Author: Corinne Marcot-Jones

Kid’s Center – February Store of the Month

Posted on February 7, 2014February 26, 2014 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

Blue Orange Games is lucky to partner with a fantastic bunch of retailers who are passionate about their businesses and supportive of our games. We want to do more to recognize the stores and individuals that make our mission possible. That’s how our new monthly spotlight on an outstanding Blue Orange Games retailer came about!

We are pleased to announce that Kid’s Center in Tucson, Arizona is our Store of the Month for February! Renaud, a member of our sales team, nominated the store after being impressed by their dedication to their community and their passion for Spot it! which is why they are a destination store for the greater Tucson area.

The Kid’s Center got its start in 1989 when the state of Arizona wanted to widen the road that Jim Davis’ old business (a kitchen design and construction company) was located on. So Jim and his wife decided to downsize their physical location and enter the toy industry.

Since they made the change to toys, Kid’s Center has been a center for learning and play for the entire region. Every year they make it a priority to engage with their local schools and communities, getting young excited about reading and playing games. And for the past 5 years, they have participated in the Tucson Festival of Books (A two-day attraction that brings more than 100,000 book-lovers to the nearby University of Arizona).

Reading and education is a huge priority for the store. They have over 15000 children’s books at their store and they are so beloved by their community of children’s book enthusiasts that they even ship their books internationally to as far away as Africa.

The top selling games in the store are all quick playing, easy to understand and offer some kind of education benefit. And Jim makes sure that players of all ages will appreciate the games he caries. He is a grandfather, so it brings him a lot of joy to play card games like Spot it! Timeline and Picwits! with his family.

The Kid’s Center even helped with the development of Spot it! contributing to making it the smash sensation it is today. It was Jim’s nephew Stephen who first suggested the idea for a mini-game that we later called “Triplets” in the full version. It was Stephen’s idea to look for a match across 3 cards.

And their dedication to Spot it! doesn’t stop there! One of the things that first brought the Kid’s Center to MY Attention was Jim’s clever marketing strategy he came up with for to help promote Blue Orange Games. Jim reached out to us for custom made Spot it! pins that his customers can collect and bring back to the store to play. They earn a discount if they wear the pins back to the store and with a game of Spot it! using their pin as their card.

It’s exactly that sort of playful spirit and eye towards community that has kept the Kid’s Center the go-to destination for anyone interested in reading and games for the past 14 years.

The whole team at Blue Orange Games would like to thank Jim and the rest of the Kid’s Center staff for believing in our games and for creating rewarding, educational experiences for their community. Congrats!

Pictorial History of Gobblet

Posted on January 20, 2014April 10, 2014 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

Gobblet is the game that started it all. Back in 2000, Blue Orange Games founders Julien Mayot and Thierry Denoual took to the road to spread the word about their very first game Gobblet. They drove across the entire United States on a 3 month road trip, visiting 500 specialty games stores. And they ended up selling 10,000 games before their trip was over! 14 years later, Blue Orange Games now has a catalog of over 50 games (some discontinued) and Gobblet has sold more than 2 million copies around the world.

Over the years, we have seen many changes to the design of the pieces and packaging for Gobblet, but the objective has remained the same – “Gobble Up, Line Up, and Win!” Here is a closer look at the pictorial history of Gobblet:

Gobblet (2000)

The original Gobblet looked a lot like it remains today. The packaging was a little different and the board was slightly less yellow in color.

Gobblet Classic (2002)

Gobblet Classic offered an updated board design and color scheme.

Gobblet Junior (2003)

Gobblet Jr reimplimented the concept of Gobblet on a smaller grid (3×3 instead of 4×4) so that younger players could more easily join in the fun.

Gobblet Gobblers (2009)

Gobblet Gobblers offered a new design for Gobblet Jr – the pieces were given silly smiles and hairdos and the board was replaced by a tic-tac-toe style grid.

Gobblet X4 (2009)

Gobblet X4 created a more modern look for the classic game, as well as a new color scheme and slightly smaller pieces.

Gobblet EU (2013)

Gobblet EU was released in Europe in 2013, with the board from X4, but with larger pieces and yet another color scheme.

Gobblet (present)

The current version of Gobblet has been kept the same for more than 12 years!

So what’s your favorite version of Gobblet? Let us know in the comments below!

Blue Orange Games Visits SF Friends School

Posted on December 21, 2013December 17, 2014 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

At Blue Orange Games, we love engaging with our local community. We make it a priority to attend street fairs, festivals and game store play days in the area. And we never turn down an opportunity to give back to our schools. I was recently invited to the SF Friends School by Max Millard (game designer and extended day teacher). I brought along the giant-size versions of some of our more popular games as well as free samples from our Spot it! and Tell Tale series.

The kids had a lot of fun playing with our games, especially Gobblet Gobblers, a twist on the classic school game Tit Tac Toe. We played that the winner of the game got to hold the table, so kids lined up to watch and learn from others’ strategies and collaborated to dethrone the reigning champs.

On another table, we set up a serious match of Blue Orange Games’ short-term memory game Pengoloo, full of focused stares from all the players as they tried to remember which colored eggs were hiding underneath their penguins.

I also got to play some of the games that Max and the kids had created together! They were all lovingly hand-made and many were inspired by classic games from today and Max’s youth. My favorite was a combination of Blue Orange Games’ Tell Tale and the classic game Memory Match — a simple twist on two great games and a delight to play!

Max wrote about the event for the school’s periodical newspaper which he curates and writes for along with the help of the students at the SF Friends School. You can read the article by clicking on the following image:

This article appeared in the SF Friends’ December issue of the Circle Back Magazine. For more information about The San Francisco Friends School, please visit their website: http://www.sffriendsschool.org/

Spot it Tournament at Home

Posted on December 11, 2013December 12, 2013 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

Spot it! is one of the most beloved Blue Orange games – a high-energy experience where players race to spot the matching image between two (or more!) cards. We regularly organize Spot it! tournaments when we go out to community events at game stores and trade shows, and everyone has a blast as they compete to be the Spot it champion! So, I thought it would be a great idea to share our resources with you, so you can run your very own Spot it! tournament at home. All you need to do is print out the two pdfs (the bracket) (the certificate) then grab a copy of Spot it! and 12-16 players to compete.

The Bracket

Spot it Tournament Bracket (pdf)

First, divide your players into 4 groups. Write everyone’s name on the lines. Then you are ready to begin! The tournament will be played in 3 rounds. And you can play whatever version of Spot it! and game variants you’d like (it’s more fun if you switch it up each time!) but I recommend the the following:

Round 1

To start things out easy, begin the tournament with the Twins variant from Spot it Jr Animals. It’s one of the most straight forward variants, and a great way to get into the spirit of the tournament. It’s also one of the fastest ways to play, which will help round 1 not get bogged down by the number of players.

Round 2

Once you have the winners from your each group, add their names to the round 2 spaces and choose your next way to play. Since there will be fewer players at this point, I’d choose a slightly longer variant – Triplet (a slightly more challenging variation of Twins). And it’s more fun for other players to watch, because the cards do not go by as quickly, making it’s easier to watch what is going on. You can either play in one group of all the remaining players or two groups of two. Either way, the top two players will advance to the final round.

Round 3

Now that you have your 2 finalists, you should pick one of the longer variants (either the Well or the Tower). I prefer the Tower, because you can see the stack of remaining cards dwindle as the game goes on, which adds a dramatic flair to the conclusion of the tournament.

Winner!

Spot it Certificate (pdf)

When you have determined the winner, write their name on the Winner Certificate (print it out and date it ahead of time) and then it’s time to celebrate!!

Bigglesnorts Toys: December’s Store of the Month!

Posted on December 4, 2013February 7, 2014 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

Blue Orange Games is lucky to partner with a fantastic bunch of retailers who are passionate about their businesses and supportive of our games. We want to do more to recognize the stores and individuals that make our mission possible. That’s how our monthly spotlight on an outstanding Blue Orange Games retailer came about!

Store of the Month: December 2013

We are pleased to announce that Bigglesnorts in Albuquerque, New Mexico is our Store of the Month for December! Renaud, a member of our sales team, nominated the store after being impressed by their dedication to wholesome family fun, and their vocal enthusiasm for our brand, which helped them sell almost a thousand copies of Spot it! in their first year of business.

The friendly faces of Bigglesnorts!

We surprised them with a bouquet of blue and orange balloons, candy, and a certificate commemorating their achievement. I caught up with the owner, Jason Penn over the phone to chat with him about his toy store and its success.

About Bigglesnorts Toys:

Video from inside the store courtesy of KASA News

Bigglesnorts Toys believes that fun is what brings families together! And Jason is lucky enough to work alongside his wife Elisa (who doubles as a pediatric physical therapist during the week). Their mission is to educate kids through play, believing that the act of Play is one of the most human experiences in the world (and a natural way of learning). Their catalog of games, toys and books is chosen based on 3 criteria: quality, opportunity for open-ended play, and ease of accessibility / universal appeal. As their website puts it:

Quality play comes first. We choose our products first and formost on the basis of quality. We sell toys that last and are fun.
Good toys make life more fun! Toys that promote open ended play are the toys that get played with the most. Its our pleasure to bring those toys to your family!
Great toys are for everyone! We want everyone to experience the fun for themselves so we always have toys out in the store to be played with!

Growing up, Jason fell in love with toys with LEGOs. He still remembers the very first LEGO he received – Set #928 – a spaceship that he has since built so many times that he can now do it completely from memory! And Jason’s love of playing with physical space shines through in the design of the store.

Bigglesnorts feels warm and inviting inside, with a natural flow that makes it fun to check out all the products. Blue Orange games are prominently displayed on the store’s demo tables so it is easy to play some quick rounds of Fastrack and Spot it! while shopping in the store. Everything is divided in 10 sections – Games, Outdoor, Building Toys, Craft, Transportation (Trains, Cars), Education & Science, Infant/Toddler, Plush, Puzzles, and Books. And each section is organized by age, with the products for younger people closer to the ground. From the cash wrap to the demo tables, the store’s custom-made surfaces are composed of nothing but rounded edges, so you can focus on all the goodies on display without worrying about colliding with any sharp corners.

Jason’s favorite thing about Albuquerque is the close-knit community, with its emphasis on small business and personal connections. And right now, Bigglesnorts is participating in the county’s Shop Local Holiday Campaign:

Coverage of the Shop Local campagin courtesy of KRQE News

Since Bigglesnorts is one of the most unique names we’ve ever come across, I had to ask Jason how the store got its name. The answer is a charming story from Elisa’s childhood: When she was growing up (and to this day) Elisa’s father refused to cuss. He believed there are more colorful and decent ways to express himself! He would make up his own silly, playful, imaginative words when he needed to express his frustration or excitement. So, when it came time to brainstorm ideas for what to call the store, Jason turned to Elisa and asked “What would your dad say if he stubbed his toe?” And she replied, “Ah, BIGGLESNORTS!”

And there you have it, the Bigglesnorts’ guide to success and happiness: be imaginative and don’t forget to play with your family.

Thank you Jason and the superb team at Bigglesnorts in Albuquerque for being a great example and friends of Blue Orange Games.

Go show them some love on Facebook!

Fun Native American Games and Facts

Posted on November 27, 2013November 27, 2013 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to honor Native American cultures and their history as they make up an important part of our nation’s heritage. Native American tribes left behind a rich tradition of games, which were played ceremonially, or to demonstrate fitness, to teach, and of course, for entertainment. Exploring Native American games with kids before the food coma sets shows them that despite the gap in time and culture, Native American children liked to have fun just like kids today!

1. The Butterfly Game

The Butterfly Game is a hide and seek style game. Stealth and discipline are needed to play properly! The Anishinaabe believed it was good luck if you were quiet and still enough for a butterfly to land on you. To play, one child covers their eyes and chants, “Butterfly, butterfly, show me where to go.” During this time, the other kids playing quietly and quickly hide. The singer repeats this chant a few times and until “the air becomes still.” Then, they must find the other players without saying a word. It’s a game of observation and skill- fun for all to play! Also some momentary peace and quiet for the parents too! Double bonus!

2. Where’d it Come From?

Here’s another fun game you can play with kids to help them learn where the food they see on the Thanksgiving table comes from! Save the image above to your computer and print it out for the kids to play! Notice that Indians ate a lot like many of us try to eat: organic, local and gluten free! The answer key is posted at the bottom of this blog

foodgame

3. Dream Guessing and Wishing

This game is very important to the Iroquois people and to this day is often played at celebrations and festivals in the form of riddles. Someone would begin to tell their dream as a story and those listening would try to guess the meaning behind the dream. To play the game, start a discussion about dreams and how the subconscious is a beautiful portal to where our imaginations give us the power to be anything we want to be. Ask the children to think of a dream or a wish that they have had, then have them draw a picture of their dream. Once completed have the kids go around in a circle and share their dream or wish, or for a little more fun, have them pantomime their dream while the others try and guess what it means!

4. Plant seeds, Respect Earth

What better way to say thank you for the bountiful meals and the warm fire we continually sit comfortably by through praising the land which we live on. This is a year long call to action for families and children to give thanks everyday to the Earth, their ancestors and community. Whether it’s going out and visiting a farm, starting a garden in your backyard or just planting a seed in a cup of soil and watching it grow indoors. Here at Blue Orange Games, we hold this practice close to our hearts as we make all our products as eco-friendly as possible. Did you know that we even plant two trees for every tree used in our products? You can help by planting seeds this Holiday season! Giving thanks to the land everyday is something Native Americans have always done even before the first Thanksgiving. What better legacy to leave for future generations than treating our local and global community with respect!

___

Answer key for food search: All the foods origins come from Native Americans!

Batkid Saves San Francisco

Posted on November 16, 2013 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

Make-a-Wish Foundation Transforms San Francisco into Gotham City. Hearts melt, lives saved!

Today San Francisco has been transformed into an elaborate Make-A-Wish Foundation Adventure for an awesome kid named Miles, who has been successfully battling Leukemia at just five years old. His wish? To save Gotham City! Have no fear, Batkid is here! Below are some truly heart warming and exciting photos from Batkid’s adventures though our city. You’re a hero to all of us, Miles!

Make a Wish Foundation Batkid SF

Donate to Make a Wish

Batkid’s day of fighting crime

Batkid Takes off in Batmobile after being called by Police! There’s an issue with the Cable Car on Nob Hill!

Oh no! A Damsel is in Distress she seems to be tied to a mysterious bomb on the cable cars! Will Batkid arrive in time?

Phew- Here come’s Batkid!

Focused and determined, he calmly dismantles the bomb tied to the victim!

An emotional thanks and Batkid saves the Damsel! (We are officially crying over here too.)

But the moment of peace was fleeting. Soon after he saves the lady, Batkid receives word that all these shenanigans are the product of the Riddler, and now he is off to the Financial District to rob a bank!

Batkid fortunately has the help of his trusty sidekick Robin (played by his younger brother)!

Batkid zooms to the financial district and into the Bank to stop the robbery.

Batkid apprehends Riddler!

And throws him in the slammer!

After successfully locking up the Riddler, Batkid hears a loud grumble. He looks around and hears it again…why, it’s his stomach! “Time for a lunch break,” he declares (hey, superheroes gotta eat too!) and takes off to Union Square to grab lunch. While enjoying his meal, he hears the shrill cry of our beloved San Francisco Giants mascot, Lou Seal.

He looks out the window and sees an all too familiar faced Penguin. And he has captured Lou Seal! Batman leaps from his seat. The chase to rescue Lou Seal is on!

Penguin flees with Lou Seal. They’re headed to AT&T Park!

Oh now what is Penguin going to do with Lou Seal tied up in the batting cages?!

Thankfully Batkid was close behind and was able to capture Penguin with the helps of the police officers!

After a congratulatory hug, it’s announced to Batkid over the big screen that he has earned the Key to San Francisco! Or is it Gotham? No matter, just pass the tissue box please!

Batkid on his way to City Hall! Crowds flock to the grand building where he will be commemorated for his bold actions!

batkid at sf city hall

Batkid with Mayor Ed Le receiving the Key to the City!

Thank you Batkid for protecting our beloved city! Please donate to Make a Wish Foundation to help hundreds of kids like Miles achieve their dreams.