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Games Magazine Best Party Game of the year 2007/2008

GiftTRAP wins GAMES Magazine’s “Best Party Game of the year 2007/2008”

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Discover the fun!

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Puts your gifts to the test!

GiftTRAP is the hilarious new game that’s taking the gaming world by storm and putting the social back into board games.

The goal is to really get to know your friends and family.

You win by knowing your friends and choosing the right gifts, but most of all it’s just fun to play and gets you talking about things that matter.

• 3-8 Players, 5+
• Playtime 45-75 mins
• Learn in 10 mins

• 1 full size game board
• 640 Gift Ideas
• Rules
• 8 Organza Gift Bags containing; scoring markers, gift & choice tokens plus advanced strategy cards

Love to play Trivial Pursuit, Cranium or Apples to Apples - You will love this family party game.

GiftTRAP is all the fun of Secret Santa without needing to shop or wrap.

Syndicate

What kind of Gift Giver are you?

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KELOWNA (Wednesday 25th November 2009)

In a world where new is cool, creating lasting brands is a challenge. Building brands with longevity is hard, even for global brands. Its almost a weird club that keeps the old-school in and the new-boys out.

Take board games, for example - Hasbro and Mattel - how many copies of Monopoly or Scrabble do we need? Few games they launch become classics. Performance is critiqued and competition for shelf-space fierce. They simply get replaced with new products expecting similarly short lifecycles. Established games like Monopoly become cultural Җ they become gifts with meaning and its a very hard cycle to break.

Nick Kellet, a Kelowna based entrepreneur, may just have found a way to bridge that gap with his unique game that is ironically about the exchange of gifts.

Launched in 2006 GiftTRAP has since been voted ‘Party Game of the Year’ in USA, Germany, France, Canada and Sweden. The German award for ‘Spiel Des Jahres’ is a major prize Җ akin to an Oscar in the gaming world.

GiftTRAP takes rituals like Christmas Day and turns them into a fun party game that pokes fun at the dysfunction of exchanging gifts. Giving the perfect gift can be a tearful, joyful bonding moment creating life-long memories.

In reality, such moments are rare as a result of being short on time, remote from family and daunted by retail choice. GiftTRAP kicks in by creating conversations about hundreds of diverse topics (dressed up as gifts) bringing friends and families closer together to share passions and to give everyone a chance to excel in the gift department.

GiftTRAP is proving a global hit with longevity - already in 8 languages, expected to grow to 12 in 2010. Sales are at 50k units globally with this expected to double next year. The hard work is paying dividends by bringing in new distributors. 20+ awards and 8+ languages is no mean achievement for a first game, for a new company with no prior connections or experience in the industry. This bilingual game, invented in Canada is looking set to become a future classic following in the footsteps of Canadian legend Trivial Pursuit. Want more information? Need to book an appearance for Radio/TV? Call +1 250-864-3821

Interactive Press Release

Designer party game GiftTRAP, first game to poke fun at the dysfunctional act of gift giving, wins Oscar equivalent Spiel Des Jahres (SDJ) prize for Best Party Game 2009ђ making Germany the 5th country in the world to proclaim GiftTRAP “Party Game of the year”. Exchanging gifts is not the fun it once was. GiftTRAP provides a much needed release valve for years of bad gifts. Gifts arent just for Christmas, now you can give anytime. Play focuses on social exchanges and virtual gift ideas - 640 diverse gift ideas are included and are guaranteed to start conversation in households around the globe.

Kelowna November 12, 2009—Designer party game GiftTRAP, first game to poke fun at the dysfunctional act of gift giving, wins Oscar equivalent Spiel Des Jahres (SDJ) prize for ‘Best Party Game 2009. Designer games are taking hold in North America and as such Wired recently featured potential Monopoly Killer Settlers of CatanҒ, prior winner of the main SDJ prize.

GiftTRAP is the first party game to have been awarded such a special prize by the SDJ judges. GiftTRAP, voted Party Game of the Year in France, Germany, Sweden, USA and Canada, expects to drive sales to 100k units across 12 languages in 2010.

We all understand that exchanging gifts has become dysfunctional. Social etiquette prevents us from telling people how we feel about the gifts we receive. With the explosion of consumer choice, exchanging gifts has become a nightmare.

Individuals arriving for family rituals, like Christmas, expect everyone to bring them a carefully chosen gift. This ritual exposes the dysfunction of gifting among friends and family. The ‘Holiday Season is an expos of consumerism that overshadows an event layered in meaning, religion and tradition. Coined by retailers and the media, the term serves to add to the social pressure, diminishing the idea that its ‘the thought that counts’ says Nick Kellet GiftTRAPs Designer & indie publisher.

‘We live in a want it buy it world’. Exchanging gifts is not the fun it once was. GiftTRAP stands against the rising tide of materialism, adding the feedback loop and fun givers so badly need. Research shows we don’t give feedback on the 1/3rd of gifts we don’t like - we all lie. GiftTRAP is a release valve for years of bad gifts! Nick added.

GiftTRAP is all about great conversation, high replay value & putting the fun in gift exchange. GiftTRAP has broad appeal; kids, teens, twenty somethings, young parents, grandparents & teachers extol the virtues of the GiftTRAP experience.

Gifts aren’t just for Christmas, now you can give anytime. Play focuses on social exchanges and virtual gift ideas - 640 diverse gift ideas are included and are guaranteed to start conversation in households around the globe.

ABOUT GiftTRAP

GiftTRAP is a tech-savvy indie board game company based in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, focused on engineering great conversation & fun social experiences. GiftTRAP is spreading the globe on the back of word of mouth, awards & an ever-expanding network of distributors & languages (8 so far). The company mission is to rid the world of unwanted gifts.

GiftTRAP is Board Game 2.0; a social, collaborative experience. Its content is crowd sourced from user-created content. Friends can exchange virtual gifts either online or in the physical game. Uniquely GiftTRAP is not about winning per se, but it is about you. No teams to hide behind. Winning doesn’t require any specific knowledge, but rather, people skills & strong intuition.

The good news is that anyone who plays GiftTRAP can improve their gift-giving skills with practice. In fact once you play the game, you really never stop. It has an effect of making people more attentive to the needs of others & to explore different preferences.

The company supports charity donations directly as well as through the content of the game. GiftTRAP is a strong supporter of Creative Commons & sources appropriately licensed images from Flickr.com to continually refine & refresh its gift ideas to reflect the current choices.

Players secretly choose & give everyone a unique gift. Next players each rate the gifts on offer as they feel Җ best to worst. Then gifts are unwrapped & scored. No real gifts, no lies, no dice, no turns just insight, laughter, honesty, great conversation & high-level engagement.

Aside from its unique theme & packaging GiftTRAP is one of few games that can be played/enjoyed from grandchild to grandparent often with interesting results.

As an indie game GiftTRAP is available from specialist game stores globally. Chains like Walmart & Toys-R-Us only stock games that are TV Advertised or based on TV Shows. SDJ style ‘Designer’ games are slowly finding their way into mainstream culture in North America.

Media & bloggers are welcome to apply for a review copy. To arrange an interview with the inventor call +1 250 864 3821 or email nick(at)gifttrap(dot)com

* For Christmas read the denominational event your choice

KELOWNA (Wednesday 8th July 2009 ) GiftTRAP the first party game to capture the spirit of Christmas* today won the globally recognized Spiel Des Jahres (JDY) prize for “Best Party Game 2009”. Prior winners of the main prize include hits like “Settlers of Catan” , “Carcasonne” & Ticket to Ride”.

GiftTRAP is the first party game to have been awarded such a special prize by the SDJ judges. GiftTRAP sales exceed 50,000 units since launching in 2006 . GiftTRAP has won many international awards including “Best Party Game” from Games Magazine, “Game of the Year” in France / Faidutti.com, “Best Party Game” by Creative Child Magazine, “TV2 Hjelper Deg” in Norway & “Best New Game” in Sweden.

Individuals arriving for their family Christmas* ritual expect everyone to bring them a carefully wrapped gift - a ritual that both unites & divides. Today social pressures & commercialism overshadow an event layered in meaning, religion & tradition.

North American Retailers & Media coined the broader term “The Holiday Season making it feel that it’s the money and not the thought that counts.” says Nick Kellet GiftTRAP’s inventor & publisher. We live in a ‘want it buy it world’. Exchanging gifts is not the fun it once was. Believing we know people proves to be a myth.”

GiftTRAP stands against the rising tide of materialism, adding the feedback loop gift givers so badly need. Research shows we don’t give feedback on the 1/3rd of gifts we
don’t like - we all lie to Grandma. Now you can enjoy the exchange without the gifts!

The broad appeal of the game is one of its most unique features kids, teens, twenty somethings, young parents, grandparents & teachers extol the virtues of GiftTRAP’s
unique experience, high replay value & the fact that it resonates in current times.

Gifts aren’t just for Christmas, now you can give anytime. Play focuses on social exchanges - not the gifts - 640 diverse gift ideas are included and are guaranteed to start
conversation in households around the globe. Heidelberger launched the German edition of the game in 2008.

GiftTRAP is a tech-savvy indie board game company based in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, focused on engineering great conversation & fun social experiences.

GiftTRAP is spreading the globe on the back of word of mouth, awards & an ever expanding network of distributors & languages (8 so far). The company mission is to rid the world of unwanted gifts.Thinks of GiftTRAP as Board Game 2.0; a social, collaborative experience crowd sourced from user-created content; enabling friends to exchange virtual gifts either on line or in the physical game. Uniquely GiftTRAP is not about winning per se, but it is about you. No teams to hide behind. Winning doesn’t require any specific knowledge, but rather, people skills & strong intuition. The good news is that anyone who plays

GiftTRAP can improve gift-giving skills with practice. In fact once you play the game, you really never stop. It has an effect of making people more attentive to the needs of others & to explore different preferences. The company supports charity donations directly as well as through the content of the game. GiftTRAP is a strong supporter of Creative Commons & sources appropriately licensed images from Flickr.com to continually refine & refresh its gift ideas to reflect the current choices.

Players secretly choose & give everyone a unique gift. Next players each rate the gifts on offer as they feel best to worst. Next gifts are unwrapped & scored. No real gifts, no lies, no dice, no turns - just insight, laughter, honesty, great conversation & high-level engagement.

Aside from its unique theme & packaging GiftTRAP is one of few games that can be played/enjoyed from grandchild to grandparent often with interesting results.

As an indie game GiftTRAP is available from specialist game stores globally. Chains like Walmart & Toys R Us only stock games that are TV Advertised or based on TV Shows. SDY style games are slowly finding their way into mainstream culture in North America.

Media & bloggers are welcome to apply for a review copy. To arrange an interview with the inventor call +1 250 864 3821 or email

###

New board game saves Canadian men from eternal gift giving plight

TORONTO (November 28, 2007 ) The holiday season is upon us, and with gift giving front and centre on the agenda, GiftTRAP the award winning social board game just launched into all Chapters locations across Canada raises a tough question: “Can guys give good gift?”

Most would agree being a good gift giver is not natural for men they often find getting to the store tough enough. In many cases, purchase happens at the eleventh hour, in a frantic state. Yet the difference between a good gift and a bad one can have a huge impact on a relationship. A man must ask, “Will I ever be a good giver?”

To some, lingerie may be perfect; to others, inappropriate or simply a gift more serving the man not the woman. Frying pans and kitchen utensils, though useful, are rarely hits. In short, the universally perfect present simply doesn’t exist.

But there is one simple step to finding the perfect gift: research. Equally good news is that gift giving is a skill that can be mastered with GiftTRAP, a Canadian-created board game, a key tool to get to good-giver-status.

Knowing the gift recipient is fundamental to being a good giver. Curious questions need to be posed, and exploration of boundaries, interests and passions and not just the kind that lead back to that aforementioned lingerie necessary.

These discovery skills on a ‘getting-to-know-her’ level are not ones that come easily to men; yet GiftTRAP has been known to cure the very worst of bad givers.

Playing GiftTRAP allows men to test gift ideas on women to ensure they give the perfect present this holiday and next. 

While men may be singled out for all the stereotypical reasons, women can benefit equally from playing GiftTRAP more than a game, a conduit to uncovering really good gift ideas ח with benefits reaped when playing with partners, but also with friends and colleagues.

With 640 potentially cool and eclectic gift ideas in a GiftTRAP box, one can effortlessly discover new clues about a partner, friend, or colleague to lead to that perfect gift. Playing GiftTRAP takes about an hour, is fun, highly conversational and often controversial

“GiftTRAP incites conversation often to deep and even contentious levels,” says Nick Kellet, creator of the award-wining GiftTRAP, its inspiration coming from a question posed to him by his daughter about how Father Christmas picked the gifts he gives out to children.

Easy to play - having given or received a gift practically qualifies one as ready to play GiftTRAP can be played over and again as it varies with different gifts and different friends and family. It is not a game won by luck, but rather by the skill to anticipate the desires of fellow players. Giving or getting good gifts means advancing on the game board; conversely, giving or getting bad gifts means moving back, making it very evident who the good and bad givers and getters are.

Adds Kellet, “People love the game; it’s been a hit in international markets already. A source of great fun, GiftTRAP encourages better communication, improved gifting, and dare I say, it’s slowing the trend of re-gifting!”

The bilingual edition of GiftTRAP, priced at $29,99, is now available across Canada at all Chapters locations, and is suitable for those aged five to 105.

About GiftTRAP

GiftTRAP is an award-winning social board game, created by Nick Kellet of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, with a mission to rid the world of unwanted gifts.

Kellet= his inspiration to create the game stemming from a question posed by his daughter about how Father Christmas selects his gifts, describes his company’s inaugural product, GiftTRAP as Board Game 2.0: a social, collaborative experience built from user-created content.

Uniquely, GiftTRAP is not a game about winning per se, but is about the players. To win the game, no specific knowledge is required, but rather people skills and strong intuition are important. GiftTRAP enables friends to exchange virtual gifts either online or in the physical game.

As Black Friday looms and the bargain choices abound for the shopping season, the shackles of etiquette can make all of us experience “giftburn” - the fear of giving or receiving the “not so perfect” gift. According to research at gifttrap.com, giftburn costs more than personal angst. Over the course of a lifetime, each consumer will spend an estimated $8,000 or more in giving unwanted gifts.

Kelowna, BC November 21, 2007—Can you pick the perfect present from all the bargains? and will opening Grandma’s gift cause you to lie again this year?

As Black Friday looms and the bargain choices abound for the shopping season, the shackles of etiquette can make all of us experience “giftburn” - the fear of giving or receiving the “not so perfect” gift.

According to research at gifttrap.com, giftburn costs more than personal angst. Over the course of a lifetime, each consumer will spend an estimated $8,000 or more in giving unwanted gifts.

“Bad gifts cause stress, waste money and consume time and space in our busy lives,” according to Nick Kellet, CCA, Chief Conversational Architect at GiftTRAP. “Our hearts tell us giving is good, but when it comes to choosing the gift to give, especially when you are up against a deadline like Christmas, our heads should be telling us the opposite.”

Kellet suggests taking the anxiety and the expense out of shopping for gifts by practicing. He says, “Prevent giftburn this holiday by playing GiftTRAP, the new virtual gift-exchange game.”

GiftTRAP, the hilarious, new, award-winning board game that turns social etiquette upside down, is played by giving “virtual” gift ideas to your loved ones BEFORE you spend the cash on the gift for real. “It’s like taking your gift ideas for a test drive,” Kellet explains. “With GiftTRAP you can be honest, have fun and get everyone talking about things that matter in their lives. Players find out what really makes people tick and learning more about people’s interests.” After playing GiftTRAP, players will have a much better chance at matching the right gift to the right friend.

So far, the experts in the games world agree that GiftTRAP (MSRP $29.99, for 3-8 players, ages 8 and up) is a great idea for a game and a great gift idea, especially for anyone who has experienced giftburn. The new game has already been honored with six different product awards including Games Magazine’s 2008 “Best Party Game of The Year.”

About GIFTTRAP:
GiftTRAP is a tech-savvy independent board game company based in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, that is focused on engineering great conversation and fun social experiences. The company is a talented team of experienced professionals with a track record of launching new products to meet emerging trends. The company says that “At 30,000 feet, all the trends are the same. The same trends influence gaming, fashion, high-tech and society at large.” GiftTRAP and its patent pending concepts are consistent with any number of current trends around the paradox of choice, the emergence of right brain thinking, and the rise of emotional intelligence.

The company describes its inaugural product, GiftTRAP as BoardGame 2.0; a social, collaborative experience built from user-created content; enabling friends to exchange virtual gifts either online or in the physical game. Uniquely GiftTRAP is not about winning per se, but it is about you. There are not any teams to hide behind. To win the game, it doesn’t require any specific knowledge, but rather, people skills and strong intuition. The good news is that anyone who play GiftTRAP can improve his or her overall gift giving with practice. In fact once you play the game, you really never stop. It has an effect of making people more attentive to the needs of others and to explore different preferences.

The mission of GiftTRAP is to rid the world of unwanted gifts.

Currently, the company supports charity donations directly as well as through the content of the game. GiftTRAP is a strong supporter of Creative Commons and sources appropriately licensed images from Flickr.com to continually refine and refresh its gift ideas to reflect the current choices in a consumer’s world. 

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