Gaming back home....

Two things:

- Small World for Ipad is about the best travel game ever, you know, Small World without the accounting.  One caveat:  it only plays 2 people.  But if there's 2 of ya, it's about the perfect pastime....

- My mother and the rest of the family are now in love with Dominion.  I need to visit more often.

Brilliant marketing....

Days of Wonder never ceases to impress with their ongoing campaigns.  The videos to drum up excitement for Cargo Noir, the contest to invent a Ticket To Ride map...  They just always have something going for fans.

Well, a quick peek at the hidden pic on BGG or the creepy shadowy figure on the Small World page suggests another, darker expansion on the way.

Ok, I'll bite.  I'm excited.

Well, that's an interesting use for a meeple....

Opinionated Gamers, one of my new favourite blogs, has an interesting list of, er...  "adult"-oriented, board game-inspired toys.  Very funny.  I think '7" Wonders' is my favourite.  You've been warned.

At risk of losing a few readers, might I also suggest a couple of names?  How about 'BIG Black Friday' and 'Not-so-Small World'?  Okay.  I'm done now.

It's a Small World after all...

My partner received Small World from Santa this year (well done, Santa!) and we have now played it 5 times since then. He won't let us play anything else right now and I guess I can see why. It's fun. A lot of fun. I will say, though, that despite the strategy I find it quite chaotic in the sense that your final score is often determined as much by the actions of others as by you. Still, I see myself giving it many more plays since History of The World has always been a favourite of mine but just takes way too long.

Games Magazine Game of The Year.....

I remember as a teenager looking forward to the December issue of Games Magazine every year. They'd publish their list of the 'Top 100 Board Games of The Year' and I'd drool over all the games that seemed unavailable in northern BC. I don't have a subscription anymore (although I really should get one again) mostly because of my broke student status for the last 3 years.

Well, according to BGN this year's list is up and I'm looking forward to picking up the December issue at the local magazine rack. The winner: Small World by Phillipe Keyaert, published by Days of Wonder. This remake of Vinci is supposed to play like a shorter version of History of The World, a personal fave. Add another one to the wish-list...

(My birthday is Oct. 27th, by the way.... ) ;)

On the radar (i.e. soon to be bought...)

Not too much to mention at the moment so I'll just tell you what is currently on my wish-list...


Castle For All Seasons is a cross between Stone Age and a game like Race For The Galaxy. Except the roles interact like Cathedrals. Um, sounds REALLY good to me and this one is actually already available. I'm just waiting for a paycheque....


Excape (a reprint of Exxtra) is a push-your-luck game with dice. And it's invented by Reiner Knizia. Yeah, pretty much guaranteed to be really, really good. Also now available (MONEY! I NEED MONEY!!!)


Also, Days of Wonder has a new release this year, Small World, a remake of the game Vinci which I have never played. I have, however, thoroughly enjoyed History of The World which is a similar game. Unfortunately, HOTW takes 4-5 hours. Small World should give you the same feeling in about 60 minutes. And expect the amazing components that come in every Days of Wonder game (they are the publishers of Ticket to Ride.)

Oh yeah, and Dominion: Intrigue. 'Nuff said.