SHOW BIZ:

TV and movie characters are always popular themes for games. Among this year's offerings:

• Deal or No Deal: Both a board game and a card game that capitalizes on the popular game show.

• Disney's Princesses: Cinderella, Snow White, Jasmine and other Disney darlings are available on a variety of games. One variety includes seven classics such as Tic Tac Toe, Go Fish and Crazy Eights. Another is Gowns & Crowns, a dress-up kind of game.

• Superman: The man of steel made a return in Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em and Kryptonite Crisis.

• Cars: Lightning McQueen, Tow Mater, Doc Hudson and the gang star on a Champion Checkers games as well as the Tractor Tipping board game.

• Grateful Dead The Game: The first-ever authorized Grateful Dead board game from University Games features artwork from poster artist Richard Biffle. In the game, players travel through time with the band, collecting concert tickets as they answer questions.

LOCAL INTEREST:

Local companies continue to issue games that appeal to the LDS market. Among this year's choices:

• Hold to the Rod: Produced by Teancum Games Inc., it's sort of a take-off on the popular Cranium games. Players have to hum, draw, spell, unscramble, perform and answer questions as they advance their team to the Tree of Life — along the straight and narrow way or the long and winding way.

• Church Ball The Game: From HaleStone, the same folks that brought us the movie, this is a combination card and dice game that can be played one-on-one or in teams.

• Fast Sundaes: A card game from Covenant that involves dishing out cards while watching for special combinations of ice cream, toppings, sauces or complete sundaes. Get all the cards and you win — but beware the dreaded Brain Freeze.

PARTY GAMES:

Folks are always looking for games that work with bigger groups.