Comments on: Best Board Game Ever, Part 1 [Think Tank] http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/02/06/best-board-game-ever-part-1-think-tank/ Overthinking It subjects the popular culture to a level of scrutiny it probably doesn't deserve. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 04:53:58 +0000 hourly 1 By: Melanie http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/02/06/best-board-game-ever-part-1-think-tank/#comment-6148 Melanie Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:11:51 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=5178#comment-6148 I never had the Electronic Dream Phone, but I did have the Girl Talk version, "Date Line." To determine whether the match worked, you'd put their little cards into the speakery thing and hear their phone conversation. Freud might have had a thing or two to say about the way the cards went into the slot together, and that being the only way to determine compatibility... I never had the Electronic Dream Phone, but I did have the Girl Talk version, “Date Line.” To determine whether the match worked, you’d put their little cards into the speakery thing and hear their phone conversation. Freud might have had a thing or two to say about the way the cards went into the slot together, and that being the only way to determine compatibility…

]]> By: A Few Announcements | Overthinking It http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/02/06/best-board-game-ever-part-1-think-tank/#comment-6095 A Few Announcements | Overthinking It Sun, 08 Feb 2009 18:16:48 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=5178#comment-6095 [...] bragging rights as your favorite overthinker for a week.) This week: The Best Board Game Ever. Read Part 1 and Part 2, [...] [...] bragging rights as your favorite overthinker for a week.) This week: The Best Board Game Ever. Read Part 1 and Part 2, [...]

]]> By: Best Board Game Ever, Part 2 [Think Tank] | Overthinking It http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/02/06/best-board-game-ever-part-1-think-tank/#comment-6051 Best Board Game Ever, Part 2 [Think Tank] | Overthinking It Sat, 07 Feb 2009 22:25:59 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=5178#comment-6051 [...] 2 of the latest Think Tank today. Check out Part 1 if you haven't yet, and vote for your favorite at the bottom before Midnight EST on [...] [...] 2 of the latest Think Tank today. Check out Part 1 if you haven’t yet, and vote for your favorite at the bottom before Midnight EST on [...]

]]> By: Gab http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/02/06/best-board-game-ever-part-1-think-tank/#comment-6043 Gab Sat, 07 Feb 2009 17:58:47 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=5178#comment-6043 Thnikman- If you want to go "hardcore" gaming, how about Shadows Over Camelot or Pandemic, Agricola or Betrayal at the House on the Hill? Stone Age? Risk is the only game you mentioned I have never played, oddly enough. Wait: MUNCHKIN! I think since non-gamers make up The Popular Culture more than gamers, it makes sense that the "best" games *wouldn't* include titles like Ticket to Ride and such. You'd want a game that can appeal to anybody, hardcore gamer or not, because that means it is done well enough for any level-gamer to enjoy it. I actually think Shechner's choice of Clue is the best- and it's what I was thinking myself (hence why I said "honorable mention" about Sorry! and waited to see what everyone else picked, jic there was overlap). See why on the next half of the article if you care (or dare, dun dun DUUUN). Thnikman- If you want to go “hardcore” gaming, how about Shadows Over Camelot or Pandemic, Agricola or Betrayal at the House on the Hill? Stone Age? Risk is the only game you mentioned I have never played, oddly enough.

Wait: MUNCHKIN!

I think since non-gamers make up The Popular Culture more than gamers, it makes sense that the “best” games *wouldn’t* include titles like Ticket to Ride and such. You’d want a game that can appeal to anybody, hardcore gamer or not, because that means it is done well enough for any level-gamer to enjoy it. I actually think Shechner’s choice of Clue is the best- and it’s what I was thinking myself (hence why I said “honorable mention” about Sorry! and waited to see what everyone else picked, jic there was overlap). See why on the next half of the article if you care (or dare, dun dun DUUUN).

]]> By: Thnikkaman http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/02/06/best-board-game-ever-part-1-think-tank/#comment-6041 Thnikkaman Sat, 07 Feb 2009 17:13:41 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=5178#comment-6041 Ahh, I see that this is the best board game ever for non gamers. Connect 4? Life? Mystery Date (aka electronic dream phone)? Come on. Where is Ticket To Ride, Settlers of Catan, Arkham Horror? Hell, Risk? At least with Risk there is some strategy other than "be the first to cross the toll road". By the way, Sorry and Candy Land are not games. See Pianodan's link. Best Board Game ever my (insert body part here). Ahh, I see that this is the best board game ever for non gamers. Connect 4? Life? Mystery Date (aka electronic dream phone)? Come on. Where is Ticket To Ride, Settlers of Catan, Arkham Horror? Hell, Risk? At least with Risk there is some strategy other than “be the first to cross the toll road”. By the way, Sorry and Candy Land are not games. See Pianodan’s link.

Best Board Game ever my (insert body part here).

]]> By: Gab http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/02/06/best-board-game-ever-part-1-think-tank/#comment-6007 Gab Sat, 07 Feb 2009 00:17:25 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=5178#comment-6007 Honorable Mention should go to Sorry! because while all kids' games teach social skills applicable to the real world, Sorry! is the only one that gets to the real, nitty gritty truths in life. After all, is the kid ACTUALLY sorry when they bump another player's piece? No. No they're not. Sorry! teaches kids that sometimes it's best to lie a little in order to keep someone else's feelings from being hurt, helping them learn methods of false sincerity they'll use until the day they die. Honorable Mention should go to Sorry! because while all kids’ games teach social skills applicable to the real world, Sorry! is the only one that gets to the real, nitty gritty truths in life. After all, is the kid ACTUALLY sorry when they bump another player’s piece? No. No they’re not. Sorry! teaches kids that sometimes it’s best to lie a little in order to keep someone else’s feelings from being hurt, helping them learn methods of false sincerity they’ll use until the day they die.

]]> By: Nigel Chrome http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/02/06/best-board-game-ever-part-1-think-tank/#comment-6003 Nigel Chrome Fri, 06 Feb 2009 22:06:24 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=5178#comment-6003 Although these are all good options, I must say that the game which immediately jumps to my mind is "Guess Who?". I played it quite a bit as a child and always had a good time. Looking back, I'm a little ashamed of myself. The game encourages the participants to distill a wide array of people down to their most basic physical features. "Are you fat?" and "Do you wear glasses?" are routine questions designed to ferret out the losers -- presumably the game exists to prepare children for the high school experience, where the same logic is unfortunately applied. In some editions, there were a few token minorities, in case you're wondering whether people can be as easily defined by their race as their eyewear. Ageism was also a component, for those who want the full gamut of stereotyping, though at that age, "old" was pretty much anyone who had survived to double digits. Still, determining whether the mystery person had white hair was great for focusing in on a few suspects. To be fair, the range of questions available is limitless, but it seems like a stretch to suggest that most children will see how rich their options are. It's much easier to define somebody by their facial hair than the number of letters in their name. Just my two cents! http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/4143 Although these are all good options, I must say that the game which immediately jumps to my mind is “Guess Who?”. I played it quite a bit as a child and always had a good time. Looking back, I’m a little ashamed of myself.

The game encourages the participants to distill a wide array of people down to their most basic physical features. “Are you fat?” and “Do you wear glasses?” are routine questions designed to ferret out the losers — presumably the game exists to prepare children for the high school experience, where the same logic is unfortunately applied.

In some editions, there were a few token minorities, in case you’re wondering whether people can be as easily defined by their race as their eyewear. Ageism was also a component, for those who want the full gamut of stereotyping, though at that age, “old” was pretty much anyone who had survived to double digits. Still, determining whether the mystery person had white hair was great for focusing in on a few suspects.

To be fair, the range of questions available is limitless, but it seems like a stretch to suggest that most children will see how rich their options are. It’s much easier to define somebody by their facial hair than the number of letters in their name.

Just my two cents!

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/4143

]]> By: Pianodan http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/02/06/best-board-game-ever-part-1-think-tank/#comment-6000 Pianodan Fri, 06 Feb 2009 21:48:06 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=5178#comment-6000 Forwarded without comment: The Case Against Candy Land http://www.boingboing.net/2009/01/26/the-case-against-can.html Forwarded without comment:

The Case Against Candy Land
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/01/26/the-case-against-can.html

]]>