Friday, June 24, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
From the Classics to Modern Board Games
If you still have fond memories of the classic games such as Risk or Monopoly but want to try a new game, this is the article for you. Here, we list a variety of classic board games and newer board games that have many of the same aspects that made you love the classics in the first place.
Monopoly
Real estate development to make your fortune is the hallmark of Monopoly. Add in a dash (or a ton) of luck, and this venerable board game is probably the game that introduced the world of board gaming to the majority of players. So if you enjoyed Monopoly, try:
- Basari - In Basari, players are now merchants competing to purchase the most precious gems to make their fortunes in this 3 round game. With a specific number of rounds, this game has the advantage over Monopoly in that it is unlikely to last for hours on end.
- Bohnanza - in Bohnanza, players balance the growing of their beans with its sale. Trading is a huge a part of this game, which is a great for those who would prefer a higher level of interaction than the traditional Monopoly game would like.
- Modern Art - Modern Art is an auction based game where players take on the role of art dealers. An extremely different playing system from the classic Monopoly game, this game focuses on the players ability to balance strategic decisions on what art pieces to keep and what to sell. Definitely more dynamic than Monopoly with little luck in the actual game play.
Risk
In Risk, players struggled to take over the world. Globe spanning conquest is the name of the game here, with players in control of vast armies in a true world war. What it lacked in graphics and variation, it more than made up with sheer potential. Too bad it took forever to actually finish a game. So for other world conquering games try:
- Battlelore - a two player game, Battlelore zooms in on the conflict between two armies, taking the battle one step down. With multiple units and abilities available, each battle can be made unique and a struggle worthy of any Alexander in the making.
- Memoir '44 - recreate the most significant battles of World War II. If you think you can do better than Rommel, Patton and McCarthy, this is the game for you.
- Axis & Allies (Revised)- World War II is in your hands, this time with multiple players involved. The venerated Axis & Allies game system has been updated and made all the better in this game.
Chess
Chess - the game of kings. Few rules but incredible levels of strategy. This is a game where there is no luck, just deep logical thinking required. It's hard to beat such a classic, but here are a few that bring their own flavor to these deep strategy games:
- Blokus - Tetris on a fixed board with competing players. That's Blokus for you - simple rules dominate how you play the game but long range planning required to both cut-off your competitors as well as score the most points
- Ingenious - Reiner Knizai's award winning game, this game reminds me greatly of 'Go'. Tons of fun with simple rules for placement but deep complexity in strategy.
- Oshi - in Oshi, you attempt to push off 7 points worth of your opponents pieces using pieces of your own. Pieces come in a variety of sizes/points from 1 to 3 with a piece worth more points able to push any piece smaller than it. Simple, elegant rules but quite a high level of strategy. Great fun for all ages.
Pictionary
The classic party game - get a word and draw it, trying to get everyone else on your team to guess what it is you are drawing. Still a crowd favorite, there are other games that are just as fun such as:
- Wits and Wagers - Tired of people who know everything? Well, Wits and Wagers lets you even things out with the ability to bet on the answers that you know. A unique way of balancing out the game, now all you need to win is to know what you know.
- Apples to Apples - possibly the party game, Apples to Apples requires each player to describe how their adjectives fit the noun just drawn. Guaranteed laughs as players do their best to stretch the plausible.
- Bang! - Spaghetti Westerns come alive in this card game. The rules are relatively simple to follow and become even more interesting with fake Western accents thrown in. Will you be the faithful Deputy or the Outlaw? The best part of Bang!? How cheap it is.
- Lupus in Tabula- not a drawing game, this card game is great fun for large groups of people as it is relatively fast moving and yet even the 'dead' can take part. Hunt down the werewolves and try not to hang too many of the villagers.
Clue
The original puzzle game where the goal is to find the murderer. Part movement oriented, part logical puzzle, Clue has been referenced countless times in popular culture. Now, here a few more games along the same lines:
- On the Underground - puzzling out how to build the London Underground better is what this game is about. If you've ever had to take public transportation, this is the game for you to show how you would have done it all better.
-Mystery of the Abbey - Mystery of the Abbey follows in the footsteps of Clue but improves on it. With the amount of chance affecting the game reduced, Mystery of the Abbey is a true puzzle solving game that'll push you to the limits.
- Kill Dr. Lucky - while this game is very different from Clue with very little puzzle solving, the important part is that you get to come in before the game of Clue starts. It's time to race against the other players to be the first to Kill Dr. Lucky. A hilarious game that can be followed with Clue.
Tao Wong
Starlit Citadel - an online board games store based in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Board Games for Family Fun and Healthy Interaction
Laughter and playful chatter can be heard emanating from the dining room, where a table is surrounded with family and friends. A closer look shows that the meal is over, dishes cleared and everyone is engaged in the fun of playing a board game. Board games that challenge your knowledge. Board games that require marble movement based on the randomness di roll. Handcrafted or mass produced board games have long been a catalyst bringing people together for a healthy mix of fun, education and conversation.
It is the group dynamics of face-to-face, around the table interaction that makes board games the continued choice for all ages. Good old 'analog' table-talk provides all the elements of getting to know and understand people in your family and in your circle of friends.
Board games that challenge your knowledge and are sometimes best played in teams. Games like Trivial Pursuit, Cranium and Scrabble fall into this realm of testing ones mental agility, knowledge, recall or deductive talents. Board games that appeal to a broader age group might offer some element of randomness, like the roll of dice, while exercising your strategic and tactical skills. Popular board games like Trouble (also called Aggravation, Tarbles and Wahoo), checkers, or Monopoly are more family oriented, since young children to senior adults can play together.
So how do you choose the game that appeals to your family? Will complement your next friendly gathering?
1) often the simplest games will be the ones that you bring out most often when family or friends gather. Experiment here with 2 or 3 choices. Even mix it up with two different games in a evening.
2) let the reaction from the participants be the measure of approval. Having fun, good natured banter and laughter, are all indicators of an excellent group. If you sense tension, uneasiness or otherwise unhealthy group dynamics, this is could be an indicator to stop, change games or somehow alter the game play.
3) It is all about generating Fun and good conversation and encouragement for everyone playing the game. Remember "it is only a game'. It's not about wining or losing. Good board games will even draw in observers, those non-participants that gather along the fringe.
4) Good memories and conversation about past played games is always a good indictor that you have a 'winner" of a game.
5) a board game should be portable and mobile, no batteries required and adaptable to play at home, at the cottage or while travelling.
6) Having a handcrafted board game that is hand built by a friend or family member can also add that special touch of a 'traditional family game'.
7) Board games that elicit future challenges, like, "Great game, we'll win the next time", or "That was just the warming-up game, now prepare to lose", are good indicators of a board game worth playing again and again.
As with the advent of any new technological innovation, it was predicted that computer video games would all but eliminate the analog board game market. Not so. Board games still enjoy plenty of playtime. Most board games have transformed into alternate digital formats. Games like Scrabble, Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit, Cranium, The Game of Life are in the top 10 of board games in the USA. Some of these are now online as well - Scrabble, Clue, checkers, chess, sorry, risk, monopoly are a few.
There is something charming about a locally crafted board game. Variations of old board games like Hasbro's Pop-o-matic Trouble and Milton Bradley's Aggravation have surfaced as handcrafted wooden Marble Board Games like Tarbles (from Cape Breton Island) and Wahoo. These lovingly crafted marble board games are a great family gift. Steeped in memories of wonderful family times, handcrafted board games become heirlooms passed on to future generations for their playing pleasure.
Board Games are perfect for playing at home, at the cottage or on the road. They bring people together for fun and create warm and lasting memories of family gatherings. Memories cherished by all ages. Memories that will surely bring a smile to your face.
Carl Chesal is a business and channel development consultant, trainer, internet marketer and professional photographer. His hobbies include Gardening and Woodworking. He operates BizFare Enterprise Inc, providing business, marketing, and internet marketing consulting services. Bizfare Enterprise also operates a number of secure on-line shopping sites, like Home And Body How To.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
Board Games - The Best Selling Board Games Of All Time
It must have been a crushing blow. It was 1934, the depths of the Great Depression. Charles Darrow was unemployed. But, he had an idea. Actually, he had a board game. He called the game Monopoly. He liked the board game and felt it was his ticket to financial success and out of the desperation of the depression. Darrow had taken his game to the famous Parker Brothers game company to publish and help him sell.
The Parker Brothers had agreed to look at the board game for Darrow. They were not impressed. Formed in 1883, by 16-year-old George Parker, the game publishing company had been making and selling games and puzzles for 51 years. During that time they had seen success and failure. Parker Brothers knew the game business. They knew what worked and what didn't. They knew what sold and what didn't. Representatives of the giant game company found 59 reasons why they did not think Darrow's game could be successful.
Charles Darrow simply didn't agree. He believed. He decided to publish Monopoly himself and market it through department stores. He had 5,000 copies of the board game printed.
Hope was scarce during that harsh Christmas of 1934. Money was even scarcer. And, Monopoly was a hit. Nearly all 5,000 copies of the board game sold. Within a year Parker Brothers was publishing the game. It was the best selling game in America by 1936.
Monopoly is now published in 89 languages and over 200 million copies of the board game have been sold. More than 500 million people have played the game. It has also been adapted as an electronic game. Monopoly is firmly entrenched as the best selling board game of all time.
Monopoly is a relative upstart compared to other popular board games.
The oldest known board game is called "The Royal Game of Ur" or the "Game of 20 Squares". This game was discovered in a 4,500-year-old tomb in southern Iraq. This game was played throughout the Middle East for perhaps 1,000 years or more. In fact, the rules of the game have been found in cuneiform tablets. Game aficionados can play this ancient game yet today, even though it has long ago faded from popularity.
Perhaps the oldest board game still popular today is chess, which first appeared in India by the sixth century A.D. By the year 1,000 it was being played throughout the Middle East and in Europe. The rules and game board design have evolved somewhat over the centuries, but the game is still very much the same as the ancient Indians played it. They could hardly have dreamed, however, of the world-class chess match play or the electronic versions of the game we enjoy today.
Another very old, yet immensely popular board game is checkers, also known as draughts. A form of checkers was being played by the Egyptian Pharaohs as early as 1600 B.C. This game has also evolved over the centuries. By the 12th century the game was adapted to the 64-square chessboard. Four hundred years later the rules involving capture were added, yielding essentially the same game we play today.
There is simply no way to tell how many copies of chess or checkers have been sold or how many people have played these games. If the numbers were known, they would have to be truly staggering.
Popular Board Games Share Common Traits
Other top selling board games include Yahtzee, Scrabble, Mahjong, Trivial Pursuit, Battleship and the Risk game. Most of these games were developed during the 20th century and all are still big sellers and tremendously popular.
These popular board games share some similar traits. Most of them involve specific strategies of play. When these strategies are employed successfully, the games are fun, challenging and intensely rewarding as players attempt to capture portions of the board and/or each other. Another common element in most of these board games is chance, or luck. Luck is introduced usually by drawing cards or rolling dice. The element of chance opens up possibilities for even more strategies of play. A final important trait of these games is that in one way or another they reflect the lessons of life. They teach competition and sportsmanship. They teach strategy and the lesson of never giving up.
Perhaps that is why Charles Darrow was so attracted to Monopoly. He believed that success comes by employing sound strategies to following a dream and never giving up. We are glad that Darrow didn't give up. We are glad he didn't throw the board game with 59 things wrong in the trash bin as he left the Parker Brothers plant in 1934.
About the author: Royce Armstrong is a successful freelance writer with a business and banking background who believes consumers should get the best value for their money when shopping for board games [http://www.a1-in-toys.com/board-games.html], family games [http://www.a1-in-toys.com/electronic-games.html] and learning games [http://www.a1-in-toys.com/index.html].
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Complete Wii Balance Board Game List
I took some time to write a simple list about all the Wii games that are compatible with the Wii Balance Board (Wii Fit Board). Most of them are already released, some will be by early next year. I also included a small summery for each of the games.
1.All Star Cheer Squad - basically you have to play a cheerleader who moves up to become the head cheerleader. Start of as the rookie who has to try out for even getting accepted into the squad. The more you play the game the more advanced routines you will learn. You can play career mode or mini game mode style.
2.Academy Of Champions: Soccer - the tile says it all, a game basically for boys who love soccer. This title includes 12 mini games. Or play the story line to battle against a football academy. Try to make your team win the championship.
3. Avatar - the game to the upcoming film Avatar. The film is by James Cameron. The game is an action based adventure game, which takes place at an alien planet. Will be released at the end of November.
4. Daisy Fuentes Pilates - a great workout game not only for all the pilates lovers, but also people in general who want to improve their posture and do some more exercise without going to the gym. This game includes 10 pilates routines. There are 5 pre set routines and 5 customizable ones. The game starts at the level of beginners, but will move up in difficulty to advanced. You can play this game in English or Spanish. The commentator is Daisy Fuentes that will guide you all the way with her great tips in subjects like health and fitness.
5. DanceDance Revolution Hottest Party 3 - a sequel to the DanceDance Revolution games. You can either play with the dance pad or as the title of this article says, with the Wii Balance Board. The game can be played in workout mode, story mode, lesson mode or kids mode. This rhythmic game is the best one until now, because all the previous titles didn't include the Wii Balance Board. It includes also more than 50 tracks of music.
6. Diva Girls- Divas On Ice - a nice girlie game who want to try out as ice princesses. There is a career mode available, but also mini games. Defiantly a game for girls for the age of 8+.
7. Doctor Fizzwhizzle's Animal Rescue - a game where you have to advance in stages to rescue animals. An arcade kind of game. You have more than 180 levels to play and can rescue 60 different animals. It includes also a kids mode with quizzes about animals.
8. Don King Boxing - a boxing game where you step into the ring to fight against the greatest boxers in real venues like Madison Square Garden or Boardwalk Hall. See if you can make it to the top - in career mode. This is one of the top rated games of this year. You should try this game, even if you are not too much into boxing. This gives you the workout of a fitness game, but still makes it fun to play. Has a teen rating.
9. EA Sports Active More Workouts - This is the sequel to the EA Sports Active Personal Trainer game that was released about a year ago. One of the highest rated Wii fitness games. You can use the Wii Balance Board, the Wii remote and Nunchuk to play this game. This game adds 35 new exercises that target the whole body. More Workouts is made to be played in the winter as it focuses on warm-weather games like surfing, jet skiing and rafting. It also keeps players motivated with a 6-week-challenge that tracks the players progress.
10. EA Sports Active Personal Trainer - This was probably the most successful game for the Wii Balance Board. You can play sports like running, basket ball, volley ball, roller skating, boxing, baseball, dancing, and many other games. This game includes a rubber resistant band for muscle workouts and a pouch for jogging and running. If you want to play this game with a friend you can get the gear also separately. Sign up for the 30 day challenge with its 20 minute workouts to get into shape. This game will make your living room into a gym without the need of leaving the house.
11. Go Play Circus Star - Go try out to become the greatest circus performer. Play in career mode and play stage-by-stage or play mini games. Most of the games in this title are compatible with the Wii Balance Board. One of three games of the Go Play series.
12. Go Play City Sports - Another one of the Go Play series. Play six street games like stick ball, kickball, street hockey and soccer. In career mode you have to stand up for yourself and become the top athlete of your street. A fun and casual game for the whole family.
13. Go Play Lumberjacks - The last one of the Go Play series. This title takes you to the outdoors where you can play five different event categories. In each one of those categories you compete against three other players. One of the fun games is defiantly the water log game where you have to balance on a log.
14. Gold's Gym Cardio Workout - Another great fitness title. What makes this game unique it that when you buy it, you get a free one week trial at any Gold Gym. In the game your workout is chosen according to your own fitness level. So you don't have to worry that you will not be able to keep up. Includes boxing, running, rope jumping and many other sports.
15. Imagine Fashion Party - A game for all the girls who love to live the world of fashion. Includes office mode where you play a designer that get challenged by difficult clients. Or try to be a make-up artist and style your models before they hit the runway. You can even own your own TV show just like the one from Heidi Klum. This game also lets you share pictures through the Wii Wifi connection.
16. Imagine Party Babyz - For all of you who love the cute baby games like baby food throwing, dancing and hula hoop. There are more than 30 fun mini games to play. Or go for the career mode where you are in charge of a daycare center.
17. Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2009 - Another one of the popular fitness games for the Wii. This is a boot-camp-style game that focuses on four workout types: weight loss, intervals, hill climb and strength training. Just like in real life the game starts with warm-up, keeps you in your target zone to burn calories and cool-down for stretching. It even has a competitive mode where you play against a friend to find out who can burn more calories. The game is lead by fitness guru Jillian Michaels, that not only guides you through each exercise but also offers lifestyle tips.
18. Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2010 - The sequel to the boot-camp style fitness game. It adds on to the other game with a resolutions mode. In this mode you can plan ahead your routines for up to six months. Just like the first game it focuses on cardio like running, bicycle, swing kicks, jumping jacks. Strength training includes exercises like lunge kicks, push-ups, back kicks, sledge swings and many more. It offers very accurate motion tracking to give you a real-life experience. This is a recommended game if you want to get into shape fast.
19. Marble Saga Kororinpa - one of my favorite fun games from all Wii games. It includes more than 100 levels for the Wii Balance Board. Don't be fooled because I called it fun games. This game will defiantly challenge you while you try to move across the mazes and collect all the orange gems. If you collect also the green gems (one per level) you can unlock more stages at the end. Not only can you choose the difficulty but also different marbles - each with their own strengths. Collect all the stomp-temple-parts and you unlock the ability to design your own mazes at the end. You will play in 7 different worlds, each one with their own characteristics. So after you played the whole game you can even connect via the Wifi to get more advance levels. Check out the leader boards via the Wifi to see you is the best in the game.
20. Mario And Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games - Compete at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. Choose your favorite character from players like Mario, Sonic and Donkey Kong. This game targets primarily the fans of these characters. You have the option to play the game in single player, multiplayer and festival mode. Festival mode means that you go through all the Olympic events to become the greatest Olympic champion. This game includes winter themed games like skiing, hockey, bobsled and figure skating. But you also play dream events that won't happen in real life like dream snowball fight. You move your character with a combination of the Wii Balance Board, wii remote and nunchuk.
21. Mountain Sports - Another winter themed game that features six full length sports to make your gaming experience more satisfying. These include skiing, snowboarding, biathlon, tobogganing, bobsledding and curling. The goal of the game is to become the champion of the white mountain. Most of the games make use of the Wii Balance Board (5 out of six)
22. My Fitness Coach - This fitness game includes 500 exercises like cardio, flexibility and strength training. You can choose your favorite environment to suit your mood. Also customize your music with styles like Latin music, hip hop, oldies, music from the 80's,... As you progress the workouts will get more demanding. It also includes a meditation garden to practice stretching and yoga.
23. My Personal Golf Trainer - The only golf game that makes use of the Wii Balance Board. Not yet release thus not much more information available.
24. NewU: Fitness First Personal Trainer - another fitness title that was released in 2009. Just like many of the other fitness based games your own personal virtual trainer guides you through a set of exercises. This game will try to get you in better shape through fitness and healthy living without you ever having to leave the comfort of your own home.
25. Overturn - a wii ware title that you can get through the Wii Shop via the Wifi Connection.
26. Playmobil: Circus - This game combines the playmobil characters with the circus theme to attract primarily the younger players. You can unlock more than 16 circus tricks to impress the crowd. Two multiplayer modes are available: versus, where you compete against a friend and teamwork, where you work together to reach your goal. Play acts with elephants, magician, tame the lion and many more wacky games.
27. Punch Out - The sequel to the popular game of more than 15 years ago. Play against characters like Glass Joe and King Hippo. Most of the names will be familiar if you played the first game. In career mode you will have to win against 13 opponents. Each one has their own characteristics and weaknesses. Boxing games are not only fun games to play but will definitely get you into shape as you use your whole body to play. The Wii Balance Board makes the game even more realistic.
28. Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party - The only title of the Rayman Raving Rabbids series that is compatible with the Wii Balance Board. This game focuses on TV series, ads and TV classics. Play either in story mode where you will go through one week of television with unique tasks and very hilarious challenges. Or play party mode with up to 8 players, four of which can play simultaneously. In all these mini games your overall goal is to help the rabbids destroy the daily TV viewing and thus drive Rayman crazy. Two of the 65+ games are Beestie Boarding (slide down a hill filled with obstacles where the board is a wildebeest) and Garden of Weeden (get rid of all the weeds in the garden by spraying them with poison - apply pressure to the Wii Balance Board to succeed in the challenge). Overall, one of the number one party games.
29. Shaun White Snowboarding Road Trip - Shaun White will instruct you to become a great snowboarder. Turn the board so you glide down the mountain just like on a real snowboard. You can enjoy the scenery with the unique camera system and beautiful graphics. Or go for the challenges to compete in snowboarding events. There are four ventures to explore: Alaska, Europe, Japan and Park City.
30. Shaun White Snowboarding World Stage - was just recently released. Is the sequel to the Shaun White Snowboarding Road Trip game. This game just like the previous one has the rating 10+. Can you make it in the half-pipe to be better than everybody else? A nice game if you live far away from any snow, but still would like to know how it feels to snowboard.
31. Skate City Heroes - A skating game that takes place in a futuristic city on top of skyscrapers. You have to race between trains, hoover over cars and other crazy moves. The goal of the game is to out-race your opponent with your skills and moves. You need to free a friend and make peace in the city. All these if you can become the skateboarding master. Has a multiplayer mode for up to four players.
32. Skate It - A more realistic skating game where you can customize your own skate park with ramps, rails, benches and many more skate-able objects. The career mode lets you compete in skate venues to become the skater of the year. This is the game for you if you are into skating and the whole skate culture.
33. Ski And Shoot - A biathlon style game that includes original world cup tracks. But you can not only compete in those original sport spots but also play real time biathlon sports icons like Kati Wilhelm and Michael Rosch. Choose from 20 different tracks and more than 15 international locations. As the title says, you will focus on cross country skiing and target shooting.
34. Snowboard Riot - another Wii Ware title that you can get through the Wifi Connect Shopping channel of your wii.
35. Stratosphere Yoga - not much yet known about this title or when it will be released.
36. Super Monkey Ball: Step And Roll - Planned release is in February of 2010. This is a sequel to the popular Super Monkey Ball series. You play a monkey (several different ones to choose one each one with their own strengths) in a giant bubble that has to finish levels and collect bananas on the way.
37. The Biggest Loser - The game to the popular TV show "The Biggest Loser". Not only for those who want to loose weight but also for those who want to stay in shape and not gain weight. Trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels will guide you through exercises, motivate you and stand by you all the way. This title includes more than 88 exercises which target the upper- and lower body, the core and cardio. It also teaches you yoga poses and thus improves your posture. The Wii Balance Board can be used in over 66 exercise. Choose from 4, 8 or 12 week challenges and see if you can stay above the yellow line in weigh-in. To all those above mentioned features it also includes more than 50 healthy recipes and a daily planning calendar.
38. Vertigo - An action game where you have to control a metal ball. Try to keep it from falling off the sides just with the balance of your body. Sounds easy but is in reality very tricky. The game is set in a futuristic environment on top of skyscrapers and tall buildings. It includes 54 levels and has 4 different modes. You can even customize your own ball to give it its unique controls.
39. Walk It Out - an upcoming walking game. This game will be released in January 2010. The more you take steps and walk, the more beautiful your world will become. This game features more than 120 songs which should keep you focused and motivated. The game keeps track of your progress and burned calories with charts and graphs. You can use the Wii Balance Board, the Dance Dance Revolution controller, the wii remote and the nunchuk to play the game. This is a very popular game in Japan, where it is already released.
40. Water Sports - The game focuses on summer themed games like windsurfing, jet skiing, kite surfing and wake boarding. You have different locations to choose from like Australia and South Africa. Do tricks and combine them to get lots of points.
41. We Ski And Snowboard - Choose from 14 courses and from beginner to advanced in this great skiing game. Choose if you want to go skiing or snowboarding. You are in the Happy Ski Resort where you can focus on just casual skiing, competitions or tricks with your snowboard. Explore the surrounding area by helicopter. You can even decide at what day-time you would like to experience skiing: during day, afternoon with its warm light or night under the light of fireworks.
42. We Ski - Again you are in the Happy Ski resort. This game lets you only do skiing but you will for sure enjoy the great two mountains. You can even try black diamond slopes. Just like in the previous game, you can choose the time of the day, and which course you would like to try. Overall a fun game for the whole family.
43. Wii Fit - The most famous game for the Wii Balance Board. This is the game that got released first with the Board. Part of the title focus on your balance like the Balance Games and Yoga games. Our family's favorite are the Balance games. You start off with 5 games. The more time you spend exercising and playing the more games you can unlock. The other categories are Strength Training and Aerobics. You can even create a Wii Fit Channel - a mode where you don't have to put in the DVD to do a daily body test. Each time you do a body test you will be weighed and your balance will be tested. According to that you will get a score that is your Wii Fit Age. Don't take it too seriously if you are 10 or so years older than your real age. This should just motivate you to do daily exercises and keep in shape.
44. Wii Fit Plus - The just recently released sequel to the Wii Fit game. It combines the two games so you can play both of them from one CD. The difference is that you can now customize your workouts much easier and even decide if you want to do 20, 30 or 40 minute workouts. This game adds six new yoga activities and strength training exercises and 15 new balance games. A very fun game for the whole family not only if you are into fitness and weight loss.
45. Wii Music - Use the Balance Board to play 60+ instruments. But it does not matter if you press buttons at a certain time like in other music games. This is a very casual game, where there is no right or wrong. Just enjoy yourself while playing in a band. You can invite up to 4 people to play with you in your band. And you can even connect with friends through the Wifi connection. Choose your flavor like rock, jazz and Latin.
46. Winter Sports 2 The Ultimate Challenge - a winter themed game where you try out in 18 disciplines from 11 different winter sports. In this game you are in the center of sporting events that are broadcast all over the world. Some of the activities include snowboarding, ice skating, biathlon and ski jumping.
47. World Championship Athletics - Compete in 28 different summer themed sports games. Some of these are: high diving, hurdles and pole vault. See if you can win the gold medal and improve your own personal best.
48. Yoga - just recently released yoga game that focuses not only on yoga itself but also on its unique lifestyle. It lets you choose between story mode, where you start off as a complete yoga beginner and end up as a yoga guru. Training mode, where you can learn new poses. And Routine mode where you customize a workout that puts together several yoga poses. This game is a must if you liked the yoga exercises in the Wii Fit game.
Most of the games are just casual games that you play for fun. Some of them are excellent fitness games like Wii Fit and Wii Fit Plus. And my pick for the most fun game from the whole list: Marble Saga Kororinpa. In this game you have to balance a marble through a maze and collect colored gems on the way. Might sound boring to you, but when you play it you get really addicted. You can play this game also with the Wii Remote only. (Not less fun!)
Julia has worked with computers for the last 10 years. Since she has kids she is also interested in Console Games. In her latest projects she writes about Baby Monitor Movement Sensors and about the Fisher Price Baby Monitor.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Board Games - Have Deep Historical Roots Buried In The Sands Of Time
Monopoly, Risk and Clue have roots buried deep in the sands of ancient Mesopotamia.
British archeologist Charles Leonard Woolley unearthed the earliest known board game in the late 1920's. He was excavating a burial tomb in Ur, what is now southern Iraq. The game, buried with other treasure, had been interred nearly 4,500 years earlier. The Royal Game of Ur is the earliest known board game. Not only did Woolley find the game board and game pieces, he also found instructions for playing the game. They were engraved in cuneiform texts located at the site. The Royal Game of Ur, or the 'game of 20 squares' was a race game with two players racing to the end of the board. Since that time similar game boards have been found throughout the ancient world, from Egypt to India. The game Woolley found can still be played today, just as the ancient Sumerians enjoyed it.
Board games have been popular in nearly every known civilization. Many civilizations were playing board games before they developed any form of written language.
Board games come in two basic types. The first uses strategy to win the game. The object is to block or capture opposing game pieces or to capture larger portions of the game board. Monopoly and checkers are both examples of the strategy game. Strategy alone does not insure victory.
Chance plays a significant role in most board games, but not all. Some of the most respectable board games, chess for example, focus on skill with very little luck involved.
Purists feel that luck is an undesirable element. They feel the games should be based entirely on strategy and skill. Others feel the element of chance gives these games more complexity with many more possible strategies. These people feel the element of luck makes these games more exciting. On the other hand, games that are completely games of chance, where no or few decisions are made, quickly become boring to most adults. Many children's board games are games of luck with few decisions to be made.
The second types of board games are race games. Two or more players move pieces in a race from one point on the board to another. Backgammon is an example of a race game. Again, the element of chance is an essential ingredient in these games.
Luck is introduced into the game in a number of ways. One of the popular ways is by using dice. The dice can determine how many units a play can move, how forces fare in battle or which resources a player gains. Another common method of introducing change is by using a deck of special cards. In yet other games spinners or other such devices are used to determine the play.
A third type of board games is a combination both of the above types. These games employ strategies to conduct a race.
Board Games Pre-date Reading And Writing
Board games have been popular for centuries. The game of 20 squares was played from Egypt to India more than 4,000 years ago. Nearly 3,000 years ago a game that resembles backgammon was developed in the same region. Games using stone marbles were developed in Egypt nearly 1,000 years later.
A board game is a game played with a pre-marked surface and counters or pieces that are moved across the board. Methods of chance are often used, usually dice or cards, to determine the movement of the pieces or counters across the surface of the board.
We are not really sure why early board games were developed. Some argue these games were a device for conducting religious services. Others claim they were employed to teach strategies of war. Today's board games are recreational and considered good family entertainment.
Board games became popular in the U.S. in the early 1900s. As the population moved off the farm, people had more time and more money to pursue leisure activities. Board games were a family recreation easily played in the home. Chess, checkers and backgammon became tremendously popular.
The most popular board game of all time is Monopoly. In 1904 Elizabeth Maggie patented "The Landlord's Game" an early version of Monopoly. It was based upon economic principles and was designed to teach real estate ownership and management.
In 1933, Clarence Darrow copyrighted a version of "The Landlord's Game." He called it "Monopoly." He went to the game company, Parker Brothers, for help producing the game. They turned him down because they said it would never sell. He began selling Monopoly for the 1934 Christmas season. He was overwhelmed with orders. Parker Brothers agreed to produce the game the following year. Monopoly is now printed in 15 languages and sold worldwide.
Favorite old board games have recently been redeveloped for a whole new generation. These classics have been developed as electronic games. Most popular board games have now been successfully adapted as electronic games. These games are played on game consoles and on personal computers.
Board games have come along way since the days of ancient Sumerians when they were played around campfires of camel trains. Astronauts millions of miles above the earth have played board games. Now, with the Internet, players half a world apart can come together in cyberspace and enjoy the challenge of board games.
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