Berton plays games

It turns out London Free Press readers who say Paul Berton, the paper's editor-in-chief and op-ed columnist, plays games were right.

Plays games - and develops games.

A Canadian Press story says Paul, son of the late, great newspaperman and author Pierre Berton, will unveil a new board game called Eye Know in Toronto this weekend.

CP says the game, described as a Q & A with elements of high-stakes poker, will make its debut during the three-day 68th Canadian Toy & Hobby Fair.

Trivia with a poker twist? Paul has our attention.

Paul already has partners, or we would be asking if he needs investors. Stories about Toronto news guys who accepted or rejected offers of shares in a new game called Trivial Pursuit in the 1980s are legendary.

Bruce Blackadar, the late Windsor/Sun/Star reporter, was one of the fortunate investors in Trivial Pursuit. Bruce, a poker player, sat down at a Toronto Press Club game one night with the first of numerous TP cheques in his pocket.

First payment for his half-share investment - $14,000. Bruce said the first thing he was going to buy was a pair of silk pajamas.

And yes, he won at poker that night.

Paul Berton will be in a crowd of about 100 exhibitors flogging new games, hobbies and toys at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

North American game players are due for a new board game adrenalin rush and the trivia/poker combo sounds like it might be the one to do it.