Mon 8 May 2006
Inventor: Ed Hall. Product:Word Ace
Posted by Dan under The Inventors
INVENTION:
Word Ace - An electronic table-top word game for 1-6 players. Teaches children spelling and vocabulary skills in a fun, interactive way. The object of the game is to beat the other players in creating a word given a certain set of rules (example: create a seven-letter word where “s” is the second letter). Ed will be further developing his game with Hasbro and bringing it to the market.
Ed Hall, 40, resides in Chicago, Illinois with his girlfriend and their 2-year-old son. Ed is a former elementary and high school teacher and coach, whose 5th grade students inspired him to come up with his invention. He wanted to create an educational game that was as fun as it was challenging, to motivate his students to get excited about learning. Growing up, Ed was a high school basketball All-American. He also played college ball for the University of Illinois-Chicago. He had dreams of playing in the NBA and promised to get his mother a house outside of the rough neighborhood he grew up in. After finishing in the top four of the competition, and being given an opportunity by Hasbro, he’s hoping to make good on his promise
I would like to contact Ed Hall about his Word Ace product. I contacted Hasbro and they said they won’t be releasing Word Ace, and I’m interested in what the status of the Word Ace is at this point.
I would like to know also, It would have been nice if they would have told us where each of last years finalest at the end of this season. But you watch the show and never hear from these people agian.
Hello Douglas, this is Ed hall, I do appreciate your interesr, and I would love to know the motivation of your interest. After a reply, we can talk further.
THANKS
ED HALL
Hi Ed,
Sorry it’s taken me so long to get in touch with you. I hadn’t checked this site for a long time and I may have neglected to leave my email. I’m an english instructor at a university in South Korea, and I saw the inventors competition show that you were on here in Korea. I wanted to learn more about your product and how it works exactly. English education is of prime importance here in Korea, and I think Korea could be an excellent market for your product. So, hopefully you check this website more frequently than I do, and we can be in touch in the near future!
Thank you,
Doug Karalius
I have been waiting all year for the Word Ace game to become available. Ed Hall’s commercial last year on American Inventor was terrific and my children (ages 10 and 15) have asked about it several times. I am very interested in purchasing a game.
Hi Mitzi and family. Thank you for following and supporting WordAce, It is extremely rewarding for me to here that you guys are looking forward to playing WordAce. I anticipate having it availible in the Sping of 2008. Please tell your kids not to loose hope, because I will not rest until I can satisfy them and many others who are looking forward to playing WordAce. You guys are what inspired in the first place.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH
ED HALL
Hi Ed, I loved your invention too and can’t wait until it’s available next Spring. Are you distributing it yourself? I was just curious. I’m sure you’ve contacted many distributors. One of my favorite game manufacturers/distributors is Cranium. To me, this seems like a great fit for them.
Good luck Ed and I can’t wait to buy your game for my daughters!
KAREN,
I HAPPY THAT YOU’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO PLAYING WordAce, ALTHOUGH I CAN’T TALK SPECIFICS, I’M CONFIDENT THAT WHEN THE GAME IS MADE AVAILIBLE YOU WILL BE PLEASED WITH IT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH
ED HALL
Hey Ed,
if I was in America I wouldn’d be able to wait 4 your game to come out. It looks sooooooooooo fun!!!!!!!
Seb
Thank you for informing us when this game will be available. I’ve been waiting for it to come out.
Hey,Ed! I work for Doug Hall and he is trying to find you wants to talk about the game - please, contact me at the Ranch (513.)271.9911.
I hope you actually check this site I know it is a long shot, but the closest I’ve come to tracking you down.
Corie
Ed,
I am so pleased to see you fulfilling your dreams as I always knew you would. Keep pushing forward…
THANKS OLD COLLEGE “FRIEND” ARE YOU SURE WE WERE ONLY FRIENDS. ANYWAY E.J.A. THANKS FOR THE DETECTABLE ANNONYMOUS NOTE. I DO HOPE ALL IS WELL WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. “EVEN TIME IT-SELF, SOMETIMES TAKE TIME”.
THANKS
ED HALL
HI, I hope one version in spanish, I love you invention.
Carol,
Santiago de Chile.
CAROL,
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND YES THE FIRST RELEASE WILL BE PLAYABLE IN ENGLISH OR SPANISH. HOPE YOU ENJOY IT AND I WISH YOU WELL.
THANKS
ED HALL
Ed Hall - I have been wondering about your game and found this on the web pages and read that you plan to release this product in Spring 2008. I sure hope they keep your original commercial which was outstanding. All three of my children were saying they want that game. Can’t wait, and I wish you luck on your inventions in the future for our children. Thanks so much for replying to the people on this webpage.
I have been looking all over for this game. I was hoping to have it for my son who is 7 as a Christmas Gift but I guess Easter will have to do. Can’t wait to play it myself. Our Best wishes for HUGE SUCCESS!
Hi Ed,
We’ve been looking for WordAce. Glad to hear it should be available in the spring. You have a guaranteed sale here in Kansas City.
God Bless,
Bill & Cindy
Thank you for informing us when the game will be available.
Hey Ed,
I just wanted to express my interest in the game as well. My wife is a teacher and has been wanting it to play with her students for a while. However, I must critique you in this forum. I have no nice way of putting this, but when you post, I would highly advise that you check your spelling. You mis-spelling words is like Dr. Atkins gaining 100lbs, they just don’t make your product appear very successful.
-Moops
When will Word Ace be in the retail stores?
Great game for everyone!
Ed,
Wow, I can’t believe I finally found out when the game was going to be produced. I am a business education teacher and for the last two years I have discussed the WordAce with my students. I have even had students look up how to purchase the product. Once again Christmas is here and my 11, 13 and 15 year old children are asking if it is available. Glad to see this blog and please keep us posted as to the specifics of when this awsome product will be available.
Thanks
Mrs. Mitchell
Hi Ed, they recently screened American Inventor in Singapore and I was extremely impressed with WordAce. I think there is a lot of potential for the game to be sold around the world, especially to countries where people are trying to learn the English language. You could even come out with different versions with American and British English. Am looking forward to seeing in the stores and I hope it makes it to Asia. Good luck!
Patricia
Singapore
So it looks like it’s off the list this Christmas.
I’ve been watching for it since I too saw it on the show. (It REALLY should’ve WON!) My hubby and I play board games with family members a lot, as we do with our kids, and we’d told them all about it. I’ll just keep on watching for it and look forward to seeing it on the shelves.
If Hasbro isn’t producing it, wow what a loss on their part. I think once it hits the market it will be a great success!!
Aloha~
Congrats! whats up?
Ed,
I’m glad to hear the game is coming out in the spring. I have a 6 yr old who loves to read and can’t wait to play your game. (Neither can I) Please let us know what stores will carry it. Congrats!!
Kathy
hi ed, i am proud to watch the program in india. i live in the usa and i was fortune to watch all the program on america inventor. i am also a person who like to see new ways to help in our education for our children. please let me know if i can get some of these games for our new york students. how can i reach you. i can help in your sales also. more that you can imagine. i know of place need this educational tools more that ever.
thank you kesh
I have been interested in Word Ace ever since i saw it on American Inventor. You would think the manufacturers would grab it. It must be a production-cost issue or else I would like to know what the heck is holding up the process of making this awesome game available to the public?!
It’s 2/20/08 and I’ve been looking everywhere to purchase WORD ACE. Our family is very excited about playing this game, as we diligently watched American Inventor and were delighted with your game! A previous comment you posted said it might be available for purchase in Spring ‘08. Is this still the case? And if so, where will we be able to purchase it? Best of Luck!
Hello Ed,
I just tried to post a message on this board and it doesn’t seem to have worked. Here’s one more try. My name is Doug Karalius and I’m an english instructor at a university in Korea. I am interested in your product for teaching students here in Korea, and I also have contacts with some Korean investors who make English games. I would love to hear more about the progress of Word Ace.
Thank you,
Doug Karalius
Ed,
Like a lot of others, I have been waiting anxiously for Word Ace to be released. I have a son with a lot of problems spelling and I think that this product would really help him and be a lot of fun too. Any new word on the release date?
Kim Brickley
Hey, Ed! I tried to post this once, but it didn’t seem to work - I work for Doug Hall and he is trying to reach you to talk about Word Ace - will you please, call me at the Ranch at 513.271.9911.
I look forward to hearing from you. I hope this work it is the closest I’ve come to locating you.
Thanks!
Corie
Hola Ed!Soy de santiago de Chile, y estoy interesado en traer el WordAce a mi pais, pienso que seria de gran ayuda para aprender el idioma Ingles.
Quisiera saber si el producto esta en el mercado y como puedo contactarme con usted.
Saludos
Patricio
I am a elementary teacher and also mather of three boys, i´d followed your pass througth A.I. S.1. and i am very intereset in Word ace. This fall is children´s day in Argentina and search for it only to find out it is not aveilable yet. Iy is a pitty. I hope that sonner than later it will be realeased. I know for sure it will a success and a very usefull tool for all children around the word.
At your service,
Ana Cecilia
Hi Ed,
Hello from New Zealand.
What a wonderful game - cannot wait for it to be released:)
Well done!
Hi,
I am from the UK and to be honest, they are just showing the season of American Inventor you appeared on (ironically they showed the 2nd season first). Anyway, I don’t have any kids, but I do have a couple of things I wanted to say.
First off, if I did have kids this is the kind of thing I would want them to be using. It looks great! seems very durable and it has that educational spin that is becoming increasingly popular in the UK. If I had a kid, I would buy it, and I think that it has the potential to become a fad over here that appeals to even teenagers and adults to use it. I know its the sort of thing my parents would have bought. Its sort of scrabble, but more fun
Overall I just wanted to wish you good luck and I am really pleased to see that despite not coming 1st you are realising your dream and having the opportunity to produce the game. I guarantee you, this item will soon be on the shelves in stores in the UK and moreover I will get to say “I know the name of the guy who invented that!”
Well done and best of Luck
Graham G
Hi Ed, like so many others here, I would LOVE to get a copy of Word Ace. My daughter and I watched you on AI and pulled for you the whole season of it. Please let us know how we can get a few copies of this game, thanks!
Hello from Thailand,
My kids saw your Word Ace in the Amercan Inventor show and they also rushed me to buy one. Hope to see your product soon in the market.
Eddy Chan
Hi Ed,
Fantastic product, I cant wait to be able to buy word ace. My son is 4 and reading to the age of an 8 year old, but keeping learning fun for such a young child is tough. The school dont challenge him enough and he complains that he is bored at school. I know he will love word ace, and it will keep him interested in learning. please keep me informed when I can get one in the U.K.
Good Luck, and well done xx
Ed,
The American Inventor show introducing you and your product finally made it here to Ireland. You are an inspiration, you restored my faith in good old American ingenuity and willpower. I can only imagine the kind of production and marketing road-blocks you’re up against. If Hasbro and American Inventor don’t pan out you might want to contact my Iowa friend at http://inventorsgarage.com. It’s a very small company but “electron” Ron has experience overcoming some of the technical difficulties you encountered. Keep hope alive!
Hi,
I was wondering if and when this product would be available to purchase in stores. It seems like a really fun game and I would love to play it with my family.
Hello Ed,
I’m really hoping that it’s the real guy that is responding here. I have to say that I believe the whole deal with Hasbro is a total farce!! Your game looked simple enough for a “toy” company to put together in less than a year’s time. It has now been 2 years since you appeared on “American Inventor” and I have yet to see any products brought to market at all. I hope I’m wrong because your game looked a real winner and I think it could bring great fortune to you and your family.
I’m totally disgusted with the false hopes that has been cast over the show’s winners. You were all promised things in front of millions of viewers and nothing has been publicly announced for any of you.
What a shame.
Hi Ed,
I too agree with a previous post re: spelling mistakes. But I’m not here to put anyone down, but to congratulate you on a great invention and to hear news as to when you have a release date for WordAce.
It’s such a shame it’s taking so long - did Hasbro get greedy??
Please keep us all posted!
Good luck!
hi Ed ,brilliant job and lots of hard work from your presentation of word ace on tv in the uk . I am looking forward to this product just not sure when out yet it would have been a great xmas present for my son in year 2 better catch them young nevertherless, am anxiously waiting for the release date in scotland uk. am really chuffed by your invention, oh hey Icould be your agent hear.
Good luck!
Shakespear, Aberdeen scotland
No offence, Ed, your game and your determination is admirable. However, looks like you need to be playing your game yourself as your spelling leaves a lot to be desired. Nevertheless, good luck!
Ed, I was so happy to find this forum. I have been waiting for Word Ace to hit the markets and have searched for information on it. Like you, I am a teacher. I teach students with learning disabilities and spelling is a particular problem for them. However, they love games! Please keep leaving comments to keep us updated. I believe you have a waiting audience for your game. Good Luck!