Sidelines: A Book Lovers Board Game
by Tobias Mutter, PW Daily for Booksellers -- Publishers Weekly, 1/13/2005
"Which author is said to have mentored Nathaniel Hawthorne and Edgar Allan Poe?"
If Washington Irving doesn't immediately come to mind, never fear. Booktastic, the new Trivial Pursuit-style board game for books, offers questions with three levels of expertise. The example above is a "collector" level question, one that may stump all but the most knowledgeable players. Less dedicated readers will find solace in the "avid reader" and "casual reader" levels. After all, Booktastic is a game meant for fun regardless of age, and thus "casual reader" questions seek opinions rather than test facts.
In contrast to the sometimes cold world of bookselling, Booktastic's board is a pleasant town square populated with bookstores such as "Thom's Tomes" and "Coffee Quotes." Players move colorful pawns across sidewalks and into shops, using money to buy, sell and trade books. Each player has a list of "Noteworthy Books" to acquire. Players begin their turns answering a question, receiving money if they are correct, and rolling the die. Players move in and out of bookstores depending on where they land. Players may purchase books either to achieve their "Noteworthy Books" list or thwart their opponents. The game ends when one player completes his or her list; a winner is determined based on who has the most valuable collection of books and money.
Booktastic aims to "allow players and their families to enjoy the thrill of book collecting, share experiences with books and talk about books in a relaxed atmosphere," Laine Keneller, owner and founder of Booktastic, told PW Daily. Since its first printing, as it were, last April, it has been sold mainly in indies as well as some Tower Books and Borders outlets. Keneller has also arranged for several libraries to distribute the game.
Booktastic creators, who besides Keneller include Cynthia Gottlieb and designer Will Peterson, are expanding the franchise. Currently under construction are three new booster card sets, including a 19th-century edition, an early 20th-century edition and a children's edition, the last of which should be complete by the end of January.
Booktastic retails for $29.95. For more information, contact the company at 866-439-GAME, via e-mail or on the Web. Booktastic is located at 1500 West El Camino #170, Sacramento, Calif. 95833.
