Games Time!
Caroline Kennedy -- Gifts and Dec, 4/1/2011 3:01:53 AM
Playing games as a form of entertainment and social interaction never goes out of style, even in an age when technology dominates our individual attention.
The computer, the TV and even most video games and other electronic media tend to draw people into relatively solitary pursuits, even when they are engaged in electronically" conversing" with others. Traditional board and card games, on the other hand, draw people together and provide a lot of good old-fashioned fun.
At last month's Toy Fair, games was one of the stronger categories represented on the show floor and attracting a lot of buyer interest. Among the emerging game trends noted in this year's offerings:
• Games incorporating technology into the play mix, such as Mattel's Uno Roboto.
• Games that stress cooperation among players rather than competition, such as Ravensburger's Whoowasit?, which also incorporates technology.
• Online games and apps being adapted to physical games, such as Techno Source's Tetris Link and Mattel's Angry Birds Knock on Wood.
In Chimp and Zee Dinosaur Whirl Game, the player with the most eggs at the end wins. 2- 4 players. Ages 3 and up. $15. Pressman Toy. 732.562.1590. www.pressmantoy.com |
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Whoowasit, a "who done it" game, combines a board game play with an electronic feature and encourages cooperation among players. 2-4 players. Ages 7+. Ravensburger. 800.886.1236. www.ravensburger.com |
Farkle Frenzy is a new take on the classic game with a race to the top of the Tower. 2-4 players. Ages 8 and up. Patch Products. 800.524.4263. www.patchproducts.com |
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Tetris Link tabletop strategy game interpreted from the electronic game. 2-4 players. Ages 6+. $19.99. Techno Source. 212.929.5200. www.technosourceusa.com |
Party Gras is a party game encouraging wild and wacky conversations and silly activities to collect the most beads. 4-12 players. Ages teen to adult. About $30. Zobmondo. 800.417.0017. www.zobmondo.com |
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In the Cupcake Game, youngsters spin to get the ingredients to make the cupcake. Age 3-7. $19.95. eeBoo. 212.222.0823. www.eeboo.com |
I Spy Spectacular Game is a threelevel spinner matching game with many ways to play. For ages 5 and up. Briarpatch Inc. 973.376.7002. www.briarpatch.com |
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The Game Of Life It's a Dog's Life Edition is a canine adaptation of the classic game. Ages: 8+. 2-5 players. $19.95. Winning Moves. 978.777.7464. www.winning-moves.com |
There were many new game concepts from the fertile minds of game inventors introduced, and buyers were encouraged to stop, sit and play a while - a very good way to sell a game!
In addition, there were also many versions, updates and adaptations of popular classics: Farkel, Life, Monopoly and Scrabble, to name a few. These popular games have brought many generations hours of fun and will continue to do so far into the future. What makes them a success is that they are well designed and never truly get old or outdated; they also are always stimulating and challenging. Whether in their traditional form or in an updated version, they will continue to appeal to young and old alike. And if new game inventors/ designers have done their jobs right, some of the newly invented games that debuted will join the ranks of classics over time.
PLAY TO SELL
When it comes to selling games in your store, being knowledgeable about how each game is played is one of the keys to making the sale, especially if it is a new game that a customer may not be familiar with. Try to have open samples available and engage customers with a demo of play. This is a strategy that builds customer relationships and helps to encourage sales. It can work with your customers as well as it did with buyers at Toy Fair.
This works for toy retailer Twirl in Taos, NM, which has a dedicated space where "games live out of their boxes" for kids and customers to learn and play (see Gifts & Decorative Accessories, January 2011 issue).
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