the Tommy|Zor era

What is the first thing you think of when you hear the words board game?

If you’re from North America, thoughts typically gravitate toward that Risk game that just wouldn’t end. That, or the dreaded Monopoly game your family played at a cottage because there was nothing else to do.

Or perhaps you think of the wonderful and hilarious Online Gamer in his attempt to bring his Modern Warfare ‘social skills’ to playing Monopoly. While I don’t advocate his extremism in playing the game, you should really still play to win!

However, I get this growing sense that board games have taken a back burner to today’s gaming technologies. Admittedly, I love playing video games. I’ve been playing them forever and have no plans on stopping anytime soon. Also, there’s nothing more gratifying than kicking someone’s ass in Street Fighter Alpha 2… over… and over… and over… again. Just ask v2 who has been, and continues to be, on the receiving end of this ass kicking.

But, amidst the multiplayer and online (sometimes both) gaming, there’s still something gratifying about getting together with friends to enjoy a good board game.

The Social Dimension

Playing a board game requires you to be physically present at a location with friends. This is typically followed by actual conversation as opposed to the usual “YEAH! PWNED! NUB!!!!! FUCK! HAX! H4X!!!!”

As a board game progresses and the competition heats up, the amount of smack talk that happens is unbelievably hilarious and gratifying. It’s a whole new dimension when you can look at your friend right in the eye and say, “I’m going to leap over this table, stab out your eye and piss down your eye socket.”

Competitiveness

To play a board game requires a serious time investment to play. For this reason, you never want to lose. You just cannot accept a loss after putting so much time into the game. There is no way you want to give anybody else bragging rights.

Simply put, board games bring out the pure, unadulterated competitiveness in every person. There is no room for passivity or passive-aggressive.  It’s all or nothing.

Variety

Just as there a million types of video games and card games, there are also an equal variety of board games. A quick glance at board game geek will show you the vast array of goodness that is available to the world.

Unsure of what type of game is good and what would suit you and your friends? Do a bit of research and pay particular attention to German reviews. Germany takes its board games very seriously and even have an award called the Spiel des Jahres: the board game’s highest honour. Board games are a serious business over there. Chances are that if it wins awards there, you need to play it.

Chances are, if you don’t like board games, you probably haven’t played a recent and good one. Settlers of Catan, for instance, is a ridiculously easy game to learn, but is crazy addictive once you get into it. If you haven’t heard of it yet, do yourself a favour and search for it online.

Also, because there is such a large variety, you can easily find board games that will appeal to a wide variety of people without someone feeling bored or left out.

Economic Investment

My hope when I pick up any form of media (video game, book, movie) is the amount of time and enjoyment I will get out of it. The low cost of many board games, coupled with the amount of hours you get out it, make them great investments.

While there are digital versions of many board games, they lack the personal social dimension. Yes, they’re a great opportunity to play with people online, but it can often defeat the purpose of their original design.

The dumbest setup I have seen to date is Scrabble for the iPad. You can couple the app with iPod Touches so that a person’s iPod touch will show their letters and the iPad will represent the board. From a technological standpoint, this is genius. From an economic standpoint, you’re spending $1300 to play a game you could pick up at Wal-Mart for $15… or $45 if you want the Black Onyx Special Edition.

Final Thoughts

Maybe it’s my nostalgia that causes me to feel passionate about the board game. I remember playing Age of Empires 2 with my friends during the day. However, at night, we would get together and play some Jenga, then go for pizza and just hang out.

During University, a bunch of us would get together early in the evening for a game of Catan (or Lord of the Rings Risk if it came down to it) and then head out on the town. Even during parties, there were times when people would bust out the Cranium. Somehow, playing that game drunk didn’t make it any easier… or less frustrating.

I guess I’ve always made the association that board games equaled hanging out time. In fact, it was usually the catalyst towards something else happening later. The game is addictive while it happens, but you forget about it afterward. The only thoughts that remain are the emotions and interactions you had during that time.

My hope is that with the interconnectedness of our world today, people will still get together to play.

Be Sociable, Share!

•