Author: Corinne Marcot-Jones

Introducing our 2017 Lineup!

Posted on February 6, 2017January 10, 2018 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

With a New Year comes new games from Blue Orange! Keep reading to get a preview of the 13 new games we added to our catalog. We have everything from logic games, to family fun games, to games with a classic-cool feel. As always, they are all simple to learn, easy to play, and pack major fun. They are set to be in stores and online in March- we are just as excited as you are! In the meantime get your logic, strategy, and thinking brains ready, you are going to need them. With so many to choose from we dare you to pick your new favorite!

Logic: Stretch your brain and think fast to win!

Dr. Microbe

Ages 8 & Up | 2-4 Players

Dr. Microbe has important research to do and she needs help! Using a pair of tweezers, players race to grab the correct colorful microbes and place them into their petri dish to solve an incomplete challenge card. Make sure to follow the research rules and finish first to impress Dr. Microbe and win the card as a point. The unique concept and components will make this your new go-to!

Dr. Beaker

Ages 8 & Up | 2-4 Players

Stir up excitement in the third installment to the Dr. Collection! In this logic race, players move molecules around the compartments of their beaker to try and match solutions on flipped challenge cards. Players must think quickly and work fast as they rearrange the molecules with their stirring rods. The first to finish wins the card as a point! A special rotating platform at the bottom of the beaker makes this race unlike one you’ve ever tried!

GoGo Gelato

Ages 6 & Up | 2-4 Players

Become a gelato mixing master in GoGo Gelato! Players fill their customer’s orders armed with 4 scoops, 3 cones, 2 hands, and 1 challenge card in this delicious game of rearrangement. Happy customers are the ones whose orders are filled quickly and efficiently, so speed and thinking ahead are a must. This logic race has the perfect recipe for a good time!

Family Fun: Perfect for when everyone wants to join in!

Flying Kiwis

Ages 6 & Up | 2-4 Players

The kiwis want to go on vacation, but they can’t fly! Players help the kiwi birds sneak into a fruit crate by launching them with ramps. The kiwis are picky and like to sit with their friends, so make sure to line up 4 of the same color in a row or a square to win! Launch into fun with this tic-tac-toe style family game.

Tricky Trunks

Ages 5 & Up | 2-4 Players

The elephants are out and they want to play! Race to pick up the balls with the elephant toys, following the rules of the challenge cards. Work quickly but be careful, the rolling balls can sometimes be tricky to pick-up. Tricky Trunks promotes dexterity and motor skill development, and is sure to provide elephant-sized excitement!

Tumble Tree

Ages 6 & Up | 2-4 Players

Build your own baobab tree in this card placement game. Each animal card has its own way to be added to the ever-growing canopy, but place them carefully! If the branches are overburdened the tree will fall. Avoid penalties and be the player with the least amount of cards at the end to win, but most importantly…don’t let the tree-top topple!

Eye ‘N Seek

Ages 6 & Up | 2-6 Players

Spin to win! Flip a card and then rotate the wheel to find its matching icon in the windows. Hurry, it’s a race! Spot the match before your opponents to win the round and a point. With 6 double-sided wheels, 100 icons, 3 levels, and 6 games to play the searching fun is endless!

Quizoo

Ages 6 & Up | 2-8 Players

Who’s faster? Slower? Bigger? Smalller? Compare and learn about animals’ average weights, sizes, speeds, and lifespans in this quick-thinking card game. Flip a card and race to be the first to shout out the right answer! Collect the most cards to win and rule the animal kingdom!

Classic Feel: New games that already feel like old favorites!

Zero

Ages 8 & Up | 2-4 Players

Less is more in this subtle card game. Group the cards in your hand by number and color to try cancelling out their point values. Multiples of cards are scored as zero, so each number is only counted once. Trade cards while keeping a watchful eye on your opponents. Mind your strategy as you all reach for the goal of cancelling out your hand and achieving the ultimate combo: ZERO!

Clear for Takeoff

Ages 7 & Up | 2-4 Players

In this aviation-themed card game, collect enough cards in your hand to send your fleet through the different stages of takeoff, and then high into the sky! Navigate weather problems, mechanical failures and your opponents’ strategies in order to successfully launch your whole fleet. Get all your planes off the ground before your opponents’ to win. Clear for takeoff was invented by a real pilot!

Dice Stack

Ages 7 & Up | 1-6 Players

Pile up your points in this stacking dice game. Roll the tilted dice and then carefully stack them up in numerical order. Stop at any time to win the number of points in the stack, or take a chance and try to stack all 6. Once you have stacked all 6, do you dare to try and double your points with the Golden Die? Just make sure to not let them fall or you’ll lose it all!

Rally Roll

Ages 8 & Up | 2-6 Players

Will you risk it all? Roll all 6 dice and win the number of points that match the big colored die. Decide to bank your points, or take a risk and roll again. Keep scoring as long as you have numbered dice that match the colored die. If nothing matches, forfeit all points won that round and try again next time! Take big risks with this fast and fun dice game!

Kingdomino

Ages 8 & Up | 2-4 Players

Explore the lands and expand your kingdom! Each turn, connect a new domino to your existing kingdom, making sure that at least one of its sides connects to a matching terrain type already in play. Don’t forget to include dominoes with crowns on them, these royal treasures double the worth of your kingdom! Build up your 5×5 grid as best you can, as the player with the richest lands takes it all!

Kingdomino had a small prerelease at the end of 2016, but it will now be available in specialty toy stores and online.

Congratulations Mind Benders in Whiting, IN for Winning February Store of the Month

Posted on February 1, 2017March 6, 2017 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

Congratulations to our February Store of the Month, Mind Benders in Whiting, Indiana! Our sales rep Adrien nominated them because they have gathered great success with their new business. They also won third place in our Window Display Contest. I had the pleasure of talking to the owners, Joel and Amy Bender, about Mind Benders’ success.

Mind Benders is a new store that has blossomed in the past five months. The store started in August 2016 after one of its owners, Joel, ended his job as a beer salesman. Joel and his wife, Amy, loved board games, and they wanted to start a business that could educate and bring families together. They wanted to sell board games that branched beyond mainstream big hits. Now, they sell a wider variety of games that many stores in the area can’t offer.

Mind Benders’ first encountered Blue Orange when they met Adrien. Joel said Adrien was such a great help to them and their new business. He explained that Adrien was good with suggesting games that were popular and trending. He was also happy to hear Adrien check in on their business and let them know about company contests and events, such as the Window Display Contest.

In the short five months Mind Benders has been in business, they’ve noticed that their customers love to buy the games they demo. One of their best successes is Pengoloo. They’ve also learned so much and created so many experiences since they started their business. Joel is always so happy to see his customers play the demos with smiles on their faces, and he can’t help but smile when kids will beg to stay so they can play just a few more games. However, starting a business has been quite the learning process for Joel and Amy. It’s a struggle to stay on top of new trends and manage demos according to those trends. Still, Joel and Amy are glad they can offer a personal shopping experience where customers can buy an enriching game that’s perfect for their loved ones.

We are so thrilled that Mind Benders has grown so much in such a short time. We hope that their business continues to soar and eventually becomes a timeless place where the community gathers to find and enjoy amazing games. Congratulations! You earned it!

Congratulations Uncle’s Games in Spokane, WA for Winning December Store of the Month

Posted on December 13, 2016 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

The Holidays are officially happening, which means it’s time to find the perfect games for all of your loved ones. What better place to find those games than at our fantastic December Store of the Month, Uncle’s Games in Spokane, Washington! Our sales rep Jean nominated Uncle’s Games for its professionalism and extensive knowledge about games, making it the perfect stop for your Holiday shopping.

Uncle’s Games originally started as Book and Games Company in the 70s. Its first owners were Shannon Ahern and Chris O’Herra. By 1995 the store began to grow, and its two owners divided the store between them; Chris took the book side of the business while Shannon kept the games. I had the pleasure of talking to the store manager, Hans. In our discussion, Hans mentioned how Shannon was taking a big risk in pursuing the board game industry. At the time, board games weren’t due to spike in popularity for at least a decade. However, Shannon saw an opportunity to market and sell games in a way that no one had before. Since the split, the local business has expanded to a few locations including Uncle’s Games.

Hans didn’t come from a gaming family, but by sixth grade the local business had inspired a lifelong passion for board games in Hans. He remained involved with the company and only left to go off to college. When he graduated and returned home, Shannon hired him on to help manage Uncle’s Games.

According to Hans, the goal isn’t “just to sell games, but to make gamers.” Uncle’s Games endeavors to help customers expand out of the mainstream market to games that delve deeper into the spirit of gaming. Hans makes a point to get to know each customer so he can hand-pick a game he knows they will enjoy. Blue Orange’s games are often ideal for this, since many of our games are so quick to learn. Hans even mentioned that 1901 has always been a perfect game for families new to hobby gaming.

One of Uncle’s Games greatest successes is building a place for the gaming community to come together. They were one of the first businesses to coordinate gaming events that they could hold in their store. However, the first hurdle was discovering what the community wanted. The business’s gaming community included Dungeons and Dragons players as well as board gamers. It was a struggle to learn where and when to schedule each event. They eventually hired an event coordinator to work with each site. Now Uncle’s Games sponsors many scheduled events that continues to tailor to the fun-filled community it fosters.

Uncle’s Games is an incredible example of a retailer that builds a community. Blue Orange is proud to work with them, and we congratulate them for a well-earned Store of the Month Award. Check out for yourself why Uncle’s Games became this month’s winner and visit their main store at 404 W Main Avenue in Spokane, Washington. You can also check them out at any of their other locations or on their website.

Blue Orange Games Holiday Gift Guide

Posted on December 1, 2016 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

Holiday Gift Guide 2016

Check out our list of recommendations from the 2016 catalog that would make excellent additions to your holiday gift guide or list. With a diverse selection, there is bound to be something for everyone! These games are perfect for…

The Tiny Tot: Vroom Vroom

2 to 4 Players | Ages 4 and Up

A cute snail-themed game with high quality components, and wooden snails that really roll! Helps little ones learn counting and dexterity, and a build-your-own track option makes each game different.

The Demolition-Obsessed: Kaboom

2-5 Players | Ages 6 and Up

What’s better than catapult fueled fun?! Construct wooden towers as the master builder while your opponents act as saboteurs, and launch projectiles in an attempt to foil your work.

Your Favorite Teacher: The Super Genius Collection

1-6 Players | Ages 3 and Up

Thank your favorite teacher with a set from our collection of educational matching games! These reading and math games are beloved by students and teachers for breaking the boring streak of traditional flashcards.

The Aspiring Mad Scientist: Dr. Eureka

1-4 Players | Ages 8 and Up

A uniquely-themed game that will challenge even the smartest little scientist! It is a brain-teaser with a competitive twist that children and families will return to play again and again.

The Maniacal Magician: Top That!

2-4 Players | Ages 7 and Up

Put on your top hat and get ready to stack! Race your opponents to pile your props up just like the challenge cards. Pay attention to the cards, are you supposed to hide your tricks or let the audience see them?

Family Game Night: New York 1901

2-4 Players | Ages 8 and Up

Take on the role of developers as you compete for glory and prestige in the Big Apple’s financial district. Acquire new land, demonlish old buildings, and build up skyscrapers to staggering heights in a race for control of New York during the iconic guilded age. This big box stratey board game is the perfect addition to any game night roation or library. NY191 was just awarded GAMES Magazine Traditional Game of the Year, 2016!

The Pokemon Lover: Gigamons

2-4 Players | Ages 6 and Up

Summon powerful Gigamons by collecting tiny Elemons with special powers! A clever twist on classic memory games, it is sure to transport players to it’s magical, elemental world!

The Skilled Strategist: Brix

2 Players | Ages 7 and Up

Build a wall while trying to get four in a row. But wait- it isn’t that simple! Pick X’s, O’s, colors or both to make the game interesting. Be careful, the blocks are tricky, you next move could mean your opponent’s victory!

The Avid Gamer: Vikings on Board

2-4 Players | Ages 8 and Up

This big box, family strategy game’s unique theme and beautiful components make it a perfect gift for any gamer in your life. Players compete to control the biggest portion of ships before they set sail, in an attempt to collect the best supplies. Use Viking tokens to claim actions and gain the advantage over your opponents to win!

Stocking Stuffers

Good things come in small packages! Tin games are great for on-the-go fun. They fit perfectly into stockings hanging by the fire, and make great little gifts.

Ring it!

2-9 Players | Ages 5 and Up

Ring in the New Year with this awesome party game! Be the first to spot a match between two cards and hit the bell as fast as you can.

Fast Flip

2-8 Players | Ages 7 and Up

Flip over fun in this fast fruit frenzy! Be the quickest to find how many of a certain fruit, or how many times a certain fruit, shows up on a card.

Mini Fast Flip Holidays

2-8 Players | Ages 7 and Up

A mini, festive twist on a Blue Orange original. Snowmen, reindeer, presents, trees and candy canes decorate each card.

Mini Fast Flip Pizza

2-8 Players | Ages 7 and Up

A small slice of fun, perfect for any pizza lover! Flip over slices full of tomatoes, mushrooms, olives, peppers and onions. Delicious fun!

To check out all our catalog has to offer visit: blueorangegames.com

Congratulations to Figpickels Toy Emporium in Coeur d’Alene, ID for Winning November’s Store of the Month

Posted on November 3, 2016November 3, 2016 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

With Halloween past, the time has come to throw away our jack-o-lanterns and hang up our costumes. However before we prepare the house for our Thanksgiving banquet, we must announce November’s Store of the Month! Congratulations to Figpickels Toy Emporium in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho! Our sales rep Jean chose Figpickels for their cute store and outstanding reputation in the city. I had the pleasure of discussing Figpickels’ success with the store owners Susan and Brett Sommer.

Picture taken from the City of Coeur d’Alene site.

Coeur d’Alene resides right next to an alpine lake that bears the same name. With the fantastic scenery, Coeur d’Alene has become one of the fastest growing tourist locations and has earned a spot in 1000 Places to See in the USA and Canada Before You Die by Patricia Schultz. When I asked Brett about the city, he said its moderate climate and the fantastic ski spots during the winters are just a couple of the many factors that make this place an absolute marvel. These are also a few of the many qualities that drew Susan and Brett to settle here on their travels.

The Sommer family was living in New York City during the devastating 9/11 Terrorist Attack in 2001. After the attack, the family made the difficult decision to quit their jobs, pack up, and leave New York to travel the US. They came across Coeur d’Alene and purchased a historic building, which they renovated and leased out. The building, however, was never rented. Brett and Susan noticed there was no toy store in Coeur d’Alene, and they recalled how excited they had been to find a toy store in the towns they visited. They decided to take the building for themselves and make their own toy store out of it.

When I asked Susan and Brett about their favorite part in running the store, they said they loved the community and the people they meet. They said it’s “always a party in there” for them and they love to meet people from around the world. The Sommer’s once met a teacher from Portland, Oregon that worked with autistic students, and with help from their son, she was able to find a toy that could help her in the classroom. The business also takes pride in working with educators in their area, and learning more about how toys can engage in developmental therapy.

Devin Sommer teaches English in Turkey using Blue Orange Games!

Speaking of education, Susan and Brett find that Blue Orange Games hold a lot of educational and cognitive benefits. Brett is personally excited to learn how Dr. Eureka may help those with autism and ADHD. Their son, Devin Sommer, even took some Blue Orange Games games with him to Turkey in his study abroad program to help teach English to the people there. He partners with the Institute of International Education and has recently won the Generation Study Abroad Video Challenge.

Beyond the exciting location and educational games, Susan and Brett know their games are a blast to play. How do they know this? Because they were tested by the Board of Directors, a group of twelve children who won the Figpickels essay contest.

“Figpickels Toy Emporium’s twelve Board of Directors winners were selected from over 350 entrants encompassing the entire region through an essay contest designed to encourage students to creatively and effectively communicate.” Figpickels Toy Emporium’s Board of Directors for 2013

Xavier met with the Board of Directors to teach Blue Orange Games in 2013.

In 2013 the Board of Directors tested over 500 games to compile a holiday list for the Figpickels store. Xavier, one of our Sales Manager, also came on the scene to show the kids how to play the Blue Orange games. Susan and Brett were thrilled to work with the manufacturers that provided the games and toys. During our conversation, they also expressed that their esteemed Board of Directors would always end up picking Blue Orange games for the holiday list.

It is no wonder that Figpickels Toy Emporium won November’s Store of the Month. We are so proud of our friends at Figpickels. Check out for yourself why Figpickels Toy Emporium is November’s Store of the Month at 210 E. Sherman Ave, Coeur d’Alene, ID or visit their site here! Congratulations again! We hope your store continues to succeed and your community prospers.

Congratulations Rehoboth Toy & Kite Co in Rehoboth, DE for Winning October Store of the Month

Posted on October 11, 2016 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

It’s that time again. The time when we show our thanks and gratitude to another fantastic Store of the Month winner! Give it up for October’s Store of the Month, Rehoboth Toy & Kite Co. in Rehoboth, Delaware. Our sales manager Yann nominated Rehoboth Toy & Kite Co. because of how well they demonstrate Dr. Eureka, Ring It!, and Gobblet Gobblers to their customers.

Check out Rehoboth Toy & Kite Co at 1 Virginia Ave and 70 Rehoboth Ave in Rehoboth Beach, Deleware

In my conversation with co-founder Rachel Webster, I learned that she opened Rehoboth Toy & Kite Co. on the boardwalk in 1993 with her business partner Bee Linzey. After four years of successful business, Rachel and Bee opened a year-round location downtown where they display the majority of their toys and games while continuing to show off their beautiful kites on the boardwalk during the summer months. Since the beginning, Rehoboth Toy & Kite Co. has dedicated itself to becoming a show-and-tell, hands-on business. They have won both the Retailer of the Year from the Kite Association and Small Business of the Year from the Small Business Association.

Celebrating with the Blue Orange Games — **Manager Michael Schwartz and game expert Steve Bunte celebrating with some Blue Orange Games**

“Don’t touch” are two words never spoken in the Rehoboth Toy & Kite Co., but you can always expect to hear a “catch this” or “play with this” as the staff invites you to play with their many toys and games. Rachel mentioned how many stores typically discourage children from touching their product for fear of accidentally breaking an item. She wanted to break away from this trend and encourage her customers to use the toys and games as they’re meant to be used. Rachel also loves her interactions with customers and sees herself as a “total big kid”. She enjoys staying in character while in the store and feels it’s important for a business to “really reach out” to its customers. Some of her favorite Blue Orange games to play with her customers are Dr. Eureka and Gobblet Gobblers because they are so easy to demonstrate to younger children.

Rachel Webster and Bee Linzey — **Business partners since 1993!**

Unlike many other stores, many of Rehoboth Toy & Kite Co.’s management challenges come from the weather conditions of the area. Rachel’s business booms during the summer season when tourists and locals walk around along the pier and downtown to catch a glimpse of her stores. During this time, they keep their boardwalk location open and put on kite shows for the public. However, the boardwalk store closes on the first day of fall, leaving only their downtown location open. Even during the summer season, hours can get complicated when weather reports warn of a hurricane or heavy rains. Rachel has to anticipate a drop in customers for those days even if the predictions don’t hold up.

Congratulations Rehoboth Toy & Kite Co — **Congratulations!**

Despite its unique challenges with Mother Nature, you can expect to see Rachel standing in front of her store on the boardwalk ready to show off her beautiful kites on the first day of summer. Locals and visitors alike are only too thrilled to stop by Rehoboth Toy & Kite Co. to try out the kites and games they have to offer. Check Rehoboth Toy & Kite Co. at either of their two locations on 70 Rehoboth Ave. or 1 Virginia Ave. in Rehoboth Beach. We are so proud to name them Store of the Month for October. We wish many good things for their business and hope they continue to flourish. Keep your kites flying!

Four Outstanding Educational Games for Kids

Posted on September 29, 2016October 3, 2016 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

At Blue Orange, we emphasis the importance of high quality learning through play. Oftentimes kids have so much fun playing games, they don’t even realize they are learning! All it takes is the right game to spark your child’s interest; here are but a few to pack in their backpack for this school season.

Doodle Quest

In Doodle Quest the players draw paths and shapes on a clear sheet according to the instructions of the picture in front of them. Then the players place the clear sheet over the picture to test how accurate their lines are to the image. Because it utilizes this form of spatial understanding, Doodle Quest is rated 5 out of 5 stars on Mindprint Learning. Reviewers on Mindprint Learning have acclaimed Doodle Quest a “unique drawing game that will help students develop visual-spatial skills.” Reviewers also loved how the game has an incremental level system, which makes it easier to find the right difficulty for each player.

Rally Up!

In this game, players try to call out themes for cards that belong to the same “family” or category. For this reason Rally Up! is often remarked as a clever way to practice categorization and language organization in young children. In 2015 this game was award the PAL (Play Advances Language) Award for it’s innovative methods of promoting language in young children. The awards are directed by Sherry Artemenko, a children’s speech therapist of 35 years, who recognizes games that “through their design, content, quality, and character, promote play that advances language.”

Tell Tale

Tell Tale is comprised of 60 illustrated cards to inspire players to create stories to tell to friends and family. Because of its cooperative and creative play style, teachers have found that Tell Tale is an excellent game in developing creative expression and communication skills. Fat Brain Toys reviewers have given Tell Tale 4.43 stars out of 5. Fat Brain Toys is a site dedicated to showing and supporting “quality, open-ended toys, games, and gifts that entertain AND educate.” They, like us, believe that toys should stimulate and inspire educational and developmental skills. Their reviewers feel the same. One teacher raved about how Tell Tale has been a “huge hit” in Speech and Language therapy.

Super Genius

Super Genius is hands down the best educational game for any growing and learning child. With 8 games to choose from for multiple subjects and skill levels, Super Genius was developed alongside learning professions. The game engages young learners through a unique formula in which the players spot the matching answer between two types of cards. The game is so effective in teaching children, the Global Educator Institute (GEI) has awarded it the Seal of Endorsement. The GEI sends teaching tools to teachers in classrooms for reviews. This allows real educators to give feedback on innovative, educational products in a real classroom setting. The reviewing teachers called Super Genius “an asset to any educational institution” and “really fun for kids”. Sam Blanco also uses Super Genius to teach autistic children reading and math. She says, “I particularly love the reading decks because many of my students with autism read fluently but struggle with comprehension. This game offers a simple way to practice comprehension.”

At Blue Orange, it is our goal to develop games that inspire child development through fun and engaging ways that the whole family can enjoy. Give these games a try and tell us what you think!