New mutual fund game lets players call the shots

GUELPH, Ontario – A roll of the dice, $25,000 in hand, and some keen personal strategies for navigating the mutual fund market are all of the makings of a new game targeted at novice and experienced investors Competitive Edge Enterprises, Inc. recently launched Mutual Mania, a fast-paced investment board game and a number of companies have bought the game as gifts for clients, said Thomas Hopkins, the company’s president/CEO. The object of the game is to try to invest $25,000 in the mutual fund market, “showing off stock market skills investors may claim to have, using strategy, skill and chance to amass the highest net worth,” Hopkins explained. The game is designed for two to six players or teams, ages 11 and up and costs $29.99. “As we developed Mutual Mania, our product testing gave us initial feedback about the fun and learning experiences from individuals in the general public,” Hopkins said. But the company has started to expand its presence in the investment community. For instance, Heritage Asset Management, a St. Petersburg-Fla. $7 billion money management firm, started providing Mutual Mania to some of its key advisors to present informative materials to customers as a fun, non-threatening tool for educating and encouraging knowledge about investing in mutual funds, said Stephanie Brown, marketing manager. “The game is a wonderful way for financial advisors to provide additional information to current and prospective customers,” Brown said. Hopkins said the motivation for designing the game came shortly after graduating from college and realizing he ” had not learned about the stock market and, in particular, mutual funds.” Mutual Mania has garnered a number of awards including a ranking in the San Francisco Chronicle’s top 10 best new games, runner up by the Chicago Tribune, a three star rating (the highest) by the Canadian Toy Testing Council, the National Parenting Center’s Seal of Approval, and Dr. Toy’s Best Vacation Children’s Product. The game is available at Barnes & Noble, Wizards of the Coast, and Game Keeper, specialty game and toy stores. The game is also available on several e-tailing sites on the Internet. For further information, visit the company’s Web site at www.mutualmania.com. -