Category: Blue Orange Products

New Spot it! Unveiled at Annual SF Giants Event

Posted on August 23, 2014December 17, 2014 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

Blue Orange Games hosted its annual Giants Event this past weekend. We invited all of our Bay Area retailers to enjoy a night of games, food, drinks, and baseball…and most importantly—to unveil a new Spot it! game!

The office slowly turned into a party space with games on every table, lots of snacks, and a rotating hot dog machine. Each table offered seating for guests, as well as many of our favorite Blue Orange Games. Toy store owners and workers were able to enjoy playing new games, such as Battle Sheep, Aztack, and Niya; while enjoying classics, such as Spot it! and Gobblet. The competition became intense when co-workers challenged each other to a game…which always followed with several rematches.

Guests were also introduced to Blue Orange’s Spot it! San Francisco Giants edition. This Spot it! features images from all of your favorite sites and memories at and around AT&T Park. Each attendee was asked to grab a Spot it! San Francisco Giants edition Ice Breaker pin to get the party started. This ice breaker pin consists of a Spot it! card to wear on your shirt, you then go around to other guests to try and seek your match! To learn more about creating an Ice Breaker pin for your next party, keep your eye out for upcoming posts on our blog, Facebook, & Pinterest.

Toy store guests walked into the world of Blue Orange and were able to connect with many Blue Orange workers and the atmosphere in which we work. Upon entering, guests checked in and received a ticket to the Giants game, as well as a chance to enter into a drawing. The drawing consisted of many Giants themed prizes—Giants flag, bobble head, hats, & best of all two tickets to the Virgin Mobile Suites. Drawing winners were announced toward the end of the event and headed to the ballpark!

We were excited to feature a photo booth for our Blue Orange team and guests to have some more fun. The photo booth consisted of a fun backdrop and many crazy props to create a fun and creative picture! Stores gathered their whole crew to squeeze into one picture and strike a pose.

Once 7:15 hit, it was game time. The event moved down to AT&T Park to enjoy a beautiful night of baseball in San Francisco. This annual event is always a great way for Blue Orange to connect with their retailers and to appreciate them. We would like to thank all of those who attended our event, and to those who could not make it—we hope to see you next year!

Look for Spot it! San Francisco Giants edition coming your way soon. Go Giants!

Prevent Summer Learning Loss: Play Games to Sharpen Young Minds.

Posted on June 12, 2014July 2, 2014 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

Summer vacation means fun and sun, but it can also be a major learning setback for kids (click here for article). Parents express how summer is the most challenging time to esnsure their kids are productive. Maintaining learning skills can be as simple as incorporating games that strengthen math, language skills, visual perception, and creativity. Although the brain is not a muscle per say, it does benefit from regular workouts to stay sharp. Incorporating educational games into their routine will help ensure that once fall approaches, students will have a much easier time transitioning back into school.

Math Skills

Can Math be fun? Many kids struggle with math, and that struggle can lead to frustration. Introducing them to mathematical concepts through games is a less formal approach that will take some of the pressure off because it’ll be fun! Sumoku is a game that will strengthen addition and multiplication in a simple, yet challenging format. The game is made up of colorful number tiles and a die. After you roll the die, players must spot a combination of numbers which adds up to a multiple of the key number. This sharpens math skills because you need to quickly calculate in your head to come up with the right answer. The game is made up of high-quality tokens, and comes in a travel-friendly bag. Another game that introduces children to addition is Double Shutter. Made up of two columns of movable tiles, the object is to flip down as many tiles as possible. Children will learn how to count by adding up the tiles to match the number on the die. The game can be played alone, or with up to 4 players.

Visual Perception

Visual perception skills are the ability for the brain to process what the eyes are seeing. Kids who struggle with visual perception might struggle to write on a blackboard, or find an object within a busy background. Doodle Quest develops this skill through drawing challenges. Children follow instructions on the quest cards, then complete the quest on transparent sheets. There are 36 quest cards with two separate levels of difficulty, so kids can work up to more difficult challenges surrounded by underwater images. Children will develop the ability to measure visually and develop hand-eye coordination. These skills will help in a range of tasks and assignments that require spatial awareness and fine-motor-skills.

Language Skills & Creativity

Language skills, such as reading and writing, also fall by the wayside during the summer. Reading a book to children, and having them read too, is a great way to spend time together while strengthening this important skill. Tell Tale is a storytelling game which is like a book, but that you and your kids can improvise together! Illustrated cards act as story prompts, sparking your imaginations. You pick a card, or make a storyboard, and spin unique stories together. Tell Tale sharpens creativity and improvisation, while encouraging social play. From a creative writing perspective, you could take out a pen and paper and write down the stories that emerge, developing writing skills along the way.

Many of our games introduce preschoolers to letters, while older kids get a head start with vocabulary. Our most popular game, Spot it!, strengthens language skills in a simple matching game. Summer is a great time to learn a new language, and Spot it! French and Spot it! Spanish are easy introductions. For advanced play, use the word in a sentence, or spell it out without looking at the card. To practice writing, write a sentence using the word, or create a poem with words that rhyme with it. Speedebee is another game that strengthens language skills, but with a spelling feature. The goal is to be the fastest player to create a word based on a few letters on the dice. The fast-paced dynamic develops spelling skills and reaction time, which will come in handy during spelling bees or during in class writing exams.

We look forward to summer vacation for the time off and to be with our loved ones, but summer can also be a time to think creatively about how to engage children’s minds so they don’t fall behind. Most of our games are compact, so it’s easy to bring them along with you on your next vacation. Summertime will still be the most anticipated time of the year for kids, but with the added bonus of discovering fun ways to learn.

Playing Games: a Doorway into Childhood

Posted on May 16, 2014June 17, 2014 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

When I told a friend of mine that I would be working for a company that creates games, she said: “You will be rediscovering childhood!” She was right. Each process of game development takes me through another door to that treasure trove of memories. The past two months have zoomed by as I have immersed myself in play, while learning what it takes to make play happen.

Growing up, I played games too. A few that stand out in my mind are Operation, Monopoly, Scrabble, Snakes & Ladders, and Etch a Sketch. I have this vivid memory of playing Operation with my brother and sister, meticulously handling the tiny tweezers, yet missing the wish bone! I can still hear that high-pitched buzzer go off and seeing the red nose of that naked man glow and all of us bursting into laughter. As I look back at that moment, it dawns on me that playing games is a wonderful way to spend time with loved ones, but there’s something deeper happening: playing games creates memories.

I would never have imagined that later on as an adult, I would be engaging in parallel activities, but with the purpose of testing games that go out to our consumers. It’s curious to see how people react to different outcomes, or see the wheels in their heads turning as they plan their next move. Beyond just being fun, games compel us to think strategically, or in ways other than from our daily activities. It is learning, but with a social component that connects people. Board games are a tried and true format that encourages social interaction. In this fast-paced digital age, there’s no better way to unplug and get together.

Can one create memories? We at Blue Orange are certainly helping to create lasting impressions. I think of kids playing our games, and see just how important that process is. Whether completing drawing challenges with Doodle Quest, or telling stories with Tell Tale, children and parents can play with a purpose.

There is a tendency to perceive playing games as just entertainment, that it’s something to keep little ones busy, but our mission reveals that it’s so much more. Although having fun is a big component, for children, play is a doorway into discovery and creativity. They discover new thought processes, and create a micro-world of their own making. I love rediscovering childhood through their eyes.

Niya: More than Meets the Eye

Posted on April 24, 2014April 25, 2014 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

Niya is one of our new strategy games from 2014 that pits players against each other in Japan’s Imperial Garden. Beautifully illustrated tiles and tokens contrast the ruthless tactics needed to win.

How to Play

You and your opponent represent members from two rivaling clans and receive 8 tokens. The 16 garden tiles are shuffled together, and randomly arranged in a 4 x 4 grid. On your first turn, you can place a token on any of the outside tiles to start the game. From then on, you and your rival can only place a token on a tile that shares an element in common with the previous tile chosen. The first player to place four tokens in a row wins: horizontally, vertically, diagonally, or in a 2×2 square. A second way to win is to block your opponent so that they have no more legal moves. For example, if the elements on the previously removed garden tile do not match any of the remaining tiles, the player has no legal moves to choose from, and therefore loses.

Aesthetic Appeal

The illustrations are inspired by classical Japanese artwork and are nicely designed. A contrast exists within the dynamic of this game: serene, natural symbols and settings are conquered by battling clan members.

I’m drawn in by the artwork for Niya. Each token has a detailed character illustration of a rival clan member from classical Japan. The character tokens add subtle personality: the intricately drawn portraits bring you back to an ancient land and its feudal system; the garden tiles showcase nature-inspired animals and symbols. It took me a second sit-down to notice that each character is noticeably distinctive from each other. I only barely noticed the first time since it’s so fast-moving. For such a sophisticated game, ruthless strategizing and quick-thinking can give you an advantage.

Educational Value

Niya develops problem solving, and sharpens focus & attention skills. Players need to think quickly to find a match, which sharpens cognitive speed. By trying to predict their opponent’s next move, children gain the ability to solve problems while having fun. Many cognitive faculties are being used at the same time: visual perception as players scan the tiles for matches, and focus as they strategize their next move.

My Connection to Niya

Every year around this time, the Cherry Blossom festival in Japantown welcomes visitors from all over to appreciate the gorgeous blooms. I remember the first time seeing the bright pink flowers on the trees and feeling at home. My mother, born in Wakayama, reminds me each spring to attend. In Niya, many of the garden tiles contain flowers, or other natural elements such as maple leaves or cranes. These images are symbolic within the Japanese culture. Niya is fun to play, but there is something to be said about how all its elements come together to create a game that is refreshingly nuanced.

Playing to Preserve our Planet

Posted on April 18, 2014April 22, 2014 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

We at Blue Orange Games invite you to join our mission to preserve our planet and its resources.

Since its creation in 2000 by two game enthusiasts, Julien Mayot and Thierry Denoual, Blue Orange has pioneered green initiatives within the toy industry and beyond. Our commitment to conservation sets us apart, and can be traced back to the initial naming of the company which is based on a poem by Paul Eduard. The poet writes, “The earth is blue like an orange.” Although surrealist at first, the verse asks us to question our place and perception of the planet we inhabit. From space, the earth is blue, but as you get closer a myriad of colors and textures make up our home.

Nature supplies us with most of the materials for our games: wood, tin, natural resins, and paper. We use natural and recycled products in an effort to minimize plastic which never degrades. The bulk of our packaging is made from recycled cardboard. Based in one of the most eco-conscious cities in the US, San Francisco, we are proud to contribute to our city’s recycling efforts. We depend on earth’s resources to survive, but we realize that they are not infinite. We are committed–not only to creating fun and educational games–but to using natural materials and replenishing earth’s resources along the way.

In 2006, we founded a program to replenish the environment and make our business more sustainable. For every tree used in our wooden game production, we plant two in the forests of China. So far, we have planted over 125, 000 trees!

Yunhe Town, Zhejiang Province – China.

Last year, we partnered with Save The Bay, the largest organization working to protect and restore the San Francisco Bay. On my ride to work, I look out the window and take in the bay. I’m fortunate to work for a company that donated five percent of its wholesale revenue to Save The Bay. As I settle into my new role here, I’m excited about inspiring kids and that our efforts help conserve the planet.

Another partnership is with Pur Projet, a company based in France that helps businesses offset their carbon footprint through reforestation of the Amazon. To offset our CO2 emissions in 2013, we planted 903 trees in the Alto Huayabamba forest in Peru. The process known as “Insetting” supports local, socio-environmental innovation as it transforms our endeavors into pure projects.

San Martin region, Amazonia – Peru.

Our partnerships reflect our deep commitment to having the smallest environmental footprint possible. The effort begins in how we manufacture our toys, continues in how we bring them to you, and ends in how you play. Knowing that our games are created in the most eco-friendly manner is its own reward, but we are also grateful for our Dr. Toy Green Toy Company Award.

A benefit of playing our games is that they don’t need electricity. In this digital age, kids (and just a few adults) escape for hours in video games. Although fun, video games do require energy. For our games, all you need is the power of your mind and some strategizing–no outlets required! So in addition to interacting with each other, learning, and having fun, players inadvertently conserve earth’s resources!

It is sometimes challenging to imagine a day, let alone an hour, unplugged from our beloved gadgets; but the rewards of doing so could foster more conscious kids, aware of how everyday activities widen or shrink our environmental footprint. Our games are a great way to introduce children to the concept of recycling, reforestation, and conservation. Join us in our efforts to play sustainably.

Tips for Shaping Gameplay

Posted on April 10, 2014April 11, 2014 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

Remember the joy of opening a present? The visual appeal of the packaging. The anticipation of opening the box. The touch and even the smell of a new toy/game. Now imagine you are a 5 year old child. Multiply those sensations to infinity. Alright, it’s not to infinity but it’s pretty high. The act of opening a new game encompasses a child’s senses. The visual, the touch, and the smell of an newly opened game can make following rules really difficult at first. I know when I’m playing with my 5 year old son that I initially don’t always follow the rules of the game. No need to be frustrated. The experience of teaching your child the game rules can still be fun and a good learning experience.

We recently had a visit from a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Sam Blanco. We are a fan of her blog (www.samblanco.com) and how she adapts play for her students with special needs. She offers some valuable tips on shaping gameplay with your kids.

Tips for Shaping Gameplay

by Sam Blanco, BCBA

Whether you have a child with special needs or you are trying to play games with siblings of different ages, it can be challenging to figure out how to make a game accessible for everyone who wants to play.

Here are a few tips for introducing and teaching new games.

• Allow for exploration. Kids can learn a lot just from freely exploring the materials of a game. Chef Cuckoo is a great example of this, because kids get a kick out of exploring all the different ingredients and putting them into interesting and odd combinations. Pixy Cubes is another great example as kids enjoy free time to create their own patterns with the cubes. Becoming familiar with the materials makes it easier for many learners to focus on understanding the rules, rather than trying to simultaneously understand the rules and the materials.

• Put fewer pieces in play. This simple step can make a huge difference in a learner’s ability to enjoy a game. For example, with Fastrack, instead of having ten discs in play, I might just start with four. Remember the Rule of Three. Before adding a new step or increasing the difficulty level, the child should be able to play the game at the current step three times consecutively with success. With Fastrack, once a learner has mastered playing with four discs, we’ll start playing with six discs, then eight, etc. This means that it might take a while before you’re playing the game completely as designed.

• Additional rules can wait. I frequently introduce a game without introducing all of the rules. For example, with Chef Cuckoo I challenge learners to create the Best Pizza or Worst Pasta, but don’t introduce the “star system” aspect of the game until later. The Rule of Three applies with adding rules, as well.

• Provide prompts when necessary. It can be useful to provide visual or textual prompts to allow your learner to play a game independently. For example, with Double Shutter I sometimes utilize a visual prompt of index cards with all the different addends that can be used to arrive at a specific sum.

• Stack the deck. When introducing card games of any type, I frequently set up the deck with only cards I know the learner can understand and play with. For example, with Speedeebee, I will go through all the cards and remove any that I know my learner cannot respond to based on his/her current skill level. If I’m playing with more than one child who have different skill levels, I’ll create individual stacks of cards and change the rules so that players take turns responding. Over time, as the learner experiences more success with the game, I introduce more challenging cards.

• End the game early. Learners with special needs may have a lower frustration tolerance, so while it may seem counter-intuitive it is often best to end a game at the height of their interest. I’ll also frequently use a timer for games that last a long time, and when the timer goes off we move on to a new activity. Ending a game at the height of interest actually increases the likelihood that the learner will request it again in the future, and as their mastery of the game grows their frustration tolerance will also grow.

Remember that there is great value in playing, even if you aren’t playing the game as designed. The goal is to create opportunities for learners of all skill levels to have fun playing games.

Sam Blanco is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and an ABA provider for children ages 3-15 with autism and other developmental disabilities in NYC. She is dedicated to showing the value of games, play, and technology in special education. You can find much more information on teaching through games at her blog at www.samblanco.com.

From Classroom to Game Room

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

After graduating with a Creative Writing degree, I envisioned myself being a writer or a teacher, or both. In addition to fine-tuning my craft at San Francisco State, I was an instructor’s assistant for three different creative writing classes, and was an English tutor at the Learning Assistance Center. I could have gone down the literature path and spent my days analyzing prolific texts, and although I love literature, I need to tell stories. I love to write and to share my love for learning with fresh minds, so it’s serendipitous that I found a fit at Blue Orange Games!

As I write copy for new games and select illustrations, I am taken aback by the parallels between what I did as a tutor and what I am working on now. As a tutor, I helped students read and write better while encouraging them to become independent learners. I never thought that I could find similar rewards working for a company, but I have. I am helping kids learn through these games. Had you told me months ago that I would be part of a team creating educational games for children three and up, I would have said, “That’s my dream job!” Although I am not directly working with students, I think of the children who will learn via our games and it’s a similar feeling. When I was interviewed for the position I said to Martin, the director, that I could see myself thriving here because it’s important that my work has an impact. At the end of my first week, I looked over to Brandan’s computer and saw symbols that I chose for a new Spot it! game. I love to think that somewhere, someone, will be playing the games I helped create while learning!

As a tutor, I learned how different activities such as board work, writing prompts, and asking open-ended questions helps students learn by triggering different cognitive functions. I gained a variety of teaching strategies so I could guide students while engaging their attention. It was so rewarding to watch my weekly students become better writers over the semester. Learning encompasses a range of resources and strategies that students can access. I see how our games mold young minds, preparing them for school later on. Reading, for instance, is a challenge for some college students. I wonder if it‘s because they did not learn to read early enough, or were probably never taught reading strategies like annotating in high school. Whatever the reasons, getting a jump start improves your capacity for learning down the line.

The mix of learning with fun is why I loved studying creative writing. In my second semester as an instructor’s assistant, I presented a lecture to a classroom of more than eighty students! My heart beat fast, but then I saw the students’ eyes light up after I gave them my writing prompt. When they turned in their stories, I could tell that my guidance triggered many intriguing tales. For one of the games I’m working on right now, Tell Tale Princess, I am using this talent by choosing characters, settings, and emotions that will trigger kids’ imaginations. My work here mirrors what I accomplished as an IA, only targeted to a younger audience. Although my niece is only two and a half years old, so probably too young to play this game right now, I foresee her creating vivid stories thanks to my image prompts one day!