Board Game Buzz, April 22, 2013
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]
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!
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