Holiday Preview - Puzzles & Skill

Landmarks and Wooden Designs Have All the Right Pieces

By TDmonthly Staff
May 2009

From glow-in-the-dark puzzles and wooden configurations for kids, to a premium, light-up Rubik’s Cube (from Techno Source) and a cityscape that’ll give teens a history lesson, various traditional puzzles and skill-training models are ready to be wrapped up for holiday sales.

Tricky Toy by TRICKY TOY

Created by independent Peruvian inventor SAMUEL BELLIDO, Tricky Toy is a new puzzle designed using a transparent box with small cubes showing different figures and colors inside. There is an empty space that allows the small cubes to shift one at a time. The objective is to build various combination of figures that players choose. 4/3/2009 (Age: 7 and Up)

Orchard Toys - Big Fire Engine Puzzle by THE ORIGINAL TOY COMPANY

Made in England, this colorful, 20-piece fire truck puzzle features firefighters preparing for action. It measures 17" x 25" when assembled. 4/2/2009 (MSRP: $20.00; Age: 3 to 6)

Rolling Earth Puzzle Bank by FASCINATIONS

Rolling Earth Puzzle Bank by FASCINATIONS The base of the Rolling Earth Puzzle Bank is a savings bank with a screw-on cover. The Earth Globe is a puzzle. Place the globe on the base and nothing happens; however, place the magnetic jet airliner on the equator and the globe begins to turn as the jet circumnavigates the Globe. It runs on 4 AA batteries and comes assorted with light blue and dark blue globes. "People will be amazed by the simplistic magnetic science that makes the Earth turn. The motion is mesmerizing as the plane moves around the globe," Richard B. Freeman, VP of domestic sales for Fascinations Toys & Gifts, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2009. ( Watch Video) 3/31/2009 (MSRP: $19.99; Age: 8 and Up)

Bottoms Up Tavern Puzzle by TUCKER-JONES HOUSE INC.

The object of this double-play puzzle is to remove the ring. It can be solved in one way, then turned over, hanging vertically, to be solved differently. Launch date: 2009. 3/16/2009 (MSRP: $22.00)

PlayGlo Pets Collection Glow-in-the-Dark puzzles by BRIGHTEC INC.

Brightec’s PlayGlo Pets Collection puzzles feature three 11” x 15”, 100 piece puzzles. These glow-in-the-dark puzzles feature photo-quality images and can be charged with a few minutes of exposure to light to allow for hours of glow. The puzzle pieces stay together after completion so that the completed puzzle can be hung directly on a wall to provide instant room décor by day and night. ( Watch Video) 2/16/2009 (MSRP: $9.99)

4D Cityscape - New York City by CITYSCAPE 4D PUZZLE

4D Cityscape - New York City by CITYSCAPE 4D PUZZLE This 4D time puzzle of New York City includes 765 pieces and challenges participants to build a base map from 640 pieces as they learn about city streets, museums and more. Then, they continue to build the city by adding buildings and skycrapers as they are numbered in the included booklet, which details the city's evolution from 1812 to 2013. Launch date: February 2009. 2/15/2009 (MSRP: $45.00; Age: 15 and Up)

36 Cube by THINKFUN

36 Cube by THINKFUN Game play starts by removing the towers from the base. The goal is to place the towers following two simple rules: there must be only one of each colored tower in every row and column, and the towers must fit into the base to form a perfect cube, with all the towers being the same height. Launch date: November 19, 2008. ( Watch Video) 2/10/2009 (MSRP: $24.99; Age: 8 and Up)

P'kolino 10 Ring Puzzle Stacker by P'KOLINO

P’kolino’s Puzzle Stacker increases the play value of the classic stacker by adding the benefits of puzzles. Stacking toys help develop a baby’s hand-eye coordination and recognition of sizes and colors. The puzzles fine-tune motor skills and teach spatial logic through joining the interconnecting pieces. This two-in-one toy does both, doubling the fun; and doubling the development. Also available in a 6 ring version. Launch date: June 2009. 2/10/2009 (MSRP: $38.50)

KENKEN by iTOYS INC.

KENKEN is an arithmetic-based puzzle game that, like sudoku, is played on a grid using numbers. It goes“beyond sudoku,” however, by taking the puzzle one step further and incorporating math skills, including addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Game play ranges from very easy to extremely difficult. “The hardest ones could challenge even Einstein,” said Robert Fuhrer, the New York businessman whose company, Nextoy™, licenses and markets the puzzle worldwide. iToys’ all-new KENKEN game offers thousands of puzzles on 3x3 to 6x6 grids.KENKEN was launched in 2004 by puzzle master and teacher extraordinaire Tetsuya Miyamoto, quickly becoming Japan’s hottest brain game. U.S. launch date: February 2009. 2/9/2009 (MSRP: $19.99; Age: 8 and Up)

Under the Sea Jigsaw Puzzle by MELISSA & DOUG

Under the Sea Jigsaw Puzzle by MELISSA & DOUG Painted in a whimsical style, this 24-piece jigsaw puzzle features a host of sea creatures, from whales and sharks to anemones and starfish. The wooden pieces lie in their frame once assembled to keep the image and pieces together.
― “Wooden puzzles by Melissa & Doug. Weekly we sell a wide variety of them,” said Chuck Harper, owner of Explorations Toys in Granger, Ind.
― “We literally sell thousands through the year,” remarked Fred Meyer, owner of Meyer's Toy World in Battle Creek, Mich.
― Also in early 2009, another retailer reported sales of 200 to 300 Melissa & Doug puzzles per month. 2/9/2009 (MSRP: $9.99; Age: 3 and Up)

TAUTON Module-16 Collectible Series by BRAINET TOYS AND GAMES, LLC

In this unique puzzle, players must solve 3 challenges each one has multiple solutions. Using the 16 scenery tiles of a sinuous and complex river, the player must be part of the legendary Tautoniac raft race. Arrange the scenery tiles and bring the meanders of the TAUTON River to life while setting the rafts in the right direction. The player who finds the highest number of solutions of all the challenges wins. Tauton may be played alone, or in a competitive mode with family and friends. 2/5/2009 (MSRP: $14.95; Age: 8 and Up)

Rubik's TouchCube by TECHNO SOURCE

The first completely electronic, solvable Rubik's Cube has six touch-sensitive sides. A player just moves his finger, sliding the row of colored squares where he wants. This version also comes equipped with a teaching tool that shows how to solve the puzzle, and a rechargeable battery with charging display stand. Launch date: Fall 2009. 2/3/2009 (MSRP: $149.99; Age: 8 and Up)

Rubik's Revolution Titanium Edition by TECHNO SOURCE

New and improved, this special edition updates the best-selling TIA 2008 T.O.T.Y. Game of the Year with new features to improve game play, more challenges to master, and a cool metal look and texture for a better grip. Packed with speed games and brainteasers everyone can play, the Titanium Edition features six electronic games that test speed and smarts, save high scores, and track progress. 3/11/2009

Boikido Wooden Marine Maze by BOIKIDO

Boikido Wooden Marine Maze by BOIKIDO Winner of Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award 2009! Building hand-eye coordination is an exciting part of being a toddler. Designed for children 18 months and older, this unique and colorful bead maze features a nautical theme, with two wire bead coasters and a maze – featuring a fun whale and boat to spur your little one’s imagination. Children love to play with these toys in doctors’ offices and waiting rooms – now you can have one at home. Tested to meet European and U.S. safety standards. 3/25/2009 (MSRP: $34.99; Age: 1 and Up)