by Herb Levy

     February, once again, marked the annual International Toy Fair in New York City where toy and game companies showcased new and upcoming offerings. Braving a record snowstorm (26.9 inches of the white stuff fell in Central Park making this the biggest snowstorm in New York City history!), Gamers Alliance was there to check it out. 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. We'll save the critical commentary and evaluations for upcoming issues of GA REPORT. (And if you're not reading GA REPORT, you're missing the best written and most insightful reviews around! You are invited to correct that oversight right now and join Gamers Alliance today!)

   Now let's get down to it (in alphabetical order)!

B.I.P. LIMITED - Bahcheck - Two player backgammon type race game. Players try to get their six pieces from their side of the board to the other while trying to avoid the Strike Zone which makes them vulnerable to being transported back to start. $39. (www.bahcheck.com)

DEFLEXTION - Deflextion, their two player abstract game, showcased last year returns with a product expansion pack. In the standard game, each player moves his Egyptian-themed pieces around the playing field and, after each move, fire their low powered laser diode. The goal is to illuminate and thereby eliminate their opponent's pieces from the game. The expansion will add new pieces that split the beam (to illuminate TWO and even THREE pieces at once) as well as a random bounce piece. (www.deflexion.biz)

EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS (www.educationalinsights.com) - New releases include:

   Blokus Trigon - Newest addition to the Blokus (Fall 2002 GA REPORT) family. Instead of the usual square pieces, Trigon pieces are made of one to six triangles and must be fitted, tip to tip, on a hexagonal game board. 2 to 4 players, $29.99

   Flip-Tac-Toe - The goal is to get three of the same color chips in a row but, unlike traditional tic-tac-toe, players move the pieces around, stack them (to a maximum of four pieces) and flip over stacks. $19.99

   Spectrangle - Originally published by Jumbo and Spears in Europe. Two to four players or teams choose four multi-colored and numbered game pieces called "trangs" and take turns placing them on a triangular board. New trangs must be placed adjacent to another piece so the sides are touching. Players score the face value of their trang piece times the number of matching sides times any bonus points earned by placing on certain spaces. $24.99

   TetraTrax - Two players slip puzzle tiles of varying shapes down a transparent tower and score a point for every opposing tile their tile touches - and lose a point for any open spaces created. $24.99. 

   Trapture - Play starts with purple pegs on the board. Each player, in turn, places one of his 12 "crooked" plastic pieces (called "squiggles") onto the board, touching any of his other pieces. The object is to capture (or "trapture") a peg by surrounding it on at least four of its six sides. $24.99

ENDLESS GAMES - Two DVD game versions of classic TV game shows: Match Game DVD Edition and Password DVD Edition (each $24.99). Plus Open Season, a boardgame based on the upcoming animated film featuring the voices of Martin Lawrence, Ashton Kutcher and Debra Messing. For ages 5 and up, Fall release, $19.99.

FACE TO FACE GAMES - Upcoming releases include THREE Reiner Knizia games: Winner's Circle - remake of Knizia's horseracing game Royal Turf (2-6 players, ages 10 and up, 45 minutes, April, $35), Dragon's Secret (formally called Schatz der Drachen, aimed at children ages 5 and up, Summer, $25) and Genesis (an original design where players are giant reptiles, dangerous dinosaurs, powerful mammals or cunning humans in a barren world with all fighting to establish dominance, Summer release). The previously announced Wizard's Brew by Alan Moon (a remake of his Das Amulet, Summer 2001 GA REPORT) is promised for October/November release.        

FRONT PORCH CLASSICS - New for 2006: 

   Liar's Dice - New edition of dice game classic. Comes in a wooden box with four shakers and four sets of five dice. For 2 to 4 players, ages 8 to adult, $29. 

   Boneyard Dominoes - Comes with rules for Block & Draw and Mexican Train. Packed in a wooden box. For 2 to 4 players, ages 8 to adult, about $30. 

   Word Spot Bookshelf Edition - Players try to find hidden words among an arranged set of lettered tiles. 2 to 4 players, ages 8 to adult, about $50. 

   League of Pirates - Two players compete to place the best pirates on their respective ships as they "recruit", "press gang" and "raid" for the pirates they need. For ages 8 to adult, about $25.

   Raceway 57 Bookshelf Edition - Players roll dice or play a card to move their classic cars around the track while managing their fuel, tires and suspensions. For 2 to 5 players, ages 8 to adult, about $50.

FUNDEX GAMES - Highrise - Vertical dominoes. Players match their dominoes which creating a high rise building: taller the building, the more points scored. Special Wild dominoes and spacers add to the play. Game includes a rotating game base and is packed in a special tin. For 2 to 4 players, ages 8 and up. $29.99

   8½ - Card game where players race to get rid of their cards by making runs in numerical order. Special cards such as Ghost and ½ change the run. 2 to 5 players, ages 8 and up, $6.99.

GAMEWRIGHT - Luck of the Draw - One of 210 subject cards is drawn and 3 to 8 players scramble to scribble a mini masterpiece in 45 seconds. Then players vote on whose drawing best fits one of 100 possible categories (neatest? most likely to hang on a refrigerator? etc.) You don't have to be able to draw, just be able to get the most votes to win! For ages 10 to adult, about 30 minutes, $19.99.

GIDDY GOOSE 'N' GANDER GAMES - Piratack - Pirate game where players begin as captains of ships trading cargo in order to increase their cannon strength. They then become pirates and attack each other to become Piratitan, the last surviving pirate. For 2 to 6 players, ages 8 and up, $35. (PO Box 10, Annandale, NJ 08801) 

GT2 FUN & GAMES INC. - Xig: The Four Elements - A puzzle/board game using "puzzle game cards" that snap together to form pathways. Players vie to complete their paths hindered by opponents forcing played cards into "memory piles". Base game contains two pathways - Earth and Water ($26.95); Expansions for Fire and Air are also available ($14.95 each). For 2-4 players, ages 8 and up, 30-60 minutes.

HASBRO - Lots of stuff coming out under the various imprints including:

   AVALON HILL

        Rocketville - A new Richard Garfield design. Each player is a candidate vying to become mayor of Rocketville, a city set in a campy retro science-fiction future. Each turn, candidates travel to different precincts, making promises and garnering popularity points. The most "popular" player at game's end wins. Space age politics in a Euro style. 3 to 5 players, March, $35.

        Axis & Allies: Battle of the Bulge - Designed by Larry Harris, creator of the original Axis & Allies game. An elaborate, campaign-level boardgame recreating Germany's last major offensive of World War II. Contains over 300 individual components. 2-3 players. $45. 

         Axis & Allies Collectible Miniatures Game - Two expansions, each featuring nine randomized, pre-painted, historically accurate miniatures in 15mm scale with varying degrees of rarity: Axis & Allies: Contested Skies - Expansion adding aircraft (Mustangs,  Zeros and Stukas) to the A&A CMG system (March, $14.99) and D-Day - Expansion highlighting units and nations involved in Operation Overlord including Canadian troops plus the introduction of battlefield obstacles (pillboxes, tank traps etc.). June, $14.99. 

        Axis & Allies Mini Starter Set - For use with the A&A CMG. All the miniatures you need need to lead your squad into combat.  August, $24.99. 

   HASBRO GAMES (along with PARKER BROTHERS & MILTON BRADLEY)

     Clue DVD Game - The animated Butler and Inspector characters guide you through game play. Use the DVD to get clues to solve 12 mysteries. Interesting changes here. It's a theft not a murder to investigate, two new categories of clues and two new suspects - Princess Azure and Mrs. Meadowbrook. May, $29.99.

        Monopoly Here and Now -  A Monopoly makeover as America votes on what goes on the board. More information to be forthcoming. Fall, $29.99.

        Trivial Pursuit Totally 80's Edition - Pop culture-based edition of the events of the 80s. The game includes four collectable tokens - The Trapper Keeper, Compact Disc, Care Bear, and Rubik's Cube - and 2400 questions on Music, Movies, TV, Headlines and Sports & Leisure (and Wild Card). May, $34.99  

        Trivial Pursuit DVD for Kids - DVD edition. May $19.95

            Yahtzee Turbo - Variation on the classic dice game. Turn a card, now roll until your dice match the pattern on the card. June, $19.99

         Boxers or Briefs - In turn, each player is in the hot seat while friends describe him with odd and wacky statements provided by game cards. More than 2,000 cards in the game. For ages 13 and up, June, $15.96.

         The Big Taboo Game -  Contains four fun Taboo challenges – 15 Words, Draw It, Pose It, and regular Taboo. Fall. $24.99.

          Heroscape Castle Expansion Set - Contains more than 100 terrain tile pieces, four ladders and a door to the fortress of Archkyne. Summer, $29.99

        Heroscape Large Expansion Packs - Heroes of Lindesfarme brings new dragons, trolls and other super-size figures to the game. Spring, $19.99

        Heroscape Small Expansion Packs - Zanafor's Discovery adds new characters including Soulborgs, Elves, Greeks & Vipers, Lawmen & Samurai and Heroes of Trollsford.  Spring, $12.99

   WIZARDS OF THE COAST

        Dungeons & Dragons: Basic Game - A new and streamlined edition of the classic roleplaying game. Enhancements include five pre-fabricated adventures, 16 pre-painted figures (4 heroes, 12 monsters), all new character manuals, double-sided map boards and new description sheets. $24.95

      Dungeons & Dragons Miniatures Starter Set - Includes a new "Start Here" rulebook, two miniature figures (Wood Elf and Orc Mauler) and two full-color double-sided maps. March, $12.99

        War Drums Booster Packs - Expansion sets, each containing 8 randomized miniatures. Spring, $12.99. 

        Dungeons & Dragons Icons: Gargantuan Black Dragon - Special limited edition item standing 10 inches tall (on a 4" x 4" base). Comes with a double-sided stat card, full color map and a playable game scenario. Summer, $24.99.

        Dungeons & Dragons Icons: Colossal Red Dragon - Highly detailed, 12 inch tall (on a 6" x 6" base), limited edition miniature. Comes with an oversize stat card, full color map and a playable game scenario. Fall, $74.99.

       Magic, The Gathering Guildpact - Set featuring three new guilds (Izzet, Orzhov and Gruul) with new guild leaders and new, powerful, gold cards (which allow players to create powerful multi-colored decks). Available in 15 card booster packs ($3.69 each), four different 61 card theme decks ($11.29 each), a Fat Pack containing six booster packs, 40 card land pack, the Guildpact novel, lifecounter, player's guide, a random Pro Player card and two card boxes with six dividers ($29.99) Late February.

          Star Wars Miniatures Expansions - Two to be released, both with pre-painted plastic miniatures. Champions of the Force will be released in June; Bounty Hunters in the Fall. $12.99 each.

THE IDEA CORPS. - Reaction: The Game of Molecules - Card game where players compete to be the first to build the most molecules (and score the most points) from the element cards in their hands. For ages 8 and up, April, $12.95/ 

LOONY LABS - Showing two variations on Fluxx (featured in the Summer 1998 GA REPORT) - EcoFluxx with an ecological theme ($12) and Family Fluxx, a smaller, easier and less expensive family-oriented version ($8).  Also plans to revamp the Icehouse series of abstract games into something simpler called Treehouse. This is an entry level game by Andrew Looney for the Icehouse game system containing 15 pyramids in five colors plus a custom die, $9. Plus, coming soon, 3HOUSE, a 24 page rulebook containing three games for three Treehouse sets with a range of difficulty levels. $2.

MAD CAVE BIRD GAMES, LLC - Showcasing ColorKu which is Sudoku done in color. Instead of using numbers from 1 to 9, ColorKu uses nine different colored wooden balls on a large wooden board. Over 100 puzzles to be solved are included with the game. (2003 Argentina Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506; $30)

MAD HATTER TOYS & GAMES - New and upcoming releases include:

   Dragon's Loot - 2-4 players are dragons moving through a magical kingdom on a quest to steal treasure and avoid giving treasure back or being too tired to fly. Be the dragon with the most treasure to win. For ages 7 and up, about 20 minutes. 

   Crosswits - Crossword puzzle party game where the opposing team read a clue and flips over the timer. You and your team have 30 seconds to guess the right answer to keep on going. Complete your crossword to win. 2 or more players, ages 12 and up.  

   Terakh - The Terakh are a race of people on a planet on the brink of extinction. 2-6 players have to make sure their clan survives by stretching the planet's limited resources as well as using magical spells and orbs. For ages 12 and up, $34.95. (www.terakh.com) 

   Identity Crisis - From Laura Robinson, the co-inventor of Balderdash. Two teams compete to identify names of the famous and infamous during three rounds of play with clues getting fewer each round. For 4 or more players, ages 12 and up. 

   Timetripper - Designed by Chris Haney, co-inventor of Trivial Pursuit. Players are challenged to guess the year of important events, pop culture and legendary personalities to earn letters so they can be the first to spell key words (such as Pink Panther or Mellow Yellow) to win. 3-16 players, ages 16 and up, 30-40 minutes.  

MAYFAIR GAMES - In partnership with Amigo Games, Mayfair will be releasing Intrigue, the small boxed edition of the original (large boxed) game by FX Schmid (featured in the Winter 1995 GA REPORT), 3-5 players, ages 12 and up, $20. In addition, Beetlez - where players are bugs searching for food until the light comes on (ages 6 and up, 3-6 players, $20) and Hey! That's My Fish! - where penguins jump across ice floes to hunt fish and leave their opponents stranded. For ages 8 and up, 20 minutes, $25.

MINDTWISTER USA - Pentago: The Mind Twisting Game - Two player abstract played on a nine by nine grid divided into four quadrants. On a turn, you may place a marble and twist a quadrant 90 degrees in any direction. Get five marbles of your color in a row to win. $25 (www.pentago.com)

ON THE LINE GAME COMPANY - Pizza Box Football where two players get to call the plays. Offense can choose between run, short pass and long pass while the opposition sets up the defense. $29.99. The standard game is abstract but 32 team cards of the actual NFL teams based on 2004-2005 statistics, adding extra plays for offense and defense, is available for $19.95. Updated team cards based on 2005-2006 season stats are scheduled for August release, $19.95. (www.pizzaboxfootball.com)

OUT OF THE BOX GAMES - The biggest news from this company is their new partnership arrangement with Rio Grande Games in which Out of the Box will be able to widen distribution of the Rio Grande line. But they are also releasing:

   Abridged - A Maureen Hiron design. Hiron, an internationally ranked Bridge player, has streamlined classic Bridge with colored suits and without the complex bidding conventions. $14.99

   FNAP - Two player abstract game. Players bid to play tiles, one at a time and score in three different ways. Andrew Juell design. $19.99.

   Logomachy - The latest in the Heirloom series. Logomachy is a classic word game and this is a reproduction, packaged in a collectible tin, of one of the first games printed in the USA, first printed in 1874. $14.99.

   Mix Up - Two player strategy game by Maureen Hiron. Get four in a row but while you're playing shapes, your opponent plays colors. For ages 8 to adult, 15-20 minutes, $19.99

   Pantheon - Reiner Knizia design. Players score points by building the biggest, tallest and widest buildings in ancient Rome. This previously announced release is scheduled to finally appear later this year. For 2-4 players, ages 12 to adult, 20-40 minutes, $19.99

   10 Days in Asia - The fourth entry in designer Alan Moon's 10 Days series continues as Asia follows Europe, USA and Africa. For 2-4 players, ages 10 to adult, 20-30 minutes, $19.99.

PATCH - Jeff Foxworthy's You Might be a Redneck If...Game - Based on the comedy of Jeff Foxworthy, players start in their trailer and go through town, collecting "Redneck" things like a "bag o' jerky" and a hound dog to bring back home. First player to collect everything and get back to the trailer wins. For 2 to 4 players, ages 16 and up; Bubble Brain - Players write captions for photos and then try to guess which player wrote which caption. The game includes "bubble stickers" so you can use your own photos. For 4 to 8 players, ages 10 and up. 

PROFESSIONAL GAMES - Lawsuit! - Go through law school, pass the bar and go into the courtroom. Bring lawsuits or defend them, settle or go to trial - and become Attorney of the Year. 2-6 players, ages 6 and up, $29.99. (www.lawsuitgame.com)

R&R GAMES - Two new releases:

   Take Your Best Shot - Each player has three balls, each in a different color. Each round, one player reveals a card with three words on it and reads a question. All other players have to throw the correct COLORED ball into the "Determinator" to score and move ahead on the board. Aaron Weissblum design for 3-5 players, ages 10 and up, June, $24.99.

   Disorder - Players begin to build a word, each playing one word card at a time, either face up or face down (when it can be ANY letter), until someone challenges. Do you have a real word? Or are you bluffing? Frank DiLorenzo design, for 2-6 players, ages 10 and up, June, $15.95.

RUMBA GAMES - The Authentic Da Vinci Dilemma - Players travel around the board gathering Da Vinci puzzle pieces won by answering trivia and solving problems in four categories. Collect all the pieces and win. 2-6 players, ages 14 and up,  Newshound - Trivia game on actual headline news events over the last hundred years. 2-4 players, ages 12 and up. And, in an exclusive distribution agreement with Paul Lamond Games, Rumba will be distributing a new line of Murder Mystery DVD games including Death by Chocolate, The Champagne Murders and Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Silver Bullet. 8-10 players, ages 14 and up.  

SAVITA - Antarctica: Global Warming - Set in the future when no polar ice caps remain. Two to four players battle for control of the remaining land masses in the Antarctica region. For ages 8 and up, March/April, $49. (www.savitagames.com). 

SBG/bEQUAL - The latest edition to their line of games based on the hit TV show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is CSI: Senses. Developed from a concept by series creator Anthony  Zuiker who wrote the six new storylines incorporated into the game. Players use their "vision, hearing, memory, communication skills and IQ" (for example, drawing to communicate etc.) to solve the crimes. The game even includes an actual mini-UV light! Summer release.

SCENARIO SPORTS - Scenario Sports: Football - Players select the game to watch on television, deal out scenario cards evenly and win money if something matching the scenario card held appears during the broadcast. For 2-16 players, ages 8 and up. Also available with card decks covering baseball, basketball, boxing, auto racing, hockey, soccer and golf. $16.95. (www.scenariosports.com)

SCREENLIFE - Following in the footsteps of its Scene It? DVD game (Spring 2003 GA REPORT), new releases include:

   Scene It" Friends Edition - DVD game based on the long running TV comedy. $39.99

   American Idol All Star Challenge DVD Game - Filled with clips from the hit TV series, this game also gives players a chance to sing and dance. (March, $34.95)

   And more Scene It? DVD games are planned for Fall release including Nickelodeon ($39.99), Deluxe Marvel Edition (with Marvel Comics heroes and film clips such as Spider-Man, X-Men and Fantastic Four, $49.99), Banzai (based on the hit Japanese TV show, $29.99), DVD Blast! (three trivia games based on Family Guy, Austin Powers and Survivor, $15.99 each), The OC Super Game Pack ($15.99), NFL Super Game Pack ($19.99), Comedy Super Game Pack (comedy film clips, $19.99), Deluxe James Bond Edition ($49.99) and Disney Super Game Pack ($19.99)

SEVINPOLD - Darkness Falls on Sevinpold - Fantasy adventure game as players unite their Valiants against the power of Darkness. To win, you must unite The Scepter with The Living Throne. $29.99 (www.sevinpold.com) 

SMARTZONE - Hive - New edition of this two player abstract game with a bug theme from 2001. Each player has a set of 11 thick tiles depicting 5 different types of insects, each with their own special way of moving. The goal: capture the enemy queen bee. About $25.  (www.smartzone.com).

TEMPLE GAMES - Polarity - a new edition of the "game of strategy, skill and magnetic force" as players place magnetic discs on the board in order to trap their opponent. Towers (of stacked pieces) score points with the player having the most points winning. $30. Chizo Rising - Chizo is short for "Chinese Zodiac" and is a "collectible tile game". Players play animal tiles and try to win points by collecting sets. Comes in a Starter Set ($16) as well as specially themed two player sets and booster packs. (www.templegames.com)

THINKFUN - Sudoku 5x5 - Play begins with several given numbers on a 5 x 5 grid (instead of the standard 9 x 9 grid). Players must fill in the rest of the grid but each row, column and color-coded region must contain only one instance of each number. The game is magnetized (for easy traveling) and comes with 20 double-sided challenge cards. For ages 8 and up, $9.99.

TRIKING GAMES - Makers of Anachronism, the trading card game, licensed by the History Channel, which pits historical figures - and their various weaponry - against each other. 100 card sets are released quarterly with Set #5 (featuring warriors from the Aztec, Saracen, Spanish and Japanese histories) being released in February. Previous sets included warriors from the Greek, Norse, Japanese, Roman, Briton, Chinese, Egypt, Mongolia, Russian, Persian, Maori and Irish cultures. Future expansions are set to release in May, August and November and will include Amazons, Pirates, Koreans and East Indians as well as more Chinese, Romans and Greeks. Each release features a total of 20 warriors; sixteen in Warrior Packs ($6.99), two more in a head-to-head starter set ($12.99) and two promotional warriors available to tournament winners at conventions and through a redemption program on their website. (www.trikinggames.com)

WINNING MOVES - Bringing back some classics is something this company loves to do. This time around there is Easy Money, the "buy it, build it, get rich quick" game originally published in the 1930s that hasn't been in print since 1956. For 2 to 4 players, ages 8 and up, March, $15.95 and Stay Alive, the classic skill and action game in a travel size edition. Players try to keep their five marbles from falling through the grid. For 2 to 4 players, ages 8 and up, March, $13.95. But there are new games too including:

  Mona Lisa Mysteries. Designed by Phil Orbanes. Players travel back in time to 1911 when the real Mona Lisa painting by Leonardo Da Vinci was stolen in Florence, Italy. Players must determine which painting is the real one and which are forgeries. Players bid to earn appraisals from a cast of "art experts", some legitimate and some not quite so expert. Precious gems are used to influence the market value of expert ratings. For 3 to 5 players, June, $24.95.

   Across Words - Scrabble meets crosswords with an electronic talking host. Players try to solve crossword type clues and drop the correct letter-tile in place before their opponent does. If stuck, the electronic host provides clues. For 2 or more players or teams, ages 13 to adult, April, $29.95.

   25 Words of Less: People, Places and Things Edition - New edition of this party game (featured in the Winter 1997 GA REPORT) where you try to give as few clues as possible for your team to guess the mystery person, place or thing. For 4 or more players, ages 13 and up, March, $19.95.

   Beat the Count - Cards are numbered 1-10 with "Go for It" and "Knockout" cards too. Players count out their cards in number order trying not to play a numbered card that matches the order the card is played. First to play all their cards wins. For 2 to 4 players, ages 7 and up, March, $9.95.