Christmas Gamesake Puts Your Family in the Game

Christmas Gamesake, published by Jocapa Products, allows families to customize the game and create a keepsake. The game comes with 300 "gift cards" which are part of the game and are designed to be completed by family and friends. The board also can be personalized.

Following is a press release from Jocapa:

In today's fast-paced world, time together over the holidays is all the more important. Christmas Gamesake gives families a reason to slow down and enjoy the little things in life. With Christmas Gamesake, friends and family create a board game by filling out favorite memories from the year (or years past) on the enclosed gift cards.

Imagine Grandma sitting down on Christmas Eve to reflect on the achievements and laughs of her grandchildren: "Claire learns to ride a bicycle without training wheels. Roll again! Love, Grandma" or "Blake throws smashed peas all over the floor (and me). Miss 1 turn to clean it up. I love you even if you did stain my shirt. -- Granny." There's no shortage of smiles from little ones either: "Dad knocks two dozen eggs off the counter. Go back 2 spaces. Love, Annie." Nothing's really better than teasing Mom and Dad.

After reminiscing and jotting down favorite memories, families play Christmas Gamesake by racing each other around the world to be the first one to reach the North Pole. If a player lands on a "present," the player picks a gift card, reads the memory aloud, and follows the command. As an added bonus, families may personalize their boards.

By playing Christmas Gamesake year after year, families create a treasure trove of memories that even the best diary could not duplicate. Kids love Christmas Gamesake because they create a game that's all about them -- just ask Phoebe, age 8. Phoebe plays nightly and has friends write out cards too! Adults love Christmas Gamesake because it captures life's silly moments that might otherwise be lost.

Founders Pam and Callie Weiant have more than a decade's worth of memories stashed away -- Gamesakes are a modified version of a game their mom invented. "We loved it as kids and love it as parents," said Pam Weiant. "It's an easy and fun way to memorialize the best and often most fleeting memories of life."

The Gamesake series is new in 2004. Current products include Wedding Gamesake, Christmas Gamesake, and Birthday Gamesake. Future plans include Graduation Gamesake, Bar Mitzvah Gamesake, Bat Mitzvah Gamesake, Party Gamesake, and Reunion Gamesake.

The National Stationary Show showcased Gamesakes in the 2004 Best New Products Competition. Christmas Gamesake is also available at Marshall Field's stores and in Spilsbury catalogs this holiday season. The suggested reltail price for all Gamesakes is $29.95.