INTERVIEW
WITH A
GAME INVENTOR

THE ORIGINAL EDITION OF ALL CANADIAN TRIVIA™ WAS RELEASED TEN YEARS AGO, and quickly became one of the bestselling games in Canada, with over 100,000 copies sold in four years. Earlier this year, the Tenth Anniversary Edition was released. We recently sat down with David Manga, the inventor of All Canadian Trivia™.

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What is this game all about?
As the name suggests, All Canadian Trivia™ is a trivia game like most others but with one awesome difference. Every single question in the game is about Canada. This game is a new edition of the original All Canadian Trivia™ game, which was released ten years ago.

You’re not that old now. How old were you ten years ago when you created the first All Canadian Trivia™ game?
I began writing the first set of questions when I was 23. The following year we sold our first copy. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think the game would be such a success.

Why did you write that first game?
I was a big fan of Trivial Pursuit®. I remember it was just before Christmas and I was playing the game with a friend. I was asked a question about Harry Truman and I knew the answer. I realized that after playing Trivial Pursuit® countless times I had learned more about the US than I knew about Canada. Later that day I went looking for a trivia game just about Canada. I couldn’t find one, so the next day I started writing questions.

Why write a new game?
Shortly after releasing the original All Canadian Trivia™ game we released a junior edition and an extra box of questions, and the following year a millennium edition. There has not been a new Canadian trivia game since then. I thought it was time to do it again. I’ve heard from many people who have played all the games and are now looking for more questions.

Are all the questions in the Tenth Anniversary Edition new?
There are over 1,000 new questions, but not all the questions are new. We’ve kept many of the classic questions like “What is the longest river in Canada” and “Where are the highest tides”. We left in those classic questions that we felt were needed in any trivia game about Canada. But people who have played the original game will find tons of new material in this new edition. It’s also the biggest collection of trivia questions we’ve ever published.

What is the best question in the game?
I’m always amazed that with each new edition of All Canadian Trivia™ there always seems to be interesting new trivia tidbits to find. Probably the most interesting event I read about was something that was dubbed the Great Stork Derby. A wealthy lawyer with a wild sense of humour left a fortune to the woman who had the most babies over a ten-year period. It created quite a media sensation in Toronto during the Great Depression. Four women ended up sharing the prize. I think they had nine babies each.

What made the first All Canadian Trivia™ game such a success?
People seemed to like the fact that the game was all about Canada. Also, very importantly, the questions were written for the average person. A lot of trivia games out there are simply too hard. They were written by trivia buffs who think every question should be really obscure. I think what people enjoyed is they could actually answer the questions.

I imagine it’s also fun to be asked questions about your home town. Was that a factor in the game’s success?
Of course! How many games out there have ques-tions about Estevan, Saskatchewan or Almonte, Ontario? It’s always fun to be asked questions about places you’ve been or people you’ve met.

The game has been a huge success. Do you have any advice for would-be game inventors?
Many people think the game industry is a get-rich-quick industry. Over the years, I have heard from hundreds of people who have created their own games. With a few exceptions, all those who went on to manufacture their games have lost money. It’s a tough industry. There is lots and lots of competition, and retailers are inundated with new games to carry. Be prepared to work hard to spread the word about your game. And don’t invest your life savings into your game, because no matter how good your game is or how hard you work, there is a good chance you will never recoup your initial investment.

Was getting retailers to carry the game your biggest challenge?
Getting retailers to carry the game was certainly a challenge, but I wouldn’t say it was the biggest challenge. There were a whole host of independent Canadian-owned retailers who were incredibly supportive, and took a chance and stocked the original game. In the beginning it was just me working the phones calling stores across Canada, trying my best to convince stores to carry the game. It was a phenomenal amount of legwork, but I loved it.

So if it wasn’t signing up retailers, what was the biggest challenge?
Tough question! Probably the biggest challenge we faced was informing consumers where to buy the game. It was pretty easy to get publicity for the game. Because it was a game just about Canada, and because I was so young when the game first came out, it was a great story for reporters to write about. Once the word was out there, people seemed to respond to the idea of a game just about Canada and wanted to buy it. The problem was the game was hard to find. Many people would automatically go down to some big box discounter, but the game was not sold at those national discount chains. So our greatest challenge was informing people exactly where to find the game. You know, it really is still our biggest challenge! You’ll only find our game in stores that carry specialty games.

Do board games still sell in this age of computer games?
Surprisingly yes! Many parents are concerned over the amount of time kids are glued to their computers and televisions. The people who are buying board games these days are parents, and even grandparents, trying to find a new way to interact with their families. Board games are a great way to get people talking and interacting.

Have you created any other games?
I’ve created a few others games. But I am most proud of All Canadian Trivia™. The feedback I have received has been so positive. It certainly is the best selling game I’ve ever been involved with.

What is your favourite board game?
That is a loaded question. There are so many games, and different games are better suited for different people and different situations. What might be good for a family might not work so well at a party with just adults. Right now, in my opinion the best game out there is a new game called WHAT?® It’s a hilarious party game for teens and adults, but best played with people in your own peer group. I’ve never laughed so hard!

Where can I buy my copy of All Canadian Trivia™?
To find a retailer near you please visit our retailer page.

Any parting words?
Just to let people know that games are important. Games are a great way for families and friends to interact. I’ve always felt that board games are the best and easiest way to spend an entertaining evening at home. Even if you haven’t played a board game in years, why not try it? You’ll have a great time!