Ligretto is a simple but furiously fast game where players build stacks of cards in the middle of the table by simultaneously throwing out their cards in numeric order. Just released by Playroom Entertainment, Ligretto is not only capable of being played with up to 12 people, I daresay it’s better the more people involved. When playing cards, all stacks must start with the number 1 card, but a player can place his card on top of anyone’s stack. More players means a more frantic game. The potential for pushing and shoving aside, a fun game I think especially for the kids, where speed is always a welcome game element.

The game is sold in three boxes, each with cards to accommodate four players. You can combine all three boxes (red, blue, and green) for a chaotic game with up to 12.

• 2 Comments

“Mind games” refers to psychological chicanery, purposely manipulating other people by playing on their fears, hopes, or misunderstandings.

“Mind Games” is a series of math, verbal, and trivia competitions held in some bars around the world. (example)

“Mind Games” is the name of numerous unconnected tabletop game stores around the world, including Utah, New York, North Carolina, Victoria AU, and across Ontario CA.

“Mind Games” is the name of the yearly MENSA game awards.

The “World Mind Sports Games” refers to the board and card game competitions at the Olympics, the first of which happened in China last year, immediately following the traditional sports Olympics.

And, in the same vein, “Mind Games” refers to new tabletop game competitions, typically featuring classic board games and local popular traditional games, such as The Western Cape Mind Games in South Africa, and the Bahamas Mind Games, set to begin in a few days.

• 0 Comments

Wired treads the same territory we did yesterday, comparing the rise of board games to the fall of video games. (source)

Australia’s Herald and Weekly Times pimps board games and the recent studies about them. (source)

The St Cloud (MN) Times pimps Play It, a local Waite Park board game store. (source)

• 0 Comments

Tri-Cross, an abstract strategy game from sggc Games for Competitors, had a small first edition run in 1986, but is now being released in an updated package by the inventor’s son and partner.

The game is played on a cross shaped board. The rules aren’t online – only hints about how the pieces start hidden like Stratego but get revealed during play – so I can’t tell you more about it. Two to four players.

But that’s not what I’ve come here to talk about. Let’s talk about source.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is the only major daily in the Atlanta area and its suburbs, with a history going back to 1868. Source’s reporter has been writing for twenty years and won several journalism related awards.

Yet the story appears to be a press-release with a thin veneer about schools picking up the game. The “old-school board game” is lauded not only by the subjects of the story but anonymously by the reporter.

Links within the story look like page rank links; one from the word “Glenn” links to the company’s news section (???) and one mid-way thought the article from the name of the product to the company’s web site. The URL at the end of the article, in contrast, has no link.

Really? That’s what you thought was worthy of  publication?

• 1 Comment

(source)

• 1 Comment