Here is the latest board games news and reviews, for the week of May 20th, 2013:

Aztlan Board Game Review

"Aztlan is an area control game with an Aztec theme. You must control domains that contain specific terrain to score big points and win. But look out your opponents might just overpower you and remove your pieces from the board. Aztlan is great for groups that like area control games. It is also a good way to introduce new (or non) gamers to area control games. Be sure players are not too sensitive as this game can get pretty mean, pretty quick. Try this game out if you fit in either of these tribes, you won't regret it." [link]

Play Aztlan

Cursed

"Cursed is a light bluffing game where every turn one player takes the role of a monster and tries to siphon as much life from the other players, villagers, as they can. Can the monster kill all the villagers? Will the villagers kill the monster? It all comes down to die rolls and how well you can bluff. The game is quick, at times tense, and a whole lot of fun. I got the whole family involved with this one, and everyone had a great time becoming the monster and laughing maniacally when they won a battle." [link]

Mom's Friendly Game Shop puts it all on the table

"In a society becoming increasingly digital, one family is looking to do the exact opposite. Mom's Friendly Game Shop is a store featuring more than 400 non-electronic games. 'I think it's the perfect avenue for connecting and keeping in touch with people. Video games and computer games are so isolating, so we really believe in sitting down at the table and opening up a game and conversing over the game.' In a time and place where money is tight, Griffith is encouraging families to think differently about entertainment. A game is an investment, she said." [link]

Pandemic: On the Brink Expansion Review

"From its original release in 2008, Pandemic has taken the gaming world by storm. Tons of cooperative board games have been created since then trying to duplicate the success of Pandemic. Pandemic: On the Brink adds a lot of stuff: A 5th player, 6 new roles, 8 new special events, new components, petri dishes, and 3 challenges – like the bio-terrorist (a favorite). But the coolest thing is that it's not an all or nothing proposition – you can choose whatever elements you'd like to add in or leave out. And combinations of the new elements means there's a lot of replayability." [link]

Top-Quality Staunton Chess Sets

Review: The Cave - explorers underneath the ground

"The Cave is built around a very interesting theme and idea. Players become speleologists, who are trying to explore an underground labyrinth and discover the most interesting places. At the same time, you compete for the most successful explorer. The game has an interesting atmosphere. It's most likely in constant discovering of new pieces and especially the always present threat of food shortage. We most liked the game concept of depth, which is excellently thought-out. " [link]

Play The Cave

The Most Complicated Board Game Ever Is For People Who Love Insane Rules

"Board games these days can have a lot of rules, making game nights everywhere a living hell. So much card drawing, die rolling, and it's all fun and games until someone loses a body part. This video from Rhett and Link will make you think twice before agreeing to learn how to play Settlers of whatever." [link]

Board game created by nun becomes a hit in Spain

"A new faith-based board game created by a Spanish nun has become one of the most popular First Communion gifts in Spain this year. Sister Maria Granados Molina created the new game, 'The Joy of the Faith,' which tests players' knowledge of Catholicism. The game's publisher said 2,000 copies have been made since the game went on sale a few months ago, and there are hopes to market it in the United States and Latin America." [link]

Terra Mystica Review

"In Terra Mystica, each player represents a fantasy race that is attempting to expand. Unfortunately, only one habitat is viable for them to build upon, and so they must regularly terraform different parts of the world in order to spread out. Overall, I give Terra Mystica an 8.5/10. I enjoyed my plays of the game and, though it is a bit longer than I normally prefer, it is a game that I can see myself continuing to play and explore." [link]

Play Terra Mystica

Notable Quote

"You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation."
 ~ Plato

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Board Game Buzz is a periodical roundup of news and notes from the board gaming blogosphere, featuring board game news, board game game releases, board game reviews, and opinion from the people who live and breathe board games and gaming!

To keep up on the latest board game news, follow Board Game Central on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to our free RSS feed.

• Forbidden Desert: "Gear up for a thrilling adventure with this cooperative game to recover a legendary flying machine buried in the ruins of a desert city." Published by Gamewright Games.
• Ghooost!: "Play your cards wisely to get rid of all the ghosts, undead, vampires, zombies and other spooky creatures haunting your manor." Published by IELLO.
• KerFlip!: "Fast anagram fun! Shout your word first to earn more points for tiles you use. Used tiles are then flipped and worthless. Ingenious cleanup built right into the box." Published by Creative Foundry Games.
• Kulami: "A fun tactical game for two players that keeps you hanging until the last move is made! Players take turns on the ever-changing board." Published by FoxMind Games.
• Suburbia: "A tile-laying game in which each player tries to build up an economic engine and infrastructure that will be self-sufficient, profitable, and encourage population growth." Published by Bezier Games.

Mensa Select winners are chosen annually at the Mensa Mind Games® competition. During the competition, Mensa members play and rate new board and card games. The five games that rate the highest are named Mensa Select and may display the Mensa Select seal on their packaging.

"Mensa Select games are enjoyable and challenging games for everyone," said Greg Webster, Chief Judge of this year's Mind Games event. "We hope our insights can help guide fellow game players on their quest for the best games for their collection and connect manufacturers with board game loving fans everywhere."

Based in Arlington, Texas, American Mensa is an organization open to anyone who scores in the top two percent on an accepted, standardized intelligence test. More information about the organization may be found at www.us.mensa.org. More information about Mind Games may be found at www.mindgames.us.mensa.org.

See Also: Mensa Select winners from previous years.

Mensa Select®, Mensa Mind Games®, and the Mensa Mind Games logo are registered trademarks of American Mensa.

Game images courtesy Mensa.

Here is the latest board games news and reviews, for the week of May 13th, 2013:

Pengoloo Review

"Pengoloo is a memory game for kids that even adults can enjoy. You must collect six penguins before anyone else to win. The components for this game are excellent. Everything is wooden and looks great. The rules are simple and easy to follow too. This game is accessible to all ages and can be taught and played quickly. The variant for stealing penguins is good for slightly older kids too. If you have kids you want to play games with, you should try out Pengoloo. You will be glad you did and so will your kids." [link]

Play Pengoloo

If You Play Board Games, You'll Know This Man's Art

"Henning Ludvigsen is art director at Rock Pocket Games, so if you like the colourful, cartoony style of upcoming platformer Oliver & Spike, he's one of the people to thank. You should also thank him if you've ever played anything from Fantasy Flight Games. For the tabletop and card game giants Ludvigsen has lent his talents to projects like the Game of Thrones card game, Call of Cthulu, Star Wars card game, Battlestar Galactica board game, Civilization board game and heaps, heaps more." [link]

Super Dungeon Explore

"Super Dungeon Explore is a dungeon crawler inspired by old Japanese console RPGs. The 52 included miniatures are done in a cute / chibi / super-deformed style, which means the head is roughly the same size as the rest of the body. One to five players take the role of classic fantasy heroes like the human paladin, a dwarf fighter, or an elf ranger." [link]

Play Super Dungeon Explore

Hero Academy Brings iOS Strategy Board Game To The Mac

"Hero Academy is a pretty fantastic iOS strategy game that plays out like a cross between chess and a tactical role playing game (RPG), played against a single opponent in asynchronous turns. Developer Robot Entertainment has created an experience that's equal parts dead easy to learn and super fun to play, with a depth of tactics and strategy gameplay that hits the sweet spot for a fun on the go game. Well, Hero Academy is now available on the Mac App Store, and it's free to download and play." [link]

Top-Quality Staunton Chess Sets

Quinto Video Review

"Players take turns placing their numbered tiles on the board so that their sum, both rank and file, is equal to a multiple of the "multile" number that is selected for that round. Highest score once all the tiles have been placed wins" [link]

Review: Guildhall

"In Guildhall, players strive to collect complete sets of guild cards (matching guild cards in each of the six colors.) Players may then "cash in" their completed set for victory points and a special action. First player to gain 20 or more victory points wins. What may seem to be a simple set collection game turns into an interesting tactical game as every guild card played grants a special bonus." [link]

Play Guildhall

Review: 1969 - up to the Moon

"1969 offers strategy, but also financial management. There is relatively large potential for conflicts hidden in the game, if the players are willing to use it. Game does not force you to do so. Yet in carrying out missions, there is enough chance, that all your strategic plans will crumble. 1969 is not an exceptional game with respect to the mechanisms or experience. But its really interesting in regard of topic. And if you fancy space exploration and thinking games, you can try it." [link]

Play 1969

Train board game will make you ponder the Holocaust

"It was, after all, a game about the Holocaust. There is no easy way to explain why such a game should exist, and it's certainly unlikely anyone would ever agree to sell it. But it is clearly the kind of game that pushes the boundaries of what you would consider to be an entertainment experience. Train accomplishes something that few other board games can do: It makes you think about an emotionally difficult subject. " [link]

Notable Quote

"However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results."
 ~ Winston Churchill

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Board Game Buzz is a periodical roundup of news and notes from the board gaming blogosphere, featuring board game news, board game game releases, board game reviews, and opinion from the people who live and breathe board games and gaming!

To keep up on the latest board game news, follow Board Game Central on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to our free RSS feed.

Here is the latest news in the world of board games, for the week of May 6th, 2013:

Second Look -- Jenga Boom

"In Jenga Boom you have to set the timer by pulling the cord, build the tower, and take turns removing blocks from the tower and adding them to the top in typical Jenga fashion. Each turn you hit the play button, take your turn, then hit the stop button. Slowly, ever so slowly, the timer counts down. Then, BOOM, the tower comes crashing down. It's a total gimmick, but it works." [link]

Play Jenga Boom, Other Jenga Games

Tetra*gon2 is board game fun squared

"The concept of Tetra*gon2 is simple: The first player to create two complete Tetragons, aka squares, with their color of wooden pieces wins. Strategy is involved because the other player gets another move before the other is finished. There is no jumping or capturing, making it a nonviolent game of strategic creation and blocking. The game is intended for players ages 8 and up." [link]

PitchCar Review

"PitchCar is a dexterity, racing game. You must flick your car past the finish line before the other players. PitchCar uses a wooden track with plastic rails to simulate a race track. You have a wooden disc that represents your car. On your turn you flick your car the first player to complete three laps wins the race. I really like PitchCar. It is just a ton of fun to flick the cars around the track and try to get as far or best positioned as you can." [link]

Play PitchCar, Other Dexterity Games

Top-Quality Staunton Chess Sets

Ghost Stories Review

"In Ghost Stories, you take on the role of a Taoist priest that is fighting (along with three other priests) to excise Wu Feng from the world. Unfortunately, Wu Feng has legions of ghostly minions, which are terrorizing you and your village. It does an amazing job of providing a feeling of 'optimistic doom.' By this, I mean that you feel like you're going to lose. From round one. Yet, as the game progresses and you continue holding off your loss, you start to get the impression that you have a chance." [link]

Play Ghost Stories

Top Ten Two-Player Games - Spring 2013

"Regardless of whether you are looking to play a game with your significant other, your best friend, or some person that you just met, there is a time and a place where you need a good two-player game. So, here's my list of current favorites." [link]

Board Game Reviews by Josh brings us a top-ten list of two-player board games, including Jab Realtime Boxing, Arimaa, 1960: The Making of the President, Game of Thrones: The Card Game, Hive, Jaipur, Dvonn, Star Wars: Customizable Card Game, Summoner Wars, and Twilight Struggle. Great list, Josh!

Casa Grande (A Video Review)

"In Casa Grande players try to develop well-located building lots in order to construct large and tall buildings on them. Opponents can use your buildings for their own purposes, and the final result should be one large magnificant house -- 'casa grande' -- after another. The game ends at the end of the round in which a player has placed his last building block. The player who has collected the most money wins." [link]

Notable Quote

"All good is hard. All evil is easy. Dying, losing, cheating, and mediocrity is easy. Stay away from easy."
 ~ Scott Alexander

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Board Game Buzz is a periodical roundup of news and notes from the board gaming blogosphere, featuring board game news, board game game releases, board game reviews, and opinion from the people who live and breathe board games and gaming!

To keep up on the latest board game news, follow Board Game Central on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to our free RSS feed.

Here is the latest news in the world of board games, for the week of April 29th, 2013:

High Heavens Board Game Pits Norse Gods vs. Greek Gods

"Want to play a strategy board game that lets you pit the classic Greek pantheon versus the Norse pantheon for control of earth? For the love of Odin and Zeus, get yourself over to the High Heavens board game Kickstarter page and make sure that it gets funded and printed. The game is a mix between Magic the Gathering and chess since it uses a deck of random cards to help increase the replay value in addition to its grid-based board and highly detailed play pieces." [link]

A Board Game Piece Is More Than A Mere Chunk Of Plastic

"The appeal of table games' physical presence isn't to do with the luxury of the objects themselves. Play is how we form emotional connections. The purpose of the game-as-object is to make it easiest to foster those connections, allowing everybody to invest in what's on the table, right down to building it up and breaking it down, and in doing so, it gives you the path of least resistance to connect to each other. Put another way, that tiny plastic man isn't a toy. He's an emotional power adaptor." [link]

Carcassonne Inns & Cathedrals Review

"Carcassonne is a fantastic board game for families because it's simple to learn and play with a good balance of luck and strategy. And it's fun to have a hand in building a cool looking countryside that's different every time you play. While Inns & Cathedrals doesn't add a ton to Carcassonne, it does add a number of elements that we've really enjoyed. One of the things that made this a great first expansion for us is that it adds items for a 6th player. And in a family of 6, having a 6th player option is fantastic." [link]

Play Carcassonne Games

Top-Quality Staunton Chess Sets

Monopoly: Electronic Banking Board Game Review

"The biggest selling point of the Electronic Banking edition of Monopoly is, of course, the ability to use credit cards with the game instead of passing actual pieces of Monopoly money around the game board. This could either be a good or a bad thing depending on the player. While playing the game, we found that we missed the money, we missed the tactile feedback of holding it in our hand and with only a credit card, whether you've got millions of pounds in the bank or are absolutely bankrupt, you're still going to have that card in your hand" [link]

Play Monopoly Games

The Walking Dead: The Board Game Review

"The Walking Dead: The Board Game has a nice enough concept, and with enough people together the game mechanics could work to make the entire experience a little bit more enjoyable, but with just a couple of people, players will find the game world much too big to pose any kind of serious threat. The Walking Dead: The Board Game isn't a bad experience, but it's one that needs a little bit of work to be truly enjoyable. Still, it's worth a shot if you're a fan of the source material." [link]

Wizard's Brew Board Game Review

"Wizard's Brew is an auction game with spells and the four elements. You must collect a certain number of ingredients before your opponents to win. Despite not being perfect Wizard's Brew is a fun, auction game. Managing the two types of auctions and your resources makes for a fun experience. If you like auction games you should pick this one up. Even if you are not wild about auctions games you should try this one." [link]

Notable Quote

"Life is a difficult game. You can win it only by retaining your birthright to be a person."
 ~ Abdul Kalam

Deal Alerts

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Board Game Buzz is a periodical roundup of news and notes from the board gaming blogosphere, featuring board game news, board game game releases, board game reviews, and opinion from the people who live and breathe board games and gaming!

To keep up on the latest board game news, follow Board Game Central on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to our free RSS feed.

Here is the latest news in the world of board games, for the week of April 22nd, 2013:

Learning Business From A Board Game

"Have you ever considered how much you learnt from all those long afternoons spent squabbling over a Monopoly board? According to the world's leading expert in the game, it probably provided the basis for the business skills you swagger around with today. The author of the recently released Monopoly, Money and You says, among other things, it's probably the greatest tool available for teaching children and adults negotiation skills." [link]

Brain Workouts Greatly Reduce Risk Of Developing Dementia

"New research suggests that a brain workout on a regular basis can greatly reduce the risk of developing dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. The study also examined the result of frequently challenging the brain by doing crossword puzzles, playing board games or cards, reading, writing for pleasure and playing musical instruments. The study found one activity once a week reduced the risk of dementia by 7 percent. Risk reduction went up to 63 percent for those who participated in more activities more frequently." [link]

Table-top games get a Technology Upgrade

"A new games genre is emerging in which players use special conductive miniatures and two-handed gesture driven interaction to play tablet-centric games. In these games, the tablet surface becomes the game world, and users move about in them to fight and interact with digital characters in real-time." [link]

Top-Quality Staunton Chess Sets

Recent Board Game Reviews

-- A Study in Emerald -- "The award winning short story combines the worlds of Sherlock Holmes and H.P Lovecraft. The board game has gone one step further to bring in real historical figures to flesh out this alternate reality, allowing players to examine an interesting 'what-if' situation."

-- Black Box+ -- "Black Box + is absolutely stunning and elegant puzzle for two. Simple principle of several atoms placed on board turned out to be really addictive fun for the two adversaries. Both players are constantly involved in the game and have no chance to get bored."

-- Chicken Caesar -- "Chicken Caesar is a game of politics, intrigue and fowl-play. You must gain more renown with your chickens than your opponents and be careful not to be eaten by the fox."

-- Endeavor -- "A game of world exploration and empire building. You represent a European empire colonizing the Mediterranean and shipping to all parts of the world to increase the empire's glory and status in Industry, Culture, Finance and Politics."

-- In the Year Of The Dragon -- "In the Year of the Dragon is played over a series of 12 rounds (months). In each round, you get to perform an action, recruit a new person, and then an event occurs. I really enjoy In the Year of the Dragon, and am struggling a bit to come up with legitimate cons for the game."

-- Quarto -- "The most brilliant pro about Quarto is that you select which piece your opponent plays. If each person got to pick their own piece, there would be half as much strategy (maybe even less) and the game simply would not be fun. However, since you get to pick your opponent's piece, you can give him pieces to try to force him into setting you up for a victory on your turn."

Notable Quote

"The true object of all human life is play. Earth is a task garden; heaven is a playground."
 ~ Gilbert K. Chesterton

Board Game Buzz is a periodical roundup of news and notes from the board gaming blogosphere, featuring board game news, board game game releases, board game reviews, and opinion from the people who live and breathe board games and gaming!

To keep up on the latest board game news, follow Board Game Central on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to our free RSS feed.

Here is the latest news in the world of board games, for the week of April 15th, 2013:

You Win or You Die: 10 Alternative Board Games

Here's another list of game suggestions for the recently-completed International TableTop Day. As always, it's fun to ponder new games to experience and add to our collections! This list from Popular Mechanics, of all places, includes: A Game of Thrones: The Board Game, King of Tokyo, The Walking Dead: The Board Game, Lords of Waterdeep, Pandemic: A New Challenge, Carcassonne, Star Trek Catan, Risk: Legacy, Elder Sign, and Automobile: Wheels to Wealth. [link]

Cincinnati board game developer adds to his success

"Just in time for summer, a Cincinnati board game developer with a track record of success is working to get his latest game, Family Vacation, on retail shelves. Children and adults alike can play Family Vacation, a game where each player takes their family to various cities and attractions across the United States and racks up or loses happiness points through travel experiences." [link]

Top-Quality Staunton Chess Sets

Recent Board Game Reviews

-- Game of Thrones: The Board Game -- "In this game based on George R.R. Martin's beloved universe you play one of six houses and attempt to conquer Westeros. Alliances will be forged and broken, because when you play the Game of Thrones you win or you die." (This is a video review.)

-- Star Trek Fleet Captains -- "This game is incredibly fun and it might even be one of the best board games around - period. It's incredibly well-balanced, exciting, and complex without being complicated - a rare feat in the 'serious board game' genre."

-- Timeline -- "Timeline is one of those rare trivia games that surprises you more by revealing what you know than what you don't. As a family game, it excels because of the simplicity of its premise, its educational nature and the wonderful artwork. Timeline is highly recommended – and you never know, you might just learn something."

-- Triassic Terror -- "Everybody loves dinosaurs! They are massive, mysterious, and downright awe-inspiring. In Triassic Terror, players are able to cultivate their own herds of dinos, fighting for ecological domination in a world on the brink of extinction."

Notable Quote

"If life doesn't offer a game worth playing, then invent a new one."
 ~ Anthony J. D'Angelo

Board Game Buzz is a periodical roundup of news and notes from the board gaming blogosphere, featuring board game news, board game game releases, board game reviews, and opinion from the people who live and breathe board games and gaming!

To keep up on the latest board game news, follow Board Game Central on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to our free RSS feed.

Here is the latest news in the world of board games, for the week of April 8th, 2013:

10 board games for TableTop Day

International TableTop Day is past, but this is a good list to inspire future game sessions: Ticket to Ride, Dixit, Settlers Of Catan, Bananagrams, Tsuro, The Resistance, Smash Up, Star Wars X-Wing, Forbidden Island, Lords of Waterdeep. [link]

Ticket To Ride: How The Internet Fueled A New Board Game Powerhouse

"Days of Wonder has sold more than 2 million physical copies of the game at a hefty $50, and nearly that many copies of the game for iPhone and iPad at $6.99. That's roughly four times as many sales as Days of Wonder's next two best-selling games, Small World and Memoir '44, combined." [link]

Bushido Giveaway

"Check out these luscious paddy fields, bamboo groves and fishermens Jetty, a typical scene across the Jwar Isles. Every single Bushido product purchased at the show from our stall will gain you a raffle ticket for our draw at 3.00pm. As if a beautiful and lovingly hand crafted board isn't enough, during the draw we will also be dishing out a surpise Prize or two! " [link]

Top-Quality Staunton Chess Sets

Recent Board Game Reviews

-- Anachronism -- "In Anachronism, each of the players takes on the role of one of history's most famous warriors. Each warrior also comes with various forms of equipment, which can be mixed and matched between sets."

-- " is a 2 player-card and chip game that takes less than 30 minutes to play (even fewer when you get the hang of it). The goal is to become the 'Maharaja's personal trader' by being richer than your opponent at the end of each round."

-- Mansions of Madness -- "There's just so much to enjoy here. Even if it doesn't succeed every time, Mansions of Madness remains a game that can transport you and your friends into a desperate, evocative story that you'll share forever."

-- Rise of the Zombies "is a cooperative zombie survival game. You and your comrades must get from the safe house to the helicopter. Of course you are being chased by zombies but you must also race against the clock."

Notable Quote

"We wanted to recreate that feeling of being a child on Christmas morning, that raw emotional feeling."
 ~ Days of Wonder co-founder Mark Kaufmann

Board Game Buzz is a periodical roundup of news and notes from the board gaming blogosphere, featuring board game news, board game game releases, board game reviews, and opinion from the people who live and breathe board games and gaming!

To keep up on the latest board game news, follow Board Game Central on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to our free RSS feed.

Here is the latest news in the world of board games, for the week of April 1st, 2013:

What Board Games Have Learned From Video Games

"When gaming was in its infancy, it borrowed from tabletop gaming extensively. RPGs especially, with their dice rolls and such like, really looked to games like Dungeons & Dragons for inspiration. Now things have come full circle and video games are beginning to inspire design decisions made in new board games. This has resulted in board games having fewer choices, but more meaningful choices." [link]

Entrepreneurship - The Board Game

"In the game, players begin with a profile that outlines what their business is. As players advance, they have to abide the slings and arrows of entrepreneurial fortune through cards similar to ones players might find in a game of Monopoly. In Know Opportunity, such cards include "Too Cool To Pass Up," "What Could Go Wrong" and "Let's Make A Deal." At a certain point of play, the businesses go global, which means that payoffs – and the cost of making deals and doing business – go up exponentially. In the global market, players have to worry about synching deals like procuring celebrity endorsers and foreign investment. Risks are high, as they are in real life business." [link]

5 Board Games That Deserve Shows

"With the announcement of the UNO TV special, what other board games could adapt to great TV? What follows is a list of board games that could make for a great half hour game show." The list that Liam came up with is: Yahtzee!, Battleship and Clue (and Jumanji), Sorry!, Scrabble, Monopoly. [link]

Making a game show out of a board game is rather difficult, due to the limitations inherent in a half-hour time slot. In a board game, so much of the excitement is internalized -- it's fun to play but not necessarily fun to watch someone play.

Do you have any additions or deletions from that list?

Top-Quality Staunton Chess Sets

Recent Board Game Reviews

• Admiral
• Harry's Grand Slam Baseball.
• Kalimambo
• Lost Temple
• Spot It
• Timeline
• War of the Ring: Lords of Middle-Earth

Notable Quote

"You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else."
 ~ Albert Einstein

Board Game Buzz is a periodical roundup of news and notes from the board gaming blogosphere, featuring board game news, board game game releases, board game reviews, and opinion from the people who live and breathe board games and gaming!

To keep up on the latest board game news, follow Board Game Central on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to our free RSS feed.

Here is the latest news in the world of board games, for the week of March 25th, 2013:

Major Monopoly Acquisition Adds to New Museum Game Exhibit

New at the National Museum of Play in Rochester, NY, the Philip E. Orbanes Collection, the world's largest and most comprehensive assemblage of classic Monopoly games: "The collection includes every authentic mass-produced version of Monopoly, a 1920s handmade copy of The Landlord's Game (precursor to Monopoly), other significant Parker Brothers games (such as a 1949 American Clue), game and toy prototypes from Orbanes' career, and material from George Parker." [link]

The Antimonopolist History Of The World's Most Popular Board Game

"The initial phase of competition in Monopoly, the free-trade phase that happens to be the most exciting part of the game to watch, is really about ending free trade and nixing competition in order to replace it with rent-seeking." The irony is that the game of Monopoly is descended from The Landlord's Game, which was created to teach "the philosophy of Henry George, a nineteenth-century writer who had popularized the notion that no single person could claim to 'own' land." [link]

The meaning of chess in Hollywood

"The game of chess has a long history, dating back to the sixth century AD, so it was already well-established in our collective psyche by the time movies came along and started to make use of it. Since the silent era, films have used chess as code for a number of character traits. From there, chess was established as easy shorthand for being deeply brainy. If you're a clever character, you have a chess set in your house somewhere, whether you get to play it or not." [link]

Top-Quality Staunton Chess Sets

Empire Conquest – Strategy board game with chess elements

"Eradicate evil forces in the turn-based board game Empire Conquest for Android. You'll be taking control of three heroes: a mage, a warrior, and a gunslinger. Learn how to use each character strategically to win battles against your enemies." [link]

Online Pool Tournaments

"Minnesota Fats would never have believed it, but pool is now played more often on a screen, than on a felt table. The strategic game of pool has translated better than anyone might have guessed to the computers of players all over the world." [link]

Play online pool at Tournament Games.

Games for Writers

"As authoring tools, games encourage players to write stories and design new worlds. Storytelling games provide deeper understanding of language, the world we live in and ourselves. They unleash freedom of expression and, frequently, insight into solving seemingly intractable personal or business problems. While you're playing ‒ creating a story with you kids or writing group ‒ you might just write the next best-seller." [link]

Recent Board Game Reviews

• Crokinole
• Dominare
• Jambo
• Kingsburg

Notable Quote

"The chessboard is the world, the pieces are the phenomena of the Universe, the rules of the game are what we call the laws of Nature and the player on the other side is hidden from us."
 ~ Thomas Huxley

Deal Alerts

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Board Game Buzz is a periodical roundup of news and notes from the board gaming blogosphere, featuring board game news, board game game releases, board game reviews, and opinion from the people who live and breathe board games and gaming!

To keep up on the latest board game news, follow Board Game Central on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to our free RSS feed.

Here is the latest news in the world of board games, for the week of March 18th, 2013:

From Blood Bowl to Liar's Dice

"This week 138 Games brings you five games from the mid-1980s that you've just got to try. There are several sports games, including a football game, a bicycle racing game, and the blood sport that is Werewolf. Then you've got a popular Ravensburger classic and a dice game that was even featured in a blockbuster movie a few years back." [link]

A Board Game and Feast of Thrones: A Perfect Pairing

" A Game of Thrones: The Board Game (2nd Edition) looks at first glance to be a standard "dudes on a map" wargame ala Risk, but upon further inspection, you'll see that the gameplay actually mimics the tension and style of conflict that Martin portrays in his books." [link]

Courting a Game Publisher – DO's and DON'Ts

Some advice for prospective game authors: "Believe it or not, there is an etiquette when submitting your game to Publishers. Publishers receive many submissions and just like submitting a resume for a job, the simplest things can turn Publishers off. To a degree it's like courting- there are Dos and there are Don'ts that most Publishers expect." [link]

Abalone Coming to Android and iOS

"With close to seven million copies of the famous board game sold around the world, Abalone is officially coming to iOS and Android devices! Take the famous black and white marbles wherever you go and play against the game's artificial intelligence or a friend on the same device. Put your thinking cap on, weigh up your options and make your move." [link]

Recent Board Game Reviews

• Combat Commander Europe
• Defenders of the Realm: Battlefields
• Fastrack
• Legends of Andor
• Spin Monkeys

Notable Quote

"No fool can play chess, and only fools do."
 ~ German proverb

Deal Alerts

• Free Shipping at FunAgain Games -- Free ground shipping with $75 order (continental US)
• Take 20% Off your order at HoyleGaming.com with code: HWINTER20. Expires 3/31/2013

Board Game Buzz is a periodical roundup of news and notes from the board gaming blogosphere, featuring board game news, board game game releases, board game reviews, and opinion from the people who live and breathe board games and gaming!

To keep up on the latest board game news, follow Board Game Central on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to our free RSS feed.

Here is the latest news in the world of board games, for the week of March 11th, 2013:

International TableTop Day is March 30

"Yay, a new holiday! Go to your friendly local game store, neighborhood coffee shop, school auditorium, community center, or host a game day at your home and play more games." [link]

Rehabilitating the Board Game Geek

"Modern games are democratic and sociable, with an emphasis on collaborative problem solving rather than the military strategy and battles of games past. New games are passing into popular culture. They're brilliantly designed, they don't take forever to play and they're intelligent. You finish them and say, 'Wow, that was cool.'" [link]

Bejeweled the Board Game is Here

"Not sure if this is the jump the shark moment for PopCap's Bejeweled, but the hugely popular puzzle game that pretty much defines the match-3 game genre got the IRL treatment courtesy of Hasbro." There are two new titles, a Bejeweled board game, and a card game called "Bejeweled Frenzy". [link]

Board Game for Papal Conclave

"A board game entitled 'Vatican: Unlock the Secrets of How Men Become Pope', designed by a US religion professor which rates papal wannabes according to strict criteria. Cardinals score points for opposing gay marriage and lose points if they oppose papal teachings. A cardinal who manages to convert a group of Muslim extremists to Catholicism after being kidnapped gets bonus points." [link]

Marijuana-Themed Board Game Launches in Colorado

"A marijuana-themed board game that features Fort Collins has had a bloom in sales since Amendment 64 passed. In the game, up to eight players begin at Denver International Airport and wind their way through the state, collecting strains of pot with the goal of selling it all for $1 million before returning to the airport. It's packaged in a 30-inch long tube, packaged to look like a joint." [link]

National Young Game Inventors Contest

"If you're a budding inventor between the ages of five and twelve, with a desire to create the next 'Clue' or 'Monopoly,' we encourage you to throw your board game design into the ring for the National Young Game Inventors Contest! The rules are simple: Create a functional and fun board game based on whatever you want*, and send it (Pieces, rules, tokens, board and all!) to NYGIC by October 1st, 2013. The creator of the coolest board game wins a $10,000 savings bond, a trip for four to San Francisco and the chance to have their game mass produced for everyone to enjoy." [link]

Top-Quality Staunton Chess Sets

Recent Board Game Reviews

• Archipelago
• Courtier
• Dungeon Roll
• Food Chain
• P.I.
• Scrapland Scramble

Notable Quote

"The beauty of a move lies not in its appearance but in the thought behind it."
 ~ Aaron Nimzowitsch

Deal Alerts

• Free Shipping at FunAgain Games -- Free ground shipping with $75 order (continental US)
• Take 20% Off your order at HoyleGaming.com with code: HWINTER20. Expires 3/31/2013

Board Game Buzz is a periodical roundup of news and notes from the board gaming blogosphere, featuring board game news, board game game releases, board game reviews, and opinion from the people who live and breathe board games and gaming!

To keep up on the latest board game news, follow Board Game Central on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to our free RSS feed.

On March 30th, 2013 , we ask you to go to your friendly local game store, neighborhood coffee shop, school auditorium, community center, or host a game day at your home and play more games.

International TableTop Day is a reminder to spend more time and strengthen the bonds with the people who matter most, our friends and family, by playing games together. Tabletop gaming promotes many positive social and cognitive benefits like increased communication, team work, planning, and is an excellent stress relieving activity for all ages.

International TableTop Day is a celebration for all the fans of tabletop gaming. A single day where the whole world is brought together in a common purpose of spending time together and having fun.

The International TableTop Day web site has an interactive map of locations that are participating. If you want to start your own event, you can submit it to the site, and garner some cool promotional items for the trouble.

Learn more here.

Here is the latest news in the world of board games, for the week of March 4th, 2013:

10 Greatest Science Fiction Board Games of All Time

Lists like these are always fun, if rather subjective: "Board games are great way to prove your intellectual superiority to your friends. But aren't they even better when they involve a sprawling science fiction premise?" Highlights include Risk 2210 A.D., Pandemic, Roborally, Twilight Imperium, and six more! [link]

Board Games Are Growing In Popularity Again

"Table-top games, once overshadowed by video games, are drawing people who want more social forms of entertainment. Driven by online word of mouth on board game websites such as BoardGameGeek and by the popularity of online digital games, including Days of Wonder's Small World, old-fashioned board games have acquired cult status and are growing in popularity." [link]

Backgammon Goes Global

"Members of the international backgammon community are coming together to compete for recognition as the leading country of backgammon. The January-February 2013 issue of PrimeTime Backgammon captures the excitement of the just-concluded 2nd International Backgammon Championship, with Petko Kostadinov emerging victorious in 1st place, and the American Team winning the Country Prize trophy for the U.S." [link]

The Shady Origins Of Five Popular Board Games

The dark origins of Monopoly, Life, Clue, Scrabble, and Chutes and Ladders: "Several of the most popular games out there have some not-so-family-friendly origins. So if you're looking to spark some interesting conversations next time you gather 'round the table for an evening of dice and fake money, here are a few of the lesser known tales of history's biggest board games." [link]

LaGrange Park mailman who invented board game Diplomacy is dead at 81

"To people in La Grange Park, Allan B. Calhamer was the postman who delivered the mail. But to people who played 'Diplomacy' -- the addictive board game he designed as a law student at Harvard -- Mr. Calhamer was a geek god." [link]

Top-Quality Staunton Chess Sets

Recent Board Game Reviews

• Adventure Kingdom
• Darkest Night
• Notre Dame
• Robinson Crusoe: Adventure on the Cursed Island

Notable Quote

"It is one of man's curious idiosyncrasies to create difficulties for the pleasure of resolving them."
 ~ Joseph de Maistre

Board Game Buzz is a periodical roundup of news and notes from the board gaming blogosphere, featuring board game news, board game game releases, board game reviews, and opinion from the people who live and breathe board games and gaming!

To keep up on the latest board game news, follow Board Game Central on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to our free RSS feed.

Here is the latest news in the world of board games, for the week of February 25th, 2013:

Monopoly Token Promotion Fires Up Fans

"Monopoly fans voted in an online contest to add a new cat token to the property-trading game, replacing the iron. According to Hasbro, the company had an 'amazing' response from its 10 million Facebook fans. People from more 185 countries participated in the campaign." [link]

Monopoly Cat Has A Tale To Tell

"Hasbro officials say the cat token clawed its way ahead of the robot among hundreds of thousands of voters in 180 countries to clinch the title by a paw. The silver feline looking perky and ready to meet the Scottie dog token on the world's most famous game board is actually modeled after a real cat." [link]

Games That Rely On The Power Of Storytelling

"Many of the best board games include some elements of story to them - it's part of what makes us care about the game. If you feel that you're playing a character in a game rather than just moving a little piece around on the table, then you're more invested in how things turn out, and more likely to keep thinking about the game long after you play it." [link]

Why Your Board Game Collection Needs German-Style Games

"You'll see the truth. Eurogames aren't boring, despite their themes. Eurogame designers are free to make nothing more, or less, than a great game, a rich game, that'll get better every time you play it." [link]

Inconceivable! The Princess Bride Board Game

Preview of a new title from Game Salute: "Players who want to experience the entire Princess Bride story in one sitting can enjoy an epic day of fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles." [link]

Recent Board Game Reviews

• Descent: Journeys in the Dark 2nd Edition
• Gears of War: The Board Game
• Sorry Sliders

Notable Quote

"Board games are going through a golden age right now, and they offer some of the most innovative and thrilling multiplayer experiences around."
 ~ Eurogamer

Deal Alerts

• Free Shipping at FunAgain Games -- Free ground shipping with $75 order (continental US)
• Take 20% Off your order at HoyleGaming.com with code: HWINTER20. Expires 3/31/2013

Board Game Buzz is a periodical roundup of news and notes from the board gaming blogosphere, featuring board game news, board game game releases, board game reviews, and opinion from the people who live and breathe board games and gaming!

To keep up on the latest board game news, follow Board Game Central on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to our free RSS feed.