Columnist Muriel Stevens: Cranium is a fun brain buster

Wednesday, May 31, 2000 | 9:11 a.m.

Muriel Stevens' shopping column appears Wednesdays. Her dining column appears Fridays. Reach her at muriel@lasvegassun.com or 259-4080.

When the new board game Cranium was released last year it took off like wildfire, selling more than 200,000 units in the first 12 months. Geared to youngsters 12 and older and adults, "the game for your whole brain" is a kick.

I received the game as a gift and at first was thoroughly confused by the many elements. Unlike most games that focus on just one activity, Cranium has 14. During a game you and your team will do everything from drawing with your eyes closed and sculpting with the Cranium clay that's included to humming, whistling, acting and even spelling backwards.

It made me laugh just to think about it. It is the best kind of game for families and friends, and would liven up any party.

It takes at least four to play, but the more players, the more fun. Since I'm a single and would have to master Cranium on my own before teaching it to friends (it's really not difficult) I turned to the experts at the Gamekeeper stores.

The staff members at all of the Gamekeeper shops are well-informed and are all avid game players. Tony Marovitz, manager of the Gamekeeper at the Fashion Show mall (there are also Gamekeeper stores at the Meadows and Galleria malls) said, "The best thing about Cranium is it's the best of so many other games rolled into one.

"With other games a partner's success depends on their own skill level. With Cranium everybody contributes and has a great time. The more diverse the skills of the members, the better the chance a team has to win." He also said that precocious kids as young as 8 can be good players.

Cranium is the brainchild of former Microsoft executives Richard Tait and Whit Alexander. The interesting pair have done everything from creating award-winning consumer products and making extraordinary maps for Microsoft to shepherding in Scotland and public policy work in Africa.

Their Buck-a-Box program also sets them apart. Cranium Inc. donates $1 of every game sold to organizations that provide after-school opportunities to at-risk youngsters to develop their artistic abilities. Says Alexander, "There's been a real demand in recent years for high-tech skills, which has sometimes come at the expense of the humanities. Creativity is an integral part of even the most technical careers and it's important to encourage our next generation in the arts."

It supposedly takes about an hour to play Cranium, but with 800 Cranium activity cards covering 30 subject areas it could take longer for beginners. The Gamekeeper manager offered to help me get started and I'll probably let him.

Already there's a Cranium Booster Box with 800 new cards ($19.95). Cranium sells for $39.95 at the Gamekeeper; $34.94 at Starbucks; and is available at Amazon.com., playcranium.com or by calling 877-CRANIUM.

Other new games: Three Stooges fans will enjoy the Three Stooges Trivia game ($29.95) or the new Monopoly card game ($9.95) -- just released, the Monopoly game has sold out at the Gamekeeper. More are expected.

So let the games begin. There's no better way to have fun this summer than using your Cranium.