Portrayal - A BrainCog Creation

by:  Rev. James G.W. Fisher | The Toy Man® - Product Evaluation Specialist

Product Evaluation Summary Date:  08/10/2009

In each hilarious round of Portrayal, one player (the Portrayer) describes a unique and utterly bizarre image while the other players (the Artists) attempt to draw the image based solely on the Portrayer's description. Once time is up, Artists trade drawings and the ten hidden criteria for the image are uncovered. It's up to each Artist to decide whether the drawing he or she is judging meets the criteria and receives points.

   Evaluation Summary - Category Ratings

	Trade Industry Sales Types Wholesale  Retail  Reseller  Online

	Safety / Quality Classifications

CE Marked	UL Approved	JPMA Certified
	(Not Applicable)
ASTM Compliant	eco-Friendly	eco-Conscious
(Not Applicable)

CPSIA Compliant	Independent Lab Tested	Independent Lab Name
		Intertek
LeadSafe™ - Surface Coatings/Paint (Complies with 16 CFR 1303/CPSIA 101)	LeadSafe™ - Content / Substrates (Complies with CPSIA 101)	PhthalatesSafe™ (Complies with CPSIA 108)

BPASafe™ (Complies with CPSI EN71)	Soluble Heavy Metals (Complies with ASTM F963/CPSIA 106)	Mechanical/Physical (Complies with ASTM F963/CPSIA 106)
		(Not Applicable)
Flammability - Solids/Textiles (Complies with 16 CFR 1500.44/CFR 1610)	Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials (Complies with ASTM-4236/16 CFR 1500.14(b)(8) )	iWatchDog™ Approved (Complies with ICCS™ Certification Standards)

Portrayal is what define as a game which is a test of comical courage. Why do we say this you might ask? The answer is so simple to answer. Portrayal is a funny, fast-paced, family, party, and educational game that tests each player's ability to describe, draw, & evaluate wacky images. It is well beyond the description of hilarious to play.

In each round of Portrayal, one player (the Portrayer), describes a unique and utterly bizarre image while the other players, (the Artists), attempt to draw the image based on nothing more than the Portrayer's description! To add an extra pinch of challenge to the game, once time is up, Artists trade drawings amongst themselves and the ten criteria for the image which are hidden within the black plastic card sleeve, are then uncovered. It is up to each Artist to decide whether the drawing he or she is judging meets the criteria and receives points.

You can be sure of one thing, if you think you haven't got a single ounce of creative talent in your body, Portrayal will promptly prove otherwise! If you want to win, you have got to be creative while paying attention to details being spoken simultaneously.

The game duration is generally around 30 minutes, give or take a few minutes. EVERY player in on equal playing terms with no one being left out. We discovered that many of the people who sat down to play Portrayal with the assumption they would not do well with the game play, soon discovered hidden skills and talents in game play they never imagined were there.

If all of this wasn't enough, you have one final detail which is quite important and was not really focused upon until now. There is only one Portrayer per round. You can be a Portrayer on one round and choose to be an Artist in the next! You would be surprised how many of our hands-on evaluation consumers as well as our own evaluators found they preferred one position or the other. There were even some who preferred to play the game in BOTH parts. They simply couldn't decide which one they liked playing better! You never can tell what to expect when playing Portrayal.

Independent Evaluator Reports

Obtaining An Independent Perspective...

In this section we will cover "Portrayal" from the perspectives of qualified individuals in the specific field associated with the product being evaluated. To accomplish that task we have called upon the assistance of two top level industry professionals who know their stuff and have the credentials to prove it.

Our professional and independent evaluators have formed their own opinions from extensive analysis and produced detailed, in-depth reports connected with their study and evaluation of Portrayal. The information to follow is comprised of excerpts from those same reports which have been paraphrased in order to encapsulate the primary points being conveyed in each report. This approach provides completely independent perspectives in the evaluation of Portrayal.

Portrayal presented an unexpected opportunity of a sort. When I was looking over the various new products you brought for me to consider doing a new study on, I noticed Portrayal in a different box. I assumed that box was one which was not part of the lot intended for me to consider for my evaluation. Despite that, the image on the front of the box has a sort of esoteric allusion which drew my attention to it with an intense curiosity. The end result was my requesting an opportunity to perform a study of the game."

"Portrayal is an aberration from my normal path of choice in selecting a product to study, while at the same time triggering my curiosity with such a feverish pitch as each moment of play of the game continued. The game creates such an incredible level of tittivation to the cognitive and critical skill development for a young child and resuscitation of same for an adult." "Whether in playing the game with my colleagues or observing the responses of the participants in my test group as they play the game repeatedly, Portrayal encourages excitement, a strong level of social interaction, and breaks down the self-created barriers of belief in oneself. It was invigorating to see my study participants enter the room in a near slumber of activity and watch the transformation of everything about them change into an entirely different person." "The game exercises visual perception, reading, writing, and drawing skills, along with a person's creative skill level being pushed out of hiding and brought into the light. From an educational standpoint, Portrayal serves as an excellent vehicle to improve memory retention and expressive thought. It encourages an exceptional increase in the progressive skill development."

"Before my study group sat down to play Portrayal, I ran them through a series of exercises in math, reading, and spelling. I recorded the scores and then ran them through a second set of exercises in the same series of topics. The participants then played Portrayal a series of 5 times then they had to run through two more sets of exercises once again in the same series of topics as the first time."

"Every one of the participants showed a dramatic increase in the speed, creative awareness, comprehension and retention level with the exercises they completed following playing Portrayal multiple times. The game produces strong encouragement of positive social interaction with repeated use in both home and school environments. Even the overall demeanor of all of the participants was improved dramatically in comparison with when they first entered the room, began playing the game, and the completion of their final game."

"Portrayal is a product which is a perfect match for individual and group progressive learning and I can highly recommend it to your readers. This is the kind of recreational exercise we need to see a lot more of today in my personal opinion."

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Board Certified Behavioral Analyst

"Portrayal is is quite inventive as well as innovative in its design. The game is an absolute for productive stimulation for anyone within the target age range for which the game was designed. From the packaging to the actual game pieces, I can see that very strict detail was kept in mind to ensure there would be a very strong response out of each player in the game play."

"The game play is such that whether child or adult there is a substantial range of stimulation generated. This is especially important with cognitive and critical skills progressive development and serves well for a child in active play with Portrayal. The structure of the game requires a response continually throughout the game but the key of what makes it so beneficial is that the period of play is generally in 30 minute or less segments."

"This avoids a common response issue where in a child's brain becomes dormant and response to stimulation is delayed. The best analogy in this would be like when you have your arm go to sleep due to lack of circulation. At first you are desensitized, then gradually your sensitivity returns. With a game which has a long duration, it is a common thing for some of the players to lose their edge and become dormant in their interest/thinking processes. Portrayal is undoubtedly a game that is sure to guarantee a strong response level and encourages exercise of intellectual thought processes. "

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Consumer Hands-On Evaluation

Nothing is more powerful than hands-on experience by a consumer with a product when it is being evaluated. Based upon that fact we put every single product we evaluate at the mercy of consumers in a hands-on evaluation where anything goes. Shall we see how "Portrayal" was seen with consumers?

A most unique point which we all noticed in the review of our video tapes was how that virtually every participant looked at the Portrayal box, making comments about the design of the image in the center of it, only to move on to another product to evaluate. The twist in this scenario is that later on, each person cam back to look at Portrayal, open the box, and then ask other persons who were with them or just other evaluation participants to play the game with them. That is a quite significant in our evaluation. What was it about that design that had people of various age groups all so caught up by that design?

Keeping consistent with our usual habit of labor, we had Portrayal at a local public mall in the Los Angeles area, along with multiple other products, provided without any prior notice of our coming, for consumers to get a hands-on evaluation opportunity. Having several products available for consumer evaluation all at once provides a more well balanced and unbiased evaluation of the products. Many of them had two or three copies available to provide a larger base of opportunity for consumer evaluation. I am sure you are eager to see the more details from the consumers feedback of Portrayal.

Portrayal at first glance was not one of our most popular products which consumers went to on the tables once the evaluation tables area were made accessible. Although it "appeared" to be on the lower end of popularity, in actuality, it received more attention than any other product we had on the tables including the Wii game we had.

With the game play being around 30 minutes per game, the level of popularity was not as noticeable yet when we were reviewing the videotapes, we could see how literally every last participant either looked at Portrayal or actually played the game. It was a common query by the evaluation participants to see if they could play the game again or if it was a one time opportunity. That in itself told us much.

What was even more interesting was the creative art which each individual produced while playing the game. Some were quite abstract, while others were simply outstanding. The clencher in all this though was how some of the Artist's scoring of another player's artwork often times stirred up a debate amongst the fellow players as far as the fairness or accuracy of the scoring. The game brought out a variety of traits in each individual that may not always be seen in social interaction with others. This just added to the wit and humor of the game.

In reviewing the feedback forms which the participants filled out we could easily see that Portrayal was a game that was unique unto itself. While it had similarity to other games on the current market, at the same time it had its own unique effect with people and proved it was a successful creation. The level of FunFactor™ produced from the game was great and Portrayal passed this segment of our evaluation without a doubt.

A Sampling Of Category Ratings

A small sampling of the individual category titles & rating scores from the complete product review itself for this product are featured here. The categories which have been selected to be featured in this product evaluation summary for public view, specify some of the primary points of how and why that specific rating score was reached.

• If a product is inducted, a product evaluation summary of the complete review is published for public view.
• When a score has been assigned to a category rating, it has been through a thorough validation process to ensure accuracy and no inflection of bias.
• If a product scores an overall category evaluation rating average of [2] Two Stars or lower from the complete review results, it fails the evaluation and is not inducted.
• Information for products which do not pass our evaluation is confidential and is shared only with the company submitting the product.
  

The Featured Category Ratings for this Product Evaluation Summary are listed below.

EASE OF USE: Rating Level - [5]

When it comes to ease of use, Portrayal captured the flag. The structure of the game is so simple that although it is designed for an age group of 10 years +, the game still holds redeeming qualities in ease of use for children far younger than that. The learning curve is next to nothing and couldn't be a whole lot simple and easy to use than it already is. Portrayal pulls a perfect score in this category.

FUNFACTOR™: Rating Level - [5]

Portrayal pulled through this category of evaluation with a serious tailwind of levity behind it! It was so amazing to see the humorous situations that developed with each new game and drawing which was under way. The level of FunFactor™ was nearly beyond measure when you see laughter and literal comedy show which ensues every time that Portrayal is played. Portrayal pulls a perfect score in this category.

RETENTION LEVEL: Rating Level - [5]

Portrayal showed its full value with the wide range of retention level improvement in both the evaluation study participants as well as the consumers and our own in-house evaluation. An Alzheimers Disease specialist we spoke within our own group of people playing Portrayal made it evident to us in his statements that..."This game is absolutely fascinating! I would venture to say that it could possibly even be an asset to some of my patients with the way that it appears to improve memory retentions quite significantly while also creating an environment of laughter and fun, potentially breaking down walls of depression in people." Portrayal pulls a perfect score in this category.

SKILL IMPROVEMENT: Rating Level - [5]

In reviewing the videotapes, reports from our independent evaluators, the in-house reports, and consumer evaluation feedback forms, it was so easy to see that Portrayal contributes greatly to progressive skill improvement. The improvement is progressive, not an over night miracle, but it is without a doubt an attribute of repetitive play with this game. Portrayal pulls a perfect score in this category.

MARKETING VALUE: Rating Level - [4]

The marketing value with Portrayal posed an interesting challenge to determine. After reviewing all of our videotapes, consumer feedback and reports, a decision was finally reached. Portrayal is a magnificent game and has proven that so clearly. The only problem is that when it comes to marketing value, consumers and corporate buyers don't buy based upon personal experience with a game. They have no way possible to fully understand the potential of fun and learning it holds except by what they see and read on the box and in reviews.

The artwork on the box is outstanding with minimal improvements needed so it brings the game to a level far above just "average" yet falling short of a perfect score in this category by a single digit. What you have here is a game which scored well in almost all other evaluation categories yet once again, fell short in this category by only a single digit. With some minor improvements, this game could easily pull its weight with a perfect score in the future. Portrayal pulls a score of "4" in this category.

VISUAL APPEAL: Rating Level - [4]

The visual appeal for Portrayal is outstanding in regard to visual appeal. The game box has artwork on the front which is truly captivating to many and draws a potential buyer to take a look. At the same time there are a few minor irregularities which cost Portrayal a single point in this evaluation category. The contents within the game are easily readable, visually appealing, and simple to work with. Portrayal is so close to a perfect score in this category yet falls short by a single digit.

EVALUATION RESULTS - From evaluation for induction into "The Toy Man® Product Guide"
Overall Rating:  5	Seal of Approval: Approved	eco-Recognition™ Seal: Not Eligible	Award of Excellence: Approved	eChoice™ Award: Selected

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	The products and online services which become recipients of "The Toy Man® Award of Excellence" acheived an evaluation category rating average of [5] Stars, the highest level of rating available on a 1-5 scale evaluation model.  The average is based upon the overall average from all applicable evaluation categories, not just the 6 evaluation categories featured in this summary.

"The Toy Man® Award serves as an emblem of recognition for products & online services that contribute substantially to positive skill growth and/or productivity.  ( This includes books, CD's, DVD's, consumer electronics & accessories, recreational games and equipment, home furnishings, juvenile, software, toys and specialty. ) This distinguished award is exclusive as well as unique, with the editor's signature which represents a product being selected as an . PLEASE NOTE: The eChoice™ Award images which were used from 1971-1984, 1984-2007, 2007-April 2010 have been retired. Although the former versions of the eChoice™ Award have been retired, they still remain valid.