product search
Shopping Bag | Sign In
 

about

Press

Press Releases

2010

2/15/10 Rush Hour from ThinkFun Now Available in the Android Market
New Application Enables Millions of Android Smart Phone Users to Finally Play the Original Rush Hour Logic Puzzle for Free

2/11/10 ThinkFun Launches New Products for 2010
ThinkFun Celebrates 25th Anniversary Announcing Nine New Mind Challenging Games For Kids and Adults

2/08/10 ThinkFun Celebrates 25 Years as the World's Leading Developer of Mind-Challenging Games and Logic Puzzles!
ThinkFun Continues Educational Innovation with New UC Berkeley Partnership

2009

12/03/2009 Rush Hour From ThinkFun® Now Available on Apple's ITunes Store
New Application Enables Millions of IPhone and IPod Touch Users to Finally Play the Original Rush Hour Logic Puzzle for Free.

07/08/2009 ThinkFun® puts a new "SPIN" on the classic memory game
Smash It, Match It, Win It! S'Match!® Uses Tactile Fun to Challenge Young Players

02/01/2009 New ThinkFun® Games for 2009
ThinkFun, Inc. introduces exciting new games in its "Multi-Player" and "Brainteaser" categories.

2008

12/02/2008 ThinkFun® Announces 36 Cube Contest to Challenge Puzzlers and Benefit Schools Nationwide
Need a fun challenge to beat the winter doldrums? ThinkFun, Inc. today announced a way to entertain and challenge minds while giving back to schools with the 36 CUBE Contest.

11/24/08 ThinkFun Inc.'s Incredibly Fun New Junior Games Developed with Extensive Teacher and Mom Input
ThinkFun Inc., a leading provider of mind challenging games, has two new games on shelf expressly designed for the developmental needs of children ages five and older. Clever Castle and Hoppers Jr. are as big on learning as they are on fun, reflecting ThinkFun’s extensive consulting with teachers and moms alike.  

11/19/08 New 36 Cube Puzzle Challenges Experts, Captivates Children
It’s the puzzle version of a wolf in sheep’s clothing – or moreover, an innocent-looking puzzle with a challenging solvability factor. Simply snap 36 boldly-colored plastic tower pieces, six each of six colors, into a square base with 36 welcoming receptacles.

10/20/08 ThinkFun® Aligns Staff, Sets for Growth
When ThinkFun, the leading creator of Mind Challenging Games, recently appointed John Esteban Chief Operating Officer, one of his first priorities was to align the company with its Core Values of innovation, passion, and fun. 

04/30/08 ThinkFun® Appoints New Chief Operating Officer
ThinkFun Inc., the leading creator of Mind Challenging Games, is pleased to announce that John Esteban has been appointed as the new Chief Operating Officer. He is responsible for ThinkFun’s overall business administration, day-to-day operations and will work with the executive team to drive the company’s new strategic plan.

03/04/08 ThinkFun® Welcomes New Marketing and Sales Executive
ThinkFun Inc., a leading creator of mind-challenging games, welcomes Liz Deakin as she joins the team as Director, Marketing and Sales. Ms. Deakin is a dynamic marketing professional with 12 award-winning years in defining and building brands. She will oversee all domestic sales and marketing functions for ThinkFun and will focus on efforts aimed at continuing to enhance ThinkFun brand awareness at the consumer level as well as increase the company’s presence in the Web and education channels.

02/01/08 ThinkFun® Announces New Mind Challenging Games for 2008
ThinkFun Inc., a leading creator of mind-challenging games, launches five exciting new products. Top This! ™, Chocolate Fix™, Serpentiles™, Ducks in a Row™ and Rush Hour® Ultimate Collector’s Edition add to ThinkFun’s product line of award winning games. These five new products further establish ThinkFun’s ability to entertain and educate both young and old.

2007

02/08/07 ThinkFun® Kicks Off 2007 with Robust Product Launch
ThinkFun® Inc., a leading creator of mind-challenging games, is proud to introduce Hot Spot™, Pete’s Pike™, Cover your Tracks™ and Treasure Quest™ to its award winning product line of pioneering mind-challenging games. These four new products each contain a unique theme that engages and entertains while helping children build essential thinking skills.

02/07/07 ThinkFun® Launches Game Club Program
ThinkFun® Inc., the leading creator of mind-challenging games, is pleased to introduce ThinkFun® Game Club™, an innovative new program where students play fun mind-challenging games in a structured, nourishing environment.

02/01/07 Zingo!® Nominated for 2007 T.O.T.Y. Award
ThinkFun® Inc., the leading creator of mind-challenging games, is pleased to announce that Zingo!® has been nominated for a Toy of the Year (T.O.T.Y.) Award by the Toy Industry Association (TIA). One of the most prestigious honors in the industry, Zingo!® is up for the coveted award in the "Specialty Toy of the Year" category.

2006

12/14/06 Gordian’s Knot Named Best Puzzle by Games Magazine
ThinkFun® Inc., a leading creator of mind-challenging games, is proud to announce that Gordian’s Knot has been named Best Puzzle of the Year by Games magazine. The honor was published in the magazine’s "2007 Buyer’s Guide to Games", which includes a list of the top 100 non-electronic games of the year.

09/28/06 ThinkFun Introduces New Mind-Challenging Games
ThinkFun® Inc., the leading creator of Mind-Challenging Games™, will introduce Rush Hour® Deluxe Edition and Sudoku Jr. 4X4TM to its award winning product line in September 2006.

04/06/06 ThinkFun joins with TV-Turnoff Network to celebrate TV-Turnoff Week
ThinkFun® Inc., the leading creator of Mind-Challenging Games™ and the TV-Turnoff Network, an international non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging individuals to reduce screen time, announce today a joint collaboration to support healthier lives and communities by providing enriching alternative activities to watching TV or using other screens.

04/04/06 Bill Ritchie Appointed to Board of Directors for TV-Turnoff Network
ThinkFun® Inc., the leading creator of Mind-Challenging Games™, is pleased to announce that Co-Founder and CEO Bill Ritchie has been appointed to the Board of Directors for the TV-Turnoff Network. The TV-Turnoff Network, based in Washington, DC, is an international non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging individuals to reduce screen time in order to promote healthier lives and communities.

02/09/06 ThinkFun Introduces New Product Lines for 2006
ThinkFun® Inc., the leading creator of Mind-Challenging Games™, along with introducing an exciting new line of ThinkFun Marvel Heroes products, will bolster it’s collection of mind-challenging games with two new Aha! Brainteaser Classics, Lift Off™ and Double Rings™, and will introduce an innovative Sudoku game called Sudoku 5x5™.

02/08/06 ThinkFun's TIPOVER Selected as "Top Puzzle of the Year"
ThinkFun® Inc., the leading creator of Mind-Challenging Games™, is pleased to announce that TIPOVER® is the recipient of Games magazine “Puzzle of the Year” award for 2006. Based on reviews of products from all over the world, the Games 100 list honors products that exemplify high standards of both design (novelty) and fun factor in the puzzle and game industry.

02/08/06 ThinkFun to Create Learning Games Based on Marvel Heroes
ThinkFun® Inc., the leading creator of Mind-Challenging Games™, and Marvel Entertainment, Inc., one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, have agreed to a multi-year licensing agreement, in which Marvel will provide ThinkFun access to the Marvel Heroes characters. ThinkFun has been granted the rights to Marvel Heroes classic characters such as Spider-Man, X-Men, Hulk, Silver Surfer, Captain America, as well as other well known characters, and will produce a variety of theme-based learning games that leverage ThinkFun's mind challenging game platform.

02/07/06 TIPOVER Nominated for 2006 "Specialty Toy of the Year" Award
ThinkFun® Inc., the leading creator of Mind-Challenging Games™, is pleased to announce that TIPOVER® has been nominated for a Toy Industry Association, Inc. (TIA) Toy of the Year (T.O.T.Y.) Award, one of the most prestigious honors in the industry. TIPOVER, along with four other finalists, is up for the coveted award in the "Specialty Toy of the Year" category.

2005

10/12/05 Ralph J. Cuomo promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer

6/1/05 Multi-Level Challenge Game TIPOVER Wins Dr. Toy’s “Smart” Award

5/17/05 Toot and Otto™, a New Game for Kids, Wins the Oppenheim Gold Award

2/17/05 Leader of Mind Challenging Games Comes to Play in 2005

2/17/05 New Look, New Feel, Same Award Winning Company

2/16/05 ThinkFun Reports Record Revenue and Profit for Fiscal 2004

2/16/05 ThinkFun Accelerates Marketing Strategy, Welcomes Top New Executive


2004

10/12/04 Ask Us "What’s GNU™"

10/12/04 You’ll Flip Over TIPOVER™

8/24/04 New Fun Games Now Available At Barnes & Noble


2003

10/14/03 Oodles of Doodles is Family Fun!

9/4/03 ThinkFun - Everybody Plays This Fall

9/3/03 ThinkFun Celebrates New Awards

6/11/03 ThinkFun Best Bet for Travel

4/22/03 Real World/Road Rules Contestants Tackle Block by Block

4/1/03 Whee-Lo - Going Strong at Fifty Under Any Name

2/10/03 Binary Arts Revisits Classics for 2003

2/10/03 Binary Arts Launches New 2003 Products

1/13/03 Binary Arts Changes Name to ThinkFun


2002

12/4/02 Binary Arts Announces New Controller

11/4/02 Smart Mouth® is CTTC Best Bet

10/8/02 More Awards for Binary Arts

8/27/02 Awards Continue for Binary Arts

7/30/02 The 2002 Awards Keep Coming for Binary Arts

7/25/02 Binary Arts Lands Key Executive Talent

7/23/02 Binary Arts Unveils New Metal Puzzle Series

7/23/02 Binary Arts Does it Again with 3 New Kids' Games

4/3/02 Real World / Road Rules Cast Conquer Rush Hour


Back to top

Articles

Next-Generation Puzzles: Simple Looks Are Deceiving
North American Precis Syndicate, December 15, 2008

With standardized test scores on the decline, a growing number of parents are concerned about their children's educational prospects--as well as the amount of time they spend in front of the computer and playing video games.

Makers of Mind-Bending Games
Washington Post, December 2, 2007

Bill Ritchie and Andrea Barthello took the old adage about "all work and no play" literally when they started their game company, ThinkFun, then called Binary Arts, in 1985.

Think Family, Think Learning, ThinkFun (PDF, 18 KB)
Alexandria Gazette Packet, November 15, 2007

Move the brown car down? Shift the gold car left? That might clear some space for the bright red roadster to maneuver, but what about that lavender truck looming two spaces away?

All Work and All Play for this Alexandria Toy Maker (PDF, 1.6 MB)
Washington Business Journal, September 10-16, 2004

If you have been past the purplish-gray building with the cranberry trim and the giant sign that says, "Thinkfun: Everybody Plays," and wished that you could see inside, you are not the first. Thinkfun founder Andrea Barthello says that people wander in off the street to see what's going on inside.

Back to top