Category: Blue Orange Products

Educational Games in the Classroom – Pixy Cubes

Posted on January 30, 2014January 30, 2014 by Blue Orange Games

When using educational games as learning tools in and out of the classroom, we encourage teachers and parents to break the rules! With a little creativity, you can turn existing games into a classroom or homework activity that targets the lesson at hand.

Last year, we were fortunate to have a teacher in Pennsylvania with over 20 years experience in elementary school education design lesson plans using our educational games. As a part of an ongoing series of posts, today we will be covering our creative storytelling game Tell Tale.

See previous post on Tell Tale

Pattern Building with Pixy Cubes

About the game:
Pixy Cubes is a versatile game that involves memory, speed and creativity, depending on how you play. The game contains 16 cubes with green, red, yellow, and blue sides—either as solids, half and half, or crescent shapes. Players use the cubes to complete patterns on the challenge and design cards, either in a race or by memory. It’s similar to Tangrams, but in 3D!

Pixy Cubes Educational pattern game

Grade Level Application: Kindergarten

Skills: Math concepts, such as patterning, and attention to detail

Lesson Plan Suggestions:
Small Group: 4 children
# Of Games Required: 1 per group
Noise level: Low

Practice Patterns
Divide up the cubes so all players receive one of each cube pictured below. On a worksheet, there are 4 lines of patterns each with an outline of the next cube. They have to rotate their cubes to find which one fits the pattern and place it on the outline.

Practice Cooperative Play
Divide up the cubes so all players receive one of each cube (see picture above). Then have the students decide on a 16 cube Design Card to recreate the pattern of. Together they have to recreate the pattern using their cubes.

Grade Level Application: 4th

Skills: Math concepts, such as repeated patterns

Lesson Plan Suggestions:
Small Group: 4 children
# Of Games Required: 2 per group
Noise level: Low

Practice Patterning With Mirror Images
Another activity for one student similar to Design Games is to use mirror images to extend the pattern. This pattern is two cubes high and eight cubes long. Students could use four Pixy Cubes to create one of the challenge card patterns. Then they are to extend the pattern with the second set of four cubes being a mirror image of the first four cubes. The third set of four cubes will be a mirror image of the second set. The fourth set will be a mirror image of the third set.

(Sets one and three are the same, and sets two and four are the same.)

Lesson Plan Suggestions:
Small Group: 4 children
# Of Games Required: 4 per group
Noise level: Low

Practice Patterning Using Tessellations
Another activity for one student similar to Design Games is to use mirror images to create a tessellation that is a 4×4 square using all 16 cubes. Students could use four Pixy Cubes to create one of the challenge card patterns. Then they are to extend the pattern with the second set of four cubes being a mirror image of the first four cubes either to the left or the right. Then they are to place the remaining eight cubes below in a mirror image of the first eight cubes. This will make a 4×4 cube square.

Grade Level Application: 3rd

PixyCubes_Cards&Pieces

Skills: Math concepts, such as repeated patterns

Lesson Plan Suggestions:
Small Group: 6 children
# Of Games Required: 1 per group
Noise level: Moderate to low

Practice Attention To Detail
Speed Game with 6 players: Divide students into two groups of three students in each so there will be two games being played at the same time. Each group gets six of the Challenge Cards and two sets of cubes as explained in the Speed Game. Play begins in each group with two players and one observer who will rotate into the game in each of the rounds of play. As soon as one of the players completes the pattern, the observer checks to see that it is correct. If correct, the observer trades places with the first winner, scrambles the four cubes, and tries to beat the other player for second place.

1st winner gets 3 points
2nd winner gets 2 points
3rd (last one to finish) gets 1 point

Play continues with the winner of the first round being the new observer, who will reenter the game when the second round has a winner. Players keep track of points. Play continues with winner of each round being the observer and re-entering the game as new winners happen. At the end of six rounds the one with the most points is the winner.

Get a sneak peak at our 2014 NEW games!

Posted on January 23, 2014April 29, 2014 by Blue Orange Games

We cannot contain our excitement anymore and are ready to officially announce our new product lineup premiering at The American International Toy Fair on February 16-19, 2014. Joining our collection of over 40 products are eight new games that showcase what Blue Orange is all about: easy to learn, fast playing games that are irresistibly fun for kids and adults alike. This year we explored different game formats, new components, and unexpected merchandise designs, while diversifying our collection and winning over new audiences.

The 2014 new games are due to hit stores in late Spring, and we have even more surprises in store for later in the year. It’s going to be a good one!

2014 New Games from Blue Orange Games

Kids’ Favorites

Doodle Quest

Ages 6 & Up / 1 to 4 Players

This unique drawing game takes kids on a deep sea adventure to fulfill underwater quests with the power of their pens. Each quest card has a detailed illustration and drawing instructions. On their separate transparent sheets, players complete the drawing and must trust their eyes in order to meet targets and avoid obstacles. The sheets are then placed over the card to score their sketches’ success. With 36 quests and two levels, the bait of the challenge hooks kids for hours of fun!

WuzzIts

Ages 6 & Up / 2 to 4 Players

Enter the wacky world of WuzzIts and watch to see what monster they will morph into next! Clever choices and matching skills are rewarded in this charismatic card game. The WuzzIt population is divided in five families, but the mischievous WuzzIts like to combine with each other to create a confusing cast of characters. To unscramble them, players strategically exchange bottom cards and top cards to match up a monster and earn points. Playing is easy, but victory is tricky. Round up the most WuzzIts to win!

Family Fun

Aztack

Ages 7 to Adult / 2 to 4 Players

Aztack dares players to stack up to the great Aztecs and build a temple following divine laws. The high quality playing pieces or “stones” are inscribed with two colored Aztec glyphs. Every added stone must bridge two underneath and match them by color or glyph. Strategic moves like blocking your opponents’ next move will help a player stack the most stones to win!

Battle Sheep

Ages 7 to Adult / 2 to 4 Players

Rivaling sheep herds go to head to fluffy head in this quick moving strategy game. The goal is to have your sheep occupy the most pastures. On each turn, players split their stack of sheep and move a portion as far is it can go in a straight line to a new pasture. The winner will be watchful of sneaky sheep and successful at fencing out the foe. A different playing board is assembled before every game, so Battle Sheep is full of new challenges every time you play!

Spot it! Freeze

Ages 8 to Adult / 2 to 8 Players

Everyone’s favorite card game has gone sub-zero! Spot it! Freeze pits players against an electric timer and heats up the match fueled frenzy with three new games. Players race against the clock as they search for matches between temperature-charged symbols, all while looking for their chance to freeze their opponents. Depending on the game, the clock can grant an advantage or cause a hair-pulling drawback. Beat the freeze to win! The handy timer opens up to store the playing cards.

Spot it! Splash

Ages 7 to Adult / 2 to 8 Players

The new waterproof version of the family favorite makes a splash wherever your adventures take you! Surf and sand are no match for these plastic cards, so you can play all five game variations any time, any place. Spot the single match between the most card combinations to win. Rain or shine, the summery symbols will put everyone in the mood for fun in the sun. Stash the cards in the waterproof travel bag and soak up the excitement on the go!

Simply Strategy

Niya

Ages 8 to Adult / 2 Players

Set in the Imperial Garden of Classical Japan, Niya centers on a dark political conspiracy among two influential clans. On every turn, players replace a garden tile with one of their clan tokens. The next player can only exchange a token for a garden tile that has an element in common with the previously chosen tile. The first to position their clan in a row, square, or blockade will win control of the garden…and power at court! A simple yet sophisticated strategy game, Niya captivates players young and old.

BraveRats

Ages 8 to Adult / 2 Players

In the Highlands of Medieval Scotland, an epic battle is taking place underfoot! Rivaling rat clans clash in a bid for the throne in this two player strategy game. Both players have a hand of eight cards, numbered 0 to 7, with each character on the card possessing a special power. Cards are revealed in a calculated duel with the victory going to the higher number, unless the special power overrules. The first player to win four rounds claims the kingdom for their clan. This minimalist wonder plays in just minutes but packs rich game play and plenty of suspense.

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!

Educational Games in the Classroom – Tell Tale

Posted on January 16, 2014January 30, 2014 by Blue Orange Games

When using games as learning tools, we encourage teachers and parents to break the rules! With a little creativity, you can turn existing games into a classroom or homework activity that targets the lesson at hand.

See the previous post in the series on Sumoku

Practicing Language Arts with Tell Tale

About the game:
Tell Tale is a storytelling tool consisting of 60 double-sided illustrated cards. Illustrations include characters, settings, objects and emotions. Players use the cards as prompts to build stories, either individually or collectively. Players may improvise and let chance lead their story, or plan it out.

Grade Level Application: Kindergarten

Skills: Language and vocabulary development by thinking in sentences and using a variety of descriptive words, observing details especially facial expressions of emotions in people pictures.

Lesson Plan Suggestions
Classroom activity or Small Group: 4-6 children
# Of Games Required: 1 per group
Noise level: Moderate to low

Practice Language and Vocabulary development
Everyone is dealt 4 cards then after looking them over picks 2 to use. Using a story paper worksheet, draw a picture using those 2 images and then write or tell a sentence about what’s happening.

Practice Observing Details
Place 4 cards with facial expressions face-up in the center of the group. Have the students draw a picture with someone making one of those faces then write or tell a sentence about how that person feels and why.

Grade Level Application: 1st

Skills: Language and vocabulary development by writing descriptive paragraphs

Lesson Plan Suggestions
Classroom activity or Small Group: 4-6 children
# Of Games Required: 1 per group
Noise level: Moderate to low

Practice Writing Descriptive Paragraphs
Each student takes a card and then chooses one side to write about. Using three or more sentences, they should describe what they see. Encourage them to be creative with this, i.e. “Who or what is in the picture?” “Where is this person/object?” “What is happening?”

Grade Level Application: 3rd

Skills: Language and vocabulary development by creating stories (with a beginning, middle, and end) and using a variety of descriptive words, writing skills such as handwriting and using sequenced events in stories

Lesson Plan Suggestions
Classroom activity or Small Group: 4-6 children
# Of Games Required: 1 per group
Noise level: Moderate to low

Practice Writing Stories With Beginning, Middle, and End
Write a story. Write a story by taking the top six cards from the stack. Using either side of the cards, line them up in the order you want to use them in your story. Write a story with a beginning, middle, and end.

Practice Writing a Cooperative Story
Continue a story. Each child draws one card and uses it to begin a story. As each child completes writing about the first card they place the story on top of a stack of stories to be continued. They take the bottom story from the stack, get a new picture card, read what has been written, and continue the story by using ideas from their new picture card. Several stories could be in progress at the same time. A child may draw the same story at a later time. This is alright as long as someone else has written on it since their earlier writing.

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!!

Trends in Games from Essen 2013

Posted on November 14, 2013November 16, 2013 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

The Essen Spiel is Europe’s biggest annual event about board games. Each year, thousands of board game makers and players from all over the world gather in Essen, Germany to learn about the coolest new games on the market. Hundreds of games are shown off for the first time, giving fans a hands-on look at the future of table top games. With so many products on display, it is easy to get overwhelmed. So, we decided to compile the top 5 trends from Essen Spiel 2013, and highlight some of our favorite examples: