Hey, That’s My Fish! (or, H!TMF) is a very simple game to learn. In reality, it is an abstract game, with perfect information. As such, it would provide a great stepping stone for games such as Chess. Take a look past the “cuteness” and you’ll find a vicious little abstract that plays up to four people in 20 minutes! I’m all over that! Continue reading
The vast ocean rolls and swells from horizon to horizon. Navigating these waters are ships of war and they are on the hunt. Somewhere just out of sight is the enemy. Once they are spotted, torpedoes and guns are loaded; made ready to fire when ordered. As the ships approach, the admirals of the fleet know that skill and skill alone will win the day. Continue reading
Wind Power is a great game. Simple, elegant, challenging, and sometimes impossible. Depending on the players you are engaged with, the wind paths will be very uniform or a crazy and twisted mess. This is part of the fun and the magic of the game. You need to view the game at the 1 foot level and the 50 feet level all at once. The short and long-term gains will add up and will let a player be offensive and defensive at the same time. Do check out this wonderful card game that will blow your mind and leave you winded. Continue reading
Last year, I wrote about our Scout Troop’s weekend in Angola, IN, on Zwischenzug. This is probably the most popular trip of the year. There is some overlap between Geek Culture and Boy Scouting, and this is leads to Scouts and gaming being a natural combination. This year was no exception, however the games changed from last year. Continue reading
Not just Yahtzee in space, Alien Frontiers will suit your school-aged geeks ready to move into moderately complex games. Too long for a filler and not meaty enough for a square meal, you will find that the game provides complexity without being out of reach or terribly difficult. While the most hardcore of Gamers will find it slightly light, for the vast majority the game is just right! Continue reading
Last year, I was having a personal geek problem. To my shame, my game collection was in total disarray. I couldn’t easily find the games I wanted to play, I had games all over the floor, and I had a hard time getting into the room where my games were kept. I decided “enough was enough” and started addressing the problem by getting organized and cleaning up the clutter. Continue reading
Stars was a real surprise to me. The game becomes more and more difficult as it progresses and more entertaining in the process. Simply outstanding and highly recommended, Stars is one game that’ll keep you thinking well after it has been put away. Continue reading
Jab: Realtime Boxing is a wonderful game to experience. The first time you play it, you’ll be tempted to simply play cards quickly. This is a rookie move and expected. But after playing against another player who has experience, you’ll quickly realize that a well placed jab is worth 10 wild upper-cuts. Continue reading
I can’t recommend this game enough for little geeks. If they can trace a line with a token, they can play the game. They might not be able to strategize moves in advance, but that’s alright. They’ll stay in the game long enough to enjoy playing it and spending the time with family and friends. Continue reading
I cannot stress enough how important reading is! If you can get your little geeks interested in reading early, you will be doing them a tremendous favor. Their reading skills will be ahead of their class, their motivation to learn will increase, and their confidence will be off the scale. Comics are a great way to get your little geeks interested in reading and explore new and interesting stories with dynamic characters and interesting plots! Continue reading
I am, and most likely always will be, a huge fan of gamification. The concept of building dynamic game mechanics into every day activities is a wonderful idea. A new web-based company is hoping to bring gamification to your household and teach your little geeks math in the guise of video games and prizes. Not a bad idea! Continue reading
Cartoona is one of those games I wish I had growing up. It is challenging and open to creativity, encouraging the players to act freely. I very much like how the game uses important geek skills in a light way, making the game a fun and easy one to play, but it also establishes the base on which more complicated games will eventually be played. Continue reading
