Game Daze, based in Tempe, has eight stores including Tucson Mall, Park Place Mall and Foothills Mall.
The stores are among the top 5 percent of the 1,500 stores nationwide selling Ruckus, according to the game’s creator and manufacturer, Dan Levy, president of Funstreet Inc., which is based in Northfield, Ill.
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Games that bring people face-to-face appear to be faring well during the economic recession. In 2008, board game sales in the United States increased by 6 percent while toy sales in general were down 3 percent overall, according to the marketing research firm NPD Group, in Port Washington, N.Y.
Levy says the expertise and personal touch small stores offer has been key in the success of his games. “Everyone talks about the importance of word-of-mouth in this business,” he says. “In reality, neighborhood stores like Game Daze are my word-of-mouth.”
Ruckus is a card game that retails for $11.99 and can be played two to five players ages 5 to adult. Each player receives seven cards from the dealer and immediately places all sets of matching cards in their hand face up on the table. These sets are worth points, but can be stolen by any other player holding a single card in their hand that matches the set. Without taking turns, players steal as many sets as possible, and when the action dies down, the dealer deals each participant another card, triggering more sets and steals. The round ends as soon as any player rids their hand of cards. Each player then earns one point for each card in his/her sets on the table, and subtracts one point for each card still in their hand when the round ended. Each round lasts 3 to 4 minutes.
Contact reporter Roger Yohem at ryohem@azbiz.com or call (520) 295-4254.
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