War Toys: Evac Ops™ is a cooperative boardgame for three players: a Frontline Rescuer, Combat Photojournalist, and Aid Worker. The game can be sold at different price points for every market:

> Value-Added Item for Military Playsets:

3x PP Figures + OPP Gameboard;
41 Languages (Open New Markets);
Educational (Appeal to Parents);
Supported by a Free Mobile App that guides players through their turns;
Add to Any Playset (Private Label OK).

> Evac Ops™ Boardgame Playset:

6× 1:32 Scale PP Figures – 2x Frontline Rescuers, 2x Aid Workers, and 2x Combat Photojournalists (random);
31x Tokens, 58x Player Cards, and Nonwoven Gameboard;
Instructions in 41 Languages;
Free Mobile App Provides Educational Content in all 41 languages;
Safety Certifications for: ASTM F963, GCC, UKCA, CE

> Evac Ops™ Blister Packs

6× 1:32 Scale PP Figures – $0.34;
8× 1:32 Scale PP Figures – $0.36;
Illustrations by Marvel / DC Artists;
OPP Gameboard (Behind Figures);
Free Mobile App Provides Instructions, Guided Gameplay, and Educational Content (Android + iPhone) in 41 languages.

War Toys® Toy Industry Program

Evac Ops™ was created by the War Toys® nonprofit organization as part of a toy industry initiative that fosters new, extremely low-cost toys for disadvantaged children.

Overview:

Prioritizing social impact, War Toys is developing extremely affordable toys that promote more positive play for disadvantaged children.
War Toys partners with toy manufacturers and distributors to harness existing markets and distribution streams, impacting millions of kids for relatively little cost.
Toymakers pay no royalties, and War Toys covers all development and tooling costs, making the toys affordable and accessible to the most children worldwide.
Manufacturers, distributors, and retailers retain all proceeds from sales.
War Toys is funded by grants, private donations, and partnerships with other humanitarian organizations.
This initiative is apolitical and impartial to all children.

Background:

War Toys is a nonprofit organization, registered in the US and Finland. It was founded in 2019 by toy photographer Brian McCarty, based on a widely published photo series about children’s experiences of war, expressed through art-therapy-based collaborations in the field.

The series began in 1996 under a grant from United Colors of Benetton / Fabrica S.p.A. and developed over the following fifteen years while Brian worked in-house for Mattel and for industry clients including Disney Consumer Products, Hasbro, Cartoon Network, and Nickelodeon. So far, Brian has worked with children affected by wars in Iraq, Syria, Ukraine, Lebanon, Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza Strip.

Finding the same, extremely-low-cost toys in every war zone, Brian saw an opportunity to harness the market by partnering with the manufacturers of these toys. The resulting program was developed with support from Fulbright, PolyU Design Hong Kong, and the International Toy Research Association (ITRA).

Press:

War Toys’ work has been covered by publications around the world, including: