THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, July 10, 1995 TAG: 9507080097
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Larry Maddry
LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
ED STRICKLAND IS a man who turned a brainstorm into a Hurricane.
The country hasn't gotten wind of his Hurricane board game, but he's hopeful that it will before long.
It's a little like the game Monopoly. But a lot breezier, of course.
Ed, a meteorologist, was living in Florida back in 1988.
``I began thinking about how people failed to prepare for hurricanes,'' he said. ``I wanted to design a game that was fun and educational.''
The result was Hurricane, a copyrighted game that takes players on a vacation cruise through the tropics, asking them to purchase, sell and rent exclusive resorts.
During the game, one or more hurricanes will strike somewhere on the board.
``The players never know when or where the hurricane will hit,'' he said. ``So they protect themselves by buying hurricane preparedness options.''
After designing his game, Ed interested five friends in the pro-
ject. They incorporated under the name Cyclotech. They paid $35,000 to produce several thousand Hurricane games. Ed bought all rights to the game from his partners three years ago, he said.
The Old Dominion University graduate returned to his hometown of Portsmouth back in February.
``We're just getting started with the game here,'' he said. Hurricane is on sale at Reflections of the Sea in Lynnhaven Mall, at Nauticus and in the gift shop at the Virginia Marine Science Museum.
The game retails for about $10. The object of the game is to become the wealthiest player (the one who has prepared best for hurricanes ) at the end of competition. Game equipment consists of a board, instruction sheet, dice, four yachts, four pawns, hurricane programs and viewer card, special bulletin cards, play money, plastic resorts, resort ownership cards, preparedness option cards, reference table and a plastic hurricane symbol.
Ed says he has incorporated more than 100 real hurricanes of varying intensity into the game. A player never knows when one will strike.
``Everyone starts the game with a million dollars and a yacht,'' he said.
Players move their pawns around the board, stopping on properties in Virginia Beach, Miami Beach, Atlantic City and 13 other localities.
After buying properties, the winning secret is to protect them with seawalls, insurance, structural reinforcement and evacuation plans.
``We emphasize loss of property, not loss of life,'' he said.
Ed and his wife, Ann, have moved to Virginia Beach where he divides his time between marketing the game and teaching public school.
``I've gotten good comments on the game from all over the country,'' he said. ``It teaches people not to procrastinate, not wait until the last minute to protect themselves against hurricanes.
And speaking of hurricanes, Ed, what are our chances for a major one around here?
``I think we're way overdue for one,'' the meteorologist replied. ``We haven't had a major one since Donna. And most forecasters are predicting a big season for hurricanes on our coast this year.''
He's thinking about a computer software version of Hurricane. Hmmm. I'd like to see one with a board that glows in the dark. Might come in handy when the power lines go down. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
ODU grad Ed Strickland created the board Hurricane which retails for
about $10.
KEYWORDS: BOARD GAME HURRICANE by CNB