Cost: $20 From: Curry Games, 1-800-766-9880 Players: 2+ Playing Time: 15-60 minutes Type of game: Party/Trivia Complexity: 3 Skill level: 9 Reviewed by: Peter Sarrett, Issue 3.1, Winter 1994
Some wells never seem to run dry. Of all the themes party games get crafted around, famous names is probably the most common, perhaps because it’s something most people can get a handle on without being intimidated. One of the latest to tap this spring is I.N.I.T.I.A.L. Response.
The smallish box holds fairly simple equipment: a quartet of score pads and pencils and a folded game board consisting of two spinners surrounded by the alphabet. The rules are printed on the inside of the box top. Be forewarned, though— you’ll need to provide your own ten minute timer.
The premise is a simple one. Each round begins by spinning the pair of spinners twenty times to arrive at twenty pairs of initials. As each pair is generated, players write them on their score sheets. One player announces a category (such as Famous Women, Political Figures, Cartoon Characters, or Authors) which is written at the top of everyone’s sheet. Players then have ten minutes to come up with a famous name for every set of initials. Can’t think of a name? Try reversing the initials. You’ll score fewer points, but that’s better than none. Xs are wild and can be used as any letter.
When time expires, players read their names and tally their scores. Names which fit the category score 5 points if unique, 3 points if duplicated by another player. Names which fall outside the category score 3 or 1 point. Reversed initials are also worth 3 points if unique and in the category, 1 point otherwise. If players don’t recognize a name you list, it’s put to a vote. If a majority of players think it’s legit, you get the points. So it’s possible to bluff, if you can do so convincingly. Some sets of initials score double, and if anyone gets valid names for all twenty sets of initials, they get a twenty point bonus.
Ten minutes sounds like a lot of time, but you’ll be surprised at how quickly it flies by. Especially when you’re desperately trying to think of an author with the initials J.K. for one of the doubled entries (Jack Kerouac, perhaps?). Names in the round’s category are worth more points, but often your mind blanks and you’re grateful for any name your memory can dredge up, even if you have to reverse initials to get it. The moment of “Eureka!” when you finally nail a particularly difficult set of initials is most gratifying.
Radio stations nationwide play variations of the game on the air, and some states are considering scratch-off lottery games based on I.N.I.T.I.A.L. Response. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it, but clearly I’m not the only one to take a shine to the game. Although it’s a game you could easily make yourself, I.N.I.T.I.A.L. Response is enough fun that you shouldn’t sweat its fairly modest cost.