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Mind Games
By De Freshwater
Back in 1990, Mensa's PR firm had the idea for
a panel
of judges to select the five best games new
to the
market that year and offer the winners an
opportunity
to use the Mensa Select Seal.
California Mensan Scott Morris, puzzle page editor
of Omni Magazine, was chairman the first year. The
PR firm and the national office put together a panel
of eight who attended The Toy Fair in New York and
distributed flyers there to solicited games. A fee of
$35 was paid to Mensa for each game entered. The
rules were photocopied and sent to each judge. It
was a one-day event in New York; they played
between 20 and 30 games and sent out for pizza.
A TV crew recorded the event for national coverage.
Today, for a very small fee, game winners are allowed
to use the Mensa Seal on their packaging and the
Mensa name in their advertising, instructions, etc.
The event gets local coverage; winning games
appear in national publications, newspapers and on TV.
New games are released by the manufacturer in February,
then ordered and shipped to stores in September.
In 1991, it became required that any game or
version
to be judged be new on the national market that year.
In 1996, Steve Weinreich, one of the original judges,
sent the national office (NO) a proposal to make it an
event
(adding one more excuse for Ms to get together)
and open
the judging to all Mensans. Things happened
very quickly.
Mensa Chairman Dave Remine called Steve,
said they
had voted on it and they were doing it in three months.
Thus, Mind Games was opened to the membership
where 23 members attended the Atlanta-hosted event.
Comment cards were used and the entry fee
went up to $100 per game.
Five copies of each game are submitted, one goes
to the NO for photographing, one to MERF for auction;
three are played. Of these three, the local group gets
one complete set and the others go as door prizes to
attendees. The $100 per game goes to the NO and
the host group. The number of games and the fee
is subject to change, of course.
Chicago game gurus, Randy and Allison Stallings,
did a marvelous job of soliciting games and hosting
the event in 1997. There were with 69 players and
40 games. The opening ceremonies began with then
Chicago LocSec Alan Baltis entering wearing toga,
bearing torch, Sagarian tucked under his arm,
jogging around the room to Vangelis Chariots of
Fire, and lighting the semi-eternal flame (a plate
of saganaki). This alone was worth the price of
admission. Photos of this event went to the highest
bidders. For Alan's own account of the event, see
The Bulletin, October 1997, page 16.
The games began - 48 hours of intense - I repeat,
INTENSE game playing, great hospitality (thank
you,
Cat Sterrett) and more laughs that you can imagine.
Teams are assigned, the box is opened, directions
are read (one for each player) and the game is
played - according to manufacturer's directions.
Comment cards are completed with ratings in
different areas and room for additional comments -
especially if you find a better way to play the game.
These have met with very favorable results with
the game makers.
On Sunday, votes are counted, awards are announced
at the closing ceremony and games are given out.
If you enjoy games, this event is for you.
Click here for further details.
Mensa Game of the Year Awards
1990 Taboo; Scattergories; Tri-Bond; Abalone; Trivial Pursuit
1991 Pyramis; Lapis; Set; Master Labrinth; Clue: The Great Museum Caper
1992 Kinesis; Q4; Terrace; Traverse; Why Not?
1993 Farook; Inklings; Overturn; Quadrature; Quarto
1994 Char; Chung Tol; Down Fall; Magic, The Gathering; Pyraos
1995 Wordspin Scramble; Continuo; Duo; Quixo; The Great Dalmuti
1996 Rat A Tat Cat; Pirateer; Take 6; Quadwrange; Touche
1997 Hattrick; Quoridor; Rush Hour; Sagarian; STOPS - STOPS Canada
1998 Avalam, Cube Checkers, Spam, Spy Alle, Wodjet
1999 Apples and Oranges, Bollox, Doubles Wilder, Flux, Quiddler
2000 3 Stones, Finish Lines, iMAgINiff...Game, Time's Up!, Zertz
2001 Brainstrain, Dao, Metro One Paris, The Poll Game, Shapes Up
2002 Curses, Muggins, Legand of Landlock, Dvonn, Smart Mouth
2003 Blokus, Cityscape, Fire &U Ice, Octiles, Transamerica
2004 10 Days in Africa/US, Basari, Bridges of Shangra-La, Rumis, Yinch
2005 DiVinci’s Challenge, Ingenious, Loot, Niagara, Zendo
2006 Deflexion, Hive, Keesdrow, Pentago, Wits & Wagers
2007 Gemlok, Gheos, Hit or Miss, Qwirkle, Skullduggery
2008 AmuseAmaze, eye know, Jumbulaya, Pixel, Tiki Topple
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American Mensa - Region 3