Interview – with Asmodee partner Format Games

L-R Matt Edmondson & Laurence Emmett

Fun and games with Asmodee backing

Television and Sony-nominated radio presenter Matt Edmondson with brother-in-law Laurence Emmett are delivering new games concepts

Edmondson first entered the game space as the inventor of Big Potato’s Obama Llama, and last year he self-published Ansagrams.

Now Matt and his brother-in-law Laurence Emmett have founded Format Games and have launched a portfolio of games, which global player Asmodee will distribute.

Asmodee signed as the UK distributor for Format Games back in February, and in August the firm expanded the deal to cover the US, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.

“We’ve likened the experience to a couple of guys taking up busking on Monday, then being signed by a major label for a five-record deal by Friday,” said Laurence Emmett, co-founder of Format Games.

“Matt came out of lockdown with a raft of game ideas, ready to bring to market and – thanks to last year’s success with Ansagrams – Asmodee could see the potential of our whole portfolio. We know we’re in great hands with such a stellar distribution partner globally and can’t wait to see all our titles becoming firm favourites with families and friends all over the world.”

Matt Edmondson added: “Lockdown gave me the perfect opportunity to explore my potential even further as a

Matt on tour...

Matt is planning on a nationwide ‘tour’ to showcase his games. From Freshers Weeks to festivals, Christmas fun days to personal appearances with Hamleys - hot on the tour trail to have Matt playing games with families in the run-up to Christmas

Format Games’ first games was Ansagrams, starting a varied portfolio of five fun-packed games, with three more coming in the next few months:

Egg Slam: Created following a

conversation with Matt’s five-year-old daughter Ivy, who ‘discovered’ purple while mixing colours, this is a colour matching card game for kids as young as two, and families.

games designer – I was finding inspiration everywhere, but particularly during the extra quality playtime I had with my young daughter, Ivy. In fact, it was her fascination with colour-mixing that led to Egg Slam.

“My own love of social gaming also played a part too, with So Wrong It’s Right being born out of a need to create a game that can be played repeatedly but is never, ever the same. I’m excited to see people of all ages discover the wealth of different play

experiences that Format Games has on offer and am thrilled that Asmodee has picked us up at such an early stage of our life!”

Speaking of this new ‘string’, Matt said: “My job is quite creative, particularly on the radio. Game play and formats are actually part of a show. I sort of stumbled into game creation during lockdown and thought “why not give it a go”? My first game took me two days from thinking up the play mechanic, the rules, the design of the cards and the box. The ideas just keep coming and I am driven to bring them to life.”

I love playing all of my games. It doesn’t “

even feel like I invented them. I like playing and

“like the fact that people beat me all the time

So Wrong, It’s Right: One

question - five answers. Each question has five possible answers, so you’ll never play the same game twice! Hilarious fun for small and large groups.

Karen: Based on the ‘Karens’ in the

world who love to complain. This game takes one-star reviews to funny party play as you decide which reviews are truly Karen’s.

Wheels V Doors: From the famous discussion

“Are there more wheels than doors in the world?” – game play is simple; you are given two topics to decide (and bet on) which has the higher number. Coming soon.

Noggin: A fast-paced game of word

association and lightning mental reflexes that encourages clever and witty responses conjured from two random letters of the alphabet.

Contact details

01420 593 593 info@asmodee.co.uk Asmodee.co.uk

Unit 6 Waterbrook Road Alton Hampshire GU34 2UD

Ansagrams: A quick-fire five

question quiz. You write down the first letter of your answers and unscramble them to find a word to win.

Introducing classic games

GALT

0161 428 9111 www.galttoys.com

The beautifully designed Classic Galt range is new for 2022 and is a fantastic introduction for new players to some established family favourites. This refreshed collection of retro Galt games has bold colours and stylish illustrations and includes beloved board games such as Picture Dominoes, Remember Remember, Find It and Picture Lotto. Suitable for ages four and five-plus.

For games with a gruesome twist, the very first Horrible Science game, Germ Attack! challenges players to beat germs in a ruthless race to the heart. It is an exciting game for two to six players, designed to teach children fun and foul facts about germs and the human body. Play as shrunken scientists or ghastly germs and roll the dice to move along the blood cells, answering questions for bonus moves along the way. The first team to race through the body and reach the heart wins. Combining the fundamentals of coding with screenfree play might seem like a tall order, but the Cosmic Coding Game from Galt has achieved precisely that. This board game introduces children to the basic concepts of coding and computer science, including algorithms and programming language, as players race to complete their mission and win the game. It is Good Toy Guide recommended and compatible with Key Stage 1 of the National Curriculum. Mini brainboxes can develop future-proof skills without a screen in sight. Happy Chickens is a colour-matching game where players must remove the wooden sticks from the hen house to find the cheeky chicks hiding within. Memory Friends is a game that improves memory through tactile learning as players study the position of the animals on the 20 cards and recreate the scenes from memory. Both are Good Toy Guide recommended and crafted from durable, quality wood and thick board.

The Antarctica Game provides children with a chilly memory challenge as they must remember where the baby seals are placed and return them safely home. The 3 Little Pigs Game brings the famous fairytale to life while providing players from two years and up the chance to get to grips with this charming board game, which encourages storytelling, gameplay and teamwork and is Good Toy Guide recommended.

Learning through play provides a wide range of developmental opportunities. Learning Puzzles such as the How Things Grow Puzzles, Fruit and Veg puzzles and Size Sorting Puzzles encourage word recognition and matching skills and teach young puzzlers to identify different types of tasty fruit and vegetables. Giant Floor Puzzles are perfect for younger puzzlers aged three to six. With themes including Farm, Dinosaurs, and Nursery Rhymes, these 30-piece puzzles also have eight templates in the shape of animals, planets and objects.

Guess what…

Kids can learn through play with Learning Puzzles such as the How Things Grow Puzzles, Fruit and Veg puzzles and Size Sorting Puzzles, which encourage word recognition and matching skills and teach young puzzlers to identify different types of tasty fruit and vegetables

Get the word out

UNIVERSITY GAMES AND LAGOON

020 7254 0100 | www.university-games.co.uk www.thelagoongroup.com

There really is something to suit everyone in University Games and Lagoon’s, 700-strong games and puzzles portfolio, from early preschool through to adult party games, and for the whole family in between.

This month, University Games is set to launch 5-Letter Wordlet, a new confounding word strategy board game. 5-Letter Wordlet will see the hugely popular singleplayer online trend, brought into the home and played in competition with family and friends on games night.

The Subbuteo table football range, which includes both the Official England and Official Lionesses Main Games, will be on the top of many Christmas lists this year, especially after the Lionesses scooped victory at EURO 2022 and the England squad head to the FIFA World Cup in November.

For younger board game players, there are plenty of fun-packed games to choose from including Quicksand, Kersplatt. and the new Tom Gates games and puzzles range.

Classic games get a twist

MATTEL

01628 500000 www.mattel.com

This year, Scrabble adds a game-changing twist to the classic game with Scrabble Trap Tiles. Use opponents’ words against them by laying traps on premium squares. Players can steal points, tiles or even the game. Beware the premium squares while building words. A trap may have been set, changing the game. The addition of sabotage adds an entirely new dimension of game play.

Following the continued incredible performance of Pictionary Air since 2020, Mattel is expanding the range in 2022 with Pictionary Air Star Wars. Gather the forces for a twist on the classic family drawing game that has you drawing clues in space and seeing it on screen, with a little help from R2-D2, BB-8 and their friends.

Finally, Uno adds a new licence with Uno Star Wars Mandalorian, featuring a deck and storage tin decorated with characters and graphics from the beloved series.

Out of the box

CHEATWELL GAMES

Sales@cheatwell.com www.cheatwell.com

Cheatwell has launched more than 15 new products this year.

Tension is the company’s top brand and a perennial performer. 2022 sees this classic game joined by the Junior Edition as well as the Games 2 Go Travel pack.

Fancy a challenge? Then sharpen your pencils and prepare to test your powers of deduction in the solve-it-yourself, who did it game of Sleuth. During a rollercoaster ride aboard the Oriental Express a deadly crime has been committed… and only you can solve it. You all play the role of a famous detective - from Sheerluck Homes to Missing Marbles - as you move from carriage to carriage solving clues and catching the criminal.

Cheatwell likes games that are simple to play, straight out of the box… and Brain Ache is no exception. Players race to identify familiar catchphrases or words represented by perplexing pictures. Quickest to guess wins the card so you need to think fast and shout out the answer before anyone else.

For a classic party game look no further than Snippets. Can you recall that song line, that ad, that funny or famous quote? With Snippets you have to reach into the corners of your mind to complete the tantalising tag you’ve been given. From movies to TV, adverts to comedy, music to famous figures, there’s a snippet for every taste and every interest. Frantic fun is guaranteed in Top It, the edge-of-your-seat family game. You race to place your cones on letter discs while calling out examples to teasing topics. But beware, any other player can top your cone with another answer and, since only the last cone counts, they bag all the points.

For those who like a cerebral workout there are two great new titles:

Zensu is the new strategy game that’s simple to learn but harder to master. The aim is to cross your opponent’s border before they cross yours but, with pieces moving in four directions you have to keep your wits about you. Get it wrong and your opponent’s pieces will take you down. You’ll play Zensu many times but you’ll never play the same game twice.

Psychobabble is the analytical deduction game in which players enter into a group discussion about their dreams and nightmares. Most will know what happened in last night’s shared vision, but one is genuinely insane…and does not know it. It’s up to the Psychoanalyst to make sense of their statements in this game of suspicion, accusations and self-doubt.

Spot The Intro it a Cheatwell classic. The latest incarnation makes use of players’ preferred music streaming providers and challenges players to name tip-of the-tongue tunes from just a snippet of a song.

Did you know?

Can you recall that song line, that ad, that funny or famous quote? With Snippets you have to reach into the corners of your mind to complete the tantalising tag you’ve been given

Learning made fun

ORCHARD TOYS

01953 859 539| www.orchardtoys.com

Orchard Toys has been creating fun, educational games and puzzles for children for more than 50 years. ‘Learning Made Fun’ is at the heart of everything Orchard Toys does, ensuring its games and jigsaws strike the perfect balance between education and fun.

Highlights in its games and jigsaw launches for 2022 include:

Christmas Eve Box: this bumper 3-in-1 Christmas themed box set includes a festive lotto game, a 30-piece jigsaw and a 12-page activity book. It’s ideal for shoppers looking for Advent, Christmas Eve or Christmas gifts. For ages three to six.

Snowman Snap: a Christmas game of snap in which players match the fun snow people in a festive version of the classic card game - great fun for all the family. A small travel size game, and part of the Orchard Toys extensive mini games collection, it offers a great price point and is ideal for customers looking for stocking fillers. For ages three to six.

Goose on the Loose: headlining the Orchard Toys launches in 2022, this fun board game with lots of laughs is already proving to be a firm family favourite. In this colour-matching game, players must help the farmers round up the escaped geese. As they move around the board, players shout ‘Honk’ when collecting their 3D geese, but if they lose a goose they must shout ‘goose on the loose!’. For ages four-plus.

Dress Up Nelly: a fun, first colour-matching game, designed to be played as a simple activity to introduce children to colours, with the option for a shorter or longer game to suit different abilities. It features 30 bright and colourful, chunky, wipe clean cards, perfect for little hands. For ages two to five.

At the Museum: a beautifully illustrated 150-piece jigsaw, featuring different and fascinating museum exhibits from the Romans to the Vikings, Dinosaurs to Space, and Human Biology.

Busy Builders: a 30-piece jigsaw for younger puzzlers.

Fact!

Snowman Snap is a great stocking filler. This is a Christmas game of snap in which players match the fun snow people in a festive version of the classic card game

A piece of festive fun

RAVENSBURGER

01869 363 830 www.ravensburger.co.uk

Guess what…

The one about Asmodee’s big Christmas

ASMODEE

01420 593 593 | info@asmodee.co.uk | Asmodee.co.uk

Asmodee’s portfolio just keeps growing and these past few months of 2022 is no different.

For fans of the popular television series Friends – let us introduce Dobble Friends from Zygomatic Games and Warner Bros. That’s right, you can join your favourite characters at the coffee house for this fast-paced observational game. You’ll recognise the iconic Friends characters - Rachel, Phoebe, Monica, Chandler, Joey and Ross - as well as the classic symbols that everyone remembers from the show, like the turkey, the purple door and the Central Perk logo of course.

Radio 1 DJ and TV Presenter Matt Edmondson has developed a popular range of brain-teaser board games that test your speed, reactions, general knowledge and problem-solving skills. From Noggin to So Wrong it’s Right and more – every game is perfect for parties. But we predict, ‘Karen’ is the one that will get everyone talking!

Matt Edmondson added: “Lockdown gave me the perfect opportunity to explore my potential even further as a games designer – I was finding inspiration everywhere, but particularly during the extra quality play-time I had with my young daughter, Ivy. In fact, it was her fascination with colour-mixing that led to Egg Slam.

My own love of social gaming also played a part too, with So Wrong It’s Right being born out of a need to create a game that can be played repeatedly but is never, ever the same. I’m excited to see people of all ages discover the wealth of different play experiences that Format Games has on offer.” So get ready to play! Sneak your fake complaints into a selection of real one-star reviews found online and try to convince other players that yours is the genuine complaint. And sticking with an American theme, it’s off to the Golden Gate City next with Ticket to Ride: San Francisco - the fourth entry in Ticket to Ride’s popular city editions. Ticket to Ride is so accessible to first-time and veteran players alike. Santa’s Workshop is Each year, hours of work go into Ravensburger’s 26th creating an exclusive and truly specially designed recognisable Ravensburger- Christmas Puzzle designed Christmas Puzzle. Once it’s sold through, no more copies are produced. This year’s 2022 limited edition is the puzzle giant’s 26th special, entitled Santa’s Workshop. It includes 1,000 pieces featuring Santa and Mrs Claus surrounded by mountains of toys ready to be given to children around the world, and a clock that counts down the months, rather than hours. It’s a visual work of art that will captivate festive puzzle fans.

For 2022 there are no less than 12 new Christmas puzzles ranging from 100 up to 1,000 pieces, and available in Extra Large and XXL sizes and a variety of designs including two Disney scenes, a Christmas Library, Christmas Cupboard, Winter Wonderland and Christmas At Home.

Ravensburger’s annual bestseller is the 216-piece light-up 3D Gingerbread House, perfect for bringing back out every Christmas.

On to games, and having attracted global excitement earlier this year with the announcement of a new game in the Villainous franchise titled Star Wars Villainous: Power of the Dark Side, the new tabletop game includes Darth Vader, General Grievous, Asajj Ventress, Moff Gideon and Kylo Ren. Players use their villain’s ‘ambition’ to perform actions based on the use of the Force, strategic leadership, or sheer luck. The anticipated bestseller has Villain-specific missions and the iconic Star Wars renowned planes, ships and vehicles.

Leading family games range for 2022 is Zingo!. With a new design and packaging, it’s been an international bestseller for ThinkFun, and it moves over to the Ravensburger portfolio this year having already achieved a whopping 20,000 5-star reviews. It’s perfect for all ages in the family (aged four-plus) and can be as fast, fun and educational as players want it to be, making it a great option for youngsters who can’t sit still for long. Zingo’s game-play is simple: match tiles to the images on the card, and using the red ‘Zinger’, which releases the tiles, it’s a race to see who fills their card first and shouts ‘Zingo’. The game is supported by a full Christmas marketing campaign.

Fact.

In it to Win it

WINNING MOVES

020 7262 9696 | Winningmoves.co.uk

Winning Moves has added a new sector to its Top Trumps range – targeting Gen-Z. The six new Top Trumps #trending Winning Moves has jumped on the latest trends packs include ‘Top that capture the interests of the nation, bringing Trumps Guide to the nine of them to market for November launch, Trends of YouTube; perfect for Q4. Trends of Spotify;

Where to begin? Maybe with the interest of Trainers; Trends of the 17 million viewers talking about the Lionesses. TikTok; Fashion and After roaring their way to the final - and winning. Accessories; and NFTs - at this year’s Euros 2022 Tournament, the Women’s England national team members have become icons in their own right. As a result, it’s created a movement – a movement that will take women’s football to the next level. The European game is already anticipated to be worth £578m a year by 2033, and with 3.5 million women and girls playing football in the UK, these numbers can only grow and grow.

Recognising this trend, Winning Moves has scoured the market in search of women’s football board games and card games. The verdict: there were none. Until now. Introducing: Women’s European Football Champions Monopoly and Top Trumps. Both are proven successful brands for Winning Moves. They will feature England’s top players and will commemorate this historic moment for friends and families alike – and of course for fans of the beautiful game. Now it’s up to the men’s team to bring football home again this winter.

In early 2021, Winning Moves diversified its Top Trumps range, splitting it into segments: preschool, teenagers who are licensed-crazy, and kidults who love all things nostalgia – a Top Trumps pack for everyone. This Q4, Winning Moves is adding another segment to the range, targeting Gen-Z. Notorious for loving all things trendy, and keeping up with the latest social media and happenings in the digital sphere, Gen-Z is the last piece of Winning Moves’ Top Trumps puzzle, with six new Top Trumps #trending packs. The packs are a ‘Top Trumps Guide to the Trends of YouTube; Trends of Spotify; Trainers; Trends of TikTok; Fashion and Accessories; and NFTs. Market research shows that these are the hottest topics right now among 10-25 year-olds. Even if you don’t know what an NFT is, chances are someone you know in that age bracket will. The packs will be available as a range or as individual packs.

And there’s more. Here comes Lex Match, the crazy cube game where players must race their opponent to spell a five-letter word either vertically, horizontally or diagonally. Over the past 12 months, the UK word game market has boomed, and is estimated to reach £93m in 2022, and further growth is anticipated to hit £130m by 2026. Lex Match, using the same winning formula gameplay as the family-friendly Top Trumps Match, taps into this demand, developing vocabulary through camouflaged learning for younger players. The game can be played by ages four and up, with an addition to the rules where children can play a simplified version with adults, ensuring the game encompasses the spectrum of wannabe-lexicographers. Key features of Lex Match are its great portability – even mid-game – and the fact you can play as many times as you like in one day.

In on the action

VIVID GOLIATH

01483 449944 vividtoysandgames.co.uk

A number of new Kids Action Games have joined the lineup ahead of the A/W season. The range already includes Shark Bite, Don’t Wake Dad and The Floor is Lava. New for 2022 is the loopin’ lasso game of One Trick Pony, where players have to grab their animals before being caught red-handed.

Trash Stash, Dumpster Diver and Chicken Poo Bingo - a game developed through Goliath’s young inventor program - complete the line-up of newness, all supported by a wide-reaching media plan.

New within the party category is Slap the Deck, which was quite literally a hit at UK Games Expo. Players adopt huge foam hands, draw cards and then get slap happy when the spoken number matches the card.

A Smart selection

SMART TOYS AND GAMES

01903 885669 | uk@smart.be

Smart Toys and Games HQ is starting to roll out its Autumn 2022 launches. Home to seven multi awardwinning educational brands including SmartGames and SmartMax, there’s some brilliant games to look forward to.

In perfect timing for the festive season, introducing Penguins Huddle Up, which is suitable for two to four players and is the perfect game for some good old family rivalry. In this fun family board game, penguins are scattered across the ice and it’s starting to get cold. The aim of the game is to move your penguins together into a huddle... while blocking your opponents from doing the same. Suitable for ages six-plus, kids and adults alike can use their tactical skills as they jump over other penguins and dive under the ice.

Next up it’s time to battle with some bears in Grizzly Gears. Players must rotate the trees to help guide the characters through the forest...but beware of the bear. This puzzle game will keep players on their toes - no one is out of the woods until all 80 challenges have been solved.

For the smallest members of the family is Peek-A-Zoo. Suitable for ages two-plus, Peek-A-Zoo is a fantastic new educational game for preschoolers to practise language skills, learn about colours, animals, and concepts.

Fun for all the family

SPIN MASTER GAMES

01628 535000 www.spinmastertoys.co.uk

Spin Master Games offers a great selection of board games and puzzles that can be enjoyed by all the family. From reimagined family classics such as Hedbanz and Beat The Parents, to this season’s must-have, Sink N’ Sand, there really is something for everyone.

New for Autumn/Winter, Sink N’ Sand will take players on a wild jungle adventure that sees the game’s characters come across sand (the mega-popular Kinetic Sand) unlike any they’ve seen before. Players start by rolling the dice and pulling a stick with the aim of not becoming trapped by the fastsinking sand. Players that sink with the sand will be eliminated, however find a Redemption Ruby and you have another chance at survival. Objective of the game? Be the last one standing when the quicksand falls to win. Also new for this season is Spin Master’s Games HQs, which span across some of the biggest licences, including Paw Patrol, Harry Potter’s Wizarding World and the hit Netflix show, Gabby’s Dollhouse. Each HQ set houses eight games under one roof and includes themed iterations of classics including Noughts and Crosses, Draughts and Bingo. For those that are more into puzzles, then Perplexus, the ultimate puzzle maze ball, is the one for you. The all-new, onthe-go compact Perplexus fulfils all your puzzle-solving needs and comes with 35 new obstacles that will keep you occupied for hours. Manoeuvre tricky 360-degree obstacles without falling off the track.

Those searching for a new game to bring out friendly rivalries this season should look no further than Less is More. In this game, players and the guesser work together to communicate the mystery word in as few letters as possible. This easy-to-learn funny card game is simple to set up and comes with a convenient QR code for a digital timer. Perfect to play with either friends or family. It is suitable for adults and kids aged eight and up. Try to get a player to guess a word with clues using as few letters as possible; the fewer the guesses, the more points you score. Great for holiday gatherings or late-night parties.

Another great option for family games night is Hedbanz. It’s everyone’s favourite game of What am I?. It’s as easy as Pick, Place, and Play. Pick your favourite headband and take a picture card without looking at the drawing.

Did you know?

Sink N’ Sand takes players on a wild jungle adventure - be the last one standing when the quicksand falls to win. It comes with an easy-to-scan QR code for detailed instructions

All in the best possible taste

CHARACTER OPTIONS

0161 633 9800 sales@charactergroup.plc.uk

Character Options has an unmissable games portfolio for 2022, with exciting ontrend names added to the line-up of family favourites.

New to the collection for 2022 and sure to be a hit is Mukbang: the Game. All in good taste, this hilarious game is inspired by the massive social eating craze, where individuals – known as Mukbangers – bingeeat copious amounts of food, while interacting with their audience.

Fun for all the family, the aim of this rapid memory and reaction-based game is to match the food cards to the sounds of Mukbang. Players take turns to press the randomiser to reveal the Mukbang sound to find. Players then race to be the first to find the matching ‘plate card’. The first person to match seven sounds wins the game. But beware the Belch… if a player gets a belch they miss a turn and the cards on the table get shuffled.

For a new linguistic challenge, Character presents Word Master, which has taken inspiration from proven, addictive family games and the web-based word game Wordle. Bringing word games to the tabletop in a family-friendly fun way, Word Master is the game that requires a ‘host’ to pick a card from the deck to determine the category of their word. Using the alphabet tiles, the other players must then race against each other to guess the host’s secret five-letter word. Players take it in turns to host the round and mark the guesses. Who will be the Word Master at the end of the game?

The raft of other fun games include Projex - the projecting arcade game, where players test their speed and skill as they blast moving targets projected onto any light-coloured wall. All from the comfort of their own home, and without the need for TV screens or sensors.