12:18 PM: Allan Sugarbaker says...
Winning Moves deciphers a new contest

According to Joe Sequino, director of marketing at Winning Moves Games, "If you like The DaVinci Code, you’ll love playing CODA." Well, I have no feelings one way or the other toward The DaVinci Code, but codes in general have always intrigued me. I might have to pick up a copy of CODA now, since certain retailers (listed on the Winning Moves website) can enter me in a contest to win anything from the purchase price of the game, to the company's complete 2004 product line-up (see the details below). Considering how the purchase price you might win is calculated without shipping and handling added in, this contest seems like an interesting attempt to help brick & mortar stores move some games, which is always good to see.

“If you like The DaVinci Code, you’ll love playing CODA,” says Joe Sequino, director of marketing at Winning Moves Games. So, below, please find details around the CODA promotion.

Text of Winning Moves press release follows:

CALLING ALL CODE-BREAKERS! WINNING MOVES GAMES LAUNCHES WEEKLY CONTEST TO WIN FREE CODA™ GAME

DANVERS, MA, MAY 12, 2004 – If you’re one of the millions who couldn’t put down The DaVinci Code, you’ll love playing CODA™ – and you’ll love it even more if you win the hot new code-breaking game for free! Winning Moves Games announced today a retail-based contest that gives game fans a chance to win CODA and will award a grand-prize winner a complete Winning Moves Games portfolio of games, along with a hardcover copy of The DaVinci Code, just in time for the holidays.

Three Ways to Win

To enter, consumers purchase CODA and mail a copy of their store receipt along with an entry form that can be obtained at participating retailers (for a list of retailers, visit www.winning-moves.com). Winning Moves will draw one winner weekly to receive a check for the purchase price of CODA (not to exceed $15.00 USD and not including tax, or shipping and handling for online or catalog orders). Once a month, Winning Moves will draw another winner to receive a free CODA game, a great gift, plus a Winning Moves card game.

On December 1, just in time for holiday get-togethers with family and friends, Winning Moves will draw one Grand Prize winner who will receive every game in the Winning Moves 2004 catalog (a $600 retail value), plus a hard cover edition of The New York Times best-seller, The DaVinci Code.

CODA challenges players to crack their opponents' secret codes. Each player starts with a concealed hand of black and white numbered panels. On your turn, you "attack" (guess) a number in an opponent's hidden code. Make an incorrect guess and you must reveal a number in your code. Guess correctly and you not only expose the opponent's number, you add a hidden number to your own code, making your code tougher to crack! You win when your opponents' codes are completely revealed and at least one number in your own code remains hidden. (For 2 to 4 players ages 8 & up, MSRP: $9.95.)

For details on contest eligibility, visit www.winning-moves.com or send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: “Winning Moves CODA Contest,” 100 Conifer Hill Drive, Suite 102, Danvers, MA 01923.

Winning Moves Games is a leading maker of classic card games, children’s and family games. Founded in 1995, Winning Moves makes special editions of many of the world’s most popular games and creates new, original game concepts for all ages to enjoy. For more classic, retro, cool fun, visit www.winning-moves.com.

Coda is marketed and manufactured under license by Nextoy, LLC, New York. ©2003 Nextoy, LLC.