For Immediate Release
April 7th, 2006
Time Magazine Features Wits & Wagers Board Game
Wits & Wagers, the new party game by Maryland-based North Star Games, continues to build momentum as one of this year’s most exciting products. The April 10th issue of Time Magazine recently dubbed Wits & Wagers as “the latest in living-room play”, along with popular brands such as Trivial Pursuit, Scene It?, and Cranium.
Wits & Wagers, which is published by a startup board game company, has spread almost entirely through word of mouth. According to North Star Games founder Dominic Crapuchettes, “interest in the game began several years ago during local game parties where we test products. Demand has continued to build steadily since the game hit the shelves in November 2005.” Despite no advertising budget, Wits & Wagers sold 4,000 copies in its first 3 months.
The unique concept is a trivia game in which players don’t need to know any trivia to win. Every player (or team) writes an estimated answer to a trivia question, such as “how many pounds did the heaviest domesticated cat weigh?” All of these guesses are then revealed and placed on the board. Players bet chips on which answer they think is closest to the correct answer. Any player who successfully bets on the closest answer is then paid out according to the odds on the board. The result is a game in which players can win based on what they know or how well they know their friends.
North Star Games attributes the success of Wits & Wagers to the fact that it’s simple to learn, quick to play, and tremendously fun. According to Co-Manager Satish Pillalamarri, “the game takes 1 minute to teach, 20 minutes to play, and combines the most interesting aspects of trivia with the excitement of a Las Vegas casino. What’s not to love?”
Wits & Wagers has also surged in popularity since Crapuchettes and Pillalamarri began hosting monthly trivia nights at bars and coffee houses in the Washington, DC area. These innovative trivia nights feature 7 teams who all participate in the same game with the use of a 6-foot version of the Wits & Wagers game board. Listen to the cheering that occurs when several teams strike it big on a high payout answer and it’s clear to see why the game is such a success.
Wits & Wagers is currently available at hundreds of toy, game, and specialty shops nationwide. The game is currently being considered by national retailers such as Barnes & Noble, Borders, Toys “R” Us, and Target for their 2006 holiday product mix. The game is also sold by several leading online retailers, including Amazon.com, FunAgain.com, and ToysRUs.com.
About North Star Games:
North Star Games was founded in 2003 by two MBA students at the University of Maryland. The North
Star Games mission is to bring people together for exciting and memorable experiences through games
that engage and enrich the mind. To schedule an interview, please contact Dominic Crapuchettes at 202-253-6070.