Apples to Apples - deep customization

You know how excited I've been about the Customizable Cards aspect of the Apples to Apples game system. Recently, the company sent me a press release-type story that both affirmed my general excitement about the "design your own" aspect of the game, and at the same time disappointed me about the effectiveness of online marketing.

It turns out that this guy, Bill Becker, wanted the Apples to Apples people to make him a special card. Even though he could have made it, and far more, himself, had he but known (I called, I asked, he didn't). But that's beside the point, or it's another point all together. At any rate, they did it for him. And it did everything Bill had hoped it would do. Here's how explains what happened:

"After a few rounds and a few turns of Ashleigh as the judge, I finally took the 'Unforgettable' card I had set aside and secretly placed it on a pile of green apple cards. Ashleigh (now the judge) flipped over the 'Unforgettable' card and I secretly submitted my 'Ashleigh, Will You Marry Me?' card face-down on the table. She then picked up everyoneÂ?s red cards from the table at which time my sister began recording on her digital camera. She read off the first card and then put it on the table. She read off the second card and then put in on the table. The third card was mine and when she saw it she had this shocked look on her face. At that point she wasn't sure if I was serious or kidding. I then proceeded to get down on one knee and open the jewelry box with the ring, which removed any doubt that I was serious. I gave my speech and asked her to marry me, after which she shouted 'Yes!' and then attacked me with a huge hug :). She was amazed when I told her Apples to Apples made the card for that special occasion. She said it was perfect because it was simple, but very clever and meaningful. It truly was unforgettable :)."

Bill is an avid Apples-to-Apples player. He usually plays with about ten people, every other week. He explains: "we don't really play it seriously. Sometimes, for example, depending on the judge, we'll all play the opposite card." What he likes most about the game is that it's "really all about knowing people. If you know someone, you can leverage your knowledge of the judge's personality to help you win."

Yup. Let that be a lesson to anyone looking for, or thinking of creating their own party people: what makes Apples to Apples such a great party game is that it's about knowing people. Sometimes, really knowing people.