Ravensburger Wows With Interactive 'Augmented Reality' Puzzles, First-Ever Electronic Labyrinth Game and More

NEWTON, N.H., Feb. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Fun with family and friends is moving into high gear with Ravensburger!  Known for its high-quality puzzles and playthings, Ravensburger launches its Augmented Reality line of interactive puzzles that come to life with a free app from the App Store that utilizes the camera function of the iPhone^® or iPad^®2 to animate the scene.  Also debuting is the first-ever Electronic Labyrinth game and a gorgeous new line of Thomas & Friends^™ puzzles featuring new CGI artwork.  Ravensburger's lineup of puzzles, games and WOW brand toys will be on display at the 2012 American International Toy Fair, February 12-15 at the Javits Convention Center, Booth #441.

In addition, Andrew and Jack Lawson, creators of Ravensburger's award-winning game series, Make 'N' Break, will be at the company's booth, Sunday, February 12, from 10am-12pm, and Monday, February 13, from 9am-2pm, conducting demonstrations of the popular line.  Each Make 'N' Break game features wooden building blocks that players use to assemble the structures shown on the game cards.

"For the first time, Ravensburger is presenting a collection of puzzles and games that encompass both traditional and digital features, helping to take family enjoyment to a whole new level," said Thomas Kaeppler, CEO of Ravensburger.  "Our 2012 offerings provide endless opportunities for learning, sharing – and creating lasting memories together."

Especially exciting for Ravensburger is the launch of its groundbreaking Augmented Reality collection of four, 1,000-pc puzzles that combine traditional puzzle play with an innovative digital component.  Available this fall, the new AR puzzles include: Above the Roofs of Paris; Colorful Underwater World, African Animals and Lofoten, Norway.

Ravensburger also is thrilled to introduce its Thomas & Friends^™ puzzles, featuring new CGI artwork, fresh designs and innovative packaging.  A cornerstone license for the company through 2014 under its newly-extended contract, Ravensburger will debut nine items at Toy Fair, including four 4-in-1 shaped puzzles, four 24-pc floor puzzles and four 35-pc puzzles.  This premiere range will be followed by the launch of more new Thomas & Friends products this fall.  

Other licensed lines debuting include: the Chuggington^™ collection with seven brightly-colored puzzles based on the CGI-animated children's TV hit from Ludorum, and Me to You^™ from Carte Blanche Greetings Limited, one of the fastest-growing non-media-based brands in the world.

Also, Ravensburger has put the pieces in place for an expansive puzzle collection that pushes the boundaries of design with eye-catching offerings such as the American Heritage Series, American history-inspired puzzles perfectly timed for this presidential election year; Wooden Structure Puzzles, featuring a wood grain look; Chromadepth Puzzles with 3D Glasses; Krypt, a supremely-challenging 654-pc monochromatic concept; and 3D Building Sets, a collection of four of the world's most recognizable structures – Empire State Building, Eiffel Tower, Big Ben and a New England Lighthouse – that takes puzzle-building skyward, to display-worthy structures that stand up to 18" tall with exacting details. 

New games are highlighted too, with Electronic Labyrinth, the latest in Ravensburger's best-selling shifting maze series.  The interactive board game features an electronic book that helps players free the wise wizard from the evil witch who banished him to the labyrinth.  Also now available in the U.S. are three of Ravensburger's most popular European strategy games: The Castles of Burgundy, which immerses players in 15th Century European aristocracy where they must build and manage their estate; Asara, in which players take on the roles of famous architects who compete to build the grandest tower; and Seeland, where players assume the roles of 19th Century Dutch merchants striving to harvest the most crops.

And, for preschoolers, Ravensburger is showcasing a new assortment of WOW brand toys.  Each ultra-durable WOW toy comes with a ten-year satisfaction guarantee and features "push and go" friction motors and realistic sounds.  Among the 2012 offerings are Jurassic Jimmy, a dinosaur-themed play set, and Cupcake Chloe, a pretty-in-pink bakeshop set for young chefs-in-training.

About Ravensburger

Newton, NH-based Ravensburger is the U.S. subsidiary of Ravensburger Spieleverlag GmbH, a German toy and game manufacturer with a 125-year history of tradition.  Founded in Ravensburg, Germany in 1883, Ravensburger is a leading producer of toys loved the world over and celebrated for its meticulous commitment to detail, high production standards and superior quality control.  In addition to Ravensburger-branded puzzles, games and arts & crafts, the company is the exclusive distributor of WOW Preschool Toys and holds licenses for such well-known brands as Chuggington^™, Thomas and Friends^™, Animal Planet^™, Highlights^™, Me to You^® and more.

SOURCE Ravensburger