Fluxx as a Gift

 

Fluxx is always number one on my list of recommendations to people coming into the store looking for gifts (as long as they are not looking for Magic, Pokemon or something specific). With dozens of different versions of the game, a staff member can usually find one which fits into the parameters the gifter has set. Although Looney Labs has fewer licensed versions than in the past (I believe Monty Python and Star Trek are the only two current ones), the addition of Wonderland, Oz and Pooh, I mean Hundred Acre Wood, appeals to older gamers and, although there is Mystery Fluxx, given the characters continued popularity and its presence in the public domain, I would  certainly stock a Holmes and Watson themed deck.

Pi(e) Day

 Stop n on national Pi(e) Day for some free pie, while quantities last, 10% off an assortement of math games and a free 6/7 promo card with your purchase of Math Fluxx.

National Pi(E) Day

 Since it is March 14 or 3/14 etc. we are celebrating with free pie. Come on in and enjoy a slice of pie on us. Also take 10% off any Disney Lorcana items or Looney Labs Math Fluxx.  It's Mathmatical.

Batman Fluxx

 Looney Labs released Batman Fluxx back in 2015 and the game went out of print back about 2018. It plays just like Fluxx only with a Batman skin and I hate to think how much Looney Labs spent to get the license for the game. The game uses art from the Animated Adventures series and generally uses the villains as Creepers, however they also get incorporated into Goals.

I find it interesting that Looney Labs first license for Fluxx, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, still remains in print well over a decade after Looney first acquired the license.

Sponge Bob Fluxx

Sponge Bob Fluxx coming July 30th. Plays like Fluxx but with a SpongeBob theme. MSRP is $19.99:

You probably already know who lives in a pineapple under the sea, but now you can join the whole Bikini Bottom gang in an undersea version of Fluxx! You can steal Mr. Krab’s Money or Squidward’s Clarinet, give a Krabby Patty to Plankton – you could even drive off in the Invisible Boatmobile! So, if nautical nonsense be something you wish, you don’t have to use your imaaaagination, just play Fluxx like a fish!

Consider Fluxx for Christmas!

1.       Fluxx from Looney Labs.  At $16 to $20,  is a great game, comparatively cheap and comes in a wide variety of styles, making it comparatively easy to find a version to appeal to everyone. You can buy Nature Fluxx, Stoner Fluxx, Star Fluxx, Cthulhu Fluxx, Pirate Fluxx, Batman Fluxx or even, should your tastes run that way, just plain Fluxx. The number of Fluxx games make it relatively easy to find a version that would appeal to anyone on your Secret Santa or gift exchange list. In addition, since the rules change with every game, even with every hand, Fluxx, whatever version you buy, offers immense replayability.

Marvel and Jumanji Fluxx Coming

From a press release from Looney Labs:

CARDINAL INDUSTRIES AND LOONEY LABS TEAM UP FOR TWO NEW FLUXX LICENSES

College Park, MD—February 14, 2019 Cardinal/Spinmaster and Looney Labs are pleased to announce a new partnership to create licensed card games for all channels. The companies are currently working on two games—Marvel Fluxx and Jumanji Fluxx. Both companies will publish versions of the games, each in the same slightly-larger-than-typical sized box. The Cardinal version will release with a $15 MSRP for mass market, whereas the Looney Labs version will contain seven bonus cards, and will sell for $20 in specialty and hobby. In addition, both versions will display a premium poker chip style collectible turn token in a clear window on the front of the package! This is the start of a creative partnership between the two companies, which will see more jointly released games in the future.

“We are so excited about these titles! Andy has created some really innovative new cards for these versions that will keep Fluxx fans coming back for more, and partnering with Cardinal means that we will be able to introduce Fluxx, the card game of ever-changing rules, to a much broader audience than ever before,” said Kristin Looney, CEO of Looney Labs. “Our goal is for a win-win-win. Cardinal adds Fluxx to its line of classic card games, Looney Labs reaches a larger audience, and specialty retailers not only get to sell a special version, but they will hopefully experience a sea change in the level of demand for Fluxx products.”

The Looney Labs versions will release in July of this year and the Cardinal versions will release in August. Look for them in stores everywhere!

About Looney Labs

Looney Labs was founded in 1996 by Kristin & Andrew Looney, a husband and wife team that gave up successful careers at NASA to pursue their hobby business full time. They could tell early on the true hit potential their card game Fluxx had, and with the creation of new and exciting versions of Fluxx, the popularity of the game has spread worldwide and spawned numerous international publications. The Looneys believe one of the most important things they create is the fun people have while playing their games. Andy continues to create new games, from those with lighter play, like Loonacy and Just Desserts, to more strategic games like Chrononauts and Pyramid Arcade. About SpinMaster/Cardinal Industries

Since 1945 Long Island City, New York, based Cardinal Industries has grown to become one of America's top signature board game and puzzle companies, offering more than four hundred items including traditional games such as dominoes, checkers and poker sets, as well as an extensive line of licensed games and lenticular, wood and basic puzzles. An industry leader with worldwide reach, Cardinal products can be found throughout North America, Europe and Australia. Cardinal games and puzzles have won many awards, including the LIMA International Licensing Award, TOTY award nominations, and many Vendor of the Year awards from Toys “R” Us.

In 2015 Cardinal became part of Spin Master Ltd., a global leader in multi-category children’s entertainment since 1994. The purchase made Spin Master the second largest games company in the U.S. Cardinal remains committed to making family-friendly, challenging and innovative games and puzzles, and making them affordable to all.

Star Trek Fluxx

Or is that Fluxxes? Anyhow, Looney Labs has announced they have the licese to produce a series of Star Trek Fluxx games releasing later this year:

We are very excited to announce three new Star Trek Titles from Looney Labs - two standalone card games and an expansion pack that allows you to shuffle both decks together!
 
Star Trek Fluxx: Featuring characters from the Original Series,
including Spock, Uhura, and Scotty!

Star Trek: The Next Generation Fluxx: Featuring TNG characters,
including Troi, Riker, and Worf!

Star Trek Fluxx Bridge Expansion: 12 cards that allow Kirk to meet Picard,
Spock to meet Data, and the Past to meet the Future!
 

Chemistry Fluxx

Looney Labs released Math Fluxx a couple of weeks ago, now here comes Chemistry Fluxx. Fun and educational at the same time.

Firefly Fluxx Coming

Announcing Firefly™ Fluxx!

It's shiny!

Join Mal, Wash, Zoë, Inara, Kaylee, Jayne, Simon, River, and Book as Fluxx enters the 'Verse at full speed. With the rules constantly changing, Firefly™ Fluxx is just as unpredictable as misbehaving in space! Featuring sumptuous art by Adam Levermore, Firefly™ Fluxx is perfect for fans and collectors of both Firefly™ and Fluxx.

Firefly™ Fluxx
Street Date: March 18, 2016
SKU: LOO-070
UPC: 857848004352 
MSRP: $20

New Old Fluxx Title

Looney Labs will release an updated version of its Eco Fluxx game, retitled Nature Fluxx in November:

Street Date: November 6^th!

LOO-071 Nature Fluxx $16.00 SRP Nature Fluxx - The nature game with rules that change like the weather! In the wild, you have to adapt to survive. Grown from the seeds of EcoFluxx, Nature Fluxx is ready to take root in the game libraries of gamers all over the world. Full of rules that are constantly changing, Nature Fluxx has players constantly adapting and evolving - just like in nature! Nature Fluxx is the next evolution of EcoFluxx. It maintains the same cards and gameplay, but updates the card frame art and packaging. Full of plants and elements and things-that-eat-other-things, Nature Fluxx will remind and teach everyone about the wonders of nature (all while playing an all-natural game of Fluxx)! 2-6 players Ages 8+ 15 minute play time

Firefly Fluxx Coming

Coming 1st quarter of 2016

College Park, MD - September 10, 2015 Looney Labs is thrilled to announce the newest, out-of-this-world version of Fluxx: Firefly Fluxx! Join Mal, Wash, Zoë, Inara, Kaylee, Jayne, Simon, River, Book, and more as Fluxx enters the 'Verse at full speed. With the rules constantly changing, Firefly Fluxx is just as unpredictable as misbehaving in space! "We love the adventures of the crew of the Serenity," stated Andy Looney, Chief Creative Officer of Looney Labs "and welcoming them into the Fluxx 'Verse has been wonderful. It's a natural fit, as both Mal and Fluxx players have to constantly adapt the rules in order to win!" "We are excited to introduce the Browncoat Nation to Firefly Fluxx. We have been playing Fluxx for years and this version of the card game with ever-changing rules will not disappoint" says John Kovaleski of Gale Force Nine. "It's fast, fun, and Shiny!" A game of strategy, skill, and the luck of the draw, Firefly Fluxx echoes the aesthetics of the futuristic western. Featuring sumptuous art by Adam Levermore, Firefly Fluxx is perfect for fans and collectors of both Firefly and Fluxx! Firefly Fluxx will be in stores in early 2016, with an MSRP of $20.

It's Nice When Manufacturers Listen to Stores

It’s rather nice when a manufacturer asks a question of retailers, then actually listens  to what stores say and acts upon it. It seems to most retailers that manufacturers generally ask what stores want, listen and then go ahead and do whatever they planned to do in the first place. The recent releases of Batman Fluxx, and  Adventure Time Fluxx and the upcoming release of Fluxx Dice by Looney Labs are one of those great examples of a publisher reaching out to retailers, asking said retailers what should happen in a given situation and then acting on what said retailers  recommended Looney Labs do in order to make it easier on stores and maximize sales.

The original publishing schedule for the three releases was to release Adventure Time Fluxx in late July, Batman Fluxx in early August and Fluxx Dice in late August.  Due to a flux in the space time continuum, or more likely a shipping and delivery problem, the release date for Adventure Time Fluxx had to get pushed back to early August, releasing at the same time as Batman Fluxx. So Looney Labs did what any publisher ought to do and so few do, reach out to the people who will be selling most of their products to the end consumer, the retailers. 

Looney Labs wanted to know, should the company release both Fluxx titles on the same  day, potentially creating a greater impact  and grabbing more mindshare from the consumer or stagger the releases a few weeks apart, allowing each release to generate buzz on its own. Most of the retailers who responded chose spreading out the two releases over the month for two main reasons:  1) As noted above, spacing out the two allowed Looney Labs and stores to spread out the impact of each release, allowing stores to focus on and promote each separately, rather than  putting together a larger promotion that would increase attention on the Fluxx brand but could dilute the impact of either release on its own and 2) from a financial standpoint it is much easier for retailers to absorb the impact of stocking both games  if they can spread the “hit” to the budget over a month rather than stocking both at the same time and having the bill for both coming in at the same time as well.

Looney Labs did listen to the stores and pushed the release of Adventure Time Fluxx to later in August, releasing Batman Fluxx on August 7^th, Adventure Time Fluxx two weeks later and, so as to smooth out the release schedule even more, bumping Fluxx Dice back into early September. 

It would really help stores, and overall sales, if more companies would do both of these things:  talk to us and spread out their release schedules more for new products. Paizo’s release schedule for Pathfinder generally calls for new products to release the last Wednesday of each month, meaning that a Pathfinder player who wants to pick up everything for the game has to plan on dropping an average of $100-$200 that week on Pathfinder products. Spreading out new releases on a weekly  schedule, ala Games Workshop, would mean:  1) new products every week for the Pathfinder player and 2) lest of a hit at the end of the month on said Pathfinder player’s wallet, and the store’s budget too, for that matter.  Think about it, would you Paizo?

Batman Fluxx Coming

Next Week from Looney Labs:

We're very excited to announce that Batman™ Fluxx will be in stores August 7! With art in the style of The New Batman Adventures, Batman™ Fluxx introduces the Caped Crusader (and his Rogue's Gallery of villains) to the ever-changing card game of Fluxx. To celebrate Batman's adventures in the Fluxx universe, you'll be able to get a limited edition Batman™ Fluxx coin and Two-Face Flip card in the August issue of Game Trade Magazine, which will be available for FREE at GenCon (while supplies last)! JULY 30 TH We're back at GenCon this year, and can’t wait to play our newest games with everyone! Come see us in Booth 1401 and pick up pre-release copies of Adventure Time Fluxx and Batman™ Fluxx! LINK TO EVENT » AUGUST 8 TH It's Looney Labs Day at Foam Brain Games! If you're in the Troy, New York area be sure to come meet Andy and play some games with him! LINK TO EVENT » AUGUST 27 TH Are you going to PAX Prime and interested in game design? Be sure to hit Andy's panel at PAX Dev, How To Design a Game with Andy Looney! LINK TO EVENT » Whether you are a casual player of Looney Labs games or a dedicated Game Tech, our fan club is the place for news and special insider programs from Looney Labs! We can never get enough of Just Desserts, the super fun game of serving sweets! Delicious-looking illustrations and easy gameplay will keep you and your guests coming back for more! Perfect excuse for a dessert party gaming night! Q: When can we get our hot little hands on the awesome new batman fluxx, adventure time fluxx, and fluxx dice?? A: Official release dates are Batman Fluxx on August 7, Adventure Time Fluxx on August 21, and Fluxx Dice on September 4, but you're in luck, because they are all available for pre-order RIGHT NOW! Head to our webstore, fill up your cart, and you'll get these exciting new releases as soon as they're available! But remember, if you order them all in one order, the shipment will be held until the latest applicable release date! Moon Rabbit Toys is a super cool toy store in Santa Fe, New Mexico that also carries awesome games like Fluxx and Looney Pyramids! It's the perfect place to pick up a fun gift, so be sure to check it out if you're in Santa Fe!  FOLLOW US: @LOONEYLABS LOONEYLABS.COM PO BOX 761, COLLEGE PARK MD 20741 301.441.1019 UNSUBSCRIBE © 2014 LOONEY LABS

Looney Labs Expands Distribution

It won't mean anything to the purchaser but Looney Labs, maker of Fluxx, Just Desserts, Chrononauts and other fine card games, announced this week they are adding another distributor:  GTS Distribution. Up to now, if a store wanted to carry any of the Fluxx games, it had to buy direct from Looney Labs or buy from one of the two distributors that LL allowed to carry its games:  Alliance Distribution or ACD. This meant, in order to stock LL products, a store had to have an account with one of those two distributors. Now, at least, stores have three places to get LL games from.

Why does this matter? Mainly to stores because this gives them more options from which to get LL products. If Alliance or ACD is out of Regular Show Fluxx, the store can check if GTS has it in stock, meaning, hopefully, fewer out of stocks.

New Fluxx

Adventure Time and Batman Fluxx releasing later this summer:

Adventure Time and Batman Fluxx releasing later this summer.

Looney Labs Gift Suggestions

Looney Labs has some suggestions for Christmas gifts. Of course, they are all Looney Labs games

It's time to start shopping, and figuring out what to get for all those folks on your holiday gift list can be a daunting task! We are here to make things easier for you, and have come up with a HANDY-DANDY GIFT GUIDE pairing up your family and friends with the perfect Looney Labs game. No matter which games you choose, everyone is sure to have a super fun time!

Christmas-loving coworker You can hear her jingle bell earrings coming from a mile away, and she loves her festive holiday sweaters! What could be better for her than the brand-new Holiday Fluxx? All the festive imagery of the holidays packed into a fun-filled game that's always changing. We recommend busting out the eggnog when you teach her how to play.

moody TEENAGEr Teenagers are tough to shop for, but we'd be willing to bet they know and/or love The Walking Dead! Give them the gift of Zombie Fluxx, and they can have fun trying to prevent the Zombie Apocalypse!

precocious tween Tweens are smart, quick, and love FUN. They will LOVE Loonacy! The fast-paced energy of this awesome matching card game makes it impossible to not have a blast playing it....and it's great for younger kids, too! Heck, it's even great for big adult kids!

weird uncle He has eccentric tastes, and he doesn't care who knows it. You know he watches Monty Python's Flying Circus every chance he gets, why not give him a game he will love? Monty Python Fluxx will take him to a land of crazy knights, silly quests, and killer rabbits!

doctor who fan Time travel is hot, and you're sure to have a few Doctor Who fans in your inner circle. Chrononauts is a game that will allow them to change history and collect cool artifacts! Feel free to give them bonus points for wearing a bow tie or long, brown coat.

sci fi geek Star Trek? Star Wars? Or maybe they're into Guardians Of The Galaxy? IT DOESN'T MATTER. If they like sci fi, or space-related things, they will LOVE Star Fluxx! Click on the image way up top to watch Wil Wheaton play with his friends!

party host/ess You're headed out to a festive party - you don't want to show up empty-handed! Sure, you could bring wine...but so will everyone else. Bring something uniquely awesome that EVERYONE at the party can enjoy: the superfun party game, Choose One! How well do you really know your friends? You might be surprised!

Fluxx The Board Game

A brand extension I have high hopes for is Fluxx:  The Board Game from Looney Labs.  Not nearly as random as the various card game version of Fluxx, the structure imposed by the board actually allows for the use of strategy in your gameplay.  Players still will win by achieving goals, but now, instead of collecting Keeper cards, you claim a goal by occupying the two appropriate goal spaces on the board with your pawns. 

More on Cthulhu Fluxx

August 17^th Street Date!

LOO-052

Cthulhu Fluxx

$ 16.00 SRP

Follow the wild-eyed Poet, the obsessed Artist, and the expeditions of the Professor, as they investigate Eldritch Secrets no mortal was meant to discover. Someone has stolen the Necronomicon from the library at Miskatonic University, and a Farm in the hills is undergoing a horrifying Metamorphosis. Meanwhile, unspeakable abominations stir in Penguin-riddled Tombs beneath the ice. Are you Inevitably Doomed to a lifetime of Nightmares in the Sanitarium, or are you, in fact, a Secret Cultist, worshiping the Minions of Darkness? Gaze upon the ever- changing face of Madness with Cthulhu Fluxx!

* Developed by noted game designer and Cthulhu guru Keith Baker.
* The Cthulhu mythos has a strong – dare we say – cultish following among gamers.
* NEW “Doom” and “Anti-Doom” symbols on Keepers and Creepers add an element of foreboding that builds tension.
* Lots of Ungoals: opportunities for all players to lose to the forces of evil – unless one of them pulls out a surprise victory as the Secret Cultist!

Cthulhu Fluxx Coming

Follow the wild-eyed Poet, the obsessed Artist, and the expeditions of the Professor as they investigate Eldritch Secrets no mortal was meant to discover. Someone has stolen the Necronomicon from the library at Miskatonic Univeristy, and a Farm in the hills is undergoing a horrifying Metamorphosis. Meanwhile, unspeakable abominations stir in Penguin-riddled Tombs beneath the ice. Are you Inevitably Doomed to a lifetime of Nightmares in the Sanitarium, or are you, in fact, a Secret Cultist, worshiping the Minions of Darkness? Gaze upon the ever-changing face of Madness with Cthulhu Fluxx!

Street Date: August 17, 2012, just in time for GENCON