Play Not A Problem!
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Game Instructions

​Players: 3 to 10
Ages: 12 to Adult

​Let’s do this!
Someone must go first. Since you’re the one who is reading the instructions, you are obviously a leader, so you should go first. Bam! First problem solved. #Winning
 
Now what?
Since it’s your turn, you are playing the role of a rich and crazy investor. And even crazy investors know that the way to make money is to identify a problem and solve it. Fortunately for you, there are a lot of problems that need solving. That is why you have gathered a think tank of innovators together (yes, these are the other players).
 
Sounds good. Let’s play!
Pick one card from each pile to reveal the problem for the innovators to solve.  One of the cards has three words on it – you choose one.  For example, if your first card has the word “smelly” on it and your second card has “humans, sneakers, and elevators,” you decide if the problem is “smelly humans,” “smelly sneakers,” or “smelly elevators.”  If you draw a blank card, you choose the word – use your power wisely.
 
With only the words and their imaginations, the innovators must figure out how to fix the problem by developing a new, creative product. They then submit their ideas to you in picture form by drawing a product prototype – without using words. Oh, and all this thinking and drawing must happen in two minutes or less! When time is up, they will give you the drawings to ridicule review.
 
Um, these drawings are strange and confusing.
Choose two product prototypes that you would like to learn more about. (You are correct in thinking that if there are only three people playing, it’s not a very tough choice!) The innovators who drew those prototypes get a chance to “pitch” their product to you.
 
Wow. I am hanging out with some very odd creative people. I’m surprisingly impressed!
After hearing the pitches (simply cut them off when you’ve heard enough), choose one product to invest in. The innovator who came up with the product wins the round. Hooray! Give them an investment chip so they can keep track of how many rounds they win – because it matters.
 
Okay, that went well. Now what?
Place your cards in a discard pile. Now, it’s the player to your left’s turn to the be the investor and you are an innovator. And so on.  
 
This is fun, but we’ve been playing a long time and it’s getting late.
When all of your good ideas have been shared, the person who has the most investment chips wins and has earned the title of Innovator of the Year. Yes, they should totally put that on their resume.
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  • Home
  • How to Play
    • Other Ways to Play
  • Get the game
  • About
    • In the news
  • For Students
    • curriculum
    • Testimonials
  • Pitch Tips