Rukshuk Brings the Outdoors In For The Holidays

Toronto, Ontario - (November 4, 2007) – Outdoor recreation is great, but when time inside is required, why not bring some of the outdoors “in”? Zabazoo Corp. has the answer to the shopping seeking secret for the outdoor enthusiast on your list this year with its new game, RUKSHUK?.

Rukshuk is the challenging new “rock-solid” hit skill game of rock balancing that arrives in the U.S. from its Canadian roots. Toronto-based Zabazoo introduced Rukshuk to the Canadian market in late 2006 and it quickly blazed a trail as a great new skill game for the perfectionist in us all, but also found tremendous favor with hikers, campers, and nature-lovers. Now, Rukshuk has trekked into the U.S. marketplace and found wonderful placement in outdoor stores, such as REI, among many different types of retail outlets.

Malcolm Bisiker, creator of Rukshuk and president of Zabazoo, said, “We are extremely excited to have Rukshuk readily available this year. The game is great fun for all ages and interests and it is the perfect, easy to learn, hard-to-master physical and mental challenge for holiday gatherings.”

Rukshuk (MSRP $24.95) is gaining international acclaim as evidenced by its growing list of diverse honors, awards, and recommendations, including Top 10 Games of the Year from Dr. Toy, the Major Fun Award, Family Review Center Golden Seal, and recommendations from Creative Child, Today's Parent, and Canadian Living, among others.

“Rukshuk is addictive fun,” Bisiker explained. “Just opening the box and putting the pieces out, Rukshuk becomes a casual or a competitive game environment – whatever your group’s dynamics are at the time.”

To play Rukshuk, 1 to 5 players ages 8 and up race the clock to build different Rukshuk rock formations, that are featured on description cards, by balancing specially designed game rocks. If a formation topples, it must be rebuilt quickly before time runs out. Regular and bonus points are scored for rocks standing at the end of the time limit. The player with the highest score wins.

Rukshuk’s name is somewhat derived from Inukshuk (pronounced IN-OOK-SHOOK) meaning "in the image of man", which are magnificent lifelike stone figures that were erected by the Inuit people in the Canadian Arctic. Standing along Canada's most northern shores, the formations endure as eternal symbols of leadership, encouraging the importance of friendship, and reminding people of our dependence upon one another. The game formation cards in Rukshuk are named for real rock formations found all over the world, and offer “Formation Facts” that promote awareness about the diversity of the planet's natural beauty and cultures. Zabazoo Corporation is proud that schools are adopting Rukshuk into lesson plans to engage students while developing math, geography, spatial awareness, manipulative and critical thinking skills.

Founded in 2006, Toronto-based Zabazoo Corporation designs and manufactures ecological toys with high educational value. Rukshuk is available in toy, game and gift stores across North America and online at www.rukshuk.com. For a list of retailers near you, please visit the company website.

For Product Sales Information, Contact:
Malcolm Bisiker, Zabazoo Corporation, T: 877-528-5252; E-Mail: Mbisiker@rukshuk.com