PHOTO RECAP: ChiIL Mama's Adventures at The Chicago Toy and Game Fair 2017

This year my 16 year old son, Dugan, took one camera and I took the other, and we tag teamed coverage of ChiTAG, the largest annual public Toy & Game Fair in the country. We've included all our collective shots in the SLIDE SHOW here and some of our favorites are embedded below, from meeting inventors to our Star Wars themed press/blogger lunch. Dugan did a fabulous job documenting the fun. His photos and mine are watermarked individually in case you're curious who shot what. Enjoy!

The ChiTAG fair is a great way to meet toy and game inventors, get great gift giving ideas, check out brand new releases, and revisit old favorites. They even have show deals and merch on sale on the spot. If you're still stuck for gifting ideas for the holidays, birthdays and beyond, let us be your guide. 

Full ChiTAG 2017 Slideshow Here:

Some highlights this year were: 
seeing Jane Labowitch: AKA Princess Etch and her amazing Etch a Sketch art again, 

meeting Adam Hocherman, the inventor of Playmonster's Tinkineer's Marbleocity,  





checking out the intricate, amazing buildable creations by UGEARS (They sent us two to build, The Theater and the train, and they're incredible!), 











and getting a lesson in how to play Charmed from one of the co-creators, .




Some of our favorite low tech play spaces were the cardboard creative area where kids could DIY anything out of discarded boxes and the Legos area.

Looking for great family game ideas to play in 2018? ChiIL Mama's giving away Chrono Bomb, myPad, and a buildable Mini Skate Park Maker Kit from Playmonster, the award winning IceCool game from Brain Games, Charms game from Studio 9, a Happy Salmon Card Game and more!

Click image below for lots more opportunities to enter and WIN through 12/20/17. 
ChiIL Mama's Holidaze 12 Days of Giveaways Gift Guide is LIVE

Holiday Gift Guide, Giveaways, Discount Codes, Product Reviews and More! 

Disclosure: I have sometimes been given complimentary games for our giveaways and for review purposes and/or I have been compensated for sharing with our readers. As always, all opinions, photos and adventures are my own.

 More ChiTAG Photo Favs Below:

NEW RELEASE: Prehistoric Sized Fun With LEGO Jurassic World, Now Available in North America #LEGOJurassicGame #Tech #VideoGames

WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT, TT GAMES,

THE LEGO GROUP AND UNIVERSAL PARTNERSHIPS & LICENSING

WELCOME VISITORS TO LEGO® JURASSIC WORLD™ 

All Four Jurassic Films in One Action-Packed Video Game, Roaring Into Stores 6/12

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, TT Games, The LEGO Group and Universal Partnerships & Licensing today announced that LEGO® Jurassic World™ is now available in North America for the PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems, PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system, Xbox One all-in-one games and entertainment system, the Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft, the Wii U™ system from Nintendo, Nintendo 3DS™ hand-held system and Windows PC.

For the first time, the Jurassic Park franchise comes to LEGO video games, spanning more than two decades of epic films from Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment, including Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Jurassic Park III, as well as the highly anticipated Jurassic World, opening today. Reimagined with TT Games’ signature LEGO humor, the thrilling adventure recreates unforgettable scenes and action sequences from the films, allowing fans to experience for themselves the franchise’s most memorable moments and the opportunity to fully explore the expansive grounds of Isla Nublar and Isla Sorna.

“LEGO Jurassic World immerses fans directly into the action of the iconic film franchise,” said Tom Stone, Managing Director, TT Games. “From playing as a dinosaur for the first time in a LEGO game, to creating customized dinosaurs, LEGO Jurassic World takes players on a memorable, T. rex-sized journey through Isla Nublar and beyond.”

In LEGO Jurassic World, players can take on the roles of exciting Jurassic film characters, such as Owen Grady (Chris Pratt), Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard), Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) and Dr. Wu (BD Wong), throughout 20 story levels on a mission to collect precious amber containing dinosaur DNA.  Players can use the DNA to build their dino collection, mix their pieces to create an original species with the Dino Customizer by mixing and matching color, body parts and abilities or fill the giant footsteps of the LEGO dinosaurs and actually play the game as the beasts themselves!

Additionally, gamers can explore the expansive open world grounds of Isla Nublar and Isla Sorna and play with family and friends using LEGO video games’ classic drop-in, drop-out co-op gameplay. 

Also launching today is the Jurassic World DLC Pack, giving players access to six new characters, two new vehicles, the JURASSIC Response Unit and the JURASSIC WORLD Shuttle and more. The Jurassic World DLC Pack is available for purchase at local and digital retailers for $1.99. 

Experience even more within LEGO Jurassic World with the Jurassic Park Trilogy Pack #1, which grants access to three characters and one vehicle including, Dino Handler, Eric Kirby and Paul Kirby and the Animal Control Vehicle, which is available for purchase for $0.99. Players can also purchase the Jurassic Park Trilogy Pack #2 for $0.99, which provides access to three characters and one vehicle including, Jurassic Park Helicopter Pilot, Lex and Tim Murphy and Iain Malcolm’s San Diego Cruiser.

LEGO Jurassic World is rated “E10+” for everyone 10 and older by the ESRB and is now available for PS4 and Xbox One for the suggested retail price of $59.99 and for PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii U for the suggested retail price of $49.99. The game is also available now for PS Vita and Nintendo 3DS for the suggested retail price of $29.99.

For more information, please visit:
https://www.facebook.com/LEGOJurassic
http://twitter.com/LEGOJurassic
http://instagram.com/LEGOJurassic

About Jurassic World

The story of Steven Spielberg’s original comes full circle as the park that was only a promise comes to life.  Welcome to Jurassic World, a fully operational luxury resort off the coast of Costa Rica where 20,000 guests explore the wonder of Earth’s most magnificent living prehistoric marvels—of every shape and size—and interact up close with them every day.

When the massive and mysterious Indominus rex stages an escape and disappears into the jungle, order turns to mayhem and guests turn into prey. Dinosaurs escape into the open, skies and water to engage in an all-out war for survival, and no corner within the world’s greatest theme park is safe anymore.

Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Vincent D’Onofrio, Ty Simpkins, Nick Robinson, Omar Sy, BD Wong and Irrfan Khan star in the 3D epic action-adventure that is directed by Colin Trevorrow and based on characters created by Michael Crichton. The screenplay is by Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver and Derek Connolly & Trevorrow, and the story is by Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver.  Frank Marshall and Patrick Crowley join the team as producers. www.jurassicworld.com

About TT Games

TT Games (www.ttgames.com) is the combined publishing and development group behind the hit LEGO videogame franchises such as LEGO® Star Wars™, LEGO® Indiana Jones™, LEGO® Batman™, and LEGO® Harry Potter™.  Incorporating renowned UK developer Traveller’s Tales, TT Games has a distinctive focus on console, handheld, mobile and PC games of the highest quality, aimed at young gamers and their families.

About the LEGO Group

The LEGO Group is a privately held, family-owned company with headquarters in Billund, Denmark, and main offices in Enfield, USA, London, England, Shanghai, China, and Singapore. Founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen, and based on the iconic LEGO® brick, it is one of the world's leading manufacturers of play materials for children.

Guided by the company spirit: "Only the best is good enough”, the company is committed to the development of children and aims to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow through creative play and learning. LEGO products are sold worldwide and can be virtually explored at www.LEGO.com.

LEGO, the LEGO logo, the Minifigure, the brick and knob configuration are trademarks of the LEGO Group. © 2015 the LEGO Group.

About Universal Partnerships & Licensing

Universal Partnerships & Licensing (UP&L) oversees NBCUniversal’s consumer product and digital licensing for Universal Pictures, NBC Television, Focus Features and Sprout Channel.  This dedicated division is also responsible for film, home entertainment and television promotions.  UP&L is part of NBCUniversal. NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks, and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

About Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Inc., is a premier worldwide publisher, developer, licensor and distributor of entertainment content for the interactive space across all platforms, including console, handheld, mobile and PC-based gaming for both internal and third party game titles.

LEGO JURASSIC WORLD © 2015 TT Games Ltd. Produced by TT Games under license from the LEGO Group. LEGO, the LEGO logo, the Brick and the Knob configurations and the Minifigure are trademarks of the LEGO Group. © 2015 The LEGO Group. Jurassic World is a trademark and copyright of Universal Studios and Amblin Entertainment, Inc. Licensed by Universal Studios Licensing LLC. All Rights Reserved. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.  All rights reserved.

WB GAMES LOGO, WB SHIELD: ™ & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s15)

“PlayStation” and “PS3” are registered trademarks. “PS4” and “PS Vita” are trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Nintendo trademarks and copyrights are properties of Nintendo.

WIN 2 Tickets ($44 value) to LEGO® KidsFest at the Indianapolis Convention Center Nov 7-9th! #Legokidsfest

We're giving away 2 Tickets ($44 value) to LEGO® KidsFest at the Indianapolis Convention Center November 7-9th! My kids have adored building with LEGO bricks from toddlerhood to the tween years, and I have fond memories of enjoying hours of creative play with them in my own childhood. We also dig geeking out on LEGO fun facts. Find them interspersed below and blow your friends' minds.

*Fun Facts: LEGO is the contraction of two Danish words, "leg godt" which means "play well". More than 400 billion LEGO bricks have been produced since 1949

Disclosure: ChiIL Mama is happy to be in the US Family Blogger network. We have been chosen for this promotion and compensated with tickets for our family and our giveaway. As always, all opinions are our own.

Got a LEGO fan of your own? Indy is just a few short hours south of Chicago if you're in the area and up for a road trip. This is the closest LEGO KidsFest is coming to The Windy City. If you're one of ChiIL Mama's Indianapolis, Cincinnati, or closer readers, you're even luckier! Enter today.

LEGO KidsFest is coming to the Indianapolis Convention Center, November 7-9, 2014! LEGO KidsFest brings all of the creative hands-on, minds-on fun of LEGO building and experiences together in one activity- and entertainment-packed family event for children of all ages and builders of all skills and interests.

*Spacey Fun Fact: LEGO minifigures are out of this world, literally. The two Mars Rovers have an image of the LEGO minifigure etched into their front grill & Laid end to end, the number of LEGO bricks sold in a year would reach more than five times around the world.

TICKET Giveaway Details:

Click HERE to Enter

One of MY followers will win (2) tickets ($44 value) for the opening night session on Friday, November 7,  2014 (4-8:30pm). I encourage you to LIKE and Follow LEGO KidsFest on Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram for all the latest ticketing updates as this event has been selling out in prior cities. Must be 18 to enter, 1 entry per day allowed, random drawing by USFG!

Winner will be randomly chosen by USFG on Friday October 17 announced on my Blog and notified via email.

*Fun Fact: The LEGO minifigure represents the world's largest population of people! More than four billion minifigures have been produced in the last 30 years. This is almost 12 times the population of the United States!

LEGO KidsFest Indianapolis, IN

Nov. 7 - 9, 2014

GENERAL INFORMATION

The LEGO KidsFest is a giant traveling LEGO expo coming to the Indianapolis Convention Center from Nov. 7 - 9, 2014. This hands-on, educational, all-ages LEGO extravaganza features millions of LEGO bricks, not to mention lots of construction zones, dozens of life-sized LEGO models and displays, LEGO Friends, LEGO Chima, LEGO Star Wars, live LEGO Master Builders, and so much more covering three acres of space. 

Five identical sessions are available. Tickets are $20 for kids and $22 for adults.

For more information and to purchase tickets click HERE.

*Fun Fact: With a production of about 306 million tires produced a year, the LEGO group is the largest producer of tires in the world.

Here's some of the awesome LEGO related fun planned for LEGO KidsFest 

(some activities are subject to change)

* LEGO Model Gallery: dozens of life-sized models made entirely from LEGO bricks 

* LEGO Master Builders: live demonstrations and activities from the crew who get paid to play 

* Race Ramps: build a custom car, then race it down the ramp against friends and family 

* LEGO Chima: choose a tribe and test battling skills with the whole family 

* LEGO Star Wars: build and display a Star Wars model

* Creation Nation: build your own creation to add to a custom map of the U.S. 

* LEGO DUPLO: younger visitors can explore imagination through building

* LEGO Retail: purchase LEGO merchandise and official KidsFest tour goods

* Brick Pile: a gigantic pile full of LEGO bricks for creative play and enjoyment

* Monochromatic Builds: bricks of a single color to foster group creativity

* LEGO Friends: build for the five empowered friends from Heartlake City 

* LEGO Mindstorms: build and program robots and snakes 

* LEGO Ninjago: spin the way to being a Spinjitzu member 

* LEGO City: using the imagination to create buildings and vehicles to the urban diorama

*Fun Fact: There are 915 million ways to combine six eight-stud LEGO bricks.

LEGO Systems, Inc. is the North American division of The LEGO Group, a privately-held, family-owned company based in Billund, Denmark, one of the world's leading manufacturers of creatively educational play materials for children. The company is committed to the development of children's creative and imaginative abilities, and its employees are guided by the motto adopted in the 1930s by founder Ole Kirk Christiansen: "Only the best is good enough." Visit the virtual LEGO world at www.LEGO.com. LEGO, the LEGO logo, and DUPLO, are trademarks of the LEGO Group. 

2014 The LEGO Group.

*Fun Fact: Children around the world spend five billion hours a year playing with LEGO bricks.

Check out ChiIL Mama like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often. It's rewarding!

Disclosure: Once again, ChiIL Mama is happy to be in the US Family Blogger network. We have been chosen for this promotion and compensated with tickets for our family and our giveaway. As always, all opinions are our own.