Birds, Bugs and Beans

Designed by Stacey Merrill, Birds, Bugs and Beans is a quick-paced, funny, noisemaking card game. Players toss cards -- each of which features an animal -- into the middle of the game, looking for the birds, bugs and beans.

When a bird shows up, you have to whistle; for a cockroach, you hit the table; for a fly, you clap your hands; and for a bean you say, "phbbt." The first player to react gets to collect all the animal cards from the middle. The goal is to catch as many animals as possible.

Obviously a light-hearted game, Birds, Bugs and Beans looks like a winner for game groups who like to laugh out loud.

For 2 to 6 players, ages 6 and up. 10 to 20 minutes per game. Suggested retail price $9.95. Scheduled for publication in May 2003.

First Hand

Originally released as Hands Up in Germany, First Hand was designed by Jacques Zeimet. One player flips over a card, and then everyone has to quickly position their hands as depicted on the card, watching out for "fake finger" cards.

The last player to get into the proper position has to take the card; at the end of the game, the player with the fewest cards wins.

For 2 to 6 players, ages 6 and up. 15 minutes per game. Suggested retail price $9.95. Scheduled for publication in May 2003.

Flea Circus

Designed by Reiner Knizia, this Flea Circus is an entirely new game -- it's not the game known as Zircus Flochati.

Players use their best flea cards to attract dogs (2 points each) and cats (1 point each); the game comes with 20 plastic dogs and 20 plastic cats. The ability to steal from other players and the animal catcher add a bit of chaos. At the end, the player with the animals worth the most points wins.

For 2 to 6 players, ages 6 and up. 10 minutes per game. Suggested retail price $15.95. Scheduled for publication in May 2003.

Smarty Party

This very clever trivia game was designed by Aaron Weissblum and Pitt Crandlemire. It's clever because you don't have to know the entire answer to compete -- every question has multiple answers (e.g. name one of the seven largest internal organs of the human body). The goal in Smarty Party! is to be the last person to give a correct answer in the given category.

For 3 to 8 players, ages 10 and up. Suggested retail price $24.95.

Thingamajig

The Thingamajig is an electronic gizmo packed with thousands of words. In this game, designed by Aaron Weissblum, your turn consists of reading your secret word in the Thingamajig, and then giving a definition so that almost all -- but not all -- of the other players guess what it is.

The game is very portable and can easily be used as a way to pass the time while traveling.

For 3 or more players, ages 7 and up. 30 minutes per game. Suggested retail price $19.95.