In the 21st Century we are familiar with Wii, Play Stations, Xbox, internet connections, iPhones, video games, 950 satellite channels to sway our boredom yet, at times people still tend to grab a primitive deck of cards or dust off a memorable board game that was tucked away in the hall closet.
Every Christmas you wander around the stores to find gifts for friends and family. You don’t want to admit it, but in your search you quite often purposely get lost in the toy section of the department store and check out what is new. To your amazement you notice that, despite all the technology there is to fill your spare time the manufacturers still launch new board games. Does that mean there still is a need to feed the hungry gamer the old-fashioned way?
It may surprise you but yes, the board game industry is still alive and well. One of the main reasons why people still play a game of trivia is the social aspect. You can't play a board game without at least one other person and it can’t be one that lives on the other side of the planet. Also, you may not feel the urge to sit in front of a computer screen after you already did so all day long, earning a living. There is no way around it… you need personal interaction with another human being, hear their voice clearly, watch their expressions and tap them on the shoulder if they are getting a little too excited. Let’s not forget the team’s “winner’s dance” which can be quite amusing.
A box of dice and scorecards for playing Yahtzee is easier to carry around than a computer. If that is even too heavy, a lot of games can also be bought in a compact travel format: a single game, or multiples in one box.
Granted, a board game is not something you play every day, but it is worth having around. Outside of being portable they are also cheaper than most of the other items we use for entertainment. They are still exciting after many years of usage and not often do they require a fortune on batteries or have a console that can break. They are practical when you go camping or during a major power failure. Are you convinced yet that board games are not a fixture from the past? If not, why don’t you swing by my place and test your strategy and diplomacy skills! |
