ChiTAG 2019 is this weekend!

One of my favorite events of the year is nearly upon us-- The Chicago Toy and Game Fair .(CHITAG) where toy and game makers from around the world gather at Navy Pier to display their new wares and sell the hottest new games to consumers, just in time for the holidays.

The two day event is THIS WEEKEND at Navy Pier, and it promises to be a lot of fun!

Photo of past CHITAG-- provided by http://www.chitag.com 
(and if you haven't played Klask, you totally should.  It's great fun!)
BUY KLASK ON AMAZON.

One of the things I love about CHITAG is that each year they host kid game inventors to display their games, and the winner gets a deal to produce their game!  Of course, it's cool that happens, but even more cool is the amazing creativity and high degree of professionalism that some of the games have.  And you get to talk to the kids and see what drove them to do that.

Photo of past CHITAG-- provided by http://www.chitag.com

That's also true for adults.  CHITAG gives many fledgling game designers the chance to get out into the marketplace and see if their game is going to find a buyer/distributor/ or just players and fans.  I love chatting with the new game designers and seeing why they decided to risk a sizable portion of their savings (as well as time and energy) on a brand new venture.  It's exciting!

Photo of past CHITAG-- provided by http://www.chitag.com

And of course there's tons and tons of game playing and game booths and games to try out and toys to look at.  It's just a lot of fun!

A couple of years ago, we saw this amazing life-size dino at #chitag

Over 30,000 people are expected to walk through the doors this weekend.

Will one of them be you?

Check out CHITAG.COM for more details.
(or look below!)

View this post on Instagram

A Yoyo champion from Chitag in year's past (from my Instagram account)

Some of the Highlights of this year's CHITAG

A kid-designed game from past CHITAG

• The World’s Largest Kid-Powered Rocket (Kite and Rocket Research)

• The new Super Things line of collectible toys and receive free blind bag samples before the toys hit retail stores (Goliath)

• Get crafty and decorate a Fuzzikins to take home (PlayMonster)

• Test your putting skills at the Gator Golf Putting Station (Goliath)

• Take a spin on the My Buddy Wheels balance bikes and new Yvolution scooters (Yvolution)

• Young inventors ages six to 18 compete in the Young Inventor Challenge on Saturday, November 23

• Join Sven’s Frozen Adventure for the Frozen II Scavenger Hunt (JAKKS Pacific)

A local young man brought the X-cube to life from
CHITAG a couple of years ago.
BUY X-CUBE ON AMAZON

• Experience the first public showcasing of the adorable new D-O being introduced in Star Wars IX: The Rise of Skywalker (Hasbro)

• Enjoy a performance of WTTW’s The Big Idea Tour’s Traveling Lab on Saturday, November 23 

• Watch contestants from coast to coast compete in the Yo-Yo Championship

• Adults can stop by the Beer Garden for pints of cold suds and sit down to play some of the
industry’s best games for grown-ups, including the newest from the makers of Exploding Kittens (Let’s Play Games)

• Watch Princess Etch bring your favorite characters to life on her Etch-a-Sketch

• Enjoy Ben’s Giant Bubble Show and the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile

This was a fun game we discovered 3 years ago at CHITAG
Buy The Presidential Game on Amazon

• Snap a photo with your favorite Star Wars characters from the 501st Legion

• Meet toy and game inventors from around the world

• Take advantage of discounts on the hottest holiday toys

• Special needs families can come early both days for the Sensory Power Hour 

Visit http://www.Chitag.com for more details

Groupon also has limited amounts of CHITAG tickets on sale today!
Get them before they are gone!

Young Inventor Challenge Deadline: Oct 28!

Every year for the past 3 years I've attended one of my favorite events of the year, The Chicago Toy and Game Expo.

Here are some previous posts about the event:
http://www.dadapalooza.com/2016/11/chitag-2016.html
http://www.dadapalooza.com/2015/12/chiTAG2015.html

It's upcoming the weekend of November 18-20, and undoubtedly I'll post more about it in the next couple of weeks or so.  (And of course, I'll be in attendance.)

One of the things I like most about CHITAG is The Young Inventor Challenge.  And this year, I can write about it early enough for people to apply!  The Deadline is October 28.

The Young Inventor Challenge provides an opportunity for children ages 6 to 18 to showcase their own original toy & game inventions to industry professionals, members of the media and the general public. The judging is split into two categories, 6-11 (junior) and 12-18 (senior).

The Young Inventor Challenge is an all-day event on Saturday, November 18. You must be available at Navy Pier between 9am and 10am to set up, and stay until after the winners have been announced (approximately 5pm).

Deadline to register October 28, 2017! All entry materials and videos must be submitted by November 4th, 2017. There is a suggested $10 donation to help cover administrative costs when you participate in the Young Inventor Challenge. Participants and their immediate families get complimentary admission to ChiTAG Fair for the whole weekend!

To find out how to register, keep on reading.

They have a couple of new things this year, including online and video entries.  Each student is asked to submit a 2-minute video pitch with their entry, That will give all of the judges time to review each entry before the actual day, as well as allow students to compete from around the nation.  At the completion of the event, all registrants receive feedback on their invention from the judges.

Last year's winners (two fifth graders from Palos Heights) had their game created and marketed by Target!  I've embedded the video below, but if you can't see it, try this ABC7 Web article

http://abc7chicago.com/2530518/



There's also a one-minute commercial competition this year, in which students are asked to create a television commercial for their invention.  It's an opportunity to get silly and creative, and use costumes, props, actors, and even pets to sell your amazing toy or invention to the judges.

Prizes will be awarded in the following categories:

• Most Marketable Game Concept (Sponsored by Target and Pressman Toys)
• Most Creative Concept (Sponsored by Play Monster Toys)
• Most Outstanding Presentation (Sponsored by Mattel)
• Best Commercial/Video (Sponsored by Spin Master)
• Best Educational Concept (Sponsored by Lego)

Over $10,000 in prizes and scholarships will be awarded!

Here are just a few of the games I previewed for the Inventors Challenge last year.  As you can see, they are full of hard work and creativity, even if they can't all be winners of the challenge.

To register for this year, visit https://chitagyounginventorchallenge.pitchwizard.net/

Best of luck, and I hope to be looking at your game this year!