Unfortunately I didn’t get to go to ASTRA this year, but my inventor friend Mary Jo Reutter (read about her games HERE) did and she was nice enough to share what’s great about the ASTRA show from an inventor’s perspective.  Quick background for anyone who doesn’t know ASTRA stands for American Specialty Toy Retailing Association and they’re the ones behind Neighborhood Toy Store Day which is Nov. 12th this year.  The ASTRA show is held in June every year, but unlike Toy Fair the location of the show bounces around …

Last November was the Toy and Game Inventor Awards better known as the TAGIEs and the 2010 winner for “Excellence in Game Design” was the lovely Mary Jo Reutter.  She’s invented Sumo Ham Slam by Gamewright, Flip-A-Longs by the Fat Brain Toy Co., Laundry Jumble by Educational Insights, and many others.  And luckily for all of us she has gracefully agreed to submit to an interview.  Here’s what she had to say…
1. How did you get started inventing games?
I started designing games before I realized that’s what I was doing. I …

Monopoly turns 75 this year — well it sort of turns 75 this year.  There are “folk” versions of the game that exist which were handmade by people long before the credited inventor, Charles Darrow (below right), created his game.  One of these folk games was acquired by the Strong Museum this year.  (see the “Heap” folk game made by John Heap at right)  This creates some haziness to where Darrow got the idea for Monopoly and who really came up with it.  In recent years, most have started to credit Lizzie …

Last Friday night was the annual TAGIE awards which honor the inventor side of the toy and game community whereas the Toy of the Year Awards (aka the TOTY Awards) held in February honors successful products and brands.  BIG DIFFERENCE  Always held in Chicago in conjunction with the Toy and Game Inventors Expo and the Chicago Toy and Game Fair, the TAGIEs were at the Museum of Science and Industry on Chicago’s south side.  It was amazing.  The “Jim Henson’s Fantastic World” exhibit is there right now so it make …

This Saturday is not only National Gaming Day, but it’s also Neighborhood Toy Store Day!  So for all of you game-loving folks out there I’m sure that you can find lots of cool free stuff to do in your area.
National Gaming Day (taking place at YOUR local library)
Libraries across the country are going to be turning their focus from books to games this weekend!  Supported by the American Library Association, National Gaming Day encompasses all types of gaming – tabletop (the unplugged board/card variety), computer and video gaming.
Did you know …