by Herb Levy

    Each year, toy and game companies showcase their latest offerings at the International Toy Fair held in New York City in the hope that these new toys and games will make their way to store shelves later this year. (Some will and some won't!) Once again, Gamers Alliance made its annual trek to the Fair to uncover the up and coming games. So, with major thanks to Contributing Editor Steve Kurzban (aka K-ban) for his invaluable assistance in putting this report together, here is our comprehensive view and YOUR advanced peek at what's coming down the pike. 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)!

ASMODÉE EDIIONS - 3 new games on the schedule: Sharur: Evolutions - Players represent human, arachnids or dragons and try to control the evolution of their species through movements, alliances and battle. For 3-6 players, ages 12 and up. 90 minutes, April. Mall of Horror - Zombies on the loose and each player controls 3 human characters (a gorgeous blond, a gangster and "a big guy") who will try to earn points as they try to survive the zombie onslaught. For 3 to 6 players, ages 14 and up, about 50 minutes, August. The Age of Gods.- Big box game with a medieval/fantasy theme. For 3-6 players, ages 10 and up, 90 minutes. Slated for a 4th quarter 2005 release.

BIG TOE GAMES - Kiss My Rules - 4-8 player adult party game that combines poker style card games (Straight and Flush) and two dice games with "behavioral" rules changes. As players wins rounds, new rules are added (such as "don't point your finger", "ask permission to leave the table" etc.) May, $19.95. (www.bigtoegames.com)

BUFFALO GAMES - Two new adult party games coming:

   Faces - Faces are drawn from the deck and placed in a line-up. An "impression" card is drawn (e.g. "criminal genius") and players vote on which face matches the impression. 3-8 players, ages 8 and up, about $30.

   Last Word - Subject (e.g. vegetables) is linked with a letter (e.g. "c"). Be the last player to shout out a word that fits when the timer runs out and score. 2-8 players, ages 8 and up, about $30. 

CARDCHESS INTERNATIONAL, INC. - High production quality marks this line of games at Toy Fair which included:

   Crossword Pyramids - A word building game where players use their own set of letter pyramids as well as a neutral set to spell words and get rid of their entire set of letter pyramids. Player with the highest score after a player has gotten rid of his letters wins. $49.99.

   Dominoes 2 - Played on a 3 x 3 grid, players use domino cards (which come in square and rectangular shape) to matching positions on the board. $24.99

   Pompeii: The Last 37 Minutes - Players try to save themselves, villagers, even pets, from disaster as Mount Vesuvius begins to erupt. $44.99.

CARDINAL - Based on the hit TV series: Desperate Housewives: The Game, August, $19.99

DAYS OF WONDER - Ticket to Ride:Europe. In this sequel to the award winning Ticket to Ride (Spring 2004 GA REPORT), a few additions to the regular game play are made including stations (allowing players to use other player's rail lines to make connections), tunnels and ferries. April release. Also on tap: Shadows over Camelot - Players embark in a cooperative effort on various quests as a Knight of the Round Table in a fight of good vs. evil. Players play both positive AND negative cards and have to contend with a possible traitor in their midst. Separate boards (some 2-sided) are used for the different quests, each accommodating 1-3 knights. For 3-7 players, about 90 minutes, May release.

DEFLEXION - The company and game share the same name: Deflexion. In this 2 player abstract, 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. May 1, $34.95 (www.deflexion.biz)

EAGLE GAMES - Among the upcoming releases:

    DD Tournament Poker 2005: Collector's Edition - No Limit Texas Hold'em with three levels of difficult. Cover features Annie Duke, 2004 Poker Championship winner. For the PC/Mac/Linux, $29.99.

    Conquest of the Empire - Remake of the original GameMaster game from Milton Bradley with new artwork, updated combat rules and a new game system that introduces diplomacy and influence. 2-6 players, ages 10 and up, 2-3 hours, May, $49.99. 

   Sid Meier's Pirates: The Boardgame - Based on the PC game. July.

   Railroad Tycoon - Another one based on a Sid Meier PC game. Design by Martin Wallace. July.

   Age of Empires - Boardgame version of Age of Empires III. October. 

   The American Civil War II - Re-release of a previous Eagle Games release with an improved rule system and redesigned map. November. 

EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS - Company is making a big splash in the abstract strategy genre, showcasing a bunch of new items including:

   Travel Blokus - Travel edition of the Blokus (Fall 2002 GA REPORT) for two players, shrinking the 20 x 20 grid to 14 x 14. $19.99.

   Chameleon - 3-D stacking game as players race to build towers using their "Chameleon" blocks, blocks whose bar of color change when they stack! Matching colors allow you to keep going, otherwise, the tower gets dismantled! 2-4 players, ages 7 and up, $29.99.

   Generations - Played this one with the wife of the inventor. In this 2 player game, both players have sets of three sized pieces: small circles, larger rectangles and larger circles. All pieces of each type are played in each round. The goal is to arrange your pieces so that your larger circles, when played, control most of the board. June, $29.99.

   Isolate - 2-4 players control colored tiles that they slide so that single tiles are separated (isolated) and may be removed from the board. Remove all your tiles and you win. $19.99.

   Zig Zag - 2 players begin with pegs positioned around a 5 x 5 grid. As roads are placed, paths are linked and pegs can be moved. Get 4 of your pegs in a row and win. $24.99.

   Heximania - Word game. The letter A begins in the center of a hex board. Then, players, in turn, place another letter adjacent to it and score for making words. As letters populate the board, more words are made and extended. 2-4 players, $24.99

ENGINUITY - New releases include:

   Spicy Dice - A collection of 6 games using these 24 special six-sided dice where each die has a different face marked in red. There are also plans for a contest for players to create a new game using these dice. April, $17.50

   Tongue Tanglers - Party game where players create tongue twisters from a set of cards and score for being able to say them. 2 or more players, late 2005 release, $24.95.

   RoPaSi - Variation on the classic rock, paper, scissors game. Late 2005 release, $12.50. 

FACE 2 FACE GAMES -  Upcoming releases include:

   Warriors and Dragon Hordes - Warriors originally began as a card game version of Risk that now has a fantasy them. Dragon Hordes is the expansion for the game. March release. 

   Ice Cream Machine - Card game designed by Joe Huber. March.

   Rhinelander - New version of the Reiner Knizia game with plastic miniature dukes and a board with more easily read graphics. September. 

   Wizard’s Brew - This is a remake of Das Amulett, the Alan Moon/Aaron Weissblum design (featured in the Summer 2001 GA REPORT) September.

   Winner’s Circle - Remake of Reiner Knizia's Royal Turf horse racing game. September 2005.

   Also on tap are three more Reiner Knizia designs: Dragons' Secret (previously known as Schatz der Drachen), Honeybears (which may retain the bears theme although other possibilities are being considered), and a new game called Genesis with all slated for November 2005 release. 

   Following the success of I'm the Boss (Fall 2003 GA REPORT), Buyword and Sleuth (the latter two featured in the Fall 2004 GA REPORT), the next Sid Sackson design scheduled for re-release will be Metropolis. Finally, Richard Borg, best known for Liar's Dice, Battle Cry (Summer 2000 GA REPORT) and Memoir '44 (Summer 2004 GA REPORT), will be represented with a children’s game (for ages 6 and up) called Cow Town involving counting and getting your cows in line, planned for release late this year or next year.

FAMILY GAMES - Two new abstract games on the agenda: Razzle Dazzle - two players try to move their marble to the opposite side of the board using 5 wooden "blocks" to "pass the ball". April/May, $29.99; Corintho - Game pieces are Greek style columns. Two "architects" try to form a line of three "constructions". Final rules are still being tweaked but release is planned for April/May. $49.

FOXMIND - Squad 7: Extreme Jungle Mission - Part board game/part skill and action game as 2 to 4 players gather their own team of seven to recover treasures lost in a cargo plane crash in the jungle. Includes a dart game used to shoot zombies and monsters! 

FUNDEX - Action wild west game called Calamityville!. Players build up the town with saloons, general stores and hotels. Then the town goes bust and the donkey in the center of the board "shoots" down buildings of the opposing players! Variable ending as the game ends when the "Gold Runs Out" card is drawn. May, $19.99. Also, Fundex is bringing back the 1970s Parker Brothers' skill & action game Gnip Gnop where two players press levers to hurl balls back and forth in a ping pong style. May, $14.99. Plus Top Spot - 2 player abstract where you place overlapping "spot" cards to get three in a row. April $14.99. Plus two abstract games: Jumpin' Java (2 players try to jump their cups and saucers to the opposite end of the row, $15) and Top Spot (2 players try to place dual cards to get three of your color in a row, July, $15).

GAMEPEACE -  New 2 player abstract strategy game: Trillon. On a large rectangular board filled with 100 multi-colored cubes, each player rolls dice to try to maneuver to the other side first. $50. (www.gamepeace.com)

GAMEWRIGHT - Among their new games: 

   Sleeping Queens - Card game where 2 to 5 players vie to be the one to rescue the most queens that have fallen under a sleeping spell. Ages 8 and up, 15 minutes. $9.99.

   Castle Keep - Build a castle (or wreck an opponent's) in this tile laying game with walls, towers and a keep by matching color, shape or both. 2-4 players, ages 8 and up, 20 minutes. $11.99. 

   Loot - Pirates on the high seas plunder ships and seize valuable treasure. Card game for 2-8 players, ages 10 and up, 20 minutes, $9.99.

GLASS CEILING PRODUCTIONS, LLC - As the company name suggests, this boardgame, Up the...Corporation, satirizes the difficulty women (and men!) have in climbing the corporate ladder. The gimmick here is that the "board" is an actual 3-D ladder that the cardboard player tokens climb up and down. (www.upthecorporation.com)

GYM TIME - Physical fitness game, Gym Time, geared at children, ages 3 and up. $19.99. (www.gymtime.biz)

HASBRO - The various divisions of the company were on display including:

   AVALON HILL - All of the upcoming Avalon Hill games were on display (at least, their boxes were). These include:

      Sword and Skull - Track style/dungeon crawl type game with a pirate theme where 3 to 4 players move their pirates and officers to rescue a captured ship from the King of the Pirates. March, $40.  

      Monsters Ravage America - Revised and revamped version of Monsters Menace  America as B-movie monsters attack. April, $45.

      Nexus Ops - A melding of war game mechanics with a science fiction storyline as armies of battling corporations compete for a foothold on a resource rich planet. June, $45.

      Roborally - Richard Garfield's popular but long out of print game of battling robots returns. July. $45.

      Vegas Showdown - Players compete to manage limited resources to build the most luxurious casino in Las Vegas. Fall 2005, $45. 

   HASBRO GAMES/PARKER BROTHERS - New and upcoming under this imprint: 

      Clue Mysteries Game - Prequel to the original Clue game using the suspects from the original game. This game features 50 cases to solve. 2-6 players are detectives and try to solve each case by questioning witnesses and decoding their statements. Using their detective toolkit consisting of a spyglass, secret mirror, and code-breaking key. The object is to be the first detective to solve the mystery by discovering which suspect committed the crime, and where he or she can be found. For ages 8 and up, May, $19.99. 

       HeroScape Expansions - Four sets of six additional small figures for the game (featured in the Fall 2004 GA REPORT) are available now ($12.99) with two larger expansions upcoming: one containing four large heroes, the other containing 21 assorted terrain pieces (one 5 hex bridge, eight 2 hex road tiles, eight 1 hex road tiles and four trees). 

      Pictionary 20th Anniversary Edition - The original drawing party game (featured back in our Summer 1987 GA REPORT). For a new twist, a "challenge die" is added forcing players to draw with their eyes shut or draw in one continuous line etc. For 3 or more players, ages 12 to adult, August, $24.99

      Shout About Movies Discs 1-4 - All four discs for this game (Winter 2005 GA REPORT) are now available. For ages 13 to adult, 2 or more players, $19.99. Upcoming later this year: Shout About Music and Shout About TV.  

      Electronic Catchphrase - Electronic version of the adult party game of "hot potato" (Winter 1996 GA REPORT). For 4 or more players in teams, $24.99

      Electronic Guesstures - Electronic charades where each team has 30 seconds per round to act out and correctly guess the most clues. For 4 or more players in teams, August, $24.99 

      Trivial Pursuit DVD Game Pop Culture 2 Edition - The latest in the Trivial Pursuit line. For 2 to 4 players or teams, May, $34.99   

      Trivial Pursuit DVD Star Wars Saga Edition - Questions and answers from all six Star Wars movies in six new categories: The Cantina; The Force; Heroes, Villains & Scoundrels; The Saga; A Galaxy Far, Far Away….; and Hyperspace. Special feature: up to 20 DVD questions that will feature selected Star Wars’ fans acting out various scenes from the Star Wars saga. For ages 10 and up, $49.99.

      Monopoly 70^th Anniversary Edition -  An Art Deco style edition to capture the feel of the 1930s when Monopoly first hit the marketplace. There are changes in the tokens (for example, the race car will be stretch Roadster and the shoe will be a high heel) and each game will include 12 unique hotels and 4 distinctive house designs. April, $39.99.  

      Yahtzee Texas Hold-Em - With poker being so popular, this game replaces card with dice and a Yahtzee hand wins the pot. Each player keeps their  two dice hidden under the cup and place bets after community dice are revealed.  Once all five community dice are laid out, final bets are made and players’ dice are revealed.  The winner is the player with the highest total consisting of a pair, two pair, three pair, five of a kind, straight, etc. 2-6 players, $9.99.

      The Apprentice Game - Once is not enough. With Trump: The Game already on store shelves (Fall 2004 GA REPORT), another game featuring "The Donald" is on the way, this time based on his successful reality show.  Two teams select six competitor cards from a deck for their teams to compete in a series of tasks.  Each team swipes its competitor cards through the electronic game unit and waits for Donald Trump to assign a team to pick a task card.  Once the task card is selected, it’s read aloud by the team and swept through the game unit.  Each team must select three of its competitors to complete the assigned task based on their individual skill sets as identified on each card.  Mr. Trump will then announce a specific skill needed to complete the task and ask each team to select one of its three competitors and swipe the card through the game unit.  The team with the competitor who has the highest points for that specific skill will reap the benefits of more earnings cards as doled out by Mr. Trump.  One of the competitors, from the team with the lowest earnings, will hear those dreaded words “You’re Fired.”  The game ends when each team has one competitor remaining for the final task and all earnings are tallied.  The team with the highest earnings total wins. For 2 or more in teams, ages 18 and up, November, $29.99.

   WIZARDS OF THE COAST - New stuff includes:

         Dungeons & Dragons Basic Game - Comes with a set of roleplaying dice, streamlined rules, character cards,, four double-sided mapboards and 16 figures from the D&D miniatures line. Aimed at the new D&D player. $24.95. In addition, two new entries in their Dungeons & Dragons Miniatures line: Deathnell (March) and Angelfire (July). Both for retail for $12.99.

        MLB Showdown 2005 Base Set - The complete set of this collectible card game contains 348 player cards with 2 player starter sets ($9.99) and 11 card booster packs ($3.49) available (March). This will be followed by the Trading Deadline expansion (11 card booster packs, $3.49, July). 

        Magic, the Gathering - A new expansion: Magic, The Gathering: Betrayers of Kamigawa. This is a 165 card set featuring Ninjas and more spells and enchantments, available in 15 card booster packs ($3.69), four different 61 card theme decks ($11.29) and a "Fat Pack" containing a tournament deck, three booster packs, a novel, player's guide, premium cards and more ($24.99).

        Star Wars Trading Card Game - Timed to release with the next Star Wars film (opening May 19): Star Wars Trading Card Game: Revenge of the Sith Expansion. The expansion will contain a total of 110 cards. The two player starter kit, geared to the novice player, will include two 30 card decks ("light" side and "dark" side) containing exclusive scenes from the movie, a playing mat and six dice and is compatible with previous WotC Star Wars trading card games. For ages 12 and up, $9.99. Booster packs with 11 cards will also be available, $3.49. For ages 12 and up, April release.  Further down the road (August), there will be another expansion: Rise of the Empire ($9.99) with booster packs ($3.49). There will be a boardgame too: Star Wars Miniatures Starter Game. The game will contain 10 plastic miniature figures from the new film with game stat cards indicating the power, defense strength and ability of each character. There will be 60 figures in the set and booster packs of figures will also be available. The game will retail for $24.99. April release.  

IDENTITY GAMES - Angels & Demons is the "sequel" to last year's DaVinci Code game published here as Coda (Spring 2004 GA REPORT). The game has nothing to do with Dan Brown's book but is an interesting abstract game of stacking tiles. (It will be titled Illuminati in Germany and Bernini Mysterie elsewhere in Europe). For 2-4 players, ages 10 and up, May/June release; $12.95.

JAX LTD. - Poker's Wild combines poker with a boardgame. Players play their cards onto a criss-cross grid and score for poker hands. For 2 to 6 players, ages 12 to adult. Spring release, $19.99.

JONES PUBLISHING - A new games publication is on the horizon called Knucklebones. The magazine plans to focus on boardgames and puzzles and will feature reviews, brainteaser, interviews and more. The premiere issue is scheduled for September 2005. Single issue price $5.99, six issue subscription $24.99. (Kbones.com)

KINETI-GO GAMES, LLC - Skill & action game played on a large (24" x 48") wooden board. Players use a magnetic shooter to shoot their plastic-encased magnetic pucks (3 each) to block and score. The wild card here is that the magnetic pucks repel each other! $149.99 (www.kinetigogames.com)

LIVE OAK GAMES - 3 games on display: Siege Stones - Previously released 2-4 player abstract game where players place stones and towers to gain control of 4 towers. $24.95; Calaboose - Wild West card game where 2-5 players attempt to fill their calaboose (jail) with the most valuable outlaws; March, $12.95; Ice Lake - Previously released game of plotting the movement of ice skaters on thin ice. Last one skating wins. 2-4 players; $19.95. 

MASTER PIECES PUZZLE COMPANY - Another game based on a successful TV reality show: Fear Factor. 2-6 players, ages 7 and up, will compete in this boardgame where die rolls substitute for the gross and dangerous stunts. But, in keeping with the theme, player pawns are large insects! April release, $30. (www.masterpiecesinc.com)

MATTEL - Scene It? (featured in the Spring 2003 GA REPORT) has spawned a series of sequels including: James Bond Sequel Pack (June, $19.99), Turner Classics Sequel Pack (June, $19.99), HBO Sequel Pack (July, $19.99), TV Edition Game (July, $39.99, Music Edition Game (July, $39.99), Sports Edition Game (July, $39.99), Harry Potter Edition Game (September, $39.99). And, speaking of variations on a theme, Uno H2O - A waterproof version of Uno. $7.99.

MAYFAIR GAMES - New and upcoming Mayfair releases include:

   Amazonas - English language version of the Kosmos release by Stefan Dorra in which 3-4 players explore the dangerous jungle of Amazonas. For ages 10 and up, 50 minutes. April release. $49.

   Family Business - A new edition of the game. For release in the 2nd quarter, 2005. 

   Candamir: The First Settlers - A prequel to The Settlers of Catan (Fall 1996 GA REPORT) originally published by Kosmos. For 2-4 players ages 12 and up.

   Pompeji - English language version of the Amigo game. Scheduled for third quarter, 2005. 

   The Settlers of Catan 10th Anniversary Deluxe 3D Edition - Mayfair, with Kosmos, plans to do a limited edition version of Settlers featuring large plaster molded hexes in full color with miniature pieces in a big wooden box. The game will include the components needed to play regular Settlers as well as the Cities and Knights expansion. This will be a limited edition of around 5000 that will NOT be reprinted. Retail is estimated at around $300-$350.   

OTERO GAMES -  Roundabout is an abstract played on a round board where players win by getting all of their pieces off the board. While backgammon-like, the game has several unique features of its own including blocking by positioning two of your pieces together, movement reversal and "ringers" (creating a line of 4 of your pieces in enemy territory). For 2, 3 or 4 players, ages 10 and up. $19.95.

OUT OF THE BOX GAMES - Upcoming releases include:

   Cinemplexity - Movie game where players try to figure out a film that matches 2 constantly changing characteristic cards. 3-10 players, ages 12 and up, 20-40 minutes; $19.99.

   Pepper - Matt Mariani design. 3-6 players try to get rid of their cards by matching colors or playing higher valued cards against their opponents. For ages 8 to adult, 10-20 minutes; Slated for 3rd quarter 2005 release. $9.99.

   Harry's Grand Slam Baseball - New and improved reprint of the original card game from 1962 which now comes with a scoreboard and playing field. 2 players, ages 8 to adult, 20-30 minutes per game. March. $14.99. 

   10 Days in Europe - Latest addition to their 10 Days... series. Players attempt to arrange their country tiles so that they can make connections. Designer Alan Moon decided to improve Europa Tour by simplifying boats (no lined routes all over a tiny board), using a larger map with country names in English that are easier to read and wooden racks. Includes transportation tiles for travel by plane or boat. 2-4 players, 10 to adult, 20-30 minutes, 3rd quarter 2005 release. $19.99

   Merchants - Players trade five commodities - spices, fruit, grain, textiles and gold - to reap profits. Reiner Knizia design for 2-6 players, ages 12 to adult, 20-40 minutes, $19.99.

   Megalith - Another Knizia design. 2 player abstract strategy game. Players take turns placing numbered disks, face down, on the board. When each intersection is covered, the disks are flipped. The player with the highest total wins the row. Win 8 rows to win the game. For ages 10 to adult, 15-20 minutes; $19.99. 

   Pantheon - Still another Knizia design. 2-4 players compete to build the biggest, tallest and widest buildings in ancient Rome. For ages 12 to adult, 20-40 minutes; $19.99.

  Tutankhamen - This remake of Knizia's Egyptian themed game (featured in the Spring 1997 GA REPORT) promised last year is now ready for March release. It features new artwork and an attractive molded pyramid. The sets are now differentiated by color (e.g. all 8's use the same picture but in several different colors) and the scoreboard is replaced by coins that get deposited in a slot cut in the pyramid. 2-6 players, ages 8 to adult, 20-30 minutes, $14.99. 

   Wallamoppi -  Stacking game. Light and dark wooden disks ("Kiwi" disks) are stacked to form a wall. Players gingerly pull one of their colored disks from the bottom and stack it on the top. To make matters more difficult, the game box sets up as a timer where a marble will travel down and out. You must make your move AND catch the marble each time. The last player to successfully stack a disk before the marble drops out of sight is the winner. 2 players, ages 7 to adult, 5 minutes; $19.99.

   Cover Up - Two player abstract strategy game. Players have pieces in three sizes which they place on the 3-D board. Enemy pieces can be covered as you attempt to place four of your color in a row to win. Ages 8 to adult, 10-15 minutes, $19.99. 

   Shape Up - Another Maureen Hiron design. 2 player abstract game in which one player plays shapes, another colors. Tokens comes in three different designs and three different colors. Players slide tokens down a 7 columned display. First to get four in a row in a shape or color wins. Ages 8 to adult, 15-20 minutes. $19.99.

   Outfox - Designed by Andrea Mainini and Maureen Hiron. 2-3 player abstract game in which the goal is to form a row of three pieces, either three shapes in one color or one shape in three colors. But as each piece is placed, the piece next to it slides to a new position! For ages 10 to adult, 15-20 minutes, $19.99/

PATCH - Domination: The Conquer and Claim Dominoes Game combines dominoes with the classic pen and paper game, Boxes. 2-4 players, ages 8 and up, start with a hand of 7 dominoes and place one each turn (and then replenish) onto a matching space on the board. When a player manages to completely enclose a territory on the board, he claims it with his color-coded chip. When the board is completely filled, the player with the most chips wins. 

PLAYROOM ENTERTAINMENT -  StrataGem, the Maureen Hiron game announced last year, has finally been released. There are 8 ways to  score on the 3x3 grid for each player. Points are earned for 3 in a row for color, number and sequences as well as matching pairs. Players can thwart opponent's efforts to score by playing 'thief' cards on their opponents. 3 points are earned for the player finishing their grid first. For 2-4 players, ages 10 to adult, 20 minutes playing time; $9.95. In addition, Hiron's Cosmic Cows, a themed remake of Quadwrangle (Winter 1998 GA REPORT) for 2 players, ages 8 to adult, 20 minutes, July; $15. For fans of the Killer Bunnies series, two new booster decks: Twilight White Booster Deck (adding 55 cards, 2 more pawns and a White 12-sided die) and Stainless Steel Booster Deck (another 55 cards and a few new mechanics including the ability to launch multiple weapons.) Each booster deck will retail at $11.95 each. Other new releases include:

   King of the Beasts by Reiner Knizia. When the lion decides to retire, the other animals vie to become the new King. 2-5 players, ages 8 to adult, 20 minutes; May, $15.

   Poison  - Another Knizia design. 3-6 players play numbered potion cards onto one of three cauldrons being careful not to let the pot boil over 13 which would force them to take in all of the cards in that cauldron including any poison mixed in. Ages 10 to adult, July, $15.

   Sitting Ducks - Card game in which players maneuver their ducks to get them out of the water before they get targeted. 3-6 players, ages 10 to adult, 20 minutes; April, $15.

   Top Dogs - Another card game for 3-6 players who must pick their best combination of dogs to form the strongest team to compete for each race and win trophies. Ages 8 to adult, 20 minutes, June, $10.

PRESSMAN - Therapy VIP Game - New edition of Therapy: The Game (originally featured back in the Winter 1987 GA REPORT). This version includes questions about entertainers, political figures and more. Pick-Up Lines - Adult party game where players write down their best responses to pick up lines and score points if a response is deemed best. Uses "martini glasses" with "olives" for added atmosphere.

R&R GAMES - On display:

   Hide & Seek Safari - This is a high tech kid’s game where you hide a stuffed tiger and try to locate it with a "stick" that will beep as you get closer to the hidden tiger.

   You Must be an Idiot! - Adult party game from Stephen Glenn, best known for Balloon Cup (Summer 2003 GA REPORT). Players are trying to answer correctly OR are an "idiot" who WANT to answer incorrectly. Players vote on who is the idiot and score points. High scorer wins! Spring release. 

   Sketchword -  Party game where played letter cards require you to draw a picture of a word made from those letters. Guess correctly and score points. Another spring release. 

RAD GAMES - Haven't had enough Monopoly lately? Rad Games offers Super Add-Ons: Monopoly Version. This add-on adds a second tier to the regular board that fits in the center of the regular board and adds new properties, more chance cards and another board to move on. Second quarter 2005 release. $24.95. (www.radgames.com)

RAVENSBURGER - Games on display included  Wild Pirates  (a combination card and board game, $30) and Make n Break (use colored wooden blocks to match the patterns on the picked card). 

RIO GRANDE GAMES - New fare includes:

   Master Thieves - Memory game as jewels are hidden in a beautifully constructed wooden jewel case and players attempt to capture them. 2-8 players, ages 10 and up, 60-75 minutes; $99.95.

    Around the World in 80 Days  - Follow in the footsteps of Jules Verne. 3-6 playeres, ages 8 and up, 50-70 minutes; late Feb, $37.95.

   Australia - The latest from the Kramer & Kiesling design team. March.

   TransEuropa - New map and game play for TransAmerica (featured in the Summer 2002 GA REPORT), 2-6 players, ages 8 and up, 30 minutes; April/May, $27.95.

   Shadow of the Emperor - Players vie to become the new Emperor. 2 to 4 players, ages 12 and up, 90 minutes; mid-March, $27.95,

   PowerGrid France & Italy expansion - For use with PowerGrid (Fall 2004 GA REPORT), scheduled for October 2005 release at Essen.

SPECIALTY BOARD GAMES INC. - More media-related games from this company who launched CSI:Crime Scene Investigation last year:

   CSI:Crime Scene Investigation 2nd edition - 8 new cases to solve. $29.99

   CSI:Crime Scene Investigation Booster Pack #1 and #2 - Each pack features 3 new cases for use with the basic game. $9.99 each.

   CSI:Miami: The Board Game - 8 crime stories that you need to solve by collecting three levels of evidence and submit the correct arrest warrant and proving means, motive and opportunity for one of the three suspects. March release.

   Nancy Drew Mystery Party Game - Timed to coincide with the 75th birthday of this long running series. Designed for girls 8 to 13.

TAILTON GAMES - Project Kells - A series of abstract games played on the same board. In the basic game, players place tiles ("ringforts") which can connect via "bridges" to create kingdoms. Isolated ringforts are captured. The second game introduces "kings" which can capture enemy ringforts and kings. In both games, the goal is to have the fewest kingdoms on the board. $49.99 (www.projectkells.com)

THINKFUN - Subtrax - This is a  multi-level peg solitaire game where players maneuver across a 16-sided polygon which defines how a player can jump. As in Rush Hour (Spring 1997 GA REPORT), you are given 40 challenge cards (with solutions), ranging from beginner to expert levels, to test your ability. For ages 8 to adult, about $19.99

UBERPLAY - Among the new releases:

   Motley Fool Buy Low Sell High - This is a re-theming of Knizia's Palmyra (Fall 1997 GA REPORT). There will be a different distribution of cards for each of the 3 types of stocks to simulate risk/reward/volatility. Slated for March, $29.95.

   For Sale - New 6-player edition with a few changes: buildings up to 30, 30 card check deck with cards running from 0-15 twice. March, $19.95.

   China - New version of Michael Schacht's Web of Power (Summer 2000 GA REPORT) with a 2-sided board and "foundations" which can double scoring in an area. March, $34.95. 

  Ra - Reissue of the Reiner Knizia game (featured in the Summer 1999 GA REPORT). Mid 2005. 

   Traumfabrik is yet another Knizia title that is scheduled for a new look and late 2005 release. Plus a yet untitled Knizia game with a racing theme is pencilled in for a summer 2005 release. 

UNIVERSITY GAMES - An interesting mix from University Games this years. Can You Beat Ken? places players against Jeopardy's 2 and a half million dollar winner Ken Jennings ($24.99), the return of Ralph Anspach's Anti-Monopoly game ($24.99) plus a return to the bookshelf boxed style of games pioneered by 3M in the 1960s. Of the five bookcase games shown (including Chess, Poker and Dominoes), two of them were actually original 3M releases: Facts in Five and Sid Sackson's Executive Decision. Slated for June release, each of these will retail for $29.99. 

VERSAL ENTERTAINMENT - Empyrean Inc. - Stand alone strategy card game of economic power in space as 2-4 players are CEOs of mega-corporations competing to control various resources. Features artwork by Phil & Kaja Foglio. 2-4 players, ages 9 and up, $12.99. Set Sail! - Real time game as 2-4 players, ages 6 and up, try to "exploit" the resources of the New World through fast card play. (www.versalentertainment.com)

WINNING MOVES - Two card games of interest to gamers: 

   Forbidden - This is a new game designed by Phil Orbanes whose design credits run the gamut from wargames (Vietnam by Gamescience) to business games (Cartel by Gamut of Games) to card games (Trumpet by International Games, Spring 1991 GA REPORT). This card game combines elements of Mah Jongg with Gin Rummy but adds a few twists including "Forbidden" cards which can multiply your score if you to go out first but clobber you if you don't! 2-4 players, ages 10 and up, 35-60 minutes; $7.95.

   Waterworks - Re-release of the classic Parker Brothers game of connecting your pipeline from valve to spout while springing leaks on your opponents line. Packaged with 8 metal wrenches and a plastic bathtub shaped card tray. For 2 to 4 players, ages 7 and up. $13.95.

WIZKIDS - MLB SportsClix 2005 was on display featuring all-stars of today with Hall of Famers such as Reggie Jackson, Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth. April. Also on display: Pirates of the Spanish Main. This is a "constructible" strategy game that comes packaged in a game pack like a pack of baseball cards. Each pack is a complete game that includes rules, a die, ships, an island and treasures. $3.99.