Ice-T Helps Launch Break the Safe

Mattel recently held a Break the Safe game competition at the New York City Vanderbilt YMCA, showcasing the new board game that focuses on teamwork, communication and cooperation. Serving as emcee of the event was Ice-T, better known as a Grammy-award winning musician and detective on NBC's highly-rated "Law & Order: SVU."

A Mattel press release described Ice-T as an "avid board game fan."

"In my life and as an officer of the law on 'Law & Order: SVU,' I've learned that working as a team is the key to success," Ice-T said in a press release. "Whether spending time with your family, playing with friends, or in my case, solving crimes with my TV partner, teamwork and communication are critical."

Mattel challenged 80 children and parents for the competition with the mission to save the world in 30 minutes or less. Twenty teams of four "secret agents" each worked together to infiltrate the Evil Guy Complex and unlock the safe where the plans for the Evil Guy Operations are kept.

Along the way, the helped each other to defeat the booby traps and avoid the complex's security guard and vigilant guard dog. Teams who beat the clock were awarded special keys to unlock a giant safe. The team that successfully opened the safe revealed $15,000 in Mattel toys to be donated to the YMCA.

"Break the Safe is unique in its emphasis on teamwork -- players need to cooperate and communicate with each other in order to beat the clock. They win or lose as a team," said Phil Jackson, vice president of games and puzzles marketing for Mattel, in the press release.

"We believe that this concept will strike a chord with families whose busy fast-paced lives leave little time for quality family interaction. Break the Safe provides them with an opportunity to have fun, communicate, and work together toward a common goal -- all in a set time frame of 30 minutes. It also teaches the kids that whether they win or lose, their family is always on their side."