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March 1977 - Monday 28
Seward's Day (Alaska) - 87th day - 278 days to come

Picked up ticket @ [at] LaGuardia and flew to Chicago. Lunch with Laurence Gonzales and Craig (?). Discussed three possible themes for a game: Divorce, which was quickly thrown; Bureauacry [Bureaucracy] - either getting a - head in a company or fighting civil servants; Gossip - trading and stealing items to get the highest scoring column under a time dealine - Craig particularly pushed this.
Laurence mentioned a book CONCEPTUAL BLOCKBUSTING that he thought I might find interesting. He gave me a problem about a ping-pong ball in a hole from it that I solved at once.
Back to the office and went to Dick (?) 's room and the four of us kicked around the ideas. Dick wasn't too enthused about the whole thing. In any case he wouldn't want it to take any more room than FED 'N' HEADS. He'd just as soon not count on putting out a boxed edition, unless the "up front" money is so high that they need it to get back their investment. I didn't say anything about money.
Laurence, incidentally, still likes the name POWER PLAY.
After an hour or so of talking we agreed that they would agree on the theme and contact me.
After looking a few stores realized that I didn't remember the name of the book that Laurence mentioned at lunch. Back to Playboy and he was in a conference. Karol Pozniak checked and brought me the name. Laurence offered to mail it to me if I have trouble finding it.
Looked at Marshal Field and a few book stores. Nothing new. Flew back to N.Y.

BB heard from Monica that Jane Feder will expect me on 4/8 - whenever I get there. BB mentioned that she was pleased that the name is back to BEYOND COMPETITION and Monica said so were they.
Felicia and Claude both called before I got home. BB said that I probably was staying in Chicago.

(cont. from 3/29) [3/30]

Showed Phil my idea for a GAME with three magnets. He said that it was interesting. However, they have rcd. [received] many games with magnets and haven't taken any.
He told me of a game PYRAMIDE put out by Seven Towns in England, that Ideal is considering. A board has recesses for a 6x6 layout. Four play with different colored balls. After the 6x6 layer is filled a 5x5, etc. As each layer is completed players score for each line of 3 or more of their color - 1 point for each ball in row. When pyramid is completed, rows on each of the four sides are also scored. He doubts if they will take them it. I told him about John Geiger's similar game.
He mentioned Jules' asking me if I might be interested in working for Ideal. What he had in mind was a consultant, not full time. But he hasn't brought it up again.
I asked about sales of THE WINNING TICKET and he said that in one month about 30,000. The only one that has done better is TRIPLE UP with about 34,000. I asked if he felt it would become a staple and he said he'd know better by the end of June.
When Jules saw the "donation rule" - where a player can donate
(cont. on 3/27)

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