Toy Agent Results

My Dear Readers,

I must apologize that I have not been keeping you up to date with the latest results of Global Quest and Treasure Hold 'Em. I have been eager to share this with you sooner. However, I am moving from Greenacres, Florida to Los Angeles, California in 3 days and have been preparing like a madman to get ready for my transition. (Not to mention that I have been also trying to find a literary agent for my first book I wrote about amazing technologies that can help us reduce our dependence on foreign oil).

First, let me begin by saying, the $125 I spent on having this toy agent review Global Quest was very well spent! I was impressed with amount of research that went into finding similar games on the market and seeing how they performed in terms of sales and marketing. Most of them, I have never even heard of - which can not be a good thing.

To sum up the review, the Toy Broker explained that while my unique concepts for Global Quest "would add flair and interest to the category, it would be viewed (by major toy companies that are looking for new games) as too subtle a contribution in a category featuring many styling effects and executions that bring more life to the contest."

He basically said, unless my game is tied to a popular movie (i.e. "Transformers" and "Iron Man") or television show (i.e. "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?" and "Dora the Explorer"), or has so much instant appeal that kids would literally force their parents to take out their plastic money (i.e. "Playstation 3" or "Tickle Me Elmo"), then they will most likely see my new game as too much of a risk.

Since I also write screenplays and I am moving to Los Angeles to learn to become a better writer, perhaps I should write a creative film or television show based on the game and enter it into screenwriting contests, lol! Maybe then, I will earn enough to make a small run of both games and place them in specialty stores around the country.

Another possibility would be to take an example from the makers of Cranium and try to market my games in a market that no one else has ever thought of. If I recall correctly, the makers of Cranium were friends with the head of Starbucks and sold their game through the coffee shop. They were able to sell over one million copies without spending any money on advertising! How incredible is that?!

Despite the feedback I received from the toy agent, I still believe in my games because of the great feedback I have received from teachers, parents, college students, and teenagers from my library tours. I believe it is just a matter of raising the money to get started and finding my own unique niche and marketing strategy.

Until then, keep pushing to find a way and STAY POSITIVE!!! Best of luck in your endeavors! Mahalo!
Luis
www.GlobalQuestGame.com

Reader's Question

Today, one of my readers asked me if I knew what will happen to the oil that is collected from all the oil booms that have been created. I just wanted to share with you my response.

"That is a very good question. I think the people at Matter of Trust would be the best ones to answer that one. I would imagine that it could still be used for some of the hundreds of products that we currently rely on petroleum for -- i.e. In the book I just finished writing a few months ago, I included a (small) list: (LOL, you're gonna love this!)"

"Ammonia, anesthetics, anti-freeze, antihistamines, antiseptics, artificial limbs, artificial turf, asphalt, aspirin, awnings, balloons, ballpoint pens, bandages, beach umbrellas, boats, bubble gum, cameras, candles, car battery cases, car sound insulation, carpeting, cassettes, caulking, clothesline, cold cream, combs, conditioner, cortisone, crayons, credit cards, curtains, deodorant, detergents, dice, dishwashing liquids, disposable diapers, dolls, dresses, drinking cups, dyes, electric blankets, electricians’ tape, eyeglasses, false teeth, fan belts, faucet washers, fertilizers, fishing boots, fishing lures, fishing rods, floor wax, folding doors, food preservatives, garden hoses, glue, golf bags, golf balls, guitar strings, hair coloring, hair curlers, hand lotion, hearing aids, heart valves, house paint, ice buckets, ice chests, ice cube trays, ink, insect repellent, insecticides, isopropyl alcohol, kerosene, laundry detergent, life jackets, linoleum, lipstick, loudspeakers, LP records, lubricating oils, luggage, milk jugs, model cars, mops, motorcycle helmets, movie film, nail polish, oil filters, paint, paint brushes, paint rollers, pajamas, panty hose, parachutes, paraffin wax, pavement, perfume, permanent press clothes, petroleum jelly, pillows, plastic wood, plastics, plywood adhesives, purses, putty, refrigerator linings, roller-skate wheels, roofing, roofing shingles, rubber cement, rubbing alcohol, safety glass, salad bowls, shampoo, shaving cream, shoe polish, shoes, shopping bags, shower curtains, shower doors, skis, slacks, soap dishes, soft contact lenses, sports car bodies, sun glasses, sweaters, synthetic rubber, tar, telephones, tennis rackets, tents, tires, toilet seats, tool racks, toothbrushes, toothpaste, toys, transparent tape, trash bags, TV cabinets, umbrellas, upholstery, vaporizers, VCR tapes, vitamin capsules, wading pools, water pipes, wire insulation, and yarn. (Whew! Try saying that all in one breath!)

No More Donations! Volunteers Needed! Thank you!

Just wanted to pass along an update from Matter of Trust - the nonprofit organization making oil booms out of hair and fur. They thank everyone for their generous donations and now have enough hair and fur to make 25 MILES OF BOOM! Over 10 miles has already been made by hundreds of volunteers!

At this time, they CANNOT take any more hair donations. However, they really use volunteers. If you can, please check out www.MatterofTrust.org

Luis
www.globalQuestGame.com

15 Lbs of Hair!!!

A few days ago, I drove around my city visiting barber shops and salons to see if they would donate hair (that would otherwise go into the trash) to help out with the oil spill clean-up. A non-profit company called, "Matter of Trust" has a few locations in Florida where they stuff the hair in women's stockings to create "booms". The booms are then dragged along the ocean's surface and effectively collects the oil that is spilling throughout the gulf.

Today, I just mailed 15 lbs of hair for the oil spill cleanup to: Hair Boom Program, Ikaros Aviation, Inc., 8301 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050.

They said they are having a beach clean-up this weekend to search for traces of oil near the Florida Keys. If you have the means and a few hours of time, I encourage you to go around your local area to collect freshly cut, clean, and dry hair to donate as well. If you do, make sure to save your receipt because you may be able to write the postage off for taxes, since they are a non-profit company.

P.S. Let me know how it goes!

Mahalo! (Thanks!)
~Luis