Visual Brainstorms - Board game ThinkFun - Free user manual and instructions

Product Type	Board Game
Brand	ThinkFun
Model	Visual Brainstorms
Category	Puzzle / Trivia Game
Recommended Age	10 years and up (younger players may team with older partners)
Number of Players	2+ (teams of one or more)
Number of Challenge Cards	100
Difficulty Levels	Green (Easy), Blue (Hard), Red (Extra Hard)
Bonus Questions	Yes (Visual Bonus Eye on select cards)
Game Variants	Team play, solitaire
Scoring System	Points based on difficulty: 1 (Green), 2 (Blue), 3 (Red); Bonus: 1 point
Winner Condition	First team to reach target points (10 for 2 teams, 8 for 3, 5 for 4+)
Equipment Required	Paper, pencils, clock or stopwatch
Dimensions (approx.)	4.5 x 3.5 x 2.5 inches (card deck box)
Weight (approx.)	0.5 lbs
Power Source	None (manual game)
Cleaning Instructions	Wipe cards with a dry cloth; store in a dry place
Safety Warning	Choking hazard - small parts, not for children under 3 years
Spare Parts Availability	Not required; additional cards not sold separately
Country of Origin	China
Year of Publication	2014
Publisher	ThinkFun Inc.

Frequently Asked Questions - Visual Brainstorms ThinkFun

How do you play Visual Brainstorms as a team game?

Divide players into teams. Place a challenge card face up where everyone can see it. Teams study the image and try to solve the puzzle. The first team that believes they have the correct answer writes it down, turns it over, and calls 'Finished!'. They cannot change their answer. Other teams then have one minute to write their answers. Score points for correct answers, and if the 'Finished' team is correct, they get one minute to answer the Bonus Question on the back of the card.

What are the point values for different challenge colors?

Green challenges are Easy and score 1 point. Blue challenges are Hard and score 2 points. Red challenges are Extra Hard and score 3 points. Bonus questions always score 1 point.

How do you win the game?

The first team to reach the required number of points wins. For two teams, the target is 10 points. For three teams, 8 points. For four or more teams, 5 points.

Can you play Visual Brainstorms solo?

Yes, you can play solitaire. Draw cards one at a time, try each challenge, then check the back of the card for the answer. Try the Bonus Question as well for extra fun.

What equipment is needed to play?

You need paper and pencils for writing answers and keeping score. A clock or stopwatch is essential for timing. No computers, smartphones, or calculators are allowed.

What is the Visual Bonus Eye?

Some challenge cards have a Visual Bonus Eye on the front. When you draw such a card, memorize as many details as you can. The bonus question on the back will test your memory of the scene.

How long does a typical game last?

Game duration varies based on number of teams and difficulty of challenges. A typical game with 2-3 teams can last 20 to 40 minutes.

What is the recommended age for this game?

Visual Brainstorms is recommended for ages 10 to adult. Younger children can participate by teaming up with older players.

How many cards are included in the game?

The game contains 100 individual brain-boggling challenge cards.

Can teams have more than one player?

Yes, teams can consist of one or more people. Multiple teams work well for larger groups.

USER MANUAL Visual Brainstorms ThinkFun

Visual Brainstorms® is a collection of 100 individual Brain-boggling challenge cards.

TO PLAY AS A GAME

Who Can Play: Teams of one or more people can play.

Multiple teams work well for larger groups. We recommend Visual Brainstorms for ages 10 to adult, with younger players teaming up with older partners.

Equipment Needed: Paper and pencils are allowed and will be very helpful for some challenges. You will also need paper and pencil for recording answers and keeping score. No computers, smart phones or calculators are allowed when solving the challenges. You will need a clock or stopwatch as well.

How to Play: Divide your players into teams. Place a card on the table where everyone can see it. Team members take a good look; then start straining their brains. The first team that thinks they have the correct answer writes it down on a piece of paper, turns it over, and calls out "Finished!" Once a team calls "Finished", they cannot change their answer and must put all of their pencils down. Other teams then get one minute to jot down their own answers.

When time is up, score points for each team with a correct answer. Then, if the team that called out “Finished!” had the correct answer, they have one minute to answer the Bonus Question which must be read to them by another team. Play continues in this fashion until one team wins!

VISUAL BONUS EYEBALL

When you draw a challenge with the "Visual Bonus" eye, there is... on the front of the card, memorize everything you can about the picture. The bonus question on the back of the card will ask you to remember some detail in the scene!

SCORING

Point Values: Visual Brainstorms challenges are color-coded to indicate level of difficulty and scoring value:

Green: Easy questions, score 1 point.

Blue: Hard questions, score 2 points.

Red: Extra hard questions, score 3 points.

Bonus questions score 1 point.

WINNING THE GAME

The first team to score the required points is the winner!

Two teams = 10 points

Three teams = 8 points

Four or more teams = 5 points

SOLITAIRE

Draw cards one at a time and try each challenge, then look on the back of the card to check your answer. Be sure to try out the Bonus Question!

CREDITS

This first edition of Visual Brainstorms® was developed as a collaboration between ThinkFun® and Ivan Moscovich. A generous thanks is also in order to Martin Gardner for his permission to borrow from materials he developed throughout his illustrious career.

Contributors to the project include: Steve Wagner, Bill Ritchie,

Maria Yap and Option X, Jane Roessner, Monte Fung and Agnes Lau, Alicia Springer, Andy Gallant, Harry Nelson, and others too numerous to mention.