In a lot of great games, you have to know how hard to press your luck. Today's Games include Elixir, Mag Blast, and Can't Stop.

Listen Now:

Listen Now:

Its easy for everyone to go their separate ways after dinner. Today we talk about the joy of keeping the family at the table with some great family games. After discussion, we introduce you to the board game, Blunders. This one was specifically designed to teach manners and etiquette to young children. Topics range from table settings to just being nice. The kids liked the completive nature of the game and came away learning a bit about being polite. We then play the board game, Emira. This one is actually for an older crowd and a great one to play with neighbors and friends. Attract the princesses to your estate that will best compliment your needs. We had a great time playing with this ancient Middle Eastern Theme. Finally, we manipulate the hydrology and everyone effected in the board game, Dos Rios. Use your dams to move the river, and try to keep your people next to it. This one was truly unique and a lot of fun.

Listen Now:

A couple of today's games are about apocalypse, but the real theme is about planning. Games encourage forethought and strategy. This is a skill that has helped us all archive our goals on and away from the game table. Our first look is at the card game, Sticks & Stones. Use the cards in your hand to accomplish your quests. Its about survival, diplomacy, beasts, shamans, and shiny rocks. What you don't have yet is the ability to speak, save a few grunts. This game got a lot of love around the table. Atlantis is sinking and you have to get your people off the island and carry as much treasure as you can on your way out. As tiles are removed from the path, you really get the feel of the sinking bridge connecting you to safety. Create holes for your opponents to cross, maximize every move, and balance that with a safe speed to claim victory. It is said that Pompeii was once a thriving city, but it had one fatal flaw. It was under the shadow of a volcano. The one that gets the most of their people out of the city wins. Fist, you must populate the city with as many people as you can to maximize your chances. The best part that everyone loved about this one is the actually physical volcano that comes with the board game and throwing your opponents pieces into it. Then we all played with rubber bathtub ducks with the board game, Duck Duck Go. Use as much forethought and planning as you can, but you are going to be bouncing around the board and off of other ducks in the tub to archive your goal. The ducks are adorable and collectible. This one will be a sure-fire hit for many families.

Listen Now:

Sometimes you entertain kids with a game, and sometimes you are equally entertained. Today, we talk about age gaps and how to interpret the ages printed on the box. We first flip rings across the table and try to catch them around the necks of some adorable plastic flamingos. Ring-O Flamingo is a fun one for the kids but we couldn't help but to get a little addicted ourselves. We certainly weren't at much of an advantage. The young ones could easily score ahead of us. We then went to the Heart of Africa. This one has some fascinating strategy work around auctions, bidding, and value recognition. Bid for your turn order, manipulate the market, and secure the most valuable goods across the African continent. We leave the day with a cooperative play board game called Witch of Salem. Everyone works together to close portals across the city and keep the monsters at bay. When you have beaten the last great old one, you can all pat yourselves on the back and count yourselves lucky or brilliant.

Listen Now:

A few simple game packing tips can make your life a lot easier and reduce the risk of seeing game pieces all over the floor. Our first few minutes are full of tips to make your games last longer and speed up time-to-play. I also promised during the show to link the box bands. We first look at a card game that pulls us into the pirate culture. Loot is an easy to learn game with a healthy dose of strategy. Seize your enemy's ships and capture treasure. This game has an excellent team mechanic and packed a surprise for our gaming group. Derek claimed to have a new favorite in the board game, Justinian. Influence the counselors in Justinian's court to position them where you need to win the game. Bluff, read your opponents, push your luck, and take a little risk to claim victory. This Byzantine themed game is appropriately decorated with beautiful Byzantine art. Martian Rails is the latest in the Empire Builder series, also known as the crayon rail games from Mayfair Games. Build your railroad empire across the surface of Mars. It has new rules appropriate for the setting, some humor, strategy, and a new world to explore.

Listen Now:

Its always a great idea to have some games for your glove box or your travel bag. Waiting rooms and airports are are always in need of some entertainment beyond the television. Then, there is of course the obvious tight spot when you need to keep the kids entertained. The first game we look at is Say Anything. Its a fun question and answer game where you get to make up the answers you think the judge will like most. Its a great way to learn more about your friends and one that anyone can get into. We then look at La Boom. This is a quick, simple, inexpensive, and compact game you can take anywhere. The bomb gets passed quickly around and explodes frequently as determined by the die. You can get several games in a very short time. For some more strategy, give Station Master a try. Place your passengers on the best trains and offload your bad carriage cars on the other trains. The combination of strategy and quick math make this a great learning tool. We had a great time with it.

Listen Now:

Listen Now:

Games are a great way to exercise planning and execution. Today we talk about strategy and tactics, the differences between them, how they are applied in games, and how much fun it is to stay sharp. We first looked at Kids of Carcassonne. Its a light version of the popular tile game, Carcassonne, and enjoyed by the entire family. It is especially pleasing to see eyes light up when the young ones figure out the strategy to beating their parents at this game. We then went on a Catan Adventure with Candamir: The First Settlers. This has all the elements of an adventure game without the overhead. Characters adventure to improve the town and grow with experience. This one filled the need to explore while staying within a reasonable game time. Its a definite must-have. Our Catan Adventure continued with Elusand: The First City. This time, we are building a walled city. Plan and place your buildings wisely to gain the resources you need to win the game. Pirates will hinder your progress, as will your opponents as they build right over the top of your prized buildings. This one gave us some exciting conflict to fight through.

Listen Now:

Today we touch on teamwork, something that can't be overlooked in the world of games. Games range from working together to beat the game, beating another team, or just working together with an opponent for mutual gain. All of these are lessons we all do well to learn. Our first look is at Backseat Drawing. We divided into teams and had a pretty even match as we took turns giving basic drawing instructions as the rest of us guessed what was being drawn. We were very entertained and will get this one out again. We then played Roman Taxi. Your making decisions on who to pick up and carry around town. It was simple, yet had some choices you could make on where to go. This one appealed to a variety of players and is easy to play with a range of ages. It was definitely a step up from a lot of traditional games you may be used to. Detroit-Cleveland Grand Prix is a racing board game like no other. Your moving not just your cars, but others around the track. Your decisions were about timing and maximizing your move, but you usually can't get around the track yourself. This was a real hit for everyone. Then we got the clay out with Barbarossa. This is a sculpture, riddle, and guessing game. Build sculptures that are abstract enough to challenge your guessing opponents, but don't make them too hard or you will get nowhere. This one also appealed to a wide range of players and employed a very unique skill.

Listen Now:

Today we dive into spatial analysis. This topic ranges from fitting furniture through the door to placement relationships and geography. Many games have a spatial thinking component and give them their own interesting challenges. Our first look is at Portobello Market. You will be placing market stalls in neighborhoods and claiming dominance where you can to increase your ability to move through the town. Its all about money, but money is all about location, location, location. We then take a look at Amazonas. Your collecting specimens in the Amazon. To do so, you must find an efficient path through the jungle from village to village. Make sure to meet visit the villages you need and collect what you can to emerge victorious. Load your trucks as tightly and as efficiently as you can with Pack & Stack. You have an assortment of boxes that you need to transport. You loose points for extra space left on your truck and boxes left behind. This one will certainly offer a different experience at the game table.

Listen Now:

Board games are often full of maps and a great resource for exploring and learning more about our world. Before diving into some great games, we visit about some of our experiences with geographically rich games and some educational opportunities they can offer. We had the additional pleasure of doing some exploring in real life ourselves aboard a Gamer Adventures cruise to the Caribbean. Some of today's comments were collected during that excursion. Our first look is at the board game Ingenious. This abstract strategy game is challenging, easy to learn, and full of color. You have a lot of options to weigh to maximize your score. We then take a look at Empire Builder. This one is full of geographic principles creating a good fit with today's topic. There is a real geographic impact on the economy of the game that is fun to explore. Empire Builder has been repackaged from the earlier edition and promises new popularity with its new found beauty. Our final look is at Catan Geographies Germany. Relive German history as you build the infrastructure of Germany and various historical sites. It plays like the other Catan games but is streamlined into one quick-setup board.

Listen Now:

The ability to influence other players and their decisions vary widely from game to game. Sometimes it is in direct conflict and sometimes you don't interact at all. Whatever you find your tastes to be, there is sure to be something right for you. We first take a look at Formula D. This is a great racing game and all about speed management. If you are going to fast through the corners, you aren't going to make it through the race, if you are going to slow you will get left behind. Hey, That's My Fish is an elegant, easy, simple, fast, and fun game. Jump from ice floe to ice floe and collect as many fish as you can, while cutting your opponents off from their game. The board is different every time and falls apart as you play leaving penguins stranded and hungry if you aren't looking out for them. The Dutch Golden Age is a real treasure to play. The influence you spread over the map affects your income and the actions available to you. Those actions will allow you to build up your culture and your ability to win the game.

Listen Now:

Every body loves to pretend, especially while growing up. There are so many games that spark the imagination and allow you to take on the role of somebody else, or do something you don't have the opportunity to do in real life. We spend a few moments on these thoughts before going into our selection of spotlights. We first took a look at Bella Sara. These cards have an online component where you can enter in a code and take care of the ponies you unlock. Everyone loves ponies. Hidden City Games has also built in this great positive self image component to remind our girls how special they are. We then played Cluzzle. This is a game of creativity and clay. Everyone gets to craft something to challenge everyone else with. You want them to guess it, but not make it easy enough for them to guess on their first try. This was another hit over the season. Travel through and take part in history with Monuments. There are several ancient wonders you construct while your historians document the activity of everyone else. This game really took us places and kept us entertained. I am sure this board game will be coming off our shelf for more play. Shear Panic! has to be the cutest game to have ever crossed our path and was as much fun. You maneuver and manipulate a flock of toy sheep to reach different objectives throughout the game. Sometimes your ewes will be playing tag. Sometimes you will just be trying to avoid the shearing scissors.

Listen Now:

When looking at many of today's games we noticed most of them had something in common. They either had printed optional rules, or we made up some of our own. Optional rules, or your own house rules are a great way to either add some new excitement to the game, or simplify it for younger audiences or easily distracted friends. We had a lot of fun interpreting the ink blots in Rorschach. We had no idea some of our friends had such a crazy imagination. While winning the game means picking the right ink blots to answer the random given question, the most fun comes with sharing your interpretive thoughts. It is easy to enjoy Mad Scientist University. The outrageous stories that come from your family as they explore solutions big problems with mundane items are absolutely hilarious. Each take turns judging the best stories by whatever criteria they deem appropriate. Journey back to the gold rush in Sutter's Mill. Its not just about digging gold and influencing the town, its about getting out of town before the gold dries up. The options you explore in this game will entertain you many times over. We had a blast working around each other to maximize our outcome. Put together a collection of trains with Express: The Railroad Card Game. Anyone that enjoys traditional card games will easily enjoy this inexpensive bit of entertainment. Of course, it doesn't hurt to like trains, too. With both individual play and team play rules, this box of fun scales up to six players and is easy for anyone to enjoy.

Listen Now:

We take a look at a theme that is common in a lot of games – history. Games can be used to teach, inspire, explore, experience, or just to appreciate all kinds of events. In our introduction we touch on games like Numbers League, Catan Histories Struggle for Rome, and Axis and Allies. Our first journey is through the streets of Toledo, collecting materials and making the best swords we can to present the emperor. There is as much opportunity to practice your swordsmanship as you want. Efficient play, good decision making, and presenting the best gifts to the emperor will give you the recognition you deserve to win the game. Only one will prove themselves worthy and win an apprenticeship with Theophrastus. This famous alchemist has some handy potions made from a variety of elements. Pay close attention to your rivals and to Theophrastus to ensure your place by his side. Take a tour through history with Chrononauts. You must repair the timeline and return it to history as you know it, or take advantage of time travel to profit from famous periods of history. Changes you make will ripple through time and will hopefully only throw off your opponents.

Listen Now:

Today we touch on a basic component of everyday life and one that is represented in virtually every game on Earth, mathematics. We briefly touch on Figaro, Numbers League, and Settlers of Catan in this discussion and then ask for your support and nomination with the people's choice podcast awards. For our spotlight games, we start with Set. This is a fun pattern matching game that will force your brain to slip into a different way of thinking. You match sets of like and unlike attributes. This sounds simple, but it will challenge everyone in the family. We then explore Journey to the Center of the Earth. Like the book by Jules Verne, you are adventuring deep underground and uncovering great treasures. The journey is rough but everyone makes it through together. The winner will be the one that collected the most valuable treasure along the way. Finally we talk about Anno 1503. Its a light civilization building game. You settle small islands and do your best to be as efficient and profitable as you can with the opportunities you uncover. A variety of winning conditions give you a plenty of diction to choose from.

Listen Now:

Today we start on what first seems to be the most obvious of topics and learn there are some less obvious but powerful aspects to it. A variety of games can offer us a broad and deep exercise in vocabulary. We frequently notice the impact games have had on some of the most brilliant kids we know. References in this show include interviews with Martin Wallace and P.R. Chase. We first take a look at a party game that has been a staple of ours for years. It is always easy to pull in players with Apples to Apples. You can find it virtually anywhere. Everyone gets a handful of words they must match up to the judge's drawn adjective. Who has the noun that is the silliest, the most dangerous, or the most exciting? We then tackle the markets of La Strada. This short game will keep up to four players entertained while they build roads and horde as many markets as they can and share as many markets they can't keep to themselves. One of our new favorites is Horus. The land around the Nile slowly gets built as everyone adds tiles to the play space and exerts their influence to the various regions of Egypt. This is another easy to learn game that doesn't take very long to play.

Listen Now:

Today we emphasize not what games can teach, but what games can invoke and inspire. Often times our fascination with a subject begins with such a spark and a relative base of interest. Interpretation, a word often used by naturalists, is a perfect fit for the idea we present today. Our love of history, mythology, and the natural work often began with some kind of introduction outside of the classroom. We first explored under the sea with Nautilus. You have to split your efforts between excavating treasures from the ocean floor and building an underwater research center with the rest of the players. Winning the game means paying attention to both efforts. Our next adventure takes us way back in time with Settlers of the Stone Age. The best at exploring and settling the world will win the game. Like most Catan games, interaction with the rest of the players at the table is a very important part of the game. We also had some fun with a word game called Bananagrams. Everyone races to build a crossword out of a pool of letters. Its a good way to learn vocabulary from others at the table. Make sure to have a dictionary handy, you'll probably challenge someone sooner or later.

Listen Now:

We normally visit briefly about the social and mental qualities of games, but today we took a more practical approach and discussed value. When compared to other entertainment activities, buying a board game is one of the best ways to stretch your dollar. Every game that you buy can be played over and over again. You will be amazed at how much use you will get out of today's games. Pillars of the Earth is one of our favorites because it can be played over and over again. It is a strategy game, requires some thought, and will keep you engaged and always thinking about a variety of choices. Everyone is working to build a cathedral, but you want to show the most progress. Also look for the expansion set for more players and more choices. Catan Dice Game is the next one that has drawn our attention. It is an extremely economical choice and is small enough to take anywhere. With really simple rules, it is playable to those as young as seven years old. With its small size, it is easy to take anywhere you go. Your resources come from the dice; how you spend those resources is up to you.

Listen Now:

There are more and more groups meeting all over the Southern Arizona area to try out new games. If you know anyone in the area, be sure to refer them to our meetup group or the Southern Arizona Gamers Association. Todays topic is about reading and comprehending informational text. This is an important skill to learn. It is convenient that every game comes packaged with a lesson called the rule book. We dive into a fun party game that works really well in mixed company with mixed levels of experience. Good Question is by Asmodee Editions. Your challenge is to ask questions that are easy enough to get the answer you want, but not so easy that it is guessed on the first try. In the Mayfair Game, Megastar, you are managing a radio station. Your goal in this one is the influence the top pics with a little bit of play and keep your bands on the top of the charts. But if you play them too much, you will not have anything left to show for it. We learned this one and were having fun in no time. A favorite of ours has always been Domaine by Mayfair Games. This one is a little bit more strategically intense, but still easy to learn and play. You will be moving your boarders back and forth between your domains while trying to encompass the most valuable resources.

Listen Now:

The show goes on. There are hundreds more games to play and billions more people to meet. Our main topic today is about building community. We are delighted to announce in today's show that our community in Sierra Vista has found a new home. We have also started a meetup group to help us organize and find new players. Our meeting times and locations are listed there. Its free, so come and by and play. The first game we talk about today is Kragmortha. This one has a physical component. The goal is on the other side of the room; the fun is bumping your competitors into the evil dark lord and forcing them to take on vile curses. These curses may need to be held between your elbows for the remainder of the game. The rules are easy for kids 8 and up to learn and play with each other. We had an absolute blast with Entdecker. The age recommendation for this one is 10 and up. You take turns flipping tiles and exploring the world. Your score will reflect how well you navigate the seas and your wise allocation to land expeditions. This one will be a coming part of Catan Online for premium account holders. You can also play a super simplified solitaire version online called Oceannia or step through the online tutorial.

Listen Now:

The best games have important decisions that need to be made. This is what makes the games fun and challenging for us, but its also an opportunity to exercise an incredibly important skill. You often have to operate under at least a little bit of pressure and mange risk with the unknown elements of the game. We have been playing Coloretto by Rio Grande Games quite frequently with a wide range of people. With recommended ages of 8 and up, it is incredibly easy to learn, plays quickly, and fun to play. You choose on every turn to take and place a colored card, or add a row of cards to your collection. Those choices sound simple, but how well you make those choices will determine your success. Our latest favorite is called Lascaux by Mayfair Games. It is playable for anyone ages 8 and up and has been played continuously since we got it. You are collecting like sets of cave paintings. On each turn you either invest your stone or take stones from the pot. If you invest enough and stick around, you get first pick of the cards. It is easy to learn, plays fast, and is a lot of fun. If you are in the local area, be sure to stop by and play with us. Family Night is still looking for a new home, but we can also be found at several of Southern Arizona events, such as the Ides of Gaming.

Listen Now:

It surprised me to start with such a topic, but it really is a part of the board game experience. People like to have something to touch and to hang on to. It is a value that you don't have in electronic games, but one that is important to a lot of board game fans. There are actual physical pieces to pick up and place onto the board and shiny bits to dazzle your senses. We also touched on some educational values which led us to bring up Dr. Toy, a worthwhile resource for educators and involved parents. The first game we touched on today is one that has had a huge impact in family games called Settlers of Catan. It is published by Mayfair Games and a great first step into a broad world of board games. The game board is different every time you play, there is something to do even when it is not your turn, and it is loaded with interactive mechanics. Anyone ages 10 and up will have a great time building their village on the island of Catan. We then move on to an educational game from Gamewright called Zeus on the Loose. Its a simple math game. You do some quick addition and subtraction in your head to keep track of a tally that decides the fate of Zeus. Capture him on multiples of 10 and keep him to win the game. This game is suitable for ages 8 and up and a perfect fit for anyone wanting to stay sharp with simple math.

Listen Now:

Shortly before the holidays we had another great night of gaming. Dozens of titles were out for us to introduce to new players. Before sharing some games with you in today's show we start on the broader topic of education that will come up frequently in future episodes. We specifically address the life skill of learning how to learn. Every game we play is a puzzle that encourages all of us to stretch our minds and becomes an exercise in skills we use every day of our lives. We start our highlights with another cooperative game called The Lord of the Rings by Fantasy Flight Games and based off the Lord of the Rings trilogy. You work as a team and absolutely must work together to beat the game. By discussing strategy across the table it is easy for new players to participate with experienced players. The recommended ages for this game are 12 and up. We then turn our attention to a storytelling game called Once Upon a Time by Atlas Games. Everyone at the table takes turns building a fairy tail from the cards in their hand and tries to twist it to reach their own ending. It has a competitive element but plays best when the emphasis is more on telling a good story. We have also been playing The Market of Alturien by Mayfair Games. As many as six families compete for the best market locations and take turns moving customers around the board. As you would expect, money is the real driver in this game. The right decisions and a little bit of luck will put the money in your pocket you need to win the game. This one is an easy fit for ages 10 and up.

Listen Now: