Friday, January 22, 2010

The Games We Play

Posted by Donna MacMeans

Christmas is over, the presents unwrapped. This year we had some requests for some games under the tree, and now - when ice coats the road and snow piles up outside - we can enjoy those games around the kitchen table.



I had to laugh, though. As some of those familiar games that I remember from long ago have a different look. Like these:





Harry Potter Clue. I found versions of this game based on the TV series The Office and 24. I hope they kept Miss Scarlett and Colonel Mustard!








Monopoly - There's nothing like the classic, but different versions keep hitting the market. I know you've seen the versions based on different cities and colleges. I found one based on dogs (to the right there), one based on Star Trek and another based on the Wizard of Oz.






I remember playing Life out on the back porch. Filling my plastic car with sticks (babies) and choosing whether to go the long way for a college education or go straight for a career. Not sure those are options in Redneck Life. I think I'd just like to read that game board.





Here's a new version of the classic Scrabble game called Bananagram.


I've played this game. It's a lot faster than scrabble and there's no triple word scores or adding up of scores. Though the instructions say it can be played with two people, it's one of those games that would be a lot more fun with a lot more people.



Anyway, as I was looking for fun games as gifts, I found quite a few that might be good to stock in the bandit lair. I picked out some games that I thought might appear to certain banditas. I challenge you to match the games to the bandita. By the way, the above games are included in the match as well.



Sherlock Holmes anyone? This is 221B Baker Street









Then there's Colosseum...










Or How about A HOT AFFAIR. (I found that one in games for adults.)






Here's a classic - Chutes & Ladders - Superhero Style










We do like our wine in the lair, and who doesn't love a good murder mystery?









Wordplay had good reviews on Amazon. It's a game about finding words with specified letters to fit certain categories. Don't think they're asking for Haikus, but it looked like it could be fun.










Anglophiles, anyone?








Okay, it's not a board game but it's all about the wild, wild west...






I don't think you have to be a senior to have a senior moment, but it helps.










Here's a timely game, Stick it to the IRS. It's a game of tax shelters, and no - purchase of the game is not tax deductible.







How about a passport to culture?









I had to add this last game because who could resist Storming the Castle with Wesley and Buttercup and the Dread Pirate Roberts.



Do you like board games? How would you match up my picks to the bandits? Any other games you'd like to add to the collection? It's Saturday, time to kick back and play.

79 comments:

Helen said...

Is he coming to my place

Have Fun
Helen

Helen said...

Well he is coming here to the heat we reached 41c yesterday and 43c today horrible hot weather although a lovely cool southerly has just come through and the temperature has dropped heaps and there is also a storm coming and some much need rain YAY.

Donna I loved this post we used to play lots of games love monopoly scrabble uno yahtzee my daughters love pulling out the old board and card games from time to time and don't we all have fun sitting around the table and playing so time to have a go at matching some of thes games to the Bandits here goes.

Clue Kate/Jeanne

Monopoly Caren

Life Kirsten/Jo

Scrabble KJ

221b Baker St Cassondra

Colosseum Joan

Hot Affair Tawny/Beth

Chutes and Ladders Hero style Nancy/Trish

Murder Mystery Anna S

Britannia Anna C/ Christie

Word Play Suz

Senior Moments

Stick It To The IRS Donna

Passport To Culture Aunty Cindy/Susan

Storming The Castle Christine

I had a go

Have Fun
Helen

Michelle Santiago said...

when i first read the title on my google reader i was like games we play?... with men? LOL then i saw pictures. oh! these games are good too!! i'm not very good with strategy games but i love monopoly anyway. i also love apples and apples, life and dirty laundry (a particular favorite during drunken nights in college).

great post donna :D

congrats on the gr helen!

Jane said...

Congrats on the GR, Helen.

Hi Donna,
I love board games and some of the ones you've listed are new to me like Colosseum. I'm a big Clue fan, too, but I hardly ever win. I think Aunty Cindy's game would be Passport to Culture and Kate's game would be Murder Mystery Party. That's all I could guess at this time.

Donna MacMeans said...

Hi Helen !

Looks like the GR is flying over to your place.

I think the last time I sat around and played a board game with the my son and girlfriend was in the summer when the power went out and so no TV. I forget what game it was but I remember at one point we had to find candles to keep on playing. So hot weather works too.

Nice guesses. I suppose Joan and I are the obvious ones. I enjoy seeing who you paired with what.

Donna MacMeans said...

CHellyreads -

Well, we do play games with men don't we? (grin). Not that this is THAT king of game but I remember playing GO! with is a sort of strategy game with my dh when we first got married. I think we both may have been a bit too competitive at the time. Neither one of us wanted to lose.

Monopoly is fun. I remember playing it with my son for educational purposes. It's a great way to teach kids about money. I bet now that he's playing rent on his own, he wishes it were all a game LOL.

Donna MacMeans said...

Jane -

I'm not familiar with Colesseum either, but I couldn't resist when I saw the box. It had five star reviews on Amazon though. I like the idea of little plastic gladiators moving around the board.

I've played the Murder Mystery game, though. It's one where you host a party and you give peole their parts and clues, then act out the game. I think we did a great job of acting out the "drinking wine" part as I can't remember who the murderer was! We had a great time, though.

Susan Sey said...

Hey, congrats on the GR, Helen! Just in time for the rain! Maybe he can make use of the indoors time to clean your house. :-)

Susan Sey said...

What a great post, Donna! I'm clueless (ha!) about most of the bandita/game connections but I could guess a few:

Joanie & her Romans are surely playing in the Coliseum.

Surely Nancy & her abiding love for Superheros is playing Chutes & Ladders Superhero style.

Suz & her cowboys are taking over the Wild Wild West, maybe?

After that I'm kinda stumped.

Anybody?

MJFredrick said...

My son and his girlfriend introduced us to Bananagrams. Fun game. One I used to play with my students when I was music teacher was "Encore." You land on a color, pick a card, and have to think of a song that goes with the word on the matching color. The teams go back and forth until no one can think of another song with that word in it. Oh, and you have to sing it! I love that game, but no one at home would play!

Donna MacMeans said...

Susan - Yes - I'm sneaky with my picks, but it's fun to see what choices everyone makes with their picks. I'll reveal all tonight - though it will be late, I'm afraid.

Donna MacMeans said...

MJFrederick - Aren't games great for educational purposes! I always tried to volunteer in the school when my kids were little. When my son was in first grade, the teacher called all the mom volunteers in and said "let me get to know your children for two weeks, then I'll assign responsibilities to the moms." Two weeks passed. She called me in and said - "I'm going to make you the game mom because you must have incredible patience." LOL. I did get to play board games with the kids (educational board games) as a result. It was fun!

I'm not familiar with Encore! I saw it when I was looking for games - sounds like it would be a lot of fun!

Beth Andrews said...

Fun post, Donna! I love board games, as do my kids. My husband, on the other hand, LOATHES them. But he did play when we had family game night (way back when the kids were little *g*)

Some of our favorites were Trouble, Parcheesi, Sponge Bob Uno and Apples to Apples (which Tawny recommended to me).

I also like Scene-It and Trivial Pursuit :-)

Beth Andrews said...

One I used to play with my students when I was music teacher was "Encore."

MJ, this would be perfect for my family! I'm going to check to see if Amazon has it :-)

Deb said...

Hi, Donna. I was thinking like Chelleyreads, too. I saw the title and thought it was about games played in romance!

I like board games, but we don't play them much. I remember playing Pictionary with my dad on my team and he drew a really good brontosaurus---except it was his artistic version of a dog!

I'm not sure yet which game could go with what person. Do you give "Clues"? :)

Donna MacMeans said...

Beth - I knew someone would mention Spongebob Squsrepants! I did see the old game OPERATION redone as Spongebob Squarepants. I didn't know there was so much to remove from a sponge (grn)

Donna MacMeans said...

Deb - too early for clues. Just take a stab at it. We're a fun bunch. Do you think TV has rendered board games obsolete? It's a shame to lose that family interaction.

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Fun post today, Donna!

I'll give it a try...

Harry Potter Clue...Trish and her abiding love for the boy wizard.

Redneck Life...Caren, who has a great redneck story.

The Collosium...Joanie and her Gladiators.

A Hot Affair...Tawny and her Blazes

Wild West card game...Me and my cowboys/Marshals

Wordplay...Anna C. as she loves Haiku and puns

How'd I do?

Joan said...

I do not know these Senior Moments of which you speak...

Um, what were we talking about?

:-)

Wow...a game called Coliseum... cool...Demetrius and Lucien have wandered over to Google it. I get annoyed but then they lean over my shoulder and I...well...let them Google.

I actually got turned onto Bananagrams by a nurse at work. It is a fun twist on Scrabble.

Even the traditional board games have taken on a new twist. Anybody remember Operation? Well, I got that on a Wii game for my brother for Xmas. He says it looks like an x-ray, with the tweezers snaking up like a probe.

I told him if he practiced enough, he could do his OWN hernia surgery this week :-)

Joan said...

The actual WAY we play games has changed a bit too.

Over Christmas, I was playing Trouble with my friend, her two young daughters and her 22 yo nephew.

He was VERY competive and was trash talking the 5 yo!!! "I'm gonna take you down!"

She just gave him a tiny "oh no you're not" stare and...won

Deb said...

I think tv, DS, PSP, etc. have all contributed to the loss of playing board games and the interaction with others. Guilty--I bought Shary a DS and she likes playing games on the computer and she loves Disney channel.

I thought of a couple of game matches. I'm still working on your match, Donna.

Kate and Jeanne--Clue
Anna C.--Life
Nancy--Wordplay
Tawny--Hot Affair
Joan--Colosseum

Christie Kelley said...

Donna, I love board games. Every Christmas I make sure the family gets at least one new board game. This year we added Buzzword, which I loved and the Game of Things, which we still haven't played.

A few of my favorites are Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit and Monopoly.

If I wasn't going out with my friends tonight, I suggest a board game to my family. Maybe tomorrow night.

Nancy said...

Helen, congrats on the rooster!

Donna, the mind boggles. (Isn't Boggle a game, too?) I had no idea there were so many variations on games.

I used to play Clue--the old-fashioned, ordinary kind--and Parchesi with my grandfather. Also Chinese Checkers. I loved the pretty marbles for that game.

For me, monopoly takes too long. Way too long. We used to play Life as well as regular checkers.

After Hurricane Hugo took out our power (for almost 3 weeks, ugh!) the dh and I played Scrabble by candlelight every night. I still shudder at the sight of a Scrabble board.

Nancy said...

Beth--SpongeBob Uno? That's kind of a disturbing thought. The boy went through a period when he was all about SpongeBob. Though I thought the little sponge was cute, there were so many re-runs (all of which we watched, as we had with Blues Clues years before) that I was sort of glad when that passed.

Nancy said...

Joan, I remember Operation. I'll bet it has become a lot fancier.

Nancy said...

Helen, I do like super-heroes, that's a fact. :-) I like your guesses.

Nancy said...

Deb, I enjoy wordplay, as I think many of the banditas do.

The boy is heavily into electronic games. He likes to have his friends over and stage tournaments, so it's a social activity, but it's not quite the same as the old board games. Hard to converse when you're calculating combinations of buttons to push.

Donna MacMeans said...

Suz - you did great - you must know your banditas (grin).

Donna MacMeans said...

Joan - didn't that Colisseum game look cool? Must admit I thought of you when I saw it.

Hey - I caught the end -- the very end of Spartacus last night. Guess I'm just surrounded by Romans (grin)

Donna MacMeans said...

Joan - You're right the way we play (board games) is changing. Lots of computer versions of board games - Many can even be found on phones these days. We still play, but maybe more as individuals instead of two-four players.

Donna MacMeans said...

Deb - You're doing great!

I think the current trend to play games by oneself on a computer may eventually reflect on our society. I hadn't thought about this before, but I wonder if not competing with others on a board game will come into play later on. Hmmm...food for thought.

Donna MacMeans said...

Christie - I saw that Game of Things on Amazon - wasn't sure what it was. Hmmm...maybe I should have chosen that one for engineering Caren.

Not sure what Buzzword does - but I saw that one too.

Donna MacMeans said...

Nancy - If you're sick of Scrabble, you should really try Bananagrams - it really goes fast. My daughter and I played it last night and I think we finished the game in a half hour or 45 minutes. Besides, it comes in that cute banana bag (grin).

Bummer on being without power for so long - but - you survived!

Anonymous said...

Hi Donna- for a while when the kids were young (middle school) we had a game night once a week. It really was great and got us a chance to talk without the TV blaring away. We loved Life and Clue.
Lisa

Anna Sugden said...

What, no hockey hunk board games? We'll have to put that right, Donna *g*.

I used to enjoy bard games (except Monopoly - ick), but my ex was so competitive it always ended up in rows!

As well as ones like Mousetrap, Life and Kerplunk, some we used to enjoy were:

Masquerade (a board game of Charades - I have fond memories of trying to mime "hillwalking with Dolly Parton"! LOL)

Taboo - where you have to get your team t say what's on your card, but there are some words and phrases you can't use

Trivial Pursuit
Pictionary (though I suck at that because I can't draw!)

And one I can't remember the name of, but you have to describe the celebrity on your card in terms of other things. eg if it was Dolly Parton - if she was a car, what would she be?

We were introduced to a planting/seeds/crops game by some friends of our recently - that was fun!

Christie Kelley said...

Donna, the game of things is a game where you list things. Such as, things you shouldn't say to your mother-in-law.

Buzzword is fun because they give you a word like ball. Then you have 10 clues and the answer has the word ball in it. Such as Inflatable sand toy - beach ball. On top of spaghetti - meatball. etc.

Nancy said...

Donna, we might have to try Bananagrams if it goes faster. When the power came back on, we were like little kids--went all over the house flipping light switches on and off, on and off.

Nancy said...

Beth, I LOVED Trivial Pursuit. All those odd little facts I'd accumulated finally came in handy!

Nancy said...

Harry Potter monopoly could also be Ms. Hellion. Isn't she a huge HP fan?

Minna said...

I haven't played games for a while, but some of my favorites are
Monopoly
the star of Africa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afrikan_t%C3%A4hti)
Go For Broke (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3343/go-for-broke)
checkers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draughts)


"Play The Game" - Queen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqqnXd8qoTM

Unknown said...

Congrats Helen on getting the rooster today! Have fun with him!

I haven't played board games in years. We play darts when I go to my younger sister's house and we got to playing Dominos there for a while, most of the time I just read!

Donna MacMeans said...

Lisa C. -

Now I have it on good authority that you and your husband STILL have game night once a week, you just don't use the board (grin).

Speaking of games - you should be an authority, given your first book TEXAS HOLD HIM.

Donna MacMeans said...

Anna - You know - I didn't see any hockey board games. I should have included that tabletop hockey game with levers to move the players. I remember playing that with my brothers. Great Fun.

You listed some great games. Some of them I know, and many I'd like to try.

Donna MacMeans said...

Christie -

Rats - I guess the Game of Things wouldn't appeal to Caren's engineering instincts then. But mousetrap would (grin). I remember building those intricate traps. The fun was always to see if it actually worked once constructed.

Unknown said...

Hey Donna, what a great blog!

I LOVE games. One of my favorite things to do when we get together with friends is play games, and I have a stash that are my favorites.

I'm not absolutely certain that the games I like are called board games. Because most of them don't use an actual board.

I love Pictionary, Time's Up, and Catch Phrase. These are all games that force peole to act out stuff and get the other person to say a phrase, the name of a pop culture icon or someone else famous, and generally make people act crazy. I love these the most because they generate a lot of laughter. Who doesn't enjoy an evening where everyone is laughing constantly?

I also love a game called Balderdash, which is a game in which you have to lie a lot, convincingly, about one of my favorite things--WORDS.

I don't actually enjoy games like Monopoly and Scrabble quite as much because they move so slowly as a rule. I'll play them, and we do own scrabble, but they're not my favorites.

Even in card games I like the crazy ones like Spoons, which is as much about action and laughter as it is about strategy. The only exception is Rook. I LOOOOOOVE to play Rook. I'm not that good at it any more, but it was a holiday and cold weather/after dinner tradition in my family when I was growing up, so I have such fond memories of Rook.

Donna MacMeans said...

Virginia - Darts! I'm deadly with darts. I'm not any good - which is why I'm deadly. You never know where that dart will end up! Dominoes appeal to me because of the number aspect of them - of course, most of the time the game devolved into making those domino chains whereby a push to the first block makes them all fall in pattern.

I know I crossed a game that involved opening lines to novels, but darn it, I couldn't find it online. I wsa looking for a game for book lovers. We need more of those.

Donna MacMeans said...

Minna -

Life is a great game, isn't it. I haven't played it in forever, though. I think I'd like to go back and take a look at the board to see if it really does illustrate life the way it tends to work. I just remember those pink and boy pegs for children that you put in the back of your car. Quiet, stick kids - nope not realistic.

Star of Africa sounds interesting. Have to check that out.

Donna MacMeans said...

Minna -

Life is a great game, isn't it. I haven't played it in forever, though. I think I'd like to go back and take a look at the board to see if it really does illustrate life the way it tends to work. I just remember those pink and boy pegs for children that you put in the back of your car. Quiet, stick kids - nope not realistic.

Star of Africa sounds interesting. Have to check that out.

Unknown said...

We had "Life" when I was a kid too, but I was all about that not for the game, but for the cool spinning wheel on the board, and the little car-shaped gamepieces. I just wanted to drive them around the board.

Donna MacMeans said...

Minna -

Life is a great game, isn't it. I haven't played it in forever, though. I think I'd like to go back and take a look at the board to see if it really does illustrate life the way it tends to work. I just remember those pink and boy pegs for children that you put in the back of your car. Quiet, stick kids - nope not realistic.

Star of Africa sounds interesting. Have to check that out.

Donna MacMeans said...

Cassondra - I like fast-paced acting out games as well - I think because they involve participation by a number of people. I remember playing Pictionary at our family reunions and Uno. Doesn't it seem that most games are more involved when lots of people are involved?

I've never played Rook - seen it - just never played it.

I don't think I could lie convincingly. My nose grows. So I guess Balderdash is out for me - at least to win.

Laughter is good. Always good.

Minna said...

Um, Donna, I didn't mention a game called Life. I've never played it.

Anna Campbell said...

Hey, Helen, you're on a roll at the moment! Congratulations! Lucky you, getting a storm. Not a drop of rain here and it's SOOOOO hot and dry!

Donna, what a fun post! You know, I thought I'd breeze through the answers and I haven't. But here's my take:

Sherlock Holmes - Jeanne!

Colosseum has to be JT!

A HOT AFFAIR has to be our saucy Tawny!

Redneck Life is Caren because of her redneck book.

Chutes and Ladders with the Superhero - Nancy.

The wine and murder mystery is Cassondra.

Wordplay - well, we're all wordsmiths. Hmm, Jo.

Britannia would have to be Christine.

The Wild, Wild West is Saucy Suzy!

Senior Moment sadly is moi!

The IRS game has to be Donna.

A passport to culture - Aunty Cindy

Storming the Castle - Oh, that has to be ALL of us!

Donna MacMeans said...

Nancy - I think Ms. Hellion is a Harry Potter fan. I saw a PIRATES OF THE CARRIBBEAN game last night - I should have put it up for Ms. Hellion and Tawny.

Anna Campbell said...

Oh, and I meant to say the cozy mystery game has to be Kate!

Anna Campbell said...

My best friend had Life. I loved it - much more interesting than monopoly. I really like boardgames - especially Trivial Pursuit! I bet the Bandits are killer TP players!

Minna said...

Uh, I have to go and make myself some tea. I got the svine flu shot yesterday and now I have got a bit of a fever.


"Weird Al" Yankovic - Germs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZ39cOnElEQ

Donna MacMeans said...

Minna -

Oops. I read Monopoly and thought Life. Monopoly is a great game as well (says she who usually is the banker). It takes forever to play, though. I have a Christmas ornament of the Mr. Moneybags that always goes on the tree.

Donna MacMeans said...

Anna - LOL on the Senior Moments. Actually, I put that one down for me - you youngster (grin).

I should mention that some games are appropriate for more than one bandita.

But it was fun finding them all.

Minna said...

Star of Africa is one of my favorites, but you don't nessesarily get excatly the same kind of game that I used to have. Different countries tend to have different versions of the games.

Minna said...

Yeah, forever is excatly right. I used to play Monopoly for days with one of my friends. Finally we got fed up with it...

Pat Cochran said...

Congratulations, Helen! The weather
has been so weird lately. You are
getting outrageous heat in "Oz" and
we got snow in Houston. Go figure!

Hey, Donna! I'm not into games so much, they cut into my reading time! My children and older grandchildren love playing games. When we gather for our variety of get-togethers, it's always well accepted when a boardgame finds
its way to the table.

Pat Cochran

Unknown said...

Donna said:

I don't think I could lie convincingly. My nose grows. So I guess Balderdash is out for me - at least to win.

Well, the unconvincing lies are often the best sources of laughter. One person draws a card, on which a strange word is written. A word like, say, Balderdash, which a lot of people aren't necessarily using in everyday language. Everyone writes down and reads a definition for the word. One person has the ACTUAL definiton, and everybody has to vote on who is lying. So it's really about bluffing.

I remember the word "Mammock," definitions for which generated some real belly laughs. Does anyone know what it means? NO GOOGLING ALLOWED!!!!!

Laughter is good. Always good.

Yes, it is.

Unknown said...

Anna Campbell said:

My best friend had Life. I loved it - much more interesting than monopoly. I really like boardgames - especially Trivial Pursuit! I bet the Bandits are killer TP players!

OHHHH TEH NOOOOOEEESSS!!!

I am the world's WORST TRivial Pursuit player. I don't watch TV, don't go to movies until they come out on DVD and miss a lot of them, don't know who any of the people in "People" are, as a rule...

If y'all are playing Trivial Pursuit, I'll tend bar. I s*ck at it.

jo robertson said...

Timely post, Donna. I just sent my son and grandson out to buy a new board game for us to play!

When the kids were all home, we loved playing games. With just Dr. Big and me, it's not so much fun. Some of our faves were Scattergories and Outburst. I love games that depend on words.

My daughters liked Pictionary, but then they're all good artists. Me, not so much.

And of course all of us enjoy any Trivial Pursuit game. One year my daughters got me a Sex and the City Trivial Pursuit game. I've never opened the box, LOL, because my husband never watched the show!

Hmmm, wonder if I can sell it on ebay?

Pissenlit said...

I'm a huge party-pooper 'cause I'm REALLY not a fan of board games...with the exception of Scrabble...and chess. I'm always up for winning *cough*, I mean, playing...a game of Scrabble. :D My friends love The Settlers of Catan and the expansions(Seafarers of Catan, Cities and Knights of Catan, etc). Settlers is kind of fun, but I can't be bothered to pick up the rules to the expansions. I have a feeling I'd like Trivial Pursuit if I could find anyone to get in on a game.

Bananagram sounds like Speed Scrabble.

Ooh, back when I was a kid, there was this board game called Hummmzinger that I totally wanted where you got points for humming songs and imitating the singers/groups while your team tries to guess the song. Unfortunately, we picked up the Quebecois edition and by the time we realised that, it was all opened and we couldn't return it. Though now that I think about it, even if we'd picked up the English edition, it wouldn't have gotten played seeing as how most other kids my age at the time wouldn't have had much knowledge of classic Rock 'n' Roll songs from the 50's, 60's and 70's. :)

Joan said...

I don't actually enjoy games like Monopoly and Scrabble quite as much because they move so slowly as a rule.

Not if you know you can use "QAT" as a word! :-)

Seriously, I rock Scrabble having been playing it for hours as grief therapy for my friend.

catslady said...

I love board games and really miss that we hardly play them anymore - seems like the Wii has taken over.

Donna MacMeans said...

Hey Pat!

Our weather is weird as well - It's up to 50 degrees - in January! Love it!

I don't get to play board games that often anymore so it's fun when the opportunity presents itself. Reading is a solitary venture - sometimes it's good to laugh with a crowd.

Donna MacMeans said...

Cassondra - you see the reason I'd be good at Trivial Pursuits is...I'm old - I'm familiar with the history category questions. While I know squat about current stars, TV, movies - I can cover the old ones pretty well. Except sports I know nothing about sports old or new.

Donna MacMeans said...

Cassondra - mammocks? I'm thinking hammocks for mammaries -- oh wait - they call those bras!

LOL - I think I'd like this balderdash game, I'd have fun coming up with the definition, but everyone would know that my definition wasn't the real one - I'm afraid.

Donna MacMeans said...

Jo - I don't think I'll be any good at the Sex and the City trivial pursuits...but you'd think someone with a husband named Mr. Big would be a star (grin). I seem to recall scattergories - though I couldn't tell you know how it was planned. Pictionary is fun as long as you have a crowd.

You'll have to tell us what board game they chose.

Donna MacMeans said...

Pissenlit -

I've heard of this Settlers of Catan and expansion sets. I think I read in the Wall Street Journal that it's a HUGE hit among the high tech set...like it's a rite of passage to gain employment at some firms. The description makes it sound way complicated and time consuming though. I like my games fun and fast.

Now I could rock that Hummzinger game! LOL on the French edition. You know - I remember when I was in England years ago I got so sick. My husband insisted we go to the British Museum - which is an amazing place -- but I was in that fever fog that meant I wouldn't remember anything. Knowing that - I wisely bought a museum guide that described all the treasures. It wasn't until we got home to the States that I discovered I'd bought the French version.

Donna MacMeans said...

Catslady - Wii has really taken over, hasn't it? Though - we don't have it here at our house. I saw my two very competitive brothers playing baseball on Wii at my sisters house. While the game didn't require the mental skills of most board games - it did provide more actual human interaction than most computer games...and burned more calories (grin).

Nancy said...

Joan, there's a place called Qom in Iran. I wonder if it's near Qat. :-)

Nancy said...

The boy got into Dungeons and Dragons but couldn't interest any of his friends, alas. They were too into the electronic games, and you really do need several players for a good D&D round.

Louisa Cornell said...

I am glad he is enjoying the heat at your place, Helen. It is getting chilly here in Alabama! And very windy! He might lose some tail feathers!


Great post, Donna. I LOVE board games. The late DH and I were champs at Trivial Pursuit. So much so that when all of his med-school buddies and spouses go together he and I were forbidden to play on the same team. I also used Trivial Pursuit history and literature games when I taught high school English and History.

My family is very competitive and every Christmas we play Monopoly. It is our tradition and it gets ROWDY !!

I'd love to try the Sherlock Holmes game as I am a big fan of the stories.

I went to a women's college for my undergrad degree. There was an all-male military academy across town. We started a Dungeons and Dragons game in the basement of the Student Union on our campus that lasted almost four years! It was intense and we all took it very seriously. But the best part was it gave us all an opportunity to relax, blow off steam and be creative in colleges that were very demanding academically.

We should definitely have a Romance Bandits board game tournament!

Donna MacMeans said...

Hi Louisa - Chilly in Alabama? That's unheard of - isn"t it?

There was another game that I came across called Scotland Yard. I wonder if we'll see more games involving Sherlock now that the movie has come out.

Sorry for the delay in posting. My dh and I had tickets to see The 39 Steps tonight. Great comedic play that incorporates the titles of several Hitchcock films. They even managed to get a shadow silhouette of Hitchcock in the play - just as they did in the movies. Great fun!

Donna MacMeans said...

So I guess it's about time for me to 'fess up regarding the games.

Harry Potter Clue - Clue for all the suspense banditas, Jeanne, Cassondra, Kate, and Nancy. Harry Potter for Nancy and Kirsten.

Dogopoly - Jeanne. Monopoly really for everyone because it's such a classic, but especially Susan (Money Honey!)

Redneck Life - That's for Caren for her Redneck stories

Bananagrams - that's for us all

221B Baker St. - I was thinking Kate

Colosseum - can there be any question? Joanie of course!

A Hot Affair - Has to be smoking Tawny

Superhero Chutes & Ladders - Nancy

Wine Murder Mystery - Cassondra, of course, and Kate

Word Play - for all of us, but particularly Anna C. and Caren & Jo.

Britannia - Anna C., Christine, Christie and me

Wild, Wild West card game - Suz

Senior Moment - Me!! and anyone else that wants to 'fess up.

Passport to Culture - Aunt Cindy and well-traveled Anna C.

Princess Bride - Jeanne - but as Anna pointed out - Storming the Castle relates to us all.

Stick it to the IRS - That would be me.


Thanks for all the input guys! I'll plan a board game marathon with any of you at the drop of a...dice cube (grin).