Category Archives: General

General Info from Funatical

Games Review – Blue Orange Gobblet!

By funatical | Published: May 3, 2010

In his review in Vinculum – The mathematical association of Victoria’s (Australia) journal for secondary school mathematics educators (http://www.mav.vic.edu.au/) editor John Gough commented that “the game uses simple playing boards, a limited number of pieces, sensible easy rules for playing, and they are reasonably quickly completed – AND they have remarkable tactics and strategy.’ He then went on to say the game is ‘made to a high quality and the sheer experience of putting counters on boards is physically and visually satisfying.”

The game review continues with “Gobblet! is published by blue orange hot games cool planet. This is basically a variant on Noughts and Crosses mixed with Nine-Men’s Morris.

But Gobblet! has a fascinating twist. The pieces ‘stack’ inside one another, four deep. Think of a mug that contains a smaller cup, inside which is a egg cup, while inside that is a thimble. Each player has four mugs, four cups, four egg-cups and four thimbles.”

blue orange is an award winning games company who treasure the times when family and friends gather together for a great game.

Creating lively, fun and quality games is their way to further these precious moments.

Since the beginning, wood has been the material of choice for blue orange games due to its quality, durability, warmth and appeal.

blue orange cherish our natural environment and understand the need to preserve our planet. Therefore, blue orange have committed to plant two trees for every tree used to create their games.

Gobblet! is a multiple Award Winner and one of blue orange’s original All WOOD games (including a wooden box and playing board)

Also posted in Blue Orange, Board Games, Children, Childrens Games, Education, Educational Games, Family Games Night, Games, Memory, News, Reviews, Skills, Strategy Games, analytical skills, learn, math, problem solving | Tagged australia, Blue Orange, board game, Children, family, fun, Games, math, motor skills | Leave a comment

PhotoPearls are sweeping the world

By funatical | Published: April 26, 2010

Create Bead Art With Your Own Photos

PhotoPearls is the latest craze in the ‘create your own’ personalised gifts category.

After sweeping the USA and Europe, Photopearls – the must have gift of the year, is now available in Australia exclusively through www.funatical.com.au

Photo Pearls is a unique new concept combining the art of beading with technology, taking beading crafts to a new level.

Its patented software is quick to install and easy to use, enabling you to transform any digital images including your personal photos (family, pets, friends, holiday pics), images from the web and even scanned images and photos into personalised bead art.

Suitable for 10 years and above.

Also posted in Art & Craft, Children, Family Games Night, Photo Pearls, christmas | Tagged australia, Children, family, fun, Games, PhotoPearls | Leave a comment

Toy Fair Nuremberg – PhotoPearls

By funatical | Published: February 18, 2010

News from our Toy Fair Visit to Nuremberg and visit to the stand of PhotoPearls with Peter Sambeck and the Audi A3 which is decorated in the beads (you can watch the car being PhotoPearled with the X-Box 360 logo in this blog post Pimp My Ride with PhotoPearls)

At Nuremberg we visited all our existing suppliers and have brought back a number of exciting new games and puzzles for 2010.

We picked up some great new craft items from Photo Pearls for little children and big children of all ages, from 3 years all the way up to 99+ years.

For the 3 and 4-year-olds we have large “Maxi” beads (and Maxi pegboards) that are easy to handle for them to play with and be creative, designing fun pictures that can be temporary (like with building blocks) or permanent (mum or dad can stick them or iron them when complete).

For 5 years up to 8 years, we have an amazing value NABBI “Bead By Colour” Super Kit (100 cute designs animal, mythical creatures, alphabet animals and many more), plus 15,000 beads and all the pieces to keep them entertained for hours at a time and for years to come – all in a handy carry case for the busy designer to keep everything tidy).

Or they can try out the NABBI Poster Pearls kits with 30 cute designs and all the bits and pieces, as well as a large poster to stick the completed designs onto for display.

For children 9 years and up, tweens, teenagers and for the big kids (adults), Photo Pearls “Bead By Number Kits (Cat, Tiger, Horses, Wolf) or the complete Photo Pearls Starter Kit with amazing software to create your own “Bead By Number” designs from your own personal photographs and turn them into Beaded Artworks – the kit contains everything you need.

Funatical Pty Ltd is excited to be the exclusive Australian distributor for PhotoPearls.

Buy online at www.funatical.com.au or at your local games, puzzle and toy store – stockists list here

Also posted in Art & Craft, Board Games, Children, Childrens Games, Games, Photo Pearls | Tagged australia, Children, family, Games, PhotoPearls, Toy Fair, XBox 360 | Leave a comment

Christmas party games for kids

By funatical | Published: December 22, 2009

It’s almost time!

The big guy in the red suit is getting ready to come down the chimney and you’ve taken on the job of hosting the family get together this year.

The food was easy – turkey, ham, seafood and salads. And for dessert it’s traditional Christmas pudding with custard and ice-cream and that old Australian favourite Pavlova loaded with cream and fresh strawberries.

So what have you got organized to keep the kids occupied while the adults eat, drink and be merry?

Here are 5 fun games for the kids (and brave adults) on Christmas day

Christmas Presents Race – Supply wrapping paper and a selection of small gifts. Each child has to wrap the present as quickly as possible. The winner is the first to finish or alternatively, the best wrapped as judged by an adult.

Anyone who believes that men are the equal of women has never seen
a man trying to wrap a Christmas present. Author Unknown

Christmas Trivia – Players will have fun trying to answer questions about Santa’s reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, the Grinch and other children’s favorite holiday interests. You might need to brush up on your Christmas trivia and write a list of questions and answers.

Stocking Stuff Race – For this game, you will need one small stocking for each kid, as well as a large amount of small toys or candy. When you start the clock, each child fills their stocking with as much stuff as they can. At the end of 20 or 30 seconds, say “STOP.” Then, each child will give the bag that they filled to the person on their right.

Christmas Trees – Give each child a sheet of green construction paper. Each child then holds the piece of construction paper behind their back. Without looking, they then should try to rip the paper into the shape of a Christmas tree. You can also have them add a few small red pieces of paper as ornaments to their trees, still behind their backs. Have everyone vote on which trees are the best looking.

Pin The Nose on Rudolph – Make a big picture of Rudolph, tape it to a wall. Make red circle noses for each player and write the players name on it. Have the players form a line and blindfold the player who has to pin the nose on Rudolph. The child who places the nose closest to the correct place wins.

Ho Ho Ho and a Merry Christmas to all our customers and friends.

May 2010 be filled with family fun.

Also posted in Children, Childrens Games, Family Games Night, Games, christmas | Tagged australia, Children, christmas, family, Games | Leave a comment

Long term quality OR the latest trends?

By funatical | Published: December 4, 2009

With Christmas just around the corner Mums and Dads, Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles everywhere are being overloaded with requests for the latest trend in games, the newest item from a favourite TV show or movie.

Let’s explore what quality stands for when it comes to buying for the kids this Christmas.

Great products are the products that stand on their own merits of quality, not on the merits of TV advertisements and licensed TV shows nor through movie character endorsements.

Great products have the following characteristics.

Quality materials

Games are manufactured from Wood
Jigsaws (apart from those made of Wood) are manufactured using the highest quality Blue Board
Where plastics have been used they are of a premium quality, solid, attractive and hard-wearing (including Vintage Plastic)

Quality craftsmanship

Products are manufactured to very high exacting standards. Where products have been manufactured in China, they are at the premium end in terms of process and finishes.

Simplicity of design

Products are designed with the aim of reducing unnecessary complications and to make your play as hassle-free and enjoyable as possible. Often the design aspect is not overt but is evident in the “playability” or “useability” of quality games, jigsaws and crafts
Only a few rules that are quick and easy to learn so you can be enjoying them within seconds of opening the box

Fast to play

Quality games take less than 30 minutes to play and many just 10 or 20 minutes, but they are addictive so you will want to play time and time again

Challenging (not taxing) for your mind

Games that have a “classic” feel to them but very often with one or a few unexpected “twists” to make them interesting, entertaining and challenging.

Stimulating and educational for your children (and for you)

Core life skills including dexterity, psychomotor, colour recognition, observation and association, memory, numbers and counting, maths, sciences, general knowledge and socialisation.
Thinking skills including creativity, problem solving, decision making, resource management, planning and strategy development and lateral thinking.

Products that will stand the test of time

Durable products to withstand the rigours of family life and the kind of wear that only toddlers and children can dish out.
Classic, elegant, timeless designs so they will look just as stylish tomorrow as they do today.
Outstanding craftsmanship so they can be passed on through generations

Great products are the products that are serious FUN for families to enjoy playing and socialising together!

Also posted in Children, Education, Educational Games, Family Games Night, Games, Skills, christmas, learn | Tagged australia, Children, christmas, family, Games, motor skills | Leave a comment

How to find a good quality 3D Lenticular Jigsaw Puzzle

By funatical | Published: November 30, 2009

With Christmas coming up we recently received an email from Sandra in Australia. Sandra has decided to buy her children some 3D Jigsaw puzzles this year and wanted to know where she could buy a good quality puzzle that would last for more than the School holidays.

It’s important when considering your 3D puzzle that you are aware of some problems that you might come across and how to recognise these problems before you spend your money.

The top 3 problems with most 3D Lenticular puzzles

1. Delamination
The ink needs to bond well with the plastic layers creating the lenticular effect. Otherwise the layers separate and distort the image.

2. Image Clarity
Combining 12 layers to produce one image obviously demands precision. Misaligned, the image will look out of focus.

3. Perception of Depth
There is more to creating an illusion of depth than printing technology alone. The image must lend itself well to the lenticular treatment.

We exclusively sell and recommend the Hobbico, Visual Echo range of premium quality 3D Lenticular Jigsaw Puzzles, within Australia.

Visual Echo 3D Jigsaws are manufactured in Poland by Trefl under licence by US-based Hobby company, Hobbico.

Trefl is the market leader in quality European-manufactured jigsaw puzzles as well as games and playing cards. While they produce jigsaws puzzles for all ages and tastes, it is their jigsaws and games for the youngest that are at the heart of what they do. The highly spirited Trefl team takes care that the products are not only attractively designed and safe, but also spur children to develop their imagination, perceptiveness, and the skills of counting and writing.

Trefl frequently consult expert teachers, educators, and psychologists. Before any game or puzzle reaches the shop, it is thoroughly tested to ensure that the marketed product is of the highest quality in every respect (including your child’s safety) and guarantees great games for a lifetime.

With up to 12 layers images in each 3D puzzle, you just will not believe:

The amazing 3D depth and clarity
The stunning imagery (and variety)
The incredible movement (the imagery actually moves)
The quality (These puzzles are so well made you can actually pick-up the completed puzzle – no gluing required)

It’s Australia’s best 3D Jigsaw. Check out the full range on our website and visit Hobbico, Visual Echo at their website

Happy Christmas shopping and family puzzle making over the holidays.

Also posted in Children, Childrens Games, Education, Family Games Night, Games, Puzzles, Trefl, christmas, learn | Tagged australia, Children, christmas, family, Games, Puzzles, Trefl | Leave a comment

And the roost goes Chicky Boom!

By funatical | Published: November 27, 2009

Chicky Boom – The Rocking Rolling Roost

The chickens are doing their usual and hanging out on their bright yellow and red perch.

They’re staying very, very still for if one decides to move everything starts to wobble.

Get the chickens, wagon wheels and hay bales off the rocking roost before it’s too late.

Quick, hurry, before the roost goes CHICKY BOOM!

Another in the award winning Blue Orange range of all wood games, Chickyboom has been designed to make learning fun and is a great game for numbers, counting and simple addition, balance and dexterity, hand-eye coordination …or just plain old fashioned fun for the whole family.

Also posted in Blue Orange, Board Games, Children, Childrens Games, Education, Educational Games, Family Games Night, Games, Skills, Uncategorized, Video Review, christmas, learn | Tagged australia, Blue Orange, board game, Children, family, Games, motor skills | Leave a comment

Speedy Eddy

By funatical | Published: November 24, 2009

The extreme snail race!

In a secret vegetable garden the snails are gathering for the race of the season.

One at a time and taking turns, the snails progress on a roll of the dice.

But watch out!

There are mole holes to fall into, flying carrots to dodge and strong winds to beware or else you’ll find yourself without a shell and moving slower than usual.

Speedy Eddy is brought to you by the award winning games designers at Blue Orange where quality and the environment are what count. A Dr Toy Green Toy Award Winner for their commitment to planting 2 trees for every 1 tree used in manufacture.

Speedy Eddy was awarded the Dr Toy Best Vacation Childrens Products.

Also posted in Blue Orange, Board Games, Children, Childrens Games, Education, Educational Games, Games, Reviews, Skills, Video Review, learn, math | Tagged australia, Blue Orange, board game, Children, family, Games | Leave a comment

PhotoPearls and the Obama 50 Schools Project

By funatical | Published: November 4, 2009

President Obama in 350,000 beads

President Obama in beads

In early 2009, fourth grade students from every US state participated in a special project with PhotoPearls® to create a photo mosaic of President Obama made entirely of hollow plastic beads.

The photo of President Obama became a 9 x 11 ½ foot mosaic picture made up of more than 350,000 PhotoPearls® beads, becoming the world’s largest beaded photo mosaic.