Hasbro picks trio of winners in hunt for ‘next great woman-led mass market game’

Toy and game giant Hasbro has chosen three winners in its search for what it hopes will be the “next great woman-led mass market toy or game”.

The company is a titan within the industry, controlling Magic: The Gathering and D&D publisher Wizards of the Coast, Monopoly and Clue maker Parker Brothers and Game of Life producer Milton Bradley among its subsidiaries.

Hasbro launched its inaugural Women Innovators of Play Challenge in September, tasking individual or team entrants to submit ideas to be judged on innovation, fun factor and playability, design and aesthetics, mass marketability and manufacturability.

The winners have now been announced as British board game designer Ellie Dix, the owner of family board game publisher The Dark Imp; London-based board and card game enthusiast Sandra Harewood; and a co-design from Mandy Goddard and her six-year-old Maggie.

Dix, who submitted a family card game, has previously release a string of games through The Dark Imp, provides board game design and development consultancy services and is the author of the book The Board Game Family.

Harewood, who is also a Women in Games Ambassador, had an early prototype for her winning family word game presented at the White House, while Mandy and Maggie Goddard scored success in the competition with a pre-school game design.

The winners will each receive $10,000, an all-expenses paid trip to Hasbro Headquarters in Rhode Island for “A Day in the Life” experience, and a mentorship session with one of Hasbro’s top women leaders.

All three designs are being kept under wraps by Hasbro ahead of expected unveilings next year.

Dix told BoardGameWire, “I’m thrilled and honoured to have been selected as a winner in the Women Innovators of Play competition.

“I love making fun family games because games play such an important role in bringing people together.

“Huge thanks to Hasbro for throwing a light on women designers – it’s so important to help female identifying people feel like they are welcome and belong in the industry.”