Top Five Family Fun Things To Do

Parents are constantly searching for ideas to keep their children busy, but what about finding fun things for the whole family to do and spending quality time TOGETHER.

The list of family fun things is endless, and yes, you can share fun time with your family without watching T.V., playing video games or surfing the net.

Below are some fun family night ideas that will involve every age group in your family.

1. Play a Board Game

Board games help families bond with one another and show children they can learn while having fun. Get your family excited by asking them if anyone would like to play a board game.

There are numerous board games on the market today. Some popular family games include Monopoly, Life, Sorry, Clue and Scrabble. More modern board games include Cranium, Break the Safe and Apples to Apples.

Just make sure the board game you chose is family friendly and one that your entire family will enjoy. Also, make sure the game is suitable for the age range of your children.

2. Put Together a Jigsaw Puzzle

Give your children some happy memories of the entire family sitting around and putting together a jigsaw puzzle. This activity can be both fun and challenging for every member of the family.

Colorful jigsaw puzzles range from 100 to 500 pieces, so choose the one that suits your family's age group and puzzle experience.

3. Backyard Fun

For even more fun family game ideas, the perfect place is in your backyard. Here your family will have plenty of room to run, jump and play.

Enjoy playing a game of horseshoes, badminton or volleyball together. Let each family member throw yard darts and see who hits the bull's eye first. Other fun games you and your kids will enjoy are the old-fashioned sack race and the three-legged race.

Your kids probably have never heard of these, but they will love them.

Some family game ideas to enjoy during the hot summer months are water volley ball, water balloons and splash tag. These games will be great to play while the family is enjoying the nice, cool swimming pool.

Games are so much fun and a great way for your family to interact with one another. Your children will also get a thrill out of watching you participate.

4. Rainy Day Fun

On a cold, rainy day when your family is stuck inside, put together a family scrapbook. Let each family member pick out their favorite photos of vacations and other special events.

If your family is bored in the house, go bowling or visit a museum. Take a trip to the library and pick out books for each of you read later. Go shopping and let each family member pick out a small gift for a needy person in your community.

Even better, put on your rain gear and take a stroll in the rain. Let your kids splash in the puddles. They will be amazed!!!

5. More Family Ideas - Every Minute Counts

Enjoy every minute you can with your family. If you are not in the mood for games, other ways you can spend quality time together is by flying a kite, throwing a Frisbee (TM), riding bicycles together, go on a picnic at a park or just take a walk together and talk.

Have fun and remember, the family that plays together, stays together.

Bob Pardue is the owner of Game Daddy. Have some fun and learn some awesome family game ideas by visiting http://www.game-daddy.com right now ...

By Bob Pardue

Board Games Starting Your Own Gaming Group

So, you're starting a hobby of board gaming, or you already enjoy gaming. Chances are that if you are single, you play them with some friends or a significant other. If you are married, you probably include the family. But, something is missing...the community element. Sure, your spouse likes a good game every so often, but wouldn't it be fun to have a group of new friends that either looks forward to the same games you like or brings new ones to the table, so you don't have to buy them. Today, with everything costing more, even entertainment, it is quite a prudent move to develop a group of friends that get together and share their games.

Three Fundamentals of a Game Group

So where do you start? A good game group needs at least three things:

1. A Host

2. A Place to play

3. Games

The host is the person in charge of the group. This can either be a rotating position - You work on it one month, Joe works on it next month, and Sally handles it the month after that...and so on.

Regarding the place to play, this can rotate also. A restaurant, a library, a YMCA, or simply someone's home will usually do the trick. Like the host, this location can rotate each month also.

Obviously, to have a game group, you need games. If you start with a few generic titles, such as Settlers of Catan, Ticket to Ride, Carcassonne, and Puerto Rico, you will have a good starting base to work from. After a few rounds with each game, you will see a pattern in what people like to play and you can even introduce other games to the mix.

Let's break this down to more of the specifics.

The Gaming Group Host

The function of this role is to coordinate the communication and location of the gaming event each time. The Host determines the when, where, and what gaming group. This is the reason you may want to have this be a rotating position.

Expect that the host will devote a good amount of time to running the group.

Your group's host should have a few important traits:

* Initiative
* Patience
* Good Communication Skills
* Ability to work with diverse people
* Be a good sport and promote fair play

The reason patience is listed as a trait is because you cannot expect to start a game group and have a bunch of people show up immediately. You have to build it over time - possibly months. There are examples of gaming groups taking years before they get just ten regular attendees. It can go the other way as well - start off with everyone bringing a friend and it grows from there.

Choosing a Good Location

The size of your group will determine the requirements for your group's location choices. Funding may also play a role - some places may want to charge you a fee for your time. For example, if you are in a room at the local YMCA, they may have a small fee for the room rental. If you choose a restaurant to sponsor your group, they may require you spend a certain amount of money on food and drinks.

Another option for a gaming location that may work great is someone's home. The only things to consider here are space and other family. If it is a small apartment, that may not work so well. If the family hosting the event has small children (under the age of about 6 or 7) they may create an unwanted distraction. When playing strategic games, it is hard for others to think while there are small children running laps around the house.

You need to have enough space to have one or two tables and enough chairs for everyone.

One of the most important requirements for a location is a restroom - gamers like to drink and eat.

Making a Gaming Location a Success

Supplies, supplies, supplies! Many games need an extra bit of scorekeeping or organization. The host needs to make sure these are available. Here is a short list:

* Paper - notebook or pad is fine
* Pens or Pencils
* Dice - in case someone lost theirs
* Sandwich baggies (to organize game pieces) - you may also want to use the smaller snack-sized baggies

Like I mentioned earlier, gamers love to eat and drink. Here are some suggestions to serve that need:

* Water
* Soft drinks - diet and non-diet
* Fruit - not fruits that makes a mess, like oranges
* Chips
* Pretzels
* Cookies

Don't forget the things that go with these items, like cups, ice, plates, and napkins.

If you wanted, you could go as far as having a full meal, such as pizza or burgers and fries.

All of these items have a cost involved, which can be an issue for the host. I have seen some friends that have groups do one of several things to offset some of the costs:

* Charge dues - this could be a monthly fee that covers the cost of food/snacks/location
* Use a ips jar system. Most people understand that somebody paid for the snacks and such and are willing to tip generously, when a price is not identified.
* Go to Costco, or some large buying club like that, and buy your snacks and drinks on the cheap. Then, offer them for sale at your gaming party. You can even use the profits to buy the snacks for the next party if there is enough.
* Consider is a potluck type of party. The price of admission is to bring some type of food or beverage.

Finding the Location for Your Group

The first and obvious choice is your home. You need to make sure you have the space and no distractions for this to work. The obvious benefit here is that you have no cost and you control the coordination of the location. The other useful benefit is that you don't have to lug your games to a separate location - you already have them. You can even set them up before everyone arrives. This eliminates the set up time while everyone is socializing at the beginning.

But, what if you have an apartment or are not sure you want a bunch of people coming to your house all the time.

Here are some options for you:

* Independently owned restaurants
* Library
* Community Centers
* Recreation Centers or your local YMCA
* Churches and Synagogues
* Schools (including colleges)
* Game Stores

Usually, game stores are a really good option - you are providing them a set of new customers.

Picking the Right Board Games

This will depend on the type of gaming group you want, and what the people in the group are expecting. For the purposes of this article, I am going to assume you are setting up a board game group.

If you want to introduce the group to European games, you might consider variations of Settlers of Catan, Carcassonne, Ticket To Ride, and Puerto Rico.

Another option might be to bring in some war games. If so, take a look at Memoir '44 and Tides of Iron.

If you have a younger crowd (college level and slightly older) with a lot of time to spend, you may want to hold a full-on gaming day on a Saturday. Then, you can include board games that take more time, like World of Warcraft, Starcraft, or Twilight Imperium.

Another way to increase the variety of games your gaming group plays is to have everyone bring one game - like with the snacks and beverages.

If you are new to board gaming groups, I think it would be wise to start with the simpler games to introduce to a group - that would be the European board games. Then, grow it from there.

Places to Promote Your Group

There are three web sites you should take advantage of if you want to start a gaming group:

* www.boardgamegeek.com - they have listings of gaming groups you can join or advertise your own
* www.meetup.com - you can find others in your local area that may already have a group or you can set up your own.
* www.craigslist.com - this is a great place to promote your budding game group.

Have Fun!

Remember, having a board game group that shares your hobby can be a lot of work. But, don't forget the overall goal - to have fun and make new friends! This is a hobby.

So, good luck, enjoy yourself, and share your hobby with others.

Play the best games in the WORLD!

By Barry Nadler

Clue The Board Game

Clue (known outside North America as Cluedo) is a board game for 3 or more players, in which they the players try to solve a murder mystery through a process of logical deduction.

At the beginning of the game, three cards are drawn at random (one Suspect card, one Weapon card, and one Room card), and placed inside an envelope without any of the players seeing them. These three cards specify the location, weapon and criminal in a fictional murder (example; Professor Plum, with the Candlestick in the Library). The other cards are then dealt out between players.

During the game, the players take turns moving their pieces around the mansion where the murder took place (movement speed is determined by rolling dice). In their turns, the players may also make suggestions about the murder, and the other player's must disprove the suggestion if they can (by showing a card disproving it to the suggesting player, but not to other players).

When one player believes he has deduced all three details of the murder, he may make an accusation. He then examines the cards in the envelope to see if his accusation is correct. If the accusation is correct, the player wins. If the accusation is incorrect, the player is eliminated, but places the cards back in the envelope without revealing them to the remaining players.

One amusing aspect of the game, is that it is possible for one's own character to be the murderer, and even win the game by deducing one's own guilt.

Originally published at http://www.brainchallenges.com/clue.php - Visit this site to buy the board game or play Clue on

By Sunil Tanna

Strategy Board Games

Strategy games require a great deal of thinking in order for the player to win. Not only do the players need to analyze their move, but they also need to anticipate the moves of their opponent. Besides that, they also need to anticipate the outcome of several moves in the future. The immense importance of thinking ahead and applying the present and past situation to anticipate the future outcome, separates strategy games from many other games in general.

For example, Snakes and Ladders are hardly seen as a challenge for most adults. This is because the game is purely contingent. The roll of the dice determines the fate of the player, and there is no need to think things through. It is only the sheer suspense of it that this game is still popular amongst children.

Strategy games, on the other hand, rely heavily on how a person think things through, applying analysis, logic so a player can study the opponent, predict his or her moves, and eventually win the game.

War and Strategy

Today, strategy games, or sometimes war games, are more commonly associated with video games such as Red Alert or WarCraft. However, way before the advent of video games in present times, strategizing has been used in board games. If fact, it can be traced back to the mid-2000 B.C. with board games like Go.

Some people may ask why strategy games are more associated with war games. The analogy can be asserted by history. War and strategy go hand in hand. A general who cannot strategize well will lose his battles and suffer other considerable losses.

For example, the aforementioned game of Go is a virtual microcosm of a battle, or even a war. Several scholars have theorized that the game Go came from Chinese generals and tribal warlords who used the pieces of stone to make a visual representation of their attacking positions. They, in turn, could map out what will happen in the battlefield.

The correlation of war and strategy is especially evident in the game of chess. All pieces hold true military significance at the time of the game's creation, which was around the 6th century A.D. Checkers is also patterned on strategy and war board games, utilizing the player's quick-wittedness to overcome and defeat the opponent.

Other games that fall under this category are backgammon, Stratego, Game of the Generals, Battleship, and many more.

Investors and Murderers

Strategy board games have also evolved into more placid games. One great example is Monopoly. A game of real estate, investing, and many more is considered as the most popular board game in the world. Despite the fact that the player's pace is controlled by the dice, it still needs a great deal of strategizing in order to overcome the opponent. This is where smart investing, and at times luck, comes in-much like in real life. By strategizing with a business sense, the player can easily ruin their opponents' finances.

Clue is another game that demands strategizing. Players need to find the murderer among them. In this dizzying and confusing game, a player needs to outsmart everyone to know who the real murderer is. But lies, secrecy and confusion can easily leave players scratching their heads, until, of course, they are killed. Thinking ahead and speculating, like the rules of strategy, can definitely help the player.

There are a lot of great board games out there that require strategizing. The problem with today is that people are now more drawn into the video game types. Classic strategy board games like chess or checkers are actually more challenging to the mind. Contemporary ones influence interaction between family and friends. Video games don't exactly encourage conversation, so try strategy board games more often.

Visit Board Games Store A Place Where You Can Find Huge Selection Of Strategy Board Games And Find Info On The World's Most Popular Board Games

By Robert Diarioti

History of Board Games

Board games are certainly a lot of fun and they have been around for a long time. They bring friends and family together for friendly competition and the outcome is different every single time the game is played. Perhaps that is why the board game has not declined in popularity throughout its long history.

The history

Speaking of the history of board games, you will find that they have always been played upon a flat surface that is called the board. It is believed that board games have been around for 4,000 years, but unfortunately the written history does not extend back that far. However, there has been talk of board games discovered that extends back beyond 3,500 years.

Being that Asia tends to be the area in which some of the most historic facts are found, it isn't until 400 B.C. that the board games seems to have been discovered. However, the history of board games reveals that they were quite popular in ancient Greece and then spread throughout Europe. Eventually, the board game made its way to the United States where people have enjoyed them for centuries.

Nevertheless, the history of board games does not end there. There are both strategy games that involve trapping the opponent in some way and then there are racing games where the player's pieces are moved toward the finish line. Whoever reaches the finish line first is the winner.

One of the most popular racing games that come about in 1904 went by the name 'The Landlord's Game.' This is known as being one of the earliest forms of Monopoly. It wasn't copyrighted until 1933 when Charles Darrow decided to sell it for profit. It was not known who made the first version of the game, but he cashed in on it by selling versions that used different street names based on the area in which the players resided. It was also printed on tablecloths rather than boards with trinkets from around the house used as game pieces.

Today

You will find that today the history of board games continues. Many of the games that our parents and grandparents enjoyed as children are still manufactured. We see Monopoly coming out with various editions and it has never seemed to decline in popularity. Nevertheless, the board game is a great way to get family and friends together for some friendly fun and good conversation. The history of board games shows that this has been a result the entire time, which makes the board game a true family activity. If you can't get the kids to slow down long enough to talk, invite them in with a board game. You'll be glad you did.

Ian Pennington is an accomplished niche website developer and author.
To learn more about board game history, please visit Family Board Games Today for current articles and discussions.

By Ian Pennington

Monopoly Board Games Business and Real Estate How Monopoly Made These Things Interesting

When the Parker Brothers published the board game Monopoly in 1935, it became a sensation. No one would have guessed a game about buying, renting, banking, real estate, and business would become a worldwide success. In fact, since 1935, Monopoly has been played by 750 million people across the globe. The Guinness Book of Records even cited Monopoly for the number of people who have played the game. Games Magazine also inducted Monopoly into its Hall of Fame.

History

The origin of Monopoly however, was way before 1935. Its roots can even be traced in 1904. A Quaker woman by the name Elizabeth J. Magie Phillips created an educational board game hoping it would be a better tool to teach people about the single tax theory of Henry George. The game was subsequently called The Landlord's Game, and it was published a few years later.

Thereafter, many games patterned on it came out in the market. Elizabeth Phillips, in fact, also patented a fresher version of her game in 1924. A little over ten years later, the Parker Brothers came out with Monopoly. Since then, several people across America have been contributing to its design and development. This made what Monopoly is today. But despite the alterations in look and style, the fundamental and rudimentary rules of the game have hardly changed.

In the 1970s, however, Monopoly's history greatly suffered when it was believed that a man named Charles Darrow was the sole creator of the board game. The distortion of Monopoly's history caused several court cases throughout the years. Various historians and company owners of Monopoly have switched loyalties from the Parker Brothers and Charles Darrow. Luckily, some people have seen the importance of Monopoly in society. They have spent their time researching the true history of the world's most played board game.

Monopoly and the Nazis

Across the 20th century, Monopoly has given people different ways of entertainment, comfort, and even escape. In 1941, British Secret Service had a special kind of Monopoly created for prisoners of war held by the Nazis. Their Monopoly contained real money, maps, compasses, and other materials useful for escaping. These were actually distributed by the International Red Cross.

Rich Uncle Pennybags

It has also been said that the trademark of Monopoly, Rich Uncle Pennybags, was patterned on J.P. Morgan-a name still familiar to American financing and philanthropy.

Multifaceted Monopoly

Monopoly also adjusted to the environment and popular culture. For example, a London based Monopoly is quite different from an Atlantic City version, and it all falls to certain rules-like how a player can spend time in jail-to the name changes in streets and avenues. There is even a McDonalds Monopoly for promotional purposes. There is a Monopoly game that caters to the adult upper class, which can range from the gilded to silver plated versions that can cost up to 100,000 dollars. Also, there is a version for kids called Monopoly Junior.

Monopoly has also crossed over to virtual reality with the game Monopoly Tycoon, Monopoly Casino, and even Monopoly Star Wars. Throughout the years there had been add-ons to the board game itself. Even a short-lived TV show came out in the 1990s. Now, Oscar-nominated director Ridley Scott plans to make a movie based on Monopoly.

These different versions are testaments that Monopoly is an extremely popular game. It can be a wonder at times why a game that never ends can be the most widely played contemporary board game. It is simply that fun. Examining the age bracket it caters to, it seems to never lose its freshness. Not to mention that the game incorporates business sensibilities among players.

Visit Board Games Store A Place Where You Can Find Huge Selection Of Monopoly Board Games Which You Can Also Get Free Downloads Monopoly 3 And Free Downloads Monopoly Tycoon

By Robert Diarioti

5 More Games to Improve Your Brain Power

Games provide an excellent and fun way to improve your brainpower; if these games are played on a regular basis they will undoubtedly improve your concentration, memory and increase brain performance. Regularly playing brain games can also increase other mental abilities, such as mental processing speed, cognitive control, and reaction time.

It is a well-documented fact that the human brain starts to slow down as early as 30 years of age. But by spending as little as 15 minutes a day training your brain, you can prevent your brain from deteriorating.

All of the games mentioned below can be found and played for free online.

Cribbage or Crib - is a card game, which is traditionally for two players, but can be played my multiple players. Crib involves playing and grouping cards in combinations, which gain points. This is a game which requires a lot of strategy, tactics and counting skills.

Sokoban - Is a logic game, it is a transport puzzle game in which the player pushes boxes around a maze, viewed from above, and tries to put them in designated locations. Only one box may pushed at a time, not two, and boxes cannot be pulled. Sokoban is a classic game, which will expand your mind.

Chess - Is a board game played by two players, It is played on a board of 64 squares. Each square can be empty or occupied by a piece. The initial position of the game consists of 16 white pieces and 16 black pieces. The ultimate goal of the game is capture your opponent's king. It has been claimed that chess is good for, improving concentration, improving memory, developing calculating skills, helping with attention span and developing patience.

Solitaire Board Game - Even though Solitaire is easy to learn, it presents you with an ongoing challenge to master, and has become an especially popular solo board game in recent years. To play this challenging brain-teasing game all by yourself, you set up the thirty-two wooden pegs on the six-inch square wood board - leaving the space in the very centre empty. Then, by moving any peg just one space horizontally or vertically (no diagonal moves allowed!), you begin eliminating other pegs. It takes a lot of thought and brain power to finish the game with one peg left on the board.

ZYRX - Simple but challenging memory test game, which will give your short-term memory a good workout. . All you have to do is look at the pattern and memorize it. Then click those same dots on the main game area. It is harder than it sounds!

I have personally noticed a big improvement since I started playing these games on a daily basis. When I first started out playing them, my head would literally hurt from having to think so much. But I preserved and now I can feel the benefits.

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By Garry Winter

Discount Board Games

Anyone out to find a cheap form of entertainment can always count on discount board games to the do the trick. These board games are perfect for those people who are living on a budget and trying to save money. A good game board, especially if bought at a discount, will not only give out hours of enjoyment for the whole family, it will also be available at just a small cost compared to taking the children out for a movie or the arcade.

There are now thousands of toys from which children can gain enjoyment from, aside from computers and video games. However, the allure of playing a board game is still one that children can not pass up. It is also among the activities that parents should encourage in their kids' lives. These games have a great number of benefits for kids. These board games will not only aid children in developing their counting and reading skills, these will also teach them the important values of fair play and sportsmanship. Playing a board game is also a perfect opportunity for parents and children to have those precious bonding moments.

Board games are also great sources of entertainment for adults. Getting discount board games is not only a way to save on entertainment expenses but also a change of pace from the usual evening routine at home watching television. There are even studies that show that the regular playing of these board games, which stimulate brain activity, reduces the risks of acquiring Alzheimer's disease or dementia.

There are many great board games now available that cater to every taste and preference. There are trivia games like Trivial Pursuit and word games like Boggle and Scrabble. Dungeons & Dragons is also a popular role playing board game while there are also party board games like Cranium and children's games like Operation and Candyland. Strategy games like Herascape as well as Battleship and Monopoly, which are classic board games, are also available. The good thing about these popular games is that on sale as discount board games.

There are now a lot of venues where discount board games can be bought, including a number of them on the Internet. There are a lot of sites now selling cheap board games, especially if people will take the time to comparison shop or use money-saving coupons. There are even sites that offer promotions for free shipping. Brick and mortar discount stores or toy stores are also great places where you can find board games at lower prices. The best time to get a number of these board games is during the Christmas season when shopping for gifts is the norm and sales are common.

Candis Reade is an accomplished niche website developer and author.
To learn more about discount board games, please visit Fun Recreational Activities for current articles and discussions.

By Candis Reade

Enjoy Your Afternoon Playing Checkers Board Game

Checkers board game has a long fascinating history of more than 3000 years, which qualifies it as one of the most traditional game in civilization. The earliest checkers board was believed to have originated from ancient Egypt, which has been mentioned by Plato and Homer in 1600 BC. Then, the game pieces were known as ferses and the game is called Fierges , instead of checkers. It is believed that these games were later modified by the French to be played on a chess board during the middle ages. Thus, this is beginning of the modern version of the checkers board game.

Since then, the checkers board game has been played around the world and throughout recorded history. Though bridge and chess are usually played more often than checkers, it also possesses several aspects that make it a better game. Most people may find both bridge and chess are too dry and slow-moving. In addition, these games require a high level of intense concentration which is not suitable for those who can't withstand the stressful elements. In comparison, checkers board game is much easier to learn as the learning curve usually takes less than 15 minutes to master. Besides, the fast-moving game provides hours of exciting entertainment, as there is always the possibility of large changes in fortune.

In order to enjoy an afternoon of playing checkers board game, all that is needed are two players and a checkers set. Nowadays, getting a brand new set of checkers definitely will not cost more than going to the Disneyland theme park or getting a electronic game. Even if the two players are beginners, it will only another 15 minutes to learn the basic rules of the checkers board game and get used to the mechanics. The rules are few and simple to understand. By the time you finished sipping your cup of coffee, you will have all the rules at the back of your fingertips!

For more information on the playing checkers online, learning checkers rules or getting checkers boardgame, please visit the following website: Checkers Guide

Skyjoe is a well-known author, website publisher and owner of http://www.mygeneralknowledge.com. ?Skyjoe. All rights reserved. This article may be freely distributed as long as it remains unaltered inclusive of the active links and the copyright notice. No alteration is allowed without express written permission from the author.

By Sky Joe

The Best German Style Board Games

German style board games are a type of themed game which is catered to a wide age range of potential players. They usually require a healthy amount of thought and strategy but less tactical maneuvering than a game such as Chess. With a highly stylized board, simple rules, and a generally modest length of play, German style board games allow players to experience a fun, competitive environment without having to follow complicated rules and an exhaustive set up time. Because of their popularity and accessibility to a large range of players, these types of games can be found the world over, in any number of countries.

The best German style board games are multi-player games which can be learned quickly and played in a relatively quick time frame. They usually require some level of socializing but are not usually combat related, meaning that players usually do not have to confront one another head-on. Strategy against other players usually comes in the form of building one's own game up and using any possible resources available that might benefit other players. Face to face fights between players are usually rare on a German style board game. These games are always loosely themed, giving a suggestion of what the goals of the game actually are without being so heavy that they weigh the game down. Many different popular themes have to do with either building a city or governing an area.

One of the best features of German style board games is that they are tailored for everyone. They have easy to understand rules and a format of play that is simple to follow. Being competitive doesn't stop the social aspect of this game, allowing players to sometimes constructively help other players if the intent is there. They are also fluidly designed to generally be able to support between 2 and 6 players, with some games being able to accommodate up to 10. Each player in a German style board game generally plays the game for themselves, partnerships and teams are rare. Most of the games generally run for about an hour's worth of playing time, and many games feature a component to the game which will end it after a certain amount of time.

Another one of the best features of a German style game is that there is typically no player elimination. Having players be forced to drop out of the game before the end is generally seen as a counterproductive move, as it usually only gives the leading player an advantage. By keeping all of the players in the game until the end, the game remains competitive and the outcome isn't predictable.

The games are made for an international audience, usually having a board which is designed mostly with pictures. The rule book usually comes in a variety of languages, allowing players from many different nations to enjoy the game. The best German style board games are geared toward these multi-national audiences and feature elements which any player speaking any language will be able to understand. All of these elements combine together to make a great game, and when searching for a suitable German style board game, an interested player should take all of them into mind.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for board games, chess boards, and dungeons and dragons miniatures. You will find all these things and more if you visit German style, chess boards

By Victor Epand

What Are The Top 5 Classic Board Games Of All Time

If you were to make a list of your favorite indoor board games what would you include? Would chess be one of them? Or are you Life or Scrabble fan? There are a large number of board games that are classics and have stood the test of time. These people often have a large collection of them and they are always looking for something new. But, the fact is, that some games are must-haves. These games have transcended generations and we hold them dear to our hearts. This list has been compiled after aggregating results from several sources. Our global top 5 list is:

1. Monopoly: This is one of the worlds most well known board games. The game is a game of real estate, purchasing property, developing it and then making sure others lose their money before you do. This board game has a number of different versions to reach from young kids to the most sophisticated of all professionals. There are deluxe editions as well as fun loving Disney editions, sports editions, and even cat and dog-opoly! One or more of the various flavors of this game is likely to hang around for years to come.

2. Scrabble: Another classic that has diehard followers. A lot of people start playing scrabble to improve their vocabulary. In this game, the goal is to outwit the other player, scoring more points by creating more high-scoring words. A game that most people fall in love while they are just picking up the English language. Some of these hang around and make a career of it. The true testament that this game is truly global is that the current world champion hails from Thailand.

3. Chess: Chess goes as far back as the 7th century. The game is strategy at its best. It is one game that many will study, learn, and spend a life learning again. Its a game you learn to love as you pick up more strategies with time. Chess has an extremely large following of people.

4. Checkers: is another popular board game. Everyone recognizes the black and red checkered board and it is one of the simplest of games to learn. It has been around since about the 1500s where people began playing with far less interesting pieces.

5. Life: This is a relatively newer game in comparison to the other four. This is designed to be, well, like real life. Go through and make choices that will eventually effect what you can and cannot do in life. A game with plenty of options and each choice will take you in a completely different direction. This game and its different varieties such as the Simpsons version continue to hold promise for many years to come.

Mike Singh is a successful webmaster and publisher of chess-made-ez.com . He provides the basic chess rules and excellent chess tips to take your game to the next level.

By Mike Singh

What Do You Really Win Whilst Playing Monopoly

Let's talk about the present; we don't read so much as we did once. We prefer the PC instead of a quiet night by the fireplace with our friends, talking about the latest gossips or even playing a board game. When was the last time you played a game based on a real board game? You might answer me right back that you just had a game of Scrabble or Risk .

Now ask yourself, when did you last play a board game based on a PC game, hard thing to answer, isnt it? That is because there were not any attempts to do this transfer from the virtual area to the real one pawns, dice. But why did I bring up this issue you may ask? The answer is simple: I just wanted to underline the importance of a board game, through its accessibility and social character.

Playing the Monopoly board game is an easy thing to do: you take your board game and the rest of the set, gather a bunch of friends and start a hell of a game. It is a real game, you do not have to worry about your PCs system, the speed of the game for multi players on the Internet or about losing time for searching player's on the LAN. The reason that makes us choose a real board game as Monopoly is the social one.

It does not matter how advanced a PC game has become, because spending time and having fun with your friends is much more appealing, no matter how much you try to deny it. It is all about the pleasure of playing Monopoly, interacting with your friends & family, spending quality time together & creating memories.

Playing Monopoly can also be a perfect way to build learning skills with your children. Parents become more and more interested in the purchase of educational games for their children as playing is a very important trait for a child. Learning through a game is a reality & Monopoly is a modern game, educational and interesting which can also teach our children the basics of business life. They can buy properties & they can negotiate taxes.

All of these features can develop the qualities of a future business career in your child. Just by playing Monopoly they can learn important social skills such as communication, sharing, patience & enjoying interaction with each other .

Playing Monopoly is a captivating adventure as the longest Monopoly game ever played was 1,680 hours long, can you believe that? that's equivalent to 70 whole days. Well, that's Monopoly for you!

Miles Jacobs recommends the Monopoly Tycoon Site which will provide you with comprehensive information on all aspects of the game of Monopoly. To find articles, tips and free advice check out the site here: http://www.monopolytycoonsite.com

By Miles Jacobs

Memoir '44 WWII Boardgame at It's Best

Memoir '44, by Richard Borg and Days of Wonder, is a marvelous World War II game, with features of traditional board games and war games. Fans of Risk and Stratego will easily pick it up, as well as players of popular miniature war games like Warhammer or Flames of War. It offers a little something for every gamer.

Memoir '44 game play revolves a large hex based board; one side that is reflects a pastoral setting, while the other shows a Normandy style beach. To make each battle unique, players can setup hex shaped tiles on each hex on the map, representing trees, water, towns, bridges, forts, etc. From here, players also can add bunkers, barbed wire, tank traps, and other obstacles represented by plastic pieces to the board. Finally, players setup their troops, provided in the form of plastic miniature soldiers, tanks and artillery, all nicely modeled and quite detailed.

Game play takes place in turns, with players using cards issued at the beginning of the game to decide what they can do, choosing the best cards to use from their collection for each turn. A wide variety of good and balanced cards makes for some interesting play, and the cards are nicely illustrated as well. These cards offer simple moves, like move only 1-2 units of troops in your left flank, or offer bonuses like air strikes, etc. Using the right cards at the right time will vastly affect the battle, and will help immensely.

The rulebook is very well written, with clear cut rules and illustrations that show exactly what needs to be done. While a few rules don't make perfect sense (i.e. a unit of troops that is reduced to just one figure can still shoot with the firepower of a fresh, four figure unit), most make perfect sense, and are easy to follow. The game set come with everything you need to play pretty much any WWII scenario set in the European theater, and includes several pre-designed scenarios, like Normandy, and several others, in the rulebook. The rulebook also has several useful hints and tactics for playing the game, and really gives a great overview of the game.

It could be argued that Memoir '44 is not a 'hardcore-enough' game to satisfy grog nards and WWII gamers who are more fond of a simple map with a thick rulebook, and could care less about the nifty design and slick packaging of Memoir '44. While this is certainly a fair enough criticism, it should be noted that Memoir '44 is a very solid game, and does a decent job of representing a mix between a tactical level skirmish and an overall larger operation in WWII. If you're looking for a great WWII game that is nicely designed, and easy to pick up and play, take a look at Memoir '44.

By Phillip, www.associatedcontent.com

Too Broke to Budget Family Fun

Break the Blah's with These No Cost or Low Cost Ideas

Man oh man, it sure is easy to wish and hope and then be upset with what you do have. Even if you feel the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, as soon as you climb that fence... there's another fence that you just KNOW is hiding the most emerald-like grass you could find. Point made, we are very difficult to satisfy.

However, it doesn't have to be that way for us hard working, unrewarded families! We can live the 'high life' without spending any money... or at the most pocket change!

This is how a normal day would go in an unhappy family. The parents come home from work, eat dinner, watch tv, and go to bed. The children's day is fairly similar, chores after homework... tv... bla bla bla. It's usually 'All we can do... we can't afford to go out...'

Why don't you try some of these ideas, and see if everyone's moods don't lift?!

1.) It's ok to have a 'Pizza Friday'. A better idea is 'Foreign Food Wednseday' . Wednseday is usually right in the middle of the week. (It may change sometimes...) Being it is the longest day to get through because it the week is either 'almost over' or 'you still have half to go...' Throwing in a change can give Wednseday Dinner a Friday Feeling. Don't stick with the same food, or even the same culture. Try new foods you've never had before. Look up a few trivia facts about the culture you are tasting, and share your lessons. Maybe decorate with a theme. Make it creative, get everyone involved, and make it fun!

2.)It's okay to curl up and watch The Simpsons together. It's not okay to watch tv from the time dinner is done until you go to bed. Not everyday. After dinner, or even after a tv show... go for a walk! The season is finally changing, and you don't have to wait for the snow to melt completely before going outside! There are endless ways to make walks fun with children, but the best thing is that a walk is fun enough as it is.
(Walking also helps depression go away, because it is exercise that boosts serotonine.)

3.)If you are all in a 'movie mood', you don't have to go pay $20/person to watch they newest movie. You don't even have to drive to the rental store and pay $5 to borrow a new release on DVD. You probably own a large amount of DVD's you bought because you like and haven't watched in a while. Watch one of those together... Cut up some cheese and crackers w/ pepperoni, make bagel bites or popcorn or cake or cut up fruit... make sure everyone is equipped with snack options and beverage. Make a big deal out of watching the movie.

4.)Play games with your family! Every night doesn't have to be 'Family Fun Night', and every game doesn't have to take place on 'Family Fun Night'. Play a card game, a boardgame, or a 'home made game' (Tossing pennies into different sized objects- coffe can, soda bottle, mayo jar, etc.- at different point values for high score) I would recommend to any family to spend $40 on Cranium's Family Fun game! It may be something you have to save for, because honestly $40 can be a luxury at times. I promise it is worth the expense, because the entire family will have lots of fun playing this game... that includes that parents! This is not a game that is more fun for kids. But you don't need to spend money to play a game before bedtime!

5.) Aw yes, family fun night. That is a wonderful thing that varies in different families. If you don't already have it in your family, you need to. It can be weekly, or monthly, or whenever one is called. Regardless of how often it occurs, or wether it is planned or not... it is a luxury that is free and brings happiness to all. Why can't every night be treated mildly like 'family night' without calling it such? Instead of one person on the computer, one person in their room playing, one person lounging in front of Sportscenter all night... bring the family together more often!

6.) Outings! Take a drive together to visit family or to view scenery. Go to the closest hiking trail you know of and take the family for a walk in the woods. Pack a picnic! Even if you can't afford to go out to the zoo and eat at McDonald's for lunch, it can often be totally free to walk through the woods and point out chipmunks, birds, and other random animals you may see. You can also comment on the flowers and plants growing around you. It can be totally free to pack up some fruit and sandwiches into a backpack (Never throw your trash on the ground!). IF you do have a little money to spend on a disposable, or you already own a digital... take pictures! It is always important to take lots of pictures of your family having fun together. Those memories are the most important things we have. Without physically preserving those outings... going for a walk with a picnic packed in comfortable bag is absolutely free!

7.) Always get the whole family involved with ideas of fun things you can do together. Keep a coffee can or jar somewhere accessible at all times for a note to be dropped in. The 'comment box' sounds corny and cliche, but that doesn't affect it's effectiveness.

When you look at your life to see what you have, look only at your life. So what if your neighbors can take vacations to Europe with their family and you can't. So what if you can't afford a fourwheeler for everyone to ride and your coworker owns 4. The less you have, the more you appreciate the things you have. They mean more. Your family will be the most important thing you will ever have.

By Anne Ominous, www.associatedcontent.com

Ticket to Ride A Fun Strategy Boardgame

Ticket To Ride is a game that is a little simpler than some of the more complicated train board games that are out there. The goal is rather simple: it's to score more points than your opponents. The trick is how you go about scoring points. You can get them two ways. One is by having the longest track completed at the end of the game. The other way is by completing different destination tricks which give you points for connecting certain cities on the map.

Everyone begins the game with their own set of little miniature trains. On your turn you can either draw cards, place your trains, or draw destination tickets. The only way you can play your trains are by having enough colored train cards to match one of the tracks between cities, if you have the correct number of that color of card for that track you can play your trains. Because of this, drawing cards is a good idea early in the game. Another thing you might want to do is draw destination cards. When you draw destination cards you can draw up to three and discard them if you don't like them but you must keep at least one. Destination cards give you points for completing paths using your train tokens from one city to another.

As the game goes on you will have to decide if you want to try to risk picking up more destination tickets. If you complete a ticket you get points, but if you fail to complete it you lose points. The trick though by picking them up late is you might find a destination ticket that you have already completed. Remember, you can choose up to three of them and only have to keep one! Of course there is another way to score points. That is if you have the longest track at the end of the game. This will get you ten bonus points. This is why I said early in the game you might want to make sure you draw cards early. You can try to make a nice long route and then hope that it will work out for the destination cards you draw. Of course this also increases your risk of getting negative points.

In the end you will need to develop your own strategy and sometimes you opponent's strategies will help dictate the one that you use. This game is a lot of fun, and due to it's simplicity it can be played with a variety of age groups. In the end the person with the most points wins, and considering how quickly the game can be taught it works for groups of people that are gaming fans as well as ones that just want a simple boardgame to play for the evening. It retails for about $30 so that is one of the few negatives about the game. If you think you and your fellow game players will play it quite a bit it's worth the purchase though.

By Newshound www.associatedcontent.com

Training Using Games to Embed Learning

Too much training is boring. Too much training barely raises itself above level one in Kirkpatrick's four levels of training evaluation. That is, the reaction of students; what they thought and felt about the training. Too much training ignores the learning needs of the participants. Too much corporate training spending is wasted.

Adults have some simple requirements as learners. They have an expectation of being treated as an adult with respect shown for their experience and knowledge of the training topic. Even if they cannot describe what they know in the theoretical terms they are about to learn they still want their experience acknowledged. They have a need to share that experience with others.

Above all, adults have a desire to be active participants in the learning process. They, of course, abhor boring day long presentations where presenters ask for and receive no interaction from the participants. However, they also tend to dislike good interactive presentations which give no scope for learning through experience.

Unfortunately, what adults also have is a predilection that training must somehow be painful and difficult. The old, o pain, no gain, adage of physical training seems to transfer to corporate learning. They believe that training whilst being lively and fast moving cannot equate to fun.

Mentioning the word, game, sends most adults into a thought process something like: game equals child's play, equals not serious, equals no learning. The truth is the opposite. Adults learn better through experiential games as part of a coaching learning environment than through a presentation.

A study by Bloom and others published in their book Bloom's Taxonomy of Learning Domains demonstrated a structure for design of training that complemented the desired outcomes.

The structure of learning knowledge escalated through six levels; Knowledge (finding out), Comprehension (understanding), Application (making use of the knowledge), Analysis Questions (taking apart the known), Synthesis (putting things together in a different way) and Evaluation (judging outcomes).

Games are good training tools which can be used at all levels of learning objectives using Bloom's Taxonomy.

Quizzes, twenty questions and game show formats such as Jeopardy can transfer knowledge and test for comprehension. Using multiple choice questions in a competitive jeopardy show format reinforces learning and tests comprehension by using multiple choice questions which have at least two plausible but only one correct answer.

Online games and other computer based training games can provide methods to test application, analysis synthesis and evaluation.

A good method of training people to meet learning objectives across the whole spectrum is to use a board game. Board games can be designed to integrate process Eg, a sales process with questions about knowledge of the topics being taught and decisions to test ability to evaluate options within a scenario using the theory being taught tests participants cognitive ability across all of Bloom's structure.

Board games can be developed for almost any topic from an organisation's safety policies and processes to the organisation's three year strategy. Careful consideration needs to be given to the actual design of the board and the parameters which will be impacted by decisions made by the teams. However, a well constructed board game will test the use of theory within an organisation's operating environment.

Using games in a training event improves the learning process by creating an environment where people's creativity and intelligence are engaged and addressing the different ways in which different people best learn; through movement, hearing, and seeing.

However, when games are used as an end in themselves and not a means towards an end, they waste time and can hamper learning and using too many games can destroy learning effectiveness.

Games are best used in conjunction with other learning methodologies, such as presentations and discussions. Games used at the beginning of a program can measure existing knowledge providing a basis for future measurement and can build immediate interest in the training material.

Games used during a training programme can help people discover the learning themselves, which strengthens recall and commitment, practice using new knowledge or skills, or reinforce initial learning. Games used near the end of a program can test knowledge gained and people's ability to apply it in their work environment.

For games to be effective, they must be related to the workplace by providing knowledge, reinforcing attitudes, and initiating action that is important to job success. They must also teach people how to think, access information, react, understand, and create value for themselves and their organizations.

They must be enjoyable and engaging without being overly simplistic or silly. Games must also allow for reflection. That is, they must be debriefed. In many instances they need to be facilitated.

Games have a strong place in an organisation's learning environment. They are very effective learning tools for people. Encourage your people to play them.

Kevin Dwyer is Director of Change Factory. Change Factory helps organisations who do do not like their business outcomes to get better outcomes by changing people's behaviour. Businesses we help have greater clarity of purpose and ability to achieve their desired business outcomes. To learn more visit http://www.changefactory.com.au or email kevin.dwyer@changefactory.com.au

To see more articles visit http://www.changefactory.com.au

By Kevin Dwyer

Top Ten Gift Ideas for Boardgame Lovers

While many people enjoy playing computer games, there are others who enjoy board games, which are still quite popular. It is a nice way to spend some time with your family and friends. Here are ten gift ideas for board game lovers.

Adult Board Games- yes, there is such a thing as board games for adults. You can play with your spouse, partner, boyfriend, girlfriend or a group of friends. Here are a few: Nooki, which takes a playful look at romance. Gamers can play in three categories, Mmm, Ooh, and Ash. Dirty Minds is a game of innuendo, and can be played by 2 or more players. The game comes with 906 naughty clues, 302 clean answers, 100 game cards, and plus plenty of other features. Worst Case Scenario: Dating and Sex, and can be played by 2 or more players. This game is based on a best-selling book where each player is given three possible answers to a given scenario. Monogamy Adult Board game, this game include 400 fun ideas and comes with one playing board, 65 intimate card, 65 passionate cards, and 65 steamy card, plus much more. Price range for all these games are between $5.00 to $40.00

Mystery Board Games-who does not love a good mystery? Most of these board games are for players ages 8 and up. Here are a few: 3 Second Mysteries, where a continual line of people enters Butchs place of business and remove its highly valued treasures. What type of business employs Butch and what are people stealing? 22 B Baker Street board game, is the address of one of the most famous detectives in history Sherlock Holmes. Players assume the role of Holmes and matches wit with other players to determine who possess the most skillful deductive powers. Top Secret Spies, where players become spies and can score points for their spying . Players also score points if they figure out the spy identity of their opponents. Simpson Clue, players assume the identity of one of the Simpsons character and try to figure out who killed Mr.Burns.

Strategic Games- playing a strategic game takes time and deliberation. Chess is an old but still one of the best strategic games around. If you dont know how to play chess there are plenty of books that will teach you. Goblet is more of a abstract strategic game, where gamers play with hollow out wooden pieces, then must play them over their opponent (goblet) smaller pieces. Tantrix Strategy Game is where players compete to see who can form the longest line or loop. Zertz, where gamers play with black, grey, and white marbles and 37 round tiles. The object of the game is to move your marbles across the board and in the next move, they must remove a tile.

TV/Film Board Games- everybody has watch or seen a movie. Why not get a board game that replicates your favorite television game show, or test your knowledge of movies/TV? Here are a few board games for your consideration: Deal or NoDeal, Jeopardy board game, Family Feud, Can You Beat Ken? Named after Jeopardys most successful contestant, Movies Quote Craze, and their are a host of Pirates of the Caribbean board games on the market like Pirates oft the Caribbean DiceGame, where the most deceitful player wins.

Family Board Games- a wholesome way to spend time with your family. Here are a few games: Anti-Monopoly Game, a new twist on an old favorite. Players choose free enterprise or monopoly, and they play under different rules? Best of Chronologygame, where players who put ten cards in the correct chronological order first wins. Othello board game is played with only 2 players. The winner of the game must finished with more of their colored disk facing up, when the last disk is played then their opponent.

War Board Games- are varied. There are war board games dealing with War World I, War World II, American Wars, Ancient Wars, European Wars, and Civil War. It can be an interesting way to teach a child about history. Most of these games can be played by children 12 and up. Some of these games include: Nero board game, where the strategy is to become Emperor, and stay Emperor. A House Divided, the game simulates many battles during the American Civil War. Road to Berlin, where players deal with the last days of War World II in Europe. War Board Games are often priced higher then other types of board games, so dont be surprised at paying close to $100.00 dollars or higher for one.

Biblical Board Games- there are plenty of board games on the market that has Christian themes, with such titles like Bible Raffle, Solomons Temple, Bibleopoly and Ark of the Convenant

There are plenty of other types of board games out there that has not been mentioned in this article: Art and Geography board games are two of them, rest assured there is a board game out there for you.

By Avis Yarbrough, www.associatedcontent.com

Board Game Directions

Board games are ideal for family entertainment. A perfect entertainer for all member's of the family. This is the only game in which age is not a bar almost every one can participate in these. A perfect example but not fully to an extent can be attributed to Chess.

It can be a perfect gift for Christmas or for any other festivals. These are much liked by kids and it can serve as a perfect alternative to those countless video games. If your kid is lonely and you want him to make new friends then a board game can be really interesting. A competition can be thrown around it but make sure that you give enough board game directions before the start of the game.

Board game directions vary according to the board game you selected. There are no concurrent directions for them which is applicable to all. Make sure that you know the different aspects of it before you start to play. Playing knowledge about board game directions and knowledge about the game can give you an edge among your rivals, this is reflected in the works of three eminent persons Adriaan de Groot, William Chase and Herbert Simon.

Some of the famous board games are Chess, Shogi, Xiangqi, Weiqi, etc these games are based on strategy and are famous worldwide. Some of these have obtained international status. It should be selected in such a way that it should be based on strategy rather than luck. Some games such as Sorry!, Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders are entirely based on luck rather on moves or strategy. Board game directions are very important when you opt for strategy game. When one is dependent upon luck then it is imperative that you require qualities and board game directions such as expected value and risk management.

Another important factor in the game is diplomacy where negotiations, deals etc come into play. Board game directions and rules get applicable as to what extent you can make a deal, negotiation, etc. With increases of technology the traditional form of playing board games got reduced. Although the extent of playing got reduced its fan fare never got reduced, but the platform got changed. Most of them today prefer online games, multiplayer games, and automated players.

Robert Grazian is an accomplished niche website developer and author.
To learn more about board game directions visit Fun With Board Games Site for current articles and discussions.

By Robert Grazian

Board Games Introducing New Games to Your Gaming Group

You have gone through the process of getting some friends together and you want to introduce them to a new game. The good news is that they are not looking to you as a master of this new game. They really want a guide to get them past the rules and get to the gaming goodness - the reason they came to the event to begin with.

Be Familiar with Your Games

What's the worst thing you can do with a new game? Read the rules in front of your gaming group. Some of these games come with Rule Guides of over 35 pages. It is not practical to read that as you go. Chances are you won't have anyone at your next gaming event if this is how you plan to handle it.

The important part of this process is not complete mastery. It is maintaining control long enough for everyone to get the hang of the game themselves. What your friends want from the situation is to play the game with the correct set of rules.

They want to know:

* How do they win?

* What do I do when it is my turn?

* How do I interact with others?


These are the points you need to cover at the very beginning, so they understand where all the explanation is leading.

If you forget certain rules, it is alright to add them later. You're goal here is to get past the basic explanation so everyone can enjoy the game. You lose control of the situation and your friends' attention the minute you go to look up a set of rules in the rule book.

Set Up the Game Before You Start

This is one of the most important steps you can take to improve your success in teaching new people a game. Good speakers use props to enhance their presentations. You certainly don't need PowerPoint for this, but having the game as a reference is a great tool.

This allows for two things.

1. You can use the game bits and cards to explain points.
2. People can play the game immediately after you are done.

Introduce the Goal

Every game has a goal. Some are simple goals, like If you have the most points by turn 10, you win. Other games have more complex, and really don't make sense until you review the rules of the game. Make sure you explain these goals up front and make sure you repeat them often.

Whatever the goal, people like to know what they need to accomplish. This is what drags them through the process of hearing the rules. With the end in mind, they can get through and understand the means.

If you don't do this, your audience will constantly be wondering how does this help me win? This is distracting to the learner and you want to eliminate it. If you can't explain it well at the beginning, give them keywords or something to latch onto, so they understand it when it shows up. You can even just say something like victory points are good, knights are good, cities and roads are good, or keeping all your resources is bad.

Three is a Magic Number

People like to learn things in groups of three. There is a rhythm and flow to things that come in a set of three. Many games have choices to present - do it in groups of three when possible. For example, you can gather a resource, attack your neighbor, or choose an opportunity card.

Some games make it complicated - you get three things to do on your turn and each of those items offers several options. The best way to explain that is On your turn, you are going to do X, Y, and Z. For you to accomplish X, you have three choices. They are 1, 2, or 3. Let's go over 1 first.

Don't force this concept where it does not exist, though. That just leads to confusion. You can look for patterns in the rules, though. Sometimes there are team decisions, defensive decisions, or offensive actions you can take. You can divide your descriptions into these categories if you wanted to.

Wash, Rinse, and REPEAT!

As you are explaining the game, it is beneficial to your audience if you repeat certain things, like how to win the game. Also, it is nice to do this if you are going through a set of choices. How do you do this?

Let's go back to the X, Y, and Z example from earlier. You are talking about the first action you need to do on your turn, action X. You need to explain choice 1, 2, and 3. When you are done, you say something like OK, that's the first part of your turn. That was X. Now, let's take a look at Y. While doing this, rephrase the rules you just offered, rather than repeating them again the same way. This will help some of your group get it if they had not already.

Introducing Game Terms

Lots of games have common things, but they go by different names. Make these associations for your group and then introduce them to the correct terms for the game you are trying to teach them. A good example of this type of item is money. If you can get away without using the game jargon, that will help your group grasp concepts better. For example, if you are introducing Settlers of Catan, there is no money in the game. But, there are resources. You can equate these to money and talk about how you buy things with combinations of money, or esources. This allows you to add your own flair to the instruction and bring people into the game quicker.

Talk to Me

Teaching new gamers a game should be a conversation, not a boring lecture. People want to have fun, not watch you give a fancy presentation. Watch to make sure your fellow gamers are getting what you are saying and don't be afraid to go back and reiterate something you already mentioned - even if you have to revisit a concept several times.

Don't single out people that are having trouble grasping the rules. One of the worst things you can do is set them up to look slow. They won't want to ask questions after that. It is also possible that they may not return for another gaming session.

Here's A Personal Experience For You

I got a new game, Starcraft the Board Game, about two months ago. I was sure my wife would be interested in checking it out, so she could kick my intersteller butt. This game had a 45 page rule guide. I did not follow any of these suggestions for myself and suggested we go through the guide and try to teach ourselves. Well, four hours later, we had gotten to the point where we actually started to understand what the rules were saying and we attempted to play. This was possibly one of the worst gaming experiences for her. To this day, she refuses to really try to play that game.

We had a better experience this last weekend with Shadows Over Camelot. I introduced it to her and her mother. I watched a few videos on www.youtube.com about the game and was a little more familiar with how the game played. This went fairly smoothly. We attempted a game on Friday night with rules in hand. Then, on Saturday night, we played one game with the rules, but a little faster. We were enjoying it enough to give it a go for a third time - that was the kicker. This was a tense game with great team play and lots of table-talk. But, very little use of the rule book. This one was a success.

It Can Be A Rewarding Experience

Introducing your friends to a new game can be a very rewarding experience and a great way to get your games on the table and into rotation with your game group.

Like any skill, practice makes perfect. Also, don't miss out on many of the learning tools available online. You can find quick-start guides, visual aids, and other suggestions on web sites like www.boardgamegeek.com.

One Last Suggestion

There is a practice at the country western clubs that actually can be useful for you in your gaming group. About an hour before the club starts hopping, the DJ opens the dance floor and teaches people how to do many of the line dances they will see throughout the night. Obviously, you won't be line dancing at your gaming party (are you?) but the lesson is solid. Announce the games you will be playing before the event. If someone is new to that game, allow them to come early for an introduction to those games. That way, you don't have to take up game time with a rules introduction. Also, it allows fellow gamers to try to introduce games in a non-threatening environment.

Once everyone is comfortable with this process, you can rotate who does the teaching at each event.

By Barry Nadler

How To Make Your Own Board Game

Making your own board games does not only help you save up, it also develops your resourcefulness and creativity. Making homemade board games is twice as exciting as playing the game itself. It is also very economical. So why buy them when you can create your own? You can even get a lot of benefits from making your board games yourself. Now, how do you start making them?

First of all, you have to gather your materials. It is important to take durability into consideration when selecting your raw materials. The more long-lasting the material is the more games you'll be able to play with it.

Chess, Checkers or Go

If you are making your own chess game board, you must decide what to replace your chess pieces. Stones and beads are the popular choices for board game pieces. In chess, since the king is the biggest piece, reserve the biggest stone for that. Stones, in fact, were first used as pieces in games like Go. For chess, if you are using beads, choose the largest one for the king or use a distinct color for each piece. And since the Queen symbolizes femininity, reserve the pink bead for her. Almost anything can be used to serve as playing pieces. If you have a figurine collection, you can use them as well.

If you know how to carve, you can use leftover wood to create your board pieces. Then use paint or varnish for a finishing touch. Coins can also be used as markers. The lists of possibilities are endless!

Different board games need different game pieces. Some may require a dice as well as a deck of cards and poker chips. For your convenience, it may be better to purchase these items instead to make sure they're uniform. While you're at it, you may need to purchase some permanent markers, scissors and a ruler as well to make your playing board.

Rudiments: Boards

You can make your own game board from different things. You can use an illustration board or spare plywood to draw your playing field. If you want your game board to be portable, you can even use a cloth, which you can easily fold after playing.

Just make sure that the material you use for your game board can easily be laid flat. If not, you'll be spending most of the time leveling it while playing the board game. If you love the game, it is best to invest your creativity in it, as well as some money, time and effort. A nice board for your playing pleasure will affect your mood while on the game.

Packing It Up

Now you have your board game set. However, you are not done yet. You also have to consider other important things such as the storage of your entire board game set. If the board you made is small and convenient enough to store in a portable box, you can bring it anywhere you fancy. If you made a large one, look for a cool, dry place where you can store and easily retrieve it.

If you store your board in a hot place, the markers may fade right away. If you are using cloth for your board, do not fold it when storing it. Roll it up or keep it flat in an envelope so that no crease will disturb your game pieces once you start the next game.

Making your own playing board and pieces will help you play your favorite game without spending too much. Moreover, your improvised board game set will be uniquely your own.

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By Robert Diarioti

Pickomino A Game of Dice and Tiles

This Game is Easy to Learn, and a Quick Game to Play

Pickomino is a great dice game from one of the most popular names in games today, Reiner Knizia. Knizia is known for making games that have deep strategies and interesting themes along with them. Pickomino is not quite as deep in the strategy department as some of his card and boardgame offerings, but it is a lot of fun. The theme is that of chickens trying to eat worms, but honestly the game would be pretty much the same without the theme. It's a game for two to seven players and only takes a few minutes to learn and twenty to thirty minutes to play a complete game.

The game revolves around two different playing pieces. They are a set of 8 dice, and a set of 16 tiles. The tiles are numbered from twenty one to thirty six. Each tile not only has a number on it, but it also has a number of worms. The number of worms are the key here as they will determine who wins the game in the end when it is scored. You will want to look closely at the tiles, because that will help you realize that the tiles with the higher number of worms on them also have the higher numeric number assigned. The next key to the game are the eight dice. They are almost standard six sided dice. The reason I say almost standard is because they sixes have been replaced with worms.

To start the game all sixteen tiles begin in a common area where all the players can see them. Once a player is chosen to start , which I recommend the oldest starting first, the fun begins. On your turn you first roll all eight dice on your initial roll. You can then lock in any number of dice you want that have the same numerical (or ones that all have a worm) on them. You then roll the dice again, that is you roll all the dice you haven't locked in yet. This time again you can take the dice you want to lock in that all have the same numerical value out of the game. There are a couple things about locking in to remember. You must lock in all the dice that have the number you choose on your turn, you can't just take two out of the 5's showing and leave one to roll again (you would have to lock in all three). After you lock in a certain value on one roll you can't lock that same value in on a future roll. You can keep rolling as long as you wish or stop whenever you wish. If you take another roll though and you roll all numbers that you have already locked in you lose that turn. More about losing on your turn later.

Now if you decide to stop, you add up the value of your dice and take the tile with that value and put it on the pile in front of you. It can either be from the common area or from the top of one of your opponent's piles, which is referred to as stealing. If the value you have from your dice combined is not shown on one of the face up tiles, you may take the tile with the highest value in the common area that is lower than your locked in total. Now, let's say there is no tile that matches your locked in total and there are no tiles lower than your locked in total in the common area, what happens then? Once again you lose on your turn. So, what is so bad about losing on your turn?

Well first of all you are not entitled to claim a tile. Not only that you must put the top tile from your pile back into the common area face up, and finally turn over the tile in the common area with the highest numerical value therefore removing it from the game. The whole goal in this game is to have the most worms on the tiles in your pile when the game ends, so as you can see not getting a tile, and giving one back on the same turn hurts you a lot. Also flipping over the highest value tile in the common area (which will have a high number of worms) also hurts you because that tile is no longer available to add to anyone's worm total. When all the tiles are removed from the common area into player's piles and/or turned over the game ends. You then add up the worms everyone has (not the numerical values) and a winner is declared.

This is a great dice game. You can play it quickly, and as you can see the rules are rather simple and can be picked up on quickly. The only parts that are even slightly complex are what happens when you lose on a turn. I think this game is a great family game, as well as one to play with casual friends when you want a game with a very light strategy that will get some interesting rash talking going on trying to convince opponents to keep rolling another round of dice. This game is very affordable at around $15-20, and I think it is one everyone should have in their collection. I rarely give out 10's to a game, and I can't do it for this one because of the theme not really being that much a part of the game, but I will give it a 9!

By Newshound, www.associatedcontent.com

The World's Most Popular Board Games

Board games have been in existence over centuries ago. The oldest known board games trace as far back as 5870 B.C. This just proves the human necessity to be entertained and challenged at the same time. Board games, more than any, requires mental strategizing. Unlike sports, where the mind is challenged as well but concentrates more on the physical capabilities of the player, board games requires the competence of the player's thinking process and quick-wittedness to win. This is one of the attributes that set apart board games from many other games.

Board Games Live and Die

This does not mean, however, that all board games are successful. Board games live and die depending on their popularity. If there is an art in playing them, there is even greater art required in creating them. Senet and Mehen are board games traced back in ancient Egypt, but their existence in contemporary or popular culture is almost nonexistent, but their evolution can be more recognizable today. Truth to be told, it is the applicability of the game towards the modern times that, most of the time, decides if the game will live on or wither away.

Grandparents of Board Games

Backgammon, Go and Chess are probably the oldest games still played today. Backgammon is considered as a race game. It requires moving one's pieces across to the other side of the board. This game needs to roll dice to determine the moves of the game. This game dates back to ancient Egypt, around 3000 B.C., and it's believed to have evolved from the ancient game of Senet.

Go is believed to have originated in China back in mid-2000 B.C. specifically, it can be traced to Emperor Yao, and subsequently its popularity spread to Korea and Japan. Chess, on the other, was believed to have originated in India in the 6th century. Scholars consider chess to have evolved from an ancient game called Chaturanga.

Clearly Go predates chess a few thousand years back, but they have their similarities. Each only requires two players, and they have to outwit one another. It is not surprising to know that chess originated from India, a country that shares a border with China. However, one glaring similarity both Go and chess have is that they are both war games.

Ancient forms, yes, and nearly incomparable to the war strategy games modern times have to offer in video games. It is believed that both these games came from tribal warlords who used same looking pieces to strategize their attack plan.

In retrospect, having war games as the oldest, still popular board game in present times does give people an idea why it is still applicable today.

Modern Times, Contemporary Board Games

There have been countless board games that have come into existence in our time. But little have the shelf life as the most popular board games still being played today. The exclusive list includes:

* Monopoly

* Clue

* Risk

* Life

* Snakes and Ladders

* Checkers

* Scrabble

Of course, Monopoly is almost recognizable across the globe. This is strange because Monopoly isn't exactly the easiest game to understand. Yet, despite this, the Guinness Book of Records recognizes Monopoly's worldwide appeal, with over 750 million having already played the game. To think that it has been in existence since 1935, Monopoly's staying power is a testament how real estate, business, banking, and investment is applicable in our times.

Clue, on the other hand, relies on murder and mystery to keep players interested. Risk is a perfect example of how ancient games like chess came about and Go have evolved to adjust to their cultural environment. Life, in contrast, predates Monopoly. It was created in 1860 and simulates, well, life. Marriage, career, and so on are part of the game, and people find it enjoyable to imagine what life would be like, or what life could have been, in this game.

Snake and Ladders is also another popular board game. The trouble with this game is many adults do not find it appealing. That is why it is nearly exclusive only to children. Adults normally find games depending on chance boring. Relying solely on the dice to determine the player's fate is not as challenging as most adults would want from board games. The player's fate in Monopoly is also determined by the dice, but unlike Snakes and Ladders, it still requires players to strategize.

Checkers, or English draught, is another popular game believed to have stemmed out from the form of chess and Go. Still, it is still considered as one of the most popular board game today. In fact, it is more popular than Go, which is commonly associated with Japan.

Lastly, there are the word games. Scrabble is the most popular among all word board games. Like chess or checkers, there are even world competitions for Scrabble. Word Factory, which can be loosely considered as a board game, is also a popular word game.

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By Robert Diarioti

How Do You Celebrate Your Birthday

Perhaps you don't really celebrate your birthday - some people I know don't - or perhaps your birthday is your favorite day of the year. Either way you will want to read this article.

If you are a birthday lover - this will give you more reasons to love your day. If you aren't a birthday fan (it just reminds you that I'm a year older today), this article will give you a completely different focus for this day.

Notice the title isn't 12 ways to celebrate a birthday; it's 12 ways to celebrate your birthday! What follows are 12 specific ideas to make your special day even more special.

Eat your favorite food. It's your day - you deserve it. Even if your favorite foods don't go together, they do today. Enjoy!

Do a favorite childhood activity. Maybe it was a board game, or playing tag, or doodling. Whatever it was, do it today! Do it as a way to reignite your inner child and your creativity. Do it for the pure enjoyment. You will be amazed at how it will make you feel.

Remember your favorite birthday. If you have a particular birthday that sticks out to you, spend time thinking about it and reveling in those memories.

Laugh out loud. Do something that makes you laugh with delight! Laughter feels good and is good for you. Perhaps one of the other ideas on this list will make you laugh out loud - if so, great!

Give a gift to someone else. We all know it feels better to give than receive, so why not give gifts to others on our birthday? Consider starting with your mother - after all she had a more memorable day when you were born than you did!

Give your day away! You don't have to give a physical gift, you can give your time - to someone you love, to a charity or whatever you wish! Make your day a gift to someone else.

Give yourself the gift of time. Sometimes our days are so packed with events and tasks that we don't have time for ourselves. Consider giving yourself the gift of time for your own rest and relaxation (or the time to do another item on this list!).

Send yourself a card. A few days or weeks before your birthday find a card you love, sign it and write yourself a note. Then address and stamp the envelope and ask someone to mail it to you a couple of days before your birthday. This is a great way to guarantee a card, and I promise it will make you smile.

Spend time with someone you love. This might overlap with a couple of other ideas on the list - but that's OK. What could make for a better day than spending time with those you care about the most?

Make a memory. Challenge yourself to create memories today that will last a lifetime.

Reflect on the last year. Your birthday is a milestone, so it can be a great day to review your results and actions of the past year to see how you have done and determine what is working - and what isn't!

Set some new goals. Today is a perfect day to look forward, to project into the future, to set goals for the next twelve months. If you don't have goals written down, today is a perfect day to create them!

You'll notice this isn't like some lists you read that make you think you should try all of the ideas. It wouldn't be possible to do all of these things in one day. The ideas fall into a focus on your past, present or future - and all of them are about you.

The key is to pick one that feels right to you and add it to your celebration. It is your day after all!

Final Note: While these ideas are written from the perspective of celebrating a birthday, all could be used - though perhaps tweaked slightly - for a team anniversary, company anniversary or other organizational milestone date.

Oh, and one last thing. You don't have to wait for your birthday to do any of these things. You are alive and you can celebrate for that reason using any of these ideas you'd like. You have my permission.

Potential Pointer: We all have a day that is ours - our birthday. Why not celebrate it in a meaningful and fun way? On your next birthday think of the gift you will give yourself, whether connecting to your childhood, celebrating with those you love or making that day the start of an even brighter future!

Kevin Eikenberry is a leadership expert and the Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group, a learning consulting company that helps Clients reach their potential through a variety of training, consulting and speaking services. To receive your free special report on Unleashing Your Potential go to http://www.kevineikenberry.com/uypw/index.asp

By Kevin Eikenberry

Ticket To Ride Board Game Night

My husband and I went to our friend's house Saturday night for board game night! When we get together with these friends we usually play Settlers of Catan, Phase 10 or Blokus. Our friends acquired a new game recently, Ticket to Ride. So we opted to play Ticket to Ride for a new experience.

Like some of the other Board Games, Ticket to Ride is a very fun strategy board game. Each person starts out with 48 individual train pieces. You are also given three destination cards. The destination cards list two cities that you must connect together with your trains. They also list a point value. Some of these cards are easy to connect and are only worth a few points. Others are more complicated and can get you 20 or more points. The catch is that if you do not connect your destinations then you receive negative points. You are allowed to discard one of these destinations but must make the other two.

Another component of the game is train cards. These cards can be one of eight different colors and then there are also wild cards. You need to collect these cards in order to place your trains on the board. Some routes on the board can be linked by any color and others indicate a specific color. Besides being various colors, these routes also vary in length; routes can be anywhere from one to six trains long.

Points are given according to the length of the routes you build. One train is worth one point whereas a train six long is worth 15 points. The person who has the longest continuous route receives and extra ten points.

We played two games Saturday night. The first game my husband and I were trying to figure out all the rules and strategies to the game. My husband still managed to win even though we had never played before. Part of the reason he won was due to our friends turning against each other at the end of the game causing one of them to lose a bunch of her points because she could not complete her destination cards. I did not feel too bad because she caused me to lose points by blocking my route and making me miss my destination as well. Ticket to Ride can get a little ruthless at the end when everyone is battling to make their destinations. The game gets pretty intense but very fun.

The second game we all understood how to play so it was every man for himself! I wound up kicking butt on the second game. I started out with three high scoring complicated destinations but managed to make them all without anyone getting in my way. I had the whole west coast of the US to myself for the first half of the game. This allowed me to get my destinations before everyone else. It got a little intense for me trying to make my last destination because it stretched all the way across the board from Vancouver to Montreal. Luckily I was able to get there before anyone had a chance to mess up my route. I also was able to continue my train route down the bottom as well giving me the longest route. My train stretched around most of the outer border of the US. No one else was even close to taking the longest train route away from me. I also managed to place trains in several places that were five or six trains long giving me more points.

Overall we really enjoyed playing Ticket to Ride. Of course it didn't hurt that my husband and I each one a game. I would definitely recommend this game to anyone looking for a little challenge and fun. Another great thing about Ticket to Ride is the length of time it takes to play the game. It is relatively fast paced and a game can be completed within 30-60 minutes. So it is not a board game that goes on and on like monopoly. I liked that we were able to play a couple games allowing more people to have a chance at winning. Ticket to Ride is a Board Game that can be quickly learned and the rules are very easy to understand. I highly recommend buying this game for some family fun or fun with friends!

Peter Jaystore is a partner at Variety Access, Your Online Hobby Store and More!! At http://www.VarietyAccess.com you can learn more about board games and other hobbies.

By Peter Jaystore

The Backgammon Board Game Has Stood The Test Of Time

With all the amazing social and technological changes over the last five thousands years of human history, the way the backgammon board game has stood the test of time is quite amazing. Researchers have discovered that the origins of the familiar backgammon setup the board divided into its twenty-four alternately colored, narrow triangular divisions, the fifteen counters per player, the dice and the dice shaker, all have a story to tell going back to the earliest recorded times. The exact inventor of the game of backgammon has been lost in the mists of time. All the evidence points to him or her having lived in the area now absorbed by the modern states of Iraq and Iran but no personal details have survived.

So, it must be left to the imagination to picture the first backgammon set up in the market place of a mud brick village after the hard days labor in the fields has come to a close and the workers seek to relax. We may wonder who was the first one to carve out the divisions of the backgammon board, to shake the dice and probably place the smooth stones that might have served for counters in their positions? Although it is unlikely the identity of the games inventor is ever going to be revealed in some archaeological dig, millions of people from all around the world can feel a sense of gratitude to this unknown figure for creating one of their favorite games.

The Romans soon caught on to the potential of the backgammon for gambling and enthusiasm for the game reached the throne of Caesar himself. Certainly, we can say it contributed to Roman civilization far more than the more bloodthirsty pastimes the Romans beloved. Wherever the Roman Empire reached, its soldiers and merchants brought the game of backgammon. The game became very popular in Europe and from here it was taken to the Americas. By the eighteenth century the backgammon instructions were brought to the printing house by an English player and game continued to go from strength to strength. The development of mass manufacturing and the retail trade made cheap, mass-produced backgammon sets readily available and through presents to children, many more new players were introduced to the game.

The last fifteen years or so have witnessed a dramatic explosion in interest in backgammon. For the most part this has been the consequence of the successful development of backgammon software. Many Internet sites offer a backgammon download that brings a brilliant 3-D virtual version of backgammon to the computer screen. By providing clear instructions on how to play backgammon, and offering free backgammon online, the gaming site developers have attracted a whole new audience. The people playing backgammon online range from the experienced players who are well versed in backgammon strategy and convinced they can win significant cash with their playing and gambling skills, to the novice players who enjoy the chance to build up their skills by playing against a sophisticated backgammon computer. When grouped together they represent a major advancement of an ancient game into an ultra-modern setting

Expert backgammon writer Gene Marshall is commissioned by several recognized online backgammon magazines. The author writes commentaries about backgammon setup and advanced backgammon strategy. More info and articles by Gene Marshall on the topic of backgammon are obtainable on line.

By Gene Marshall