Columnist Muriel Stevens: Finding games can Boggle the mind

Wednesday, Aug. 26, 1998 | 9:59 a.m.

Playing word games is a favorite hobby of mine. Scrabble was my first choice until I met Big Boggle. Few of my Las Vegas friends are game enthusiasts. When I can find partners I've been known to play the night away.

During a New England vacation, my friends and I played the game nightly. I was determined to keep playing when I came home.

My family was willing, but they couldn't find a Big Boggle set. Not to worry, I told them. I'll find one for you.

My first stop was Toys R Us at Maryland and Flamingo. I walked the length of the sizable game wall and could find only the children's version and the smaller, original Boggle, much less challenging.

Finally, I came upon a stock person. "Where can I find Big Boggle?"

"What's that?"

"You never heard of Big Boggle?"

Eying me up and down she said, "Is it very old?" With great authority she then told me she'd never heard of such a game and that in the five years she'd been at the store they'd never had one, so it didn't exist. With that stupid response, she managed to lose the store a customer.

My next stop was Target. Same story. No Big Boggle, although the sales person did know the game existed. Next stop was home, where I called at least six other stores. Finally, pay dirt. The GameKeeper in the Meadows Mall was open at 10 a.m. on a Sunday and had the game. It was now called Master Boggle. Rachel Carroll, the sales person, was a joy.

Gamekeeper was having one of its periodic sales so I bought a few extra games to give as gifts -- a good ploy for getting players. With the sale I paid about $21 for each game instead of $26.95. All this and caring, informed service, too.

As far as I know, only Gamekeeper caters primarily to older kids and adults. The children's items are mostly for children 12 and older. Big kids like me will have a hard time resisting the many games, puzzles, word books and other mind teasers. Best of all, its stock is available year-round, not just at holiday time.

I also visited the Gamekeeper in the Fashion Show. Again, there was a pleasing sales person, Sara Nicole, who between customers taught me a new board card game called Sequence. It's touted to be the "best family game ever." It was fun and easy to learn.

The Fashion Show store has a fine selection of chess sets in many styles, as well as the merchandise at the Meadows Mall. There's another Gamekeeper in the Galleria on Stephanie and Sunset.

All of the stores feature jigsaw puzzles of all kinds. The top of the line has 8,000 pieces and costs $100. Other puzzles are priced from $10.

Some of the most popular games are Scrabble, How to Host a Murder, Rumors (Truth or Dare meets Spin the Bottle), Pente -- a high level game of strategy -- and Master Boggle.

I've had my Big Boggle for many years. It cost far less than the new ones (even with the sale price) and came with a dome top and a shallower one. Now only the shallow top is included. With this top you have to be a master to shake the letters to get a good mix.

No matter what the height top, if, like me, you're a word junkie, check out Master Boggle and the Gamekeeper.

To learn about the periodic sales, stop by any Gamekeeper and give them your e-mail address.