Entry 1: Welcome to my "world"

      From the time we were young children until the time we are ready to be put in the grave, “games” (I use that loosely right now) have been part of the human experience that have shaped our lives. You may say something like “I don’t like playing games” or “games are not for me” but hear me out on this topic. 

      I have seen “games” played with my one-year old daughter* in the form of getting her to eat dinner and try new foods. Who has not done the “here comes the airplane” trick to get a child to eat? Is that not a game we play? Playing peek-a-boo is another one that keeps a child interested for a few seconds until something new distracts them. We have also made a “game” for her to teach her to put away her toys. When my wife and I play our board/card and video games our baby girl wants part of the action, but that’s another story.

      As we continue to age, games are used to teach us new things and concepts. From simple matching games to using dice to teach basic addition. I have multiple friends who have even taught their young children Magic: The Gathering because it helps them to read, do math, and use higher thinking skills. Moving along in life, games are played while in courtship with another (don’t tell me that you never play “games” to get something you want, I know it happens). 

      As adults, playing games (now I am talking about board games) is a great way to have social interactions with family members and peers. In my family, we often play games each week after family dinner just so we can enjoy a little more quality time with one another. My dad is not a big gamer unless it is Yahtzee or Trivial Pursuit. We try to find games that he would play more than once and have succeeded a few times; but the key to that is he is willing to try new games and spend time with the family. This is a success for our family. 

      My wife and I gifted a game to a co-worker* so their large extended family could play something together and I have been told they have played it a few times now getting all ages involved. To me, this is a successful game because again it unites a family together. 

      Later in life the social aspect of gaming is just as important as playing “which of my medications did I forget to take today.” Senior and community centers often hold Bingo, Pinochle, or other game events to bring the aging generations together to provide a socialization opportunity. 

      You may be saying that all of this is fine and dandy but this is 2020* and we are dealing with a global pandemic that prevents us from getting together in groups. I can tell you this, the board game industry is thriving more than ever because people are looking for new things to do to help prevent “cabin fever” from settling in. You can only work on your yard or garden so much each week and TV gets boring after a while (yes, not all 200+ channels will have something interesting to watch all the time). People are now turning back to games to occupy time. 

      Most new board games today are still designed for 2-4 or up to 6 players. Great for a lock-down situation in which a family can play together BUT (yes, a big bolded but) people sometimes require alone time after being cooped up for an extended period of time. So game designers are coming up with solo modes for individual play. Some of my new favorite games include solo modes which allows me some personal downtime alone (doesn’t mean with a wife and young child I get it, but it’s the thought that counts). 

      Our game collection has greatly enlarged to the point that we can play a new game and/or expansion to a game every day for more than a year and the collection is still growing more and more. Once our baby girl grows a little older, more children’s learning games (HABA comes to mind) will be added as well to further instill the love we have of games into the next generation. 

      To conclude, I feel that board games will have a lasting effect on society in a way similar to how books have spanned across time and different cultures. People all over the world can play the same games and have discussions and shared experiences. With technology today, we can preview and play games with others globally and still can acquire a physical copy to play at home to enjoy the full gaming experience that board game designers have put their talents into.

*This was originally written in late 2020 so my daughter is nearly 2 years old now; I no longer work with this person but we do attend the same church congregation; and vaccines are being distributed to lessen some of the effects of the pandemic which is still going on.