NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 6/29/06
Contact Susan McNeill 302-996-9054

Toy and Game Giant FAO Schwarz Hosts
“Meet the Inventor” Game Signing

Manhattan, New York – Toy and game inventor Donald McNeill will be on hand at FAO Schwarz on 5th Avenue Saturday, July 8 and Sunday, July 9 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. to sign copies of his latest hit card game “You’ve been Sentenced!”

You’ve been Sentenced! is a language game that turns sentence construction into a hilarious competition. The game uses pentagon-shaped cards containing conjugations of common words, familiar places, and famous names in history, which players use to build sentences -- challenging their ingenuity and salesmanship. “The best part about the game,” says McNeill “is justifying your sentences to the other players who have the power of a ‘thumbs up’ or ‘thumbs down.’ Try to imagine the words ‘doghouse,’ ‘Charles Dickens,’ and ‘worms’ in one sentence  -- you get the idea.”

You’ve been Sentenced! release has elicited rave reviews from groups as diverse as the Mensa Society (Toy Roundup, June 2006), to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine for homeschooling parents, to Metro Kids Magazine. Game reviewer Tom Vasel of thedicetower.com says, “I could recommend the game because it has a unique box structure, or because it comes with more cards than any other game that I've ever seen. I could recommend it because it can be used with English classes or folks wanting to increase their language skills. I could recommend it because it can handle up to ten players fairly easily. But I won't -- I'll simply recommend it because it's fun.”

 You’ve been Sentenced! was selected at the recent FAO Schwarz Toy Auditions which were held at the FAO Schwarz flagship store. “I believe that the secret to the games success and the amazing response we’ve received is that You’ve been Sentenced! is appealing to such a wide age range. But the most surprising thing to me is that teachers and educators from around the country have begun utilizing the game in classrooms. It provides the opportunity to instruct in grammar, word usage, and sentence construction, in a really fun way – the kids don’t even realize how much they’re learning.”

“‘It's awesome!’ That was a comment from one of my most difficult to please 5th grade students,” says veteran teacher Rebecca Brown of the Garnet Valley School District in Boothwyn, Pennsylvania. “It was a great way to get them to think creatively and originally. The game also lends itself to discussions on grammar and word usage.”

The creators of You’ve been Sentenced! are McNeill Designs for Brighter Minds is a 30+ person creative team which produces games and toys of all kinds. The company’s recent releases include award-winning games You’ve been Sentenced! a language game where players use word cards to build sentences, challenging their ingenuity in a hilarious, competitive environment, and Twisted Fish a challenging memory game which requires strategy, deception, and bluffing skills, plus an intact sense of humor.

In addition to card and board games, McNeill Designs has rapidly expanded and diversified. In 2006, McNeill Designs partnered with the production company Positive Promotions in the development of a television game show. As well, a division which produces electronic and online games was recently added.

For a nationwide store locator and general corporate information, please visit www.McneillBrighterMinds.com. For more information about the firm, its products, and people, or to schedule and interview please contact Susan McNeill at 302-996-9054.

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