They were inspired by the news that dominated the headlines this time last year: the fall of Lehman Brothers; the $85 billion bailout of AIG, the world's largest insurer; and Bank of America's coerced takeover of Merrill Lynch.
As the economy was facing one crisis after another, the Sopourn family of Coral Springs, Fla., said this was a teaching moment for their children.
Shari Sopourn, who has a degree in elementary education and home schools their three children, didn't want to waste the opportunity to talk about business, money, and government bailout.
But, the children were little, all 10 or under. "The concept was a little over the kids' heads," she said.
So they made a quick game to teach the concept to their children.
That game "took on a life of its own," said Shari Sopourn's husband, Jordy, and now the couple are small business owners.
Bailout! The Game is now sold online. In May, the couple dipped into their savings and paid a Michigan contractor to produce 2,500 games. Almost 400 games at $29.95 each have been sold so far. The family is visiting a game trade show in Chicago this winter and hopes to attract the eye of big retailers or home shopping networks.
Growth, said Shari Sopourn, "is inevitable."
The goal of the game: get to the end of the money trail and get a bailout. Whoever has the least amount of money in the end is the winner. In this game, acquiring debt is king. There are also chances to stick it to your challengers.
Land on "sell toxic assets to China" and you'll wind up with $500 million in your coffers. Set up an offshore tax shelter in the Cayman Islands and get another $50 million. But if a pipe bursts at headquarters and you need a plumber, you'll lose $50 million. Purchase toys from China for the employee day care center and the soaring medical costs will leave you out $50 million. Defraud your investors in a Ponzi scheme and winding up in house arrest means you lose a turn.
Officials for the Game Manufacturers Association in Columbus, Ohio said the Sopourns' timing is excellent. As the recession continues, families are seeking cheaper forms of entertainment, and the board game industry is expecting higher profits as a result, said the organization's business manager, Angela Ward.
"To take a family of four to the movies and get popcorn and candy, you're looking at a good 80 bucks," Ward said.
"We know board games are doing well," said Executive Director John Ward, who estimates industrywide sales are 10 to 12 percent ahead of 2008 levels. "People are staying at home. You can spend $17 to $40 depending how sophisticated of a game you want to get and play it 100 times."
Even cheaper are Internet games, including The Bailout Game, developed by a St. Paul, Minnesota Internet publisher.
Ironically, Jordy Sopourn, had some extra time to devote to the creation of the game because of the economy. As an architect, his clients were having a hard time getting bank loans for their projects. That meant less work for him.
It gave him and his wife time to design the game, and set up focus groups of Democrats and Republicans to ensure they weren't antagonizing any one group.
They created 17 drafts of the game before settling on this final version.
"When you lose," Jordy Sopourn said, repeating the mantra of Bailout! The Game, "you win."
