A ROUND T HE TABLE G AMES
A URORA
Around The Table Games will introduce its newest line additions, Camp Talk and Buddy Talk. With Camp Talk (shown), kids get to know new camp friends on the bus to camp, in the bunk after lights out, or around the campfire while eating s’mores. Just draw a card, read one of the 50 questions, and let the fun begin. If the cabin or tent is dark, just use the attached flashlight to read the question. It also has a compass. Questions include “What’s the funniest or most unusual nickname for a counselor you’ve heard?” and “If you designed a camp for kids, what would it be like?” Buddy Talk helps kids find out a ton about their friends at the bus stop, during recess, or at a sleepover. Questions include “What’s your favorite thing about summer break?” and “If you could have picked your own name, what would it be?” Also new for 2009, Around The Table Games is offering a double-deck tin with full playing-card-sized Family Talk and Grandparent Talk decks. In addition, the company will debut new and improved cards. From now on all cards will be full-sized playing cards and be made from heavier paper stock. Cards will now have rounded edges and a circular carabiner for easier flipping.
Aurora has inked a deal to produce an exclusive line of plush product for Stephan Pastis’ Pearls Before Swine, the cartoon comic strip syndicated in more than 550 newspapers worldwide. The line will initially consist of seven pieces: 12-inch plush Rat, Pig, and Croc, as well as eight-inch plush Rat, Pig, Croc, and Zebra. Aurora is also producing a new line of Looney Tunes plush as well. The Tazmanian Devil plush features a burger, held in place by Velcro paws, that makes Taz burp when it goes in and out of his mouth. Fantasy Tweety features floppy legs that are designed to help it sit on the edge of a desk or bookshelf. Aurora will also be making a full huggable assortment of plush, featuring Bugs Bunny, Tweety, Daffy Duck, Taz, and Sylvester.
P LAYROOM E NTERTAINMENT Playroom Entertainment expands its Killer Bunnies and the Journey to Jupiter board game with the new Laser Red and Ultra Violet Booster Decks. These decks work with the stand-alone board game to expand the game play with three new sectors for the board, 55 new cards, and more. Also coming up from Playroom is Livingstone. The newest addition to Playroom’s Big-Box Game line, Livingstone is designed by Benjamin Liersch and set in 1855. Players strategically set tents and gather gemstones along the Zambezi River to win.
FEBRUARY 2009 TOYS & FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT 107