====================== ABOUT THE SMURFY NEWS ====================== The Smurfy News is the largest Internet newsletter about Smurfs and Smurf collecting with 1,005 subscribers worldwide and growing. YES THAT IS RIGHT, WE HAVE TOPPED 1,000 SUBSCRIBERS! Welcome to our first-time readers! If you know Smurf fans who might enjoy the Smurfy News, please help us grow and forward this e-mail to them! To subscribe to the Smurfy News, send an email to SmurfyNews-subscribe@listbot.com Joining or leaving the list is voluntary, we cannot add or delete you! To unsubscribe or view the Smurfy News archive, please visit http://www.esmurfs.com/smurfs-smurfynews.html ========= FOREWORD ========= THE NEW 2001 SMURFS HAVE ARRIVED! My wife and I were busy as bees packing all weekend and getting them ready to ship this Monday, 4/30/01, watch those mailboxes... I also have wonderful personal news to report. My Uncle suddenly decided he was going to retire and sell his home - the same home my father grew up in that's been in the Caparelli family for over 50 years since the day it was built. He is selling it to my wife and I, so we have been very busy with lawyers and banks and such - and then the 2001 Smurfs arrived. So much excitement going on, it was certainly a challenge to pull together this month's issue, but here it is! ========= CONTENTS ========= 1) THEY'RE HEEEEEERE! 2) LET'S PLAY SMURFS 3) NEW IN THE SMURF SHOP 4) FREE SMURF RACER 5) REPRODUCTION ALERT 6) SMURFY GIVE-A-WAY! 7) CLOSING ------------------------------------ =================== THEY'RE HEEEEEERE! =================== The new 2001 Smurfs have arrived and are smiling at me right now from atop my desk! All the new figurines are marked "Schleich (S) Germany (C) '00 Peyo Made in China CE" and have a blue paint dot. They are all very nicely painted. There is a lot of care and attention to detail. Schleich continues to use some bright and/or new and unusual colors this year, as they did last year. 20469 "Bouquet" is the only one in the classic style, with no shirt, a white hat and white pants. He is holding a big bouquet of red, yellow and white flowers that hide half his face. 20470 "Aircraft Captain" is wearing a dark, navy blue suit and special hat with gold accents. 20471 "Carpenter" is Melissa's favorite. (Melissa is my sister, who packs all your Smurf orders with loving care!) She just loves his hat, another special, modified Smurf hat. The piece of lumber on his shoulder is molded separately from the piece and is glued into his hand and on his shoulder. 20472 "Referee" is blowing a silver whistle and holding an orange card. He even has cleats molded into the bottoms of his shoes! 20473 "New Hiker" is huffing and puffing and sweating bullets! Lots of detail on this one, trim and accents on his pack, even his shoelaces are painted on! He has a special hat. 20474 "Adventurer" is checking his compass marked "N W S O" This is molded and painted onto the compass. Lots of color and detail here...9 different colors were used on him! 20475 "Safari" is my favorite, maybe because I like animals. It's a stretch from the traditional Smurf Village denizen, but that's they way they've been going lately, for sure. He's painted in some unusual and new colors. He is wearing a special Smurf hat. 20476 "Parachutist" is painted bright pink and fuchsia, more bright new colors! His altimeter is machine stamped, it seems to have something printed on it...under 10x magnification, it says "Schleich!" Once again, a special Smurf hat...I used to think it was neat when they changed the hat a bit, now it almost seems the norm! 20477 "Beach Volleyball" has a machine stamped detail also - the ball is stamped "Beach Volleyball" in a cursive script. I guess this must be a separate step in the process to add these stamps, an example of the greater detail they have these days. Funny that it's in English? 20478 "Sports Correspondent" is holding a tape recorder and mike. He is wearing glasses, but this can't be Brainy. It seems none of the figurines are familiar characters this year... Well, we do have two Smurfette Supers and the Wild Super coming up this summer, those look real neat! If you did not preorder the new 2001 Smurfs, you can order right now, I have plenty in stock. I am also selling them individually now in the Smurf Shop. Here is a link to the Smurf Shop listings: http://search.cartserver.com/search/search.cgi?cartid=a-6296&category=Smurfs&maxhits=20&keywords=20469+2047 AOL Click Here! Those of you who preordered should get them in the next week or two. PLEASE let me know what you think!! I will report on your favorites in an upcoming issue of the Smurfy News. =================== LET'S PLAY SMURFS! =================== I got an e-mail from Margaret Munger who bought some Smurfs and would like to share it... "Thanks for the Smurfs! I bought 9 from you including Gargamel and Azreal and they look great. My family plays a card game all the time that we've modified from another game. The game we play is called Smurfs. The players are all ranked in hierarchical order, and they are Papa, Smurfette, Brainy, Jokey, Handy, Hefty, Vanity, Tramp, Gargamel and Azrael. We have never had any figures to go with the game until now. And we could never remember all the names of the Smurfs on the show so we had to make up players like JetSki Smurf etc. (Tramp wasn't on the show to my memory but he was irresistibly perfect for the bottom ranked Smurf just above Gargamel and Azrael.) Last Sunday when we played the game I brought out all the brand new figures and the game took on a whole new dimension. You should have seen the table of ten adults playing with their characters and making them interact. They had a blast, and I thank you for your great website and merchandise which made it possible." Well my curiosity got the best of me and I had to ask... "How do you play Smurfs?" "The goal of the game is to be the first person to get rid of all the cards in their hand. We play with ten people, so we use two decks of cards. If there are six or fewer people you only need one deck. Each player gets to be a Smurfs character. Each player draws a card. High card becomes Papa, low card becomes Azrael. Second to highest becomes Smurfette etc. Aces are high. Ties are broken by a redraw between the players who've tied. Ranking at our house is as follows, from highest card winner down to lowest: Papa, Smurfette, Brainy, Jokey, Handy, Hefty, Vanity, Tramp (affectionately known as K. Street Smurf at our house - named after a seedy part of town), Gargamel, Azrael. You can decide on your own ranking but you should stick to it to avoid confusion. The players sit around the table in order of rank with Papa at the head, Smurfette to his left, and so on down to Azrael who sits to Papa's right. Gargamel and Azrael are always the last two ranked, so if you have fewer players you can omit the lower ranked Smurfs just above them. Azrael and Gargamel live in the dreary, leaky castle. Their position is also referred to as "being in the cat box" because of the stories we have made up to punish those who end up in these lowest two ranks. (Sparring is the best part of this game.) Azrael, being the lowest ranked, is given the job of dealing the cards, and of "cleaning up the mess" - removing all cards from the middle of the table after each hand is played, and placing them into a pile. Azrael begins by dealing out the cards, starting with Papa on her left and continuing around the table until the whole deck is passed out. There will be a few people with extra cards but don't worry about it. After all the cards are passed out the deck is literally stacked against the two non-Smurfs in the castle. Gargamel must give Smurfette his (2) highest cards. Smurfette gives Gargamel her (2) worst cards - she may choose any (2) to give. Azrael gives Papa her (4) highest cards, and Papa gives Azrael his (4) worst cards. Then play can begin, and Papa always gets to start the first hand of the game. (If you are only playing with one deck, then the number of cards traded is halved - Azrael and Papa switch (2) cards each and Smurfette and Gargamel switch (1) card each. If you are only playing with four people, only Azrael and Papa exchange a card.) Papa begins play. He throws down a card or cards. If no one can play a higher card, he wins the hand and starts the next round. After he begins play, Smurfette tries to play, and then Brainy...until everyone has had a chance, in order, to play. (If you can't play you have to pass.) The person who lays down the highest card or cards wins the hand and gets to start the next hand. (Azrael cleans up the mess after each hand.) The game is over when everyone runs out of cards. The first person to run out of cards gets to be Papa in the next game, and the second person who runs out gets to be Smurfette next, etc. Each chair around the table "represents" a smurf. Everyone switches places when the game ends and they go sit in their newly earned spots. When the first person goes out, the person who was Papa gives them the Papa figure. When the second person goes out, the person who was Smurfette gives them her figure... So at the end of the game the figures are all switched out of seating order. When the game ends, everyone goes to the right place so that all the Smurfs are back in order again and a new game begins with Papa throwing the first card(s). Rules for laying cards: - Suits don't matter. - Aces are high. - You may play multiples of the same type card i.e. (4) Kings - Unless you begin the hand, you must play a card or cards that beat the person who played before you. Play at least as many cards with a higher number OR if you want you can lay the SAME type of card played before your turn but if so you must play MORE cards than they did. You must pass if you can't beat the player before you. - Whomever puts out the highest card/cards in a hand gets to start the next hand. - You can't play more than once in a hand. Example game play: FIRST HAND: Papa throws down with (3)Tens. Smurfette can beat that with (3)Queens. Everyone else in the circle passes one by one until Vanity throws down (3)Aces and wins the hand, because everyone else after him through Azrael had to pass. (Azrael cleans up the mess.) SECOND HAND: Since Vanity won the last hand, he starts this hand with something low, so he can get rid of it. He puts out a Two. Tramp is relieved that he can play and he puts out (2)Twos. Gargamel plays (2)Threes. Azrael plays (2)Sevens. Papa plays (3)Sevens. Smurfette doesn't have (3) of anything higher than a Seven, and doesn't have (4)Sevens, so she passes. Brainy plays (3)Eights. Jokey and Handy pass. Hefty throws out (3)Kings! Hefty wins the hand! (Azrael wasn't paying attention and everyone yells at her, "Azzie! Clean up the mess!" Azrael cleans up the mess.) THIRD HAND: Hefty throws out (3)Queens. No one can beat it! (Azrael cleans up the mess.) FOURTH HAND: Hefty gets to go first again because he won last time. Hefty puts out an easy Five. Vanity puts out a Six Tramp puts out a Ten Gargamel and Azrael each pass, complaining about how hard it is to get out of the cat box. Papa throws out (3)Jacks and the crowd goes wild!! No one can beat that!! (Azrael cleans up the mess.) It goes on like this until someone goes out and the Papa figure is handed over to the new winner, or (more often since the deck is stacked) Papa gloats to his subjects that he is still the King of the land. Everyone stays in their places, though, and play continues without those who have gone out until the last person becomes Azrael. Then comes the switch, and everyone goes to their new places (or stays put if they have won the same place in the heirarchy) and a new game begins with the new Papa starting the play. ------------ OK, Pete here again...Got that?! I thought this sounded fun and thought you might enjoy reading about it. MARGARET IS *NOT* A SMURFS COLLECTOR! However, if anyone has normal decks of playing cards featuring the Smurfs, she is *very* interested in buying some, so let me know! ====================== NEW IN THE SMURF SHOP ====================== Now, I've been super busy this month, but did manage to add a few new items to the Smurf Shop: 20111a Cupid (W. German mold) 20143 CB-Operator (2 part mold, long silver antenna) 20160 holding box of Omo detergent 20181 Gargamel with net (brown stick) 20417 bodybuilder (gold shorts) 20417 Bodybuilder (red shorts) Merry Christmas 1981 mug Natural Smurfling retail stickers An assortment of Hardee's funmeal boxes McDonald's Happy Meal bags from the Smurf promos (your fast food promos are incomplete without an example of the packaging!) History Series Postcards (You'll want one if you have the History Set) Soft PVC mini-Smurf pendants Bully game pieces from the Smurfs board game "I love the Smurfs" shopping bags Cloissone pins Mini Smurf plushes Fold-out Mini-posters Papa & Pierre the Clown posters from BP (1970's) Just For Fun Smurf Book King Smurf US Story Book German Smurf-a-gram with cardboard back The new 2001 Smurfs are also available individually, as I mentioned above. Some of this can be seen by following this link: http://search.cartserver.com/search/search.cgi?cartid=a-6296&category=Smurfs&maxhits=20&keywords=new41301 AOL Click Here I am publishing the Smurfy News a little later than anticipated, so some of these pieces have already been snatched up. It pays off to check my catalog frequently! I have also added a new way to pay - "Realtime Online Check." This let's you pay online in real time using any checking account. Just enter the numbers off the bottom of your check and the funds will be electronically debited from your account. It is very easy to do, pictures guide you through the process. Also, since your check does not have to go through the mail, you will get your order faster - as fast as if you had paid by credit card! ======================== FREE SMURF RACER! ======================== Introducing Smurf(tm) Racer Smurf(tm) your engines! Everyone's favorite enchanted characters are back in their own kart-racing game. The Smurf's reunite to take young players on a wild ride through log tunnel's, giant mushrooms and around oversized-insect friends on the forest floor. Race in graphically stunning environments based on the original hit cartoon series with Papa Smurf, Smurfette, Hefty Smurf and the rest of the little blue bunch. Smurf Racer offers the opportunity to Smurf your opponent at each turn with multi-player driving action. Compete in unique race vehicles such as Painter Smurf in his Paint tube-transport and secret paint popper or Jokey's gift-wrapped roadster with exploding gifts. Exciting power-ups around the courses, interactive track features, unique characters, music to sing to and cartoon inspired laughs, combine to provide hours of fun for all ages. Key Features: - 3 different racing modes (Single Race Mode, Championship Mode, Flag Battle) - 11 different tracks in 5 different unique Smurf environments inspired by the cartoon - 8 playable Smurf characters (plus 4 unlockable characters) each with their own unique gag weapons. - Easy and Expert modes to accommodate every driving ability - 2 Player Split-Screen action to Smurf against your opponent! - Perfect for first-time game players - MSRP of $9.99 for unbelievable entertainment value! Platform - Playstation (R) Release Date - March 2001 Publisher - Infogrames LA "3-2-1 Smurf!" is the same game but it's the European version (PAL version). "Smurf Racer" is the American version and is not compatible with European consoles. I have 5 copies of this program to give away courtesy of Infogrames. I will give away the first copy Monday, April 30, 2001 and will give away one copy every Monday after that until they are all gone. You can try again every week - be sure to fill out the entry blank for your chance to win: http://www.esmurfs.com/smurfs-321smurf.html AOL Click Here =================== REPRODUCTION ALERT =================== Schleich North America is now distributing their line of realistic animal models here in North America. These include wonderfully detailed examples of farm, wild, forest and sea animals as well as dogs, cats, tropical fish, birds of prey and dinosaurs. What troubles me is their line of "Cute Creatures." These are a series of small molds; elephants, hippos, frogs, moles, geese babies and pigs. One of the pigs is very similar to the pig used in the old Schleich promo, and makes it very easy to fake. Also troubling is their line of "minis" which is part of the Cute Creatures series. There are 40 different models, all ripe for gluing to Smurfs to create a slew of new fakes. Among those is the very same elephant used in the rare SCCI promo! The SCCI elephant was limited to 100 pieces, and is one of the rarest Smurfs, period. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of getting the original SCCI certificate with Suzanne's signature and raised seal if you are looking to buy this Smurf!! A piece without a cert could very easily be faked!!! Other "minis" include a giraffe, dauschaund, frog, lobster and crab. Not every style mini is shown in the catalog. I have a bad feeling some of these will show up in the hands of new, "rare" Smurf promos. eBay continues to be plagued by faked and repainted Smurfs. Help me document fake Smurfs by alerting me when you think you have spotted one. If you are unsure about an auction, feel free to run it by the many knowledgeable Smurf collectors at the eSmurfs bulletin board: http://www.landofmarbles.com/cgi-bin/forum/dcboard.cgi?az=list&forum=SmurfVillage&conf=Smurfs AOL Click Here A good rule of thumb is to stay away from anything that is new to you until you have educated yourself. Resist the urge to bid now and think later...chances are, if it's too good to be true, it's probably not! Be very wary if you think you have discovered an underpriced rarity. Advanced collectors know who to stay away from so a seemingly rare piece with a low bid is a good indicator there might be something funny going on! Always remember *BUYER BEWARE* Then again, you can always stick with eSmurfs. When you buy from eSmurfs you will always receive genuine, mint Smurfs - 100% guaranteed. =================== SMURFY GIVE-A-WAY! =================== On our Bulletin Board is a message titled "April Smurfy News Give-a-way." I am giving away a neat cloisonne pin featuring Smurfette wearing an Astro-like space helmet on some stars and rings. I have hundreds of assorted pins for sale on the site but this one strikes me as very odd, and i thought it would make a good prize! So get going and it could be yours. http://www.landofmarbles.com/cgi-bin/forum/dcboard.cgi?az=list&forum=SmurfVillage&conf=Smurfs AOL Click Here AND DON'T FORGET TO COME BACK EVERY WEEK AND TRY FOR YOUR FREE COPY OF SMURF RACER! ======== CLOSING ======== I want to send a big THANK YOU to the many, many people who have sent their kind comments along with their entry for the Smurfy Racer game. I do appreciate all the positive comments but would appreciate some negative feedback too - am I doing anything wrong, is there something I can do or add to the site to make it better? LET ME KNOW, I WILL LISTEN! I want eSmurfs to continue to be a place Smurfers can learn and share, a place that gets you excited about collecting Smurfs! Keep it Smurfy! -Pete eSmurfs.com ---------------------------- The "Smurfy News" is a free monthly e-mail newsletter published by eSmurfs.com (http://www.esmurfs.com) Joining or leaving the list is voluntary, we cannot add or delete you! To subscribe to the Smurfy News send an e-mail to SmurfyNews-subscribe@listbot.com. To unsubscribe or view the Smurfy News archive, please visit http://www.esmurfs.com/smurfs-smurfynews.html Want to submit an article or information for publication in a future issue of the Smurfy News? Send it to esmurfs@esmurfs.com or hit reply now. All letters will be considered for publication unless the author requests otherwise. They may be edited for clarity and space, and we may print your first name and State or Country unless you request that we do not. All right reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole, or in part, without the express written consent of the author. 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