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FlipStir, from ENLIVENZE, is a new twist in 3-D puzzle gaming. Players pull back the wand, shake the puzzle to scramble the pieces, then use the wand, gravity, and ingenuity to solve the puzzle and reveal the artwork. Designed for kids ages 7 and up, FlipStir is self-contained, making it easy to clean up without losing any pieces. FlipStir aids in the development of hand-eye coordination and motor skills. It comes in two levels of difficulty—the first level has simple puzzle images and rectangular pieces, and the second is slightly more difficult with more complex images and curvy pieces.
& ACADEMY
With Three Little Piggies, from SMARTGAMES, players ages 3 to 6 try to fit large pieces on the Three Little Piggies game board so that the piggies are either playing outside or hiding in their houses when the wolf shows up. There are 48 challenges, and kids can use the game pieces for some imaginative fun even when they aren’t playing the game. SmartGames builds on its IQ line of brain-teasing puzzles with two new additons this year. IQ Blox features 120 challenges, designed for kids ages 6 and up. Kids set up the game board by placing the four included white pieces according to the challenge. Players must fill in the game board with seven colorful pieces without overlapping the white pieces. The compact board and transparent lid make IQ Blox convenient for travel. IQ Candy includes 60 challenges for players ages 7 and up. Players must try to fit the seven candy-colored pieces on the game board, taking into account the raised areas of the board that must fit into the candy-colored pieces. SmartMax Build & Connect allows kids to use screws to attach new curved red pieces to other toys around the house. They can be attached to any structure with a thickness of up to 6 cm, allowing both “up” and “down” building. In addition, the two accompanying expandable bars use the screws to provide more length. Future engineers will love SmartMax Playground and its brightly colored tubes and magnetic bars. Endless creative playground designs can be made, and then the metallic balls can be dropped through the tubes.
SPECIALTY TOYS & GIFTS
THINKFUN tests kids’ mental prowess with Rush Hour Shift, a two-player sliding block logic game designed for kids ages 8 and up. Every move counts as players draw cards and strategize their way across traffic. Players must choose whether to advance their own hero car or block an opponent. The traffic grid adds a new dimension to play, as a single shift can change the game. The new Maker Studio line is designed for budding makers ages 7 and up. Maker Studio Gears lets kids construct a racecar, a cable car, a three-wheeler, and a motorcycle; while Maker Studio Propellers lets kids build a chopper, a bi-plane, a windmill, and a plane. Every build also has Engineering Challenges that require experimenting with friction, torque, and propulsion. After mastering all the builds included with the sets, kids can design something creative and all their own.
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MAY/JUNE 2015