“What makes Griddly Games unique is that they level the playing field,” said Reisa Schwartzman, president of Griddly Games in a phone interview, Oct. 17, 2008. “A mom can play Griddly Headz Baseball with her son who is a baseball fanatic. She doesn’t have to know everything about baseball.”
Griddly Games is a new company run by two Vancouver, B.C. moms, Schwartzman and Penny Osborn. The company’s philosophy is to offer games that encourage social interaction, learning, strategy and challenges that anyone (the entire grid of people) can enjoy.
Baseball Board Game and Other Sports
Griddly Games has four sports-themed board games. These include Griddly Headz Baseball, Griddly Headz Hockey, Griddly Headz Racing, a Nascar board game; and Griddly Headz Football.
The basic strategy of the game is similar to Monopoly. Players throw dice and then move their team members around the playing board. In the baseball game, they may land on a square that gets them an Umpire Card, a Home Run Card, a Grand Slam Card or a Foul Ball Card. They may be sent back to the dugout; they may gain a run; or get some other instructions. Players also land on squares that challenge them. For instance, if a player lands on a bunt challenge, he challenges another player to a contest. Each player hits a tiny ball with a tiny bat onto the diamond, in the center of the board. The player whose ball lands closest to the pitcher’s mound scores a run.
Players can win Griddly Headz Baseball by being the first to score 10 runs. They can lose by losing all the pieces of their uniform – puzzle pieces uncover a hairy and humorous ballplayer. Players also lose if any four of their players get ejected from the game.
The Griddly Headz sports-themed board games are for all ages. The youngest players can play an alternate and easier version of the game. In the baseball game, this is called Home Runz and Foul Ballz and it has easier instructions.
Educational Board Game Encourages Good Choices
The company’s newest game, Wise Alec, asks players to make positive health and lifestyle choices and also tests their knowledge. The game can be played by points or by a timer, and a child can choose the easier questions, while an adult can choose the more difficult questions. “The goal is not to make anyone feel unsuccessful if they don’t know the answer. It’s an inclusive game,” said Schwartzman.
Players move around the board and answer questions in three different categories – History, Science and Spelling. The game also includes riddles, tongue twisters and mental challenges. Players can lose points for poor etiquette, such as burping in public. The game actually gets physical as players can gain points through a fitness activity, such as doing a set of push-ups.
Award-Winning Board Games
Griddly Games offer many of the benefits of the best board games. The sports-themed games offer families the opportunity to have fun while using their brains for strategy. The Wise Alec game is a humorous way to learn about healthy habits and good manners and to reinforce academic skills.
Griddly Games have received The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval, the iParentingMedia Award, and the OCRA Best Media Product Award. They also received Five Stars from The Toy Man and from TDmonthly Magazine’s Psychologist Mom.
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