[1] Drawing inspiration from the HBDI thinking styles assessment they completed at Microsoft, Tait and Alexander aimed to create a "Whole Brain" game.

Taking certain aspects of other favorite games, Cranium requires players to spell, draw, mold clay, and answer trivia questions.

[3] Without having a retail outlet to sell their game, Cranium, Inc. ordered 20,000 units to be manufactured in China.

[6] Radio jocks would ask its listeners Cranium's trivia questions and winners got the game for free.

On The Oprah Winfrey Show, Julia Roberts stated that Cranium "was the most fun game ever" and that she and boyfriend Benjamin Bratt "could not stop playing it.

Giorgio Davanzo created the packaging and brand identity for the game, and Gary Baseman, co-creator of the animated series Teacher's Pet, did the art.

Cranium Cadoo, a spin-off designed for school-aged kids (7 and up), won the "Game of the Year" award for 2002 from the Toy Industry Association.