Barbecue Game Review

Grilling is an art form. One must prepare the meat, the grill, and oneself before lighting the fire and grabbing the grill tongs. Ever since the day Neanderthals figured out that meat tasted better when dropped in the fire, humanity has gathered around open flame to watch grease pop, meat sizzle, and vegetables roast. The grill has become something of a social oasis that we gather around, share ideas, and breath in the smells of the meal that is being prepared. It’s also stressful as hell. Cook your meat wrong and you’re going to be ordering pizza. In this game, you have to step up to the grill and face the heat or get burned. Continue reading

Where Art Thou, Romeo? Game Review

William Shakespeare wrote in his play All’s Well That Ends Well, “Love all, trust a few.” Which, honestly, is a bit of a contradiction. Love, supposedly, includes trusting an individual completely. But as many of us know, either through personal experiences or hours of watching soap operas, love tends to be a very slippery slope. In this game, lies and manipulation make finding true love a game of luck, observation, and persuasion. Continue reading

Five Reasons NOT to Attend Gen Con

Gen Con is “the convention” to attend if you’re a board game lover. Games of all types are played, sold, and discussed ad nauseam for 4 days straight. There are also live events to attend, celebrities to fawn over, and contests to win. It’s truly an incredible event and one of the largest geek culture gatherings currently located on planet Earth. I know, it sounds horrible, right? Here are five reasons why you are making the right decision by not attending. Continue reading

In Review: Father Geek’s Monthly Newsletter (August 2014)

August is a great month to reflect on how little you have accomplished over the summer months. I had plans – GRAND PLANS – to get a lot done. All for not. I still have little islands of boxes and bags in my new home and a list of “things to do” that never stops growing. Cartoonist Cathy Guisewite wrote in one of her Cathy comic strips, “I’ve been put on this earth to accomplish so many things. At the rate I’m going, I’ll never die.” I can relate. Continue reading

Farmnation Game Review

Will Rogers said, “The farmer has to be an optimist or he wouldn’t still be a farmer.” A rather useful point-of-view in life and for this game. Farming is hard work. The energy you spend today could be wasted effort tomorrow. Bad weather, animals, and insects can ruin a good days work or the family farm. A farmer is continually forced to make tough choices, sacrifice, and hope for the best. You won’t be losing your livelihood in this game, but do stay on your toes. Farmnation is no stroll in the garden. Continue reading

Zogar’s Gaze Game Review

Only the very brave or the very stupid venture into the Black Mountains. It’s an accursed place, inhabited by monsters, cutthroats, and the enigmatic warlock, Zogar. If it weren’t for the rumors of vast treasure troves and arcane knowledge, none would venture to this bleak land. Many leave seeking glory, power, and riches, but few are ever seen again. Those who do return have a haunted look about them and they speak little of the horrors they have seen. Despite everyone’s advice, you now set off to meet Zogar’s challenges. For fame and glory! Continue reading

Big Top Game Review

To run a successful business, you have to know what your customers want. You have a sideshow, performers, animals, and more clowns than you know what to do with. But what do your customers want to see? Should you focus on the animals or shine the spotlight on the performers? Knowing what will sell tickets is key to having the “greatest show on Earth”. Continue reading

Battle Sheep Game Review

Chances are you’ve heard the saying, “the grass is always greener on the other side.” This saying suggests that other circumstances are seemingly more desirable than an individual’s current reality. Which might or might not be true. But what if there is no “other side”? Wouldn’t you want as much of that grass (regardless of color) as possible? In this game, you’ll be leading your sheep to expand and control limited pasture space. There are no wolves in this game. Just a lot of aggressive mutton. Continue reading

Island Siege Game Review

The voyage to the New World was fraught with danger and death. When the colonists arrived, they thought the worst was behind them. They were wrong. They are now under attack and they must quickly build forts with strong walls to protect their homes and lives. These are dangerous and desperate times and it’s up to you to lead your colonist. Victory can only be obtained through military or economic might. Choose your path. Continue reading

VOLT: Robot Battle Arena Game Review

When you think of sports, I wouldn’t be surprised if baseball, basketball, football, and other team games come to mind. We often think of “sports” as being a physical human activity, but this is not always the case. In 1998, a television show titled “Robot Wars” hit the British airwaves and challenged how we look at sports. Now it was machines being powered by human ingenuity that battled in the area. In this game, you get a chance to test your own mental skills, logical thinking, strategic foresight, and tactical guile to become the ultimate robot battling champion. Continue reading