Porch
I was asked to contribute to an article for Porch.com called Expert Advice for the Ultimate Game Room at Home.
I answered the question: What are the factors people should consider when choosing board games for the whole family?
Here’s my reply:
“Different games suit different families. If you don’t play many games, look for a game with simple rules that can be taught in under 5 minutes. Avoid games that include loads of luck as there is minimal player agency and the family is less likely to want to play again. Look for games with quick turns or simultaneous play – these will keep everyone fully engaged. Games where it’s not clear who is winning until scores are tallied help to train children to enjoy playing rather than needing to win.”
Read the article to find expert answers to the questions:
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What is the best way to store and maintain board games?
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How do board games bring families together?
- How do you keep a diverse board game collection?
RBS
I was asked to contribute to an article for the RBS members website about the Homebody Economy. It’s not visible to non-members, but I thought I’d share the questions and my responses here. (Not sure what The Homebody Economy is? Have a look here.)
- Clear out your old dusty board game cupboards and put games where they can be easily seen and grabbed. Out of sight is out of mind and we must remember to play!
- Go for games that have a great table presence. Games that look beautiful and have interesting components draw people in and add much to the tabletop experience.
- Not all games are created equal. To achieve harmony, avoid long games with player elimination and runaway leaders. Instead look for games where it’s not clear who has won until the end.
- Learn a game before you attempt to teach it to others. Watching you read a rule book will stretch others’ tolerance to the limit and leave them with little to spare for the actual game.