Game Changer

Game Changer is the story of how a twenty-three-year-old waiter from Seattle had the outrageous dream of beating industry giants Milton Bradley and Mattel at their own game. With no experience, Rob Angel used his guts, drive, and intuition to create one of the most beloved board games of all time: Pictionary. Rob did it his way. He produced the first 1,000 games by hand in his tiny one- bedroom apartment, disrupted the market by selling to nontraditional retail outlets, and did countless demonstrations at the bottom of the escalator at Nordstrom—a store with no game department. Anything to succeed.

Getting there wasn’t easy; Rob had to navigate his way through production mishaps, cash flow troubles, and countless copycats trying to scratch their way past Pictionary. Still, within three years, Pictionary became the bestselling board game in North America, and shortly after, the world. When Mattel acquired Pictionary in 2001, a staggering 38,000,000 games had been sold in 60 countries.

In Game Changer, Rob shares the remarkable inside story of taking Pictionary from simple idea to iconic global brand by breaking rules and breaking records, never giving up or giving in, and working harder when most would walk away all while having the time of his life. Candid and compelling, Game Changer is as much a captivating memoir as it is a blueprint to personal and professional success.

About the Author:

In 1985, Rob Angel was a 26-year-old waiter from Seattle. Using a few simple tools including a Webster's paperback dictionary, a No.2 pencil, and a yellow legal pad, he created the phenomenally successful and iconic board game Pictionary. With no manual to turn to, he relied on his intuition, hard work, and an unwavering entrepreneurial spirit to build Pictionary into a global powerhouse. 

Putting together the first 1000 games by hand in his tiny apartment, Angel mastered all the needed business components including sales, marketing and distribution. For the next 17 years, he guided his game on its path to worldwide success spanning 65 countries with 38 million games distributed before selling the brand to Mattel, Inc. in 2001. 

Born in Vancouver, Canada, Angel moved to Spokane, Washington at the age of 5. In 2014, he proudly became a United States citizen. He still makes his home in Seattle, where he is involved with philanthropy, mentoring young entrepreneurs, and living a full life with an Open Mind. Open Arms. And, an Open Heart.

For more information, visit robangel.com. Connect with Rob on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn @therobangel.