES – Smash or Trash – Players make up NEW lyrics to hit songs. For 3 to 8 players, ages 8 and up. Triplica – Players have a “secret goal” and need to place cards in a line-up to create a line-up of 3 in a row of their secret shape to score a goal. First to score five goals wins! Also comes with a solitaire version. For 1 to 6 players, ages 7 and up. Befuzzled – Players take turns flipping over cards which show different shapes. Each card is matched to a different action. Be the first to complete the correct action to win the card. Player with the most cards wins! Spring release. About $30.
GAMEWRIGHT – Among the games on display:
Flip Out – Reworked, reissue of Patchwork (Spring 2010 GA REPORT). Switch, flip and swap colorful two-sided cards to get at least four of a kind on your rack. For 2 to 5 players, ages 8 and up, 15 minutes; $19.99.
City Square Off – Two player tactical game of city planning. Players place a starting piece anywhere on their vacant grid. Them, a shape card is drawn and both players must fit that piece into the grid. As cards are drawn and pieces placed, placement becomes more difficult. The first player unable to place the necessary piece will lose. For ages 8 and up, 15 minutes. $19.99.
GUBS – Whimsical card game that casts you in epic contest to build the mightiest Gub colony. Card play allows you to seek wisdom from The Esteemed Elder or protection from a Toad Rider as you fend off a lots of traps, lures, and surprising events. 70 cards and instructions packed in a deluxe tin box. For 2 to 6 players, ages 10 and up, about 20 minutes; $11.99.
Who Would Win? – Party game of improbably celebrity matchups. Players draw celebrity cards and then a random event. Who would win a pie-eating contest? Albert Einstein or Marilyn Monroe? One player acts as judge to decide. Get the most favorable decisions to win the game. For 3 or more players, ages 12 and up, 15 minutes; $9.99.
Joe Name It – Draw a category card and then fill in the blank with the number you rolled. For example, a category card says “Name a movie with ___ sequels” and you roll a 2. Be the first to name something that fits to win this party game. For 2 or more players, ages 12 and up, 15 minutes; $9.99.
GIGAMIC – New games on display included:
Kabaleo – The “board” is a mass of colored pyramid pieces showing one or two rings and each player secretly scores for one color. In turn, players move a piece onto another. Should matching colored pieces by placed together, those pieces are eliminated and removed from play. When all pieces have been played, the player with the color of the most surviving pyramid stacks wins. For 2 to 4 players, ages 8 and up, 10 minutes. $24.95
Cubulus – Abstract game played within a flexible cube. Players take turns inserting a colored ball into the cube to change the order of a complete row. The first player to make a square of his color wins. For 2 to 3 players, ages 8 and up, 20 minutes. $24.95.
Gyges – The object of this wooden abstract game is to move a piece from one side of the board to the opposite side. Pieces are moved by BOTH players but you can only move pieces that are the CLOSEST to you. The height of the piece determines how many spaces it may move (one, two or three spaces) but by landing on another piece, you can “bounce” and increase your movement. For 2 players, ages 8 and up, 15 minutes; $29.95.
GOLIATH – Although previously showcasing many abstract games such as Exago (Spring 2010 GA Report), Rolit and Tayu, the newest game in their lineup is geared toward the younger gamer: Doggie Doo – Action game where players feed and walk their pup and, if he makes a mess, you clean it up! The first to clean up after the dog three times wins! For 2 to 4 players, ages 4 and up.
GRIDDLY GAMES – Mosaic 4 – Four in a row abstract strategy game. On a turn, a player may either place a piece on the 7 x 7 space board OR move a row or column by using the extra board square to push the entire row or column over one space. Get four playing pieces to line up in a row either horizontally, vertically or diagonally to win. For 2 to 4 players, ages 7 and up. $15.95.
HASBRO – As usual, the emphasis was on the mass market so nothing was on display from Wizards of the Coast or Avalon Hill. However, the mass market offerings were plentiful and included:
Ratuki – Card game where, using different number displays including numbers and dice, players race to build piles of cards from 1 to 5. The first player to slam a 5 on top of the pile, shouts “Ratuki!” and wins the cards. The player who collects the most runs of five wins! For 2 to 5 players, ages 7 and up, $9.99
Scrabble Turbo Slam – This card game builds on the original boardgame by adding an electronic timer. Players race to build a chain of four-letter words and be the first to get rid of the cards in their hand. In the Turbo edition, the first player to SLAM gets a special, game-changing card. For 2 to 4 players, ages 8 and up, Spring release, $14.99
The Game of Life: Adventures Card Game – Make your life story bigger and better than your opponents’ with Adventure, Career, Family and Wealth cards. Every new experience means more points and more points means victory! For 2 to 4 players, ages 8 and up, Spring release, $6.99
Pictureka! Card Game: Cars 2 Edition – Movie tie-in to the Disney/Pixar new Cars 2 film. For 2 to 4 players, ages 8 and up, Spring, $9.99
Taboo – Updated version of this adult party game with all new cards, a game-changing die and a different sounding buzzer. For 2 or more players, Fall release, $29.99
Cranium – Updated version with 600 all new question cards added. For 2 or more players, $24.99
Clue: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Edition – A sort of sequel to the 2009 Clue: Harry Potter Edition. This time, a student has vanished somewhere inside Harry Potter’s wizarding -world and players must decipher clues to uncover the secrets and solve the mystery. For 3 to 6 players, ages 9 and up, Spring; $24.99
Monopoly Crazy Cash Edition – Players travel around the board spending Monopoly money and building as many wacky houses and hotels as they can. Catch the cash as it flies from the electronic Crazy Cash machine when you use the Monopoly Bank Card. For 2 to 5 players, ages 5 and up, Spring, $12.99
Monopoly U-Build Edition – This game goes beyond traditional game play and lets players customize their game board using hexagonal property spaces that snap together. During the game, players build skyscrapers, stadiums, hazards and more. Choose the Starter Track for a 30-minute game, or build a Classic Track for a 60-minute game or move on to the Pro or Freestyle tracks for a more challenging game. For 2 to 6 players, ages 8 and up, $19.99.
Ji Ga Zo – Not quite a game but rather a 300 piece puzzle that can be rearranged to create millions of face combinations including images of yourself, your friends, your family, your pets – anything! Ji Ga Zo’s pieces have varying levels of sepia-colored gradations on one side and distinguishing symbols on the other. When the pieces are locked together, any face can be created. For 1 player or more, ages 8 and up, $24.99
HEARTLAND CONSUMER PRODUCTS LLC – Square Shooters – Poker dice game using 9 dice containing a full deck of 54 playing cards (including 2 jokers). The basic game has you draw a card and use up to 3 rolls to match the hand to win chips. Available 3 ways: the basic Blister pack with 9 dice, $7.99; the Basic Set (with dice, chips, game cards and storage pouch), $12.99 and the Deluxe Set (adding a dice cup, 100 more chops and standard playing cards) $19.99.
HOME LANTERN GAMES – S’quarrels – Card game. Players start with a hand of 7 cards, most of which show a number of acorns. Sets of 3 identical acorn cards can be squirreled away into a Storage Pile and a turn ends when a player discards a card to the center pile. Special Action cards can appear and can do things like having all players play a card with high card winning them all, creating a “free for all” for all players to try to “slap” the center pile with the first one doing so gathering up all those cards and even collecting everyone’s hands, reshuffling and redistributing the cards. When the Winter card is drawn from the deck, the round ends and players score for the sets of acorns in his storage pile. (A set of three 1 acorn cards is worth 1 point; a set of three 4 acorn cards is worth 4.) First player to reach a predetermined number of points wins. For 2 to 6 players, ages 7 and up, 20+ minutes; $12.99.
IDENTITY GAMES – Wobble – Skill & action game. Players try to get colored balls into the proper holes by placing chips along the perimeter of an unsteady board. For 1 to 4 players, ages 6 and up. $24.99; iPad levend Gameboard – This electronic/boardgame uses the iPad at the core of the play. The iPad is clicked into the center of the board, then download the app and play. The basic set contains the board and two game board covers which convert the board into a Wildlife board or a Smurf board. (More titles are currently being developed). For 2 to 4 players, ages 6 and up. Fall release, $80.
IMAGINATION – Kalide – Flick your magnetic pucks across the board to score points and repel the pucks of your opponent. For 2 or more players, ages 8 and up, $29.95; Am I Napoleon? – A member of your team places the electronic GUESMO on their head which will reveal a famous name, movie title, animal and the like that the other players can see but that member can’t. Your team tries to help the member guess who or what he is. Guess right and the Guesmo reveals another teaser. Each correct guess helps move your team around the board but time is fleeing as a timer is in play too. First team to reach the finish on the board. wins. For 4 to 16 players, ages 12 and up, $29.95; Prank Call – Spin the spinner to reveal the type of prank call you must make = and then actually dial someone to make it happen. The longer you can keep someone on the line, the more you score. First player around the board wins. For 2 or more players, ages 12 and up, $24.95.
INNOVENTION TOYS – This company showcased the newest edition of Khet now titled Laser Khet 2.0. The board and game pieces have been redesigned, the laser now fires out of a sphinx piece that sits in the corner of the board and the actual size and weight of the game has been reduced as has the retail cost as it now carries a price tag of $39.95.
JAX LTD. – Hit the Habitat Trail – Learn about environmental hazards while discovering ways to help the environment. Players tackle animal or habitat questions on the Knowledge cards with a correct answer gaining you the card. The player with the most won cards at the end of the trail wins the game. For 2 to 6 players, ages 8 and up. (Game instructions in both English and Spanish.) May/June release, about $30.
LCT ENTERPRISES – Woker – Card game combining attributes of word games and poker. The goal is to make the highest scoring words with your cards based on the points associated with each letter. The game can be played in two ways: tally points after each round for words made and the players with the highest score after 10 rounds wins or bet based on modified rules of Draw, Stud and Hold ‘Em with the playing having the most chips after 10 rounds being the victor. $11.95.
LEGO SYSTEMS INC. – Following up their introduction to boardgames last year, the company is introducing these new Lego boardgames:
Ramses Return – A build and play race for the treasure as players test their memory skills to uncover the crystals and grab the treasure while avoiding the mummy and the ancient curse of Ramses. 99 pieces, for 2 to 4 players, ages 7 and up. August release, $14.99
Pirate Plank – Last player standing game where players roll the Lego dice to see if you’re knocking other players off their planks. 122 piece, for 2 to 4 players, ages 7 and up. March release, $14.99.
Ninjago – The evil Skelton General and his guards have invaded the Ninja Fortress. Players need to roll the Lego dice to battle the guards, find the golden weapons and defeat the Skeleton General. 245 pieces, for 2 to 4 players, ages 8 and up. August, $29.99.
LEGO Champion – A “build the track as you race for the finish” game and players need to solve building challenges to win the trophy. 216 pieces, for 3 to 6 players, ages 7 and up, August, $34.99.
Heroica – This is a “build and play” adventure platform featuring four new games which can be played separately or linked together. The four are:
Draida Bay – The Goblin army has seized control of Druida Bay and players must defeat them. 101 pieces, for 2 to 4 players, ages 7 and up. August, $14.99; Waldurk Forest – The Dark Druid is hidden in the ruins of Waldurk Forest, gathering his strength. Players must get past monsters and gain the Chalice of Life. 225 pieces, for 2 to 4 payers, ages 8 and up. August, $19.99; Caverns of Nathuz – The Golden Lord has discovered an ancient artifact and is using it to create an army of monsters. Players must fight their way into the caves to recover the Scepter of Summoning. 217 pieces, for 2 to 4 players, ages 8 and up, August, $19.99; Castle Fortaan – The Goblin King has captured the Castle. Players must defeat them and capture the Helmut of Protection. 304 pieces, for two four players, ages 8 and up, August, $29.99.
LOONEY LABS – Pirate Fluxx – The latest in the line of Fluxx games. This version adds a “Plunder” rule so you can steal Keeper cards from other players and also includes Surprise cards that can be played out of turn to cancel other specific actions. For 2 to 5 players, ages 8 to adult, 5-30 minutes; $16.
MARANDA ENTERPRISES – A new line of beautifully crafted two player wooden abstract games priced at $30 each which includes:
Trappex – The traditional paper/pencil game of Boxes played on a hardwood board with wooden pieces. 2 players, 5-10 minutes, ages 6 and up.
Hexover – A variation of Othello/Reversi. The game is played on a hexagonal board with white and colored areas. First player to get five of their colored disks in a row on the white hexagons with at least one disk on the outside row wins!
Eternas – Circular version of Connect 4 which eliminates the problem of the “board ending” as pieces “wrap around” the playing area.
Abacan – A Nim variant played on an “abacus”-like wooden frame.
Pathagon – Players try to be the first to build a continuous path of adjacent game pieces in their color from one side of the board to the other. (Diagonal connections do NOT count!)
Quadcube – Players construct a 4 x 4 x 4 wooden cube from their identical sets of pieces. If a player can force his opponent to play a game piece outside the cube area, he wins!
MAYFAIR GAMES – Mayfair Games has launched a specialty retailer/mass-market line of games called “Funfair Games”. These games are designed to be lighter in theme than the typical Mayfair game with the goal being to present games more easily accessible to the casual gamer but with solid play value. New games on display under this banner were:
Got ‘Em! – A game of pawn positioning where players try to trap pawns of opposing players using fences. The more fences surrounding a piece, the more spaces it can move. The game includes two ways to play: one which includes a luck factor (on one side of the board); the other using no luck element at all making it a game where the player making the best moves will always win. Zach Weisman design, for 2-4 players, ages 8 and up, 15-30 minutes.
Double Double Dominoes – Earn diamonds by matching up your dominoes over key areas of the game board. Accumulate extra earnings by playing dominoes matching your pawn’s placement on the scoring track! Designed by Jordan Weisman and Seth Johnson. For 2 to 4 players, ages 8 and up, 45-60 minutes.
Catan – The Board Game: Gallery Edition – This version of The Settlers of Catan features double tiles so that set up is easier. For 3 to 4 players, ages 12 and up, 60-90 minutes.
And under the regular Mayfair imprint:
Automobile – Upgraded and beautifully produced new edition of the Martin Wallace design of automobile production at the turn of the 20th Century. For 3 to 5 players, ages 12 and up, 90-120 minutes. $50.
The Struggle for Catan – This card game is the latest edition to The Settlers of Catan game line. Players are factions in the developing and newly-settled Catan. Players manage their resources to build settlements, cities, city improvements, knights and roads for Victory Points or special abilities. But while settlements, cities and city expansions remain under your control, valuable roads and knights change hands. Win by being the first to get 10 Victory Points. Klaus Teuber design. For 2 to 4 players, ages 10 and up, 45-60 minutes; May release, $20.
In related news, the 1830 reissue (with improvements) by Mayfair of the Avalon Hill game of railroads and rail barons was not on display but work on it is on track with mockups of the board and box planned to be ready for display at Gencon this summer followed by the game’s actual release later this year.
Mayfair is also distributing for Academy Games (and had on display) Strike of the Eagle – a wargame on the Polish-Russian War of 1919. A Robert Zak game design. For 2 to 4 players, ages 13 and up, 45 minutes to 3 hours. $65.
McNEILL DESIGNS FOR BRIGHTER MINDS – A new addition for their You’ve Been Sentenced word game, Brain Busters, which adds more challenging words beginning with letters A through L. $7.95.
MENTAL FLOSS – Split Decision – Adult party/trivia game where strange topics are linked together and you have to decide which are which. For example, the topics could be “Who Said It? Mahatma Gandhi or Angelina Jolie?” You’d then be read 3 statements and have to choose who said what. (And it’s harder than you think!) $24.99.
MHR GAMES – Expressio – Choose among 9 activities on the card and make your teammates guess what it is. More difficult activities will earn more points but the more difficult the task, the more time is used up. The goal is to get the most points out of 5 cards before the timer runs out. For 2 to 8 players, ages teens to adult, 30 minutes. $34.95.
MINDTWISTER – A bunch of new games on display including:
Fandooble – Party “push your luck” dice game. Players roll special six-sided dice to gain gold. Roll three dragons and you’ll lose al the gold you’ve gotten that turn. Roll three red dragons and lose all the gold you have! Roll Fandooble (“the thief”) and you can steal gold from the other players! 2 to 6 players, ages 7 and up, 30 minutes. $14.95.
Skateboard Madness – Skateboarding boardgame as players compete to win the X Games Championship in skateboarding. Includes an extensive trivia section on skateboarding. For 2 to 6 players, ages 6 and up, 30-90 minutes.
Colorio – Strategic abstract game. Every round, you remove caps to reveal colors underneath. Reveal 5 of the same color and you are OUT of the game! For 2 to 5 players, ages 8 and up, 10-30 minutes, $30.
Ponder – Strategic race game as players try to get their team of frogs from one side of the pond to other first. For 2 to 4 players, ages 7 and up, 30-345 minutes, $30.
Repello – Abstract game based on the idea that pieces will repel each other. All players start with “The Stack” which is a stack of “Repellers”. Each time you make a move, your stack will leave a Repeller behind where you started so the board will gradually fill. In the game, all objects push each other when they are too close. By moving your stack, a number of spaces (indicated by the board), you will be able to start chain reactions that may spread over the entire board, sending valuable Repellers off the board and into your collection. Gold and Silver Repellers are worth more points that the regular grey. The player beset able to control the chain reactions will win. For 2 to players, ages 8 and up 30-45 minutes, $30.
MINDWARE – New games include:
Skippity – Played on a colorful 10 x 10 board filled with colorful checker-style pieces called “skippers” that come in red, green, yellow, blue and orange. Collect as many sets (NOT individual pieces) of skippers as you can by jumping over colors. Designed by Susan McKinley Ross (designer of Qwirkle, Spring 2007 GA Report). For 2 to 4 players, ages 5 and up, $19.95.
DestiNation USA – Players move around a map of the continental United States using driving cards to collect state chips. Special cards allow you to fly or hit Cruise Control to pick up speed. Designed by Christopher Ross. For 2 to 5 players, ages 8 and up. $24.95.
Color Stix – Players race to arrange their individual set of six multi-color sticks into groups of matching colors before the timer runs out. Each color block is worth 1 point. After scoring, the sticks are passed to the next player until everyone has had a chance to arrange all the different sets of sticks. Player with the highest combined point total wins. Another Susan McKinley Ross design. For 2 to 6 players, ages 5 and up. $19.95.
MORPHOLOGY GAMES – Morphology – Party game for 4 or more players. Players are challenged to provide clues to words using common three dimensional objects such as string, wooden sticks and glass beads. For ages 13 and up, 45-60 minutes, $34.99
NORTH STAR GAMES – Crappy Birthday – Adult party game, Players are dealt a hand of 7 cards and choose one as a “birthday” gift for the player on turn. That player then chooses the “worst gift”. The player who gave that gift gets a point. After two full rounds are played, the player with the most points wins. For 3 to 8 players, ages 8 and up, about 30 minutes; $14.99
OUT OF THE BOX – Three new games this year:
Faux-Cabulary – Word definition game. A wacky definition is read and then players use three random word cubes to construct bizarre new “words” to fit the definition. The “Wordmeister” (judge) chooses the best one. For 3 to 7 players, ages 13 and up. March release, $29.99.
Shake ‘n Take – Each player has a mat with lots of aliens pictured in varying shapes. On turn, a player tries to circle with his marker as many aliens as he can that match the shape he has rolled. In the meantime, the next player shakes the special die (in a “shaker egg”). When an alien appears on that die, the next player snatches the marker right out of the other player’s hand and HIS turn begins. First player to circle all the aliens on his mat wins. For 2 to 8 players, ages 8 and up. $27.99.
Bug Out – Bug cards are spread out and players are dealt hands of Leaf cards. Players race to capture the bugs by covering each Bug card with one of their matching Leaf Cards. First to get rid of all of his Leaf cards wins. For 2 to 6 players, ages 5 and up, September. $9.99.
PATCH PRODUCTS – On display:
Farkle Frenzy – New game adding a twist to the classic Farkle dice game. Now, players roll simultaneously to try to score the most points. Play begins by pressing down on the centerpiece containing a special die that features 5s, 1s, a 2x and a wild. Then players use that common die roll along with their own five dice and race to get the highest score by quickly filing in their own unique Dice Tower. For 2 to 4 players, ages 8 and up.
Love it! Hate It! – Party game where a player reads a scenario card and the other players write down their responses (on a “word balloon” plastic placard using dry-erase markers). The reader then chooses the answer he loves and the answer he hates the most. Each answer chosen earns 1 point for its writer. First player to get 3 Love It points and 3 Hate It points wins! For 3 to 6 players, ages 12 to adult.
Swivel – Abstract game where each player secretly chooses a color. Then, in turn, a colored token is randomly pulled from the bag and placed anywhere on the multi-level board. The goal is to get four of your color in a row – horizontally, vertically or diagonally. Making this a bit trickier is that if you pull a “wild” token from the bag, it can be used as ANY color AND allows you to rotate one of the levels of the board! For 2 to 4 players, ages 7 and up, 10-15 minutes.
PLAYFASTBALL, LLC – Fast Ball – A combination board game/electronic baseball game. The game comes in a home-plate shaped case that includes a nine inch touch screen which shows the plays on screen and keeps a running total of runs, out and innings with a built-in scoring system. For two players or teams, about 20 minutes per game. July 12, 2011 release (the day of this year’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game). $50.
PLAYROOM ENTERTAINMENT – No new entry in their gateway games series that included Portobello Market (featured in the Fall 2007 GA Report), Ilium (Winter 2009 GA Report) and Livingstone (Fall 2009 GA Report). But there was a new card game by Maureen Hiron called Speak Out!. This card game comes in two editions (In the Home and Out and About) and uses 5 languages (English, French, German, Italian and Spanish) and challenges players to match cards while learning a foreign language, $12 each.
QUEEN GAMES – Several new items on display:
In addition to Fresco (featured in the Fall 2010 issue of Gamers Alliance Report) which comes with 3 expansions, more expansion were shown:
Fresco Expansion Modules 4, 5 and 6 (adding the Glaziers, the Wishing Well and the Gold Leaf to the original game) and, the separately boxed, Fresco Expansion Module 7 (adding The Scrolls allowing players to restore the fresco according to the fancies of the bishop to earn bonus points). Other big box games on display included:
Discover India – According to the description: “Travel through this fascinating country and discover the most beautiful places”. Players, as part of a tourist group, travel through the country and tile-by-tile, collect various symbols to build a pattern called “Kolam”. The player who manages to create the longest sequences of these symbols receives the most victory points and wins. A Gunter Cornett design. For 2 to 5 players, ages 8 and up, 30 minutes.
Kairo – Players are traders building their stalls in the Egyptian marketplace of Cairo and try to entice customers with their attractive goods. For 2 to 4 players, ages 10 and up, 60 minutes
Lancaster – Players are powerful lords supporting England’s king in the fight against France while trying to increase influence in Parliament. For 2 to 5 players, ages 10 and up, 60 minutes.
R&R GAMES – Two new games on display:
Pigskin – Dice rolling football game. Players have sets of offensive and defensive cards which they play against each other. Cards played are cross-referenced to determine the dice to be rolled to determine the outcome (which is then charted on the football field board). There are 10 dice in all to cover all the possibilities of a regular game including penalties and breakaways for long gains. For 2 to 4 players, ages 13 and up, 60 minutes. June/July release. $29.95;
Ticked Off – Category party game. A category card is picked and you and your opponents bid to see how many items that fit that category you can name. High bidder sets the goal to beat. The twist here is that now a second category card is drawn and all other players race to write down as many items that fit EITHER category. Players score for unique answers and for beating the high bid. For 3 to 10 players, ages 13 and up, 45 minutes, $24.95.
RAVENSBURGER – On display:
It’s the 25th year since the publication of Labyrinth and Ravensburger is publishing a Labyrinth Anniversary Edition. This limited edition game comes packaged in a collector tin and includes 12 maze cards with encrypted messages on the back. For ages 8 and up. $29.99.
Whoowasit? – This electronic cooperative game challenges players to find the magical ring that was stolen from the wise king by the evil wizard. Played against a running clock, players move their playing pieces thought the various rooms on the board to uncover clues as to who stole the gem. Along the way, talking animals offer help to solve the mystery. This game has been around since 2008 in Europe (winning the Spiel des Jahres Award for Best Children’s Game in 2008) but this is its first appearance on these shores. For 2 to 4 payers or groups, ages 7 and up.
Not on display but… There is a new game coming for the FITS line: BITS. This will add 3 dimensional shapes to the game play and is another Reiner Knizia design.
RED TAIL INDUSTRIES – Noval – Fast playing card game (using oval shaped cards) requiring players try to be the first to play off their hand of cards (and 3 stacks of randomly placed cards in front of them) onto the stack of cards in the center by playing matching or higher valued cards onto the stack. (Can’t make a legal play? Then you get ALL the cards in the center stack? But the “Burn” card will remove the center stack from play to save you!) For 2 to 4 players, ages 7 to adult, 15-45 minutes, $9.99
RSV PRODUCTS – Scrubble Cube – Word game where the letters decorate the outside of a large cube. Players rotate and twist the letters into place in order to form the best and highest scoring word before time runs out. The next player can make a whole new word or builds a word off yours to score extra points. For 1 to 4 players, ages 8 and up.
SANDSTORM PRODUCTIONS – Sandstorm Productions is a “game industry business resource provider” and was showcasing games from several publishers including:
CLOSET NERD GAMES – Globalization – Build a multi-national super corporation in a game of worldwide economic domination. For 2 to 6 players, ages 12 and up, 60-120 minutes, $39.95; The Target – Party game for up to 12 players as players assume the identities of either a CIA or KGB agent in this Cold War game of deduction. For ages 10 and up, 45-120 minutes; $24.95; Cambria – Area control game set in ancient Britannia as the Roman occupation is coming to a close. Players seek to surround and capture thinly defended Roman forts to win. For 3-5 players, ages 8 and up, 15-30 minutes. May release, $19.95; Hibernia – Four kingdoms wage war in ancient Ireland. 3-4 players, ages 8 and up, 30-45 minutes, July release, $19.95; Balance of Power – Military strategy game set in post-Napoleonic Europe. Players command three classes of pawns: Kings, Generals and Bankers, By moving, duplicating or attacking enemy pawns, players try to build an empire to reach the victory point goals. 2 to 6 players, ages 12 and up, 60-120 minutes, August release, $39.95.
POSTHUMAN STUDIOS – Roleplaying game books sets in the post-apocalyptic world of “transhuman conspiracy and horror” known as Eclipse Phase include: Eclipse Phase: Core Rulebook – 400 page hardcover book (with color). $49.95; Sunward: The Inner System – 192 page hardcover, $39.99; Gatecrashing – Another sourcebook, 200 pages, $44.95 and, upcoming, Volume 1: Habitats, Surveillance, Uplifts – sourcebook on the inner workings of different space habitats, 160 pages, $44.95.
WILDFIRE – Roleplaying game books set in the Cthulhu horror universe include: CthulhuTech Core Book – 288 page hardcover, $49.99; CthulhuTech: Dark Passions – 64 page softcover, $19.99; CthulhuTech:Vade Mecum – 160 page hardcover, $39.99, CthulhuTech:Damnation View, 144 page hardcover $39.99, CthulhuTech:Mortal Remains, 144 page hardcover, $39.99, CthulhuTech: Ancient Enemies, 144 page hardcover $39.99, CthulhuTech:Unveiled Threats, 128 page hardcover $39.99 and later this year: CthulhuTech Burning Horizons 144 page hardcovere $39.99 and CthulhuTech: Dead Gods 144 page hardcover, $39.99.
WILDTHING – Poo: The Card Game – A game where players are monkeys flinging “poo”. 2-8 players, ages 8 and up, 5-15 minutes, $9.95; Nuts! – Card game as players are squirrels trying to gather the most nuts, 2-6 players, ages 13 and up, 5-15 minutes, $9.95; Are you the Cultist? – Lovecraftian themed game based on the traditional Are You the Werewolf? game. For 9 to 25 players, ages 14 and up, 20-60 minutes, release later this year.
GLOWFLY GAMES – Family and educational games including Hecho – Trading and building card game as players are contractors competing for various projects in Spain. For 2 to 6 players, ages 8 and up, 15-30 minutes, $14.95; The Impossible Machine – Players build Rube Goldberg type contraptions to earn points. For 2 to 5 players, ages 7 and up, 10-30 minutes; April, $14.95; Nyms – Party game dealing with words with multiple meanings. For up to 12 players, ages 10 and up, 20-45 minutes, June $24.95; Alphabet Soup – Sudoku style logic puzzle combined with word jumbles. For 2 to 5 players, ages 8 and up, 15-45 minutes, June, $19.95.
SAVE IT, LLC – Save It! – The name of the game refers to the planet as players travel around the globe to fulfill the world’s energy needs while learning about the environmental and economic tradeoffs of generating energy using “clean” technologies (wind, hydro and solar) vs. “dirty” technologies (coal and oil). For 2 to 4 players, ages 12 and up, with a playing time of less than 60 minutes. $30.
SCREEN LIFE – Two new Scene It? games on tap: Scene It?: Harry Potter: The Complete Cinematic Journey – With clips from all 8 Harry Potter films and Scene It? Glee – With clips from the first 3 seasons of the hit TV series. Both scheduled for a Fall release. Also Pirates vs. Zombies Board Game – Boardgame based on the original Planets vs. Zombies computer game designed or the PC and Mac in 2009.
SPONTUNEOUS GAMES INC. – Spontuneous – Players attempt to come up with lyrics (of at least five words) to songs that contain a “trigger” word given by the “Tunesmith”. First player to come up with a correct answer rolls the dice and advances on the board. If the Tunesmith stumps the other players AND proves that he has a correct answer, then he rolls the dice and advances. Landing on a music note results in drawing a chance card that can hurt or help your progress. The Tunesmith position rotates each turn until someone crosses the finish line. For 4 to 10 players, ages 13 to adult, 30-45 minutes; $29.95.
STEVE JACKSON GAMES – A new edition of Awful Green Things from Outer Space is planned with improved components and a mounted board. March/April release, $25. Also upcoming: Munchkin Zombies, March release, $25.
STRONGHOLD GAMES – This is a new company building a reputation by bringing back some high demand out of print titles with improved graphics. On display were:
Code 777 – Alex Randolph game of deduction. Players attempt to deduce the three numbers hidden in front of them by seeing the numbers held by the other players and asking the “right” questions drawn from a common stack. $34.95
Survive: Escape from Atlantis – Remake of the Parker Brothers 1982 release of Survive! where players tried to escape from an island about to sink from an erupting volcano. This edition also includes the dice included in the European version of the game known as Escape from Atlantis. $49.95.
Not on display but planned are reissues of Outpost, originally published by TinJim Games (around $50) and Crude aka McMulti ($69.95), both of which are slated for October release.
TECHNO SOURCE – Techno Source and Blue Planet Software have teamed up to produce Tetris Link. This is a tabletop game. Players battle to link colored Tetris pieces into an upright game tower while trying to block their opponents from doing the same. For 2 to 4 players, ages 6 and up, 15-20 minutes. Spring release. $19.99.
TUMBLIN DICE LLC – Deception Dice – Variation of Liar’s Dice which adds a “dice pit” and uses regular six sided dice plus a pair of specialty six-sided dice which change the format of a game turn. Ones on the regular dice are “wild” and will match anything. The specialty dice determine how many dice are at risk of being lost that round and the nature of play (e.g. no wild dice this turn or an extra wild dice will be added to totals or being able to reclaim a lost die from a previous round and more). For 3 to 8 players, ages 10 and up, 35-45 minutes. $39.99.
USAOPOLY – Telestrations – Party game which converts the game of “Telephone” into a drawing/guessing game. For 4 to 8 players, ages 12 and up. $29.99.
WIGGITY BANG – Furt – New party game from the creators of Quelf for 3 to 8 players, ages 8 and up, where players compete to be the first into the mouth of the volcano while, along the way, they are challenged to do things like draw an “invisible jet”, make up a diary entry that includes the words “pussy willow” and “nose hair”, act out the words “holiday sweater”. 60 minute play time. May/June release, $30.
WINNING MOVES – On display:
Big Boggle – Return of the larger Boggle game played that expands play from a four by four grid to the bigger five by five grid. This edition includes a special “Double Letter” cube to make creating longer words easier. For 2 or more players, ages 8 and up; $19.95;
Pass the Pigs Pig Party Edition – Each player tries to be the first to roll the pigs pictured on the card in play. This edition contains four pairs of pigs to use as dice. For 2 to 4 players, ages 8 and up. $15.95.
The Game of Life: It’s a Dog’s Life Edition – The Game of Life played from a dog’s point of view. For 2 to 5 players, ages 8 and up, $19.95.
Tile Lock Scrabble – Classic game of Scrabble played on board that “locks in” your tiles. For 2 to 4 players, ages 8 and up, $19.95.
Flip For It – Family game with a gimmick as the dice are rolled by pressing down on “Flippy” and he flips and lands on his feet with your dice roll. Claim a card that matches the number on either die or their total. For 2-5 players, ages 7 and up, $14.95.
