December 6, 2020 -- Wilton, Connecticut - A new board game, Covidopoly19, is sweeping the nation in its first month and is becoming the hot 2020 Christmas or holiday gift.  The idea arose while a family was ensconced at home during the pandemic, having gone through many Netflix shows, card games, chess, checkers and even Monopoly.   These activities however did not particularly relate to the times.   The idea then dawned on the founders of the Fairfield County Connecticut company CategoryTen (www.categoryten.com) that there should be a game which covers some aspects of the pandemic in a constructive way:  seriously, yet with fun and some humor too - a difficult combination to pull off.  The creative juices then started flowing.

Some of the spaces on the board would be hot spots.  The game pieces would be people and objects of significance to the pandemic.   Some of people pieces include President Trump, President-elect Biden, Dr. Anthony Fauci, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Vice-president elect Kamala Harris, actor Tom Hanks and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.  Other game pieces include toilet paper, a mask, ventilator, hospital bed…well, you get the idea. 

After initial sales and extremely positive newspaper reviews, the Covidopoly19 story was picked up by News12 Connecticut, News2 in The Bronx and a slew of reviews on social media including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube.   https://connecticut.news12.com/wilton-father-creates-board-game-about-covid-to-raise-money-for-bridgeport-charity  After a few weeks, toy stores began carrying the game.  Covidopoly19 is now sweeping the nation as the hot 2020 Christmas or holiday gift. 

As reported in the Bulletin “[f]or families looking for something fun to do while being cooped up all day at home during the coronavirus pandemic, there’s a new game in town” (covidopoly19 whose purpose) “was to create something that was not only fun, but was timely and had an educational component as well.”   In a recent article, Good Morning Wilton pointed out that CategoryTen has created a way to bring some levity to this angst-ridden era, while also stimulating constructive conversation about some important or overlooked aspects of the pandemic.”   With the tagline “Staying Safer During the Pandemic,” the game aims to educate as well as entertain.   

The game was somewhat prescient in that Vice President Kamala Harris is one of the game pieces.   Kari Eisenberg, the Company’s Chief Operating Officer, reports that the Company “takes pride in the deliberate choice to feature female leaders, such as Angela Merkel and Kamala Harris, in the game. Jacinda Ardern, prime minister of New Zealand, is also included as one of the game pieces.  Eisenberg states that Ardern was chosen because “[she] is an outstanding role model for women and everyone” and for her “exceptional leadership during this pandemic” which included some of the most aggressive steps to prevent the spread of the virus of any country in the world.”  “While the game pieces of Covidopoly19 provide a snapshot of history, we take particular pride in the accomplishments of these women.”   

The pandemic, God willing, will not last forever.  The game however could also become a timeless collector’s item as one reflects back on the unusual year that is 2020.  The game may be found in some toy stores and online at www.categoryten.com and www.covidopoly19.com

Contact:  sarah@categoryten.com