Out & About Summer 2018

BORED GAMES

It’s raining and everyone is stuck in the house/tent/caravan – turn off the television, take away the phones and tablets and throw the dice... Board game fan and aficionado JOHN HERRING gives you the lowdown on some new and exciting games to get the family competitive juices flowing

THE PREMISE : Table-top entertainment is back in fashion – friends and families are embracing a new generation of games, as well as the old favourites. However, when I tell people that I’m into board gaming I don’t play the formulaic staples like Monopoly and Cluedo. While these well- known family classics are the traditional go-tos, there is so much more out there. SET UP: As advances in computer games have created a multi-billion pound industry, board games are staging their own quiet revolution. The 12th Games Expo at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, attracted some 32,000 visitors and more than 300 exhibitors, recently. It’s easy to see why many are switching games

controllers for playing pieces. Some video games set you back in excess of £50 and then ask for more to unlock new items or levels. Board games, however, are comparatively cheap and offer more fun, replayablilty and social interaction. Café culture has also embraced the movement, with board game cafés, such as Oxford’s Thirsty Meeples, springing up. Turn up with a game, borrow one from the café library or buy one, play and make new friends. The closest board game shop to Newbury is Eclectic Games, Reading. A board games club recently started up in Hungerford, and another group I know of meet in Bucklebury once a month. WHY PLAY? Aside from the fun and social interaction, board games make you think and promote skills that can be transferred outside the game realm. I enjoy learning about a person when you sit down to play a game – Are they likely to cheat? How do they respond to losing? Are they gracious in victory? How good are they at planning ahead and adapting to changing situations? Will they act morally? Will they betray me? END GAME: Board games have evolved past the tried and tired method of rolling dice and moving around a board. There is something for everyone, from collecting sushi to terraforming a planet, surviving a zombie apocalypse or quickly building a booming town – a multiverse of possibilities, friendships and fun await in a box of your choosing. Here are just a few easily transportable games:

Add to the old with some new...

SUSHI GO! Hugely fun and quick card game, offering hours of entertainment for all the family. Players are dealt a hand of cards representing cutely drawn Sushi. The aim is to have the highest score after three rounds – or courses. Each

type of sushi has its own scoring rules, eg a salmon nigiri will net you three points, while you need to collect three sashimi to score 10 points. But, much like in a sushi bar, the options in front of you revolve. Players select a card in their hand and place it face down in front of them. Once all players have picked, they reveal their sushi of choice and pass their remaining cards to the person on their left. The picking and passing continues until all cards are played, then add up the score at the end of each round. The player with the highest score at the end of the third round is the winner – but don’t forget about puddings! Sushi Go! encourages planning, numeracy and probability skills. There’s also the expansion Sushi Go Party! Rock, Paper, Wizard Age 14+ / 3-6 players / Approximately 30 mins Easy to pick up and takes finger-pointing to a new level.

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