Entry 45: Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

        Sorry for the late posting of the blog today. I meant to set it up a few days ago and we got busy, once again, with stuff.

        I just want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New year. Next week there will not be an entry. I will continue with it on January 9th so my family can decompress from this season.

        As a side note, the weather outside is just right to stay warm inside and play games. Here in the Seattle area it is currently snowing and we have around 4 to 6 inches on the ground.

        Until next year, stay safe and Happy Gaming!!!!

Entry 44: An old school project

        Not a long post… I was racking my brain this week trying to figure what I can write next. As I was helping my mother to come up with her 2022 10 x 10 Challenge list, I saw the game that she transposed that her sister in Germany came up with. 

        Last year (2020) my wife and I started to create our own game but had to put it on the backburner because of various things that had come up making our lives crazy. I still look at the box that our game is in and have looked at the notebook that has our “chicken scratch” thoughts in it thinking that soon, we need to get started on it again. 

        Then I remembered that back in either junior high or high school a project that our class had to do was to create our own version of Monopoly based on one of the fifty United States that we were assigned to. Mine just so happen to be the state of Utah. 

        From what I remember from the project of “ancient days” is that we had to research major events, places, and people from the history of the state and write up a couple page report covering all the topics. We then had to create our own game board and assign each spot including utilities and railroads to items that we highlighted in our report. After the whole class had given their reports, we had spent about a week in groups of four playing each other’s Monopoly game. 

        Some of you may be thinking that was such a cheesy project, and others may think that this would be the coolest thing to do with school kids. I am with the latter, I loved the project and would love to do it again. 

        Since my wife and I are planning on homeschooling our child and future children, I am sure doing game creation projects will be on our future. I would love to start this in the early stages of schooling since our daughter already loves to be involved in our gaming hobby. 

        I would like to know, have any of you had to do any similar projects?

Entry 43: Reflections

        

        This last week was wild and crazy; from decorating our home for Christmas, to finishing our gift shopping, to finding out that the man who was my best friend had passed away. Because of all this, I was seriously debating about not writing an entry this week, but then I realized that through all of the happenings I was making memories and reflecting on the past. So this blog, will be a brief review of the year in gaming for us. 

Games Played 

        Up until last night, we have played 131 different games throughout the year for a total of 692 plays. Yes, one of the games we played (The Crew) a total of 95 times because each mission played counts towards the numbers and my wife and I plan to finish our 2 player campaign before years end, thus adding more to our final numbers. 

        

        Looking at the variety of games we played, I have to say that I am quite impressed with our selection. Of all the games played, only about 30 of them was a 1 play. Any particular reason why? Not really, looking at some of the games from that list it could be because we played the different versions of the game (Pandemic and Clank!) or that the game was new to us this year and we haven’t played a second yet of it (Unsettled). 

 

        Overall, I have to say that I am very pleased with the variety of games that we played this year. And just think, the potential for next year will be just a great. 

Kickstarter Games 

        This year we had backed 24 new projects. One of them had already came in since it was a game that the company had already designed (they just needed the manufacturing company to make them) and just paired it up with a release they had from last year. For some of the other games from this year, the Covid crisis has taken the toll and are delayed while the companies in China try to catch up the production. China had been under strict regulations as to how many days a week and when a company can produce. It’s not like the shipping crisis is worse enough, China had to throw in some more curveballs. 

        As for the games backed in 2020, without looking through all at exact numbers, I want to say roughly 50% of the game have finally arrived. For 2019, one game is still not here but the last update from a few days ago had said that shipping across the globe will start in early January of 2022 (not holding my breath until I see the tracking number for the package). 

        Out of all the Kickstarter games that did come this year, we have tabled a few already but others are under the Christmas tree waiting for “Santa to come.” 

Other orders 

        We have made numerous purchases directly from game publishers (Stonemaier Games) and/or game distributors & sellers (Funagain, Miniature Market, & Amazon). We have played more than a handful but less than a truck-full of the games. We keep finding games that look interesting to us mainly from the recommendation of other gamers. 

        Not only are we increasing our personal collections, but we have made numerous purchases as gifts for others. From Secret Santa’s to out of state friends and family members. Because we find joy and happiness in our gaming hobby, we love sharing and spreading it to others too. 

        For me, the best example of the making a purchase to give as a gift was to my sister. She really enjoyed playing Tang Garden with us and I asked her if she would like a copy since the game can be played solo. She had said yes and I contacted my friends at ThunderGryph Games to see if they had a copy of the Kickstarter set left somewhere. When I got the response that they did track one down, we immediately got it as a gift for my sister. She lit up when she got it. Ahh… the joy of giving. 

Future Orders 

        We already know of a few upcoming games that are forthcoming we want to get and/or back. 

        Due to the delay in two current projects from ThunderGryph Games, they had decided to delay the next expansion to Tang Garden until next year. We already have funds set aside for this because of the multiple copies we will need to get. 

        Another item for me to take note is that my family and mother was blessed to have knowledge of a special upcoming Kickstarter project for next year from a game company we love but due to the nature of said item, it is not cheap. My wife immediately had informed the creator that we will be one of the first people to back it. 

Final look back 

        I would have to say that overall, this year was pretty good for us. In our daily gaming commitment we only missed a few days this year. Our collection has grown to the point where we could play a different game/expansion each day of the year for two years and then some. 

        I love that we have been able to introduce so many new games to people and spread the joy of board games to those who are looking for new things to do. Family dinners on Sunday are followed by the family playing a game together. During the week we will have friends or family over to relax and play games. 

Looking forward 

        What we are really hoping to do next year is be able to get our old gaming group back together in attempt to “feel normal” again. 

        Until that happens, we will continue to do what we did this year regarding our gaming habits. Besides a new 10 x 10 Challenge and our daily game plays, I am thinking that we will add playing a new game each week to the mix. This ensures that we will do better at playing our new and unplayed games that we picked up. Fifty-two new games in one year? Yeah, I think we can handle that.

Entry 42: Oh my, meme's!!!

         Today I was going to write about St. Nikolastag. I had partially written it then I decided that I just I want something light hearted to bring in December. So I found a handful of meme's that I would like to share with you. 

MEME 1

        I got a good laugh at this one because a few of the frames I think applies to me nicely. Until my mother started playing games with us, I think she thought that our games we "army men" because I do enjoy a good game of Risk every now and then. The last two frames pretty much fits the bill when it comes to me, enough said about that.

MEME 2

        This is a running joke in the board gaming community. Not much more I can add to it except I wonder what advanced board game will take Monopoly's place.

MEME 3

        How could you not laugh at that if you are a serious board gamer. Yesterday my wife and I along with our beautiful baby girl went to a new-to-us FLGS because we got tagged in a Faceboook post that the store had shared about a big sale they were having. 

   

        We looked at the sale items, added a few to our basket and then decided to see what else they have.... BIG MISTAKE. Not only were we adding games to our "mental wishlist" but when our daughter found the section of HABA games she was having a blast selecting most of the games that she wanted. 

    We ended up walking out the door with a few sales items, a few HABA games for our sweet precious baby girl and also a Grogu bank that she couldn't live without. 

    One thing we liked about this new store is that they had a Christmas "adopt-a-family" donation program. They "adopted" 300 families this year and to brighten a young child's holiday, we donated a HABA game for a family with young kids. 

MEME 4

        I love this meme because I love being disconnected (for the most part) from technology while playing a board game. The only time I reconnect is when we have rules questions that we can't find answers to in the rules book.We also are not big on games that are app supported or app driven because we want to focus on each other and have meaningful conversations.

MEME 5

        As much a my wife complains about when my sister and I (top picture) are playing a strategic game with her, she wants us to believe that she is the bottom image. In reality, she does really well in planing out her turns to get the most of the game. With that statement in mind, the next meme is totally my wife when playing worker placement games.....

MEME 6

        See above. No other statement needed.

MEME 7

        We all know someone that just loves playing games with dice. The challenge is often finding dice games that we can use our "particular set of skills" to play with them. 

    Also, I bet you that when you read this meme in your mind you heard Liam Neeson's voice and now it is stuck there. HAHA.

    Well, I hope that you all loved the few that made me laugh. If you have any memes that you like, please share them with us on our Facebook group page. (The Family Gamer)