Kermode Kids, a family-run company based in Kamloops, BC, Canada, brings their slogan, “Exploring nature, Expanding horizons”, to life with their inaugural game, Go Fish! British Columbia: Wildlife Edition. This card game is a variant of the original Go Fish!, with 13 animals — Black Bear, Wolverine, American Badger, Mountain Caribou, Cougar, Grizzly Bear, Mountain Goat, Grey Wolf, Moose, Bighorn Sheep, Canada Lynx, Vancouver Island Marmot, and Elk — representative of the westernmost province of Canada taking the place of the usual fish. (One quibble this review’s playtesters had: where’s the national animal of Canada, the beaver?) The cards are illustrated by Chemainus, BC, artist Michael Hames and feature fun educational facts written by BC biologists about each of the game’s animals.
From the game:
“Wild British Columbia” — It is an image that visitors and residents alike embrace and hope to experience. Hiking through the fragrant, blossom-wrapped meadows of the high-country, kayaking alongside the mystical viewscapes of the Pacific Ocean, sitting in serenity among the majestic and primevel coastal forests: these are just a few of the wonderful and memorable vignettes that British Columbia has to offer.
From the wet and wild, west coast to the dry and dusty deserts, from the low-lying lakes and rivers to the high, rugged mountain peaks, this coastal province offers a wide range of homes to a wide range of animals. In fact, almost one third of all the black bears in Canada live in British Columbia! Often called the Serengeti of the North, northern British Columbia in particular is home to an amazing concentration of large mammals, like mountain sheep, bears, elk, wolves and caribou. In a country renowned for its wilderness, British Columbia is truly the jewel in Canada’s crown.
Go Fish! British Columbia: Wildlife Edition supports 2-6 players, ages 4 and up, and is a fast and easy game to learn and play, with thick, glossy cards that will stand up to constant use. A suggested gameplay alternative, to slow down the lightning pace of the game and take greater advantage of the scientific information it contains, is to have the players read aloud the fact write-ups on their cards when they complete animal sets; children too young to read can substitute by making animal sounds.
Upcoming from Kermode Kids:
Old Maid! British Columbia: Bird Edition (November 15, 2008)
Which bird uses swim goggles to see underwater? And who puts glue at their door to keep unwanted guests out? Find out by playing Old Maid! British Columbia, featuring 14 members of British Columbia’s bird community. With 14 vibrant illustrations by a BC artist and 27 memorable fun-facts written by BC biologists, this card game will be a hit with adults and children alike. Each deck includes a “How to Play” card.
Both of these environmentally-minded games would make perfect British Columbian souvenirs, or inexpensive stocking stuffers and gifts to mail this holiday season.
Order directly through the Kermode Kids website.
Go Fish! British Columbia: Wildlife Edition and Old Maid! British Columbia: Bird Edition are distributed by Kermode Kids, a division of KermodeKids Ventures Ltd.
