**founding and early years (1998-2008)** cranium, inc., a toy and board game developer, was founded in 1998 by two former microsoft executives, richard tait and whit alexander. this innovative company co-developed the cranium board game, which would later become a cornerstone of their success. the company's brief but impactful existence culminated in its acquisition by hasbro, inc. for $77.5 million in 2008. **artistic contributions an…