NewVenture Games Blog
On our blog, we share our thoughts about peg games, board games, card games, and more, for beginners and gaming geeks alike.
Theme doesn’t matter!
That provocative title isn’t true - until I explain what I mean. Sure board games have themes, including Senet and Peter Coddles and Star Trek Ascension. Even many historical abstracts have themes, like chess and daldøs. But many abstracts do not have themes, like...
It’s not hoarding if you have them written down!
“It’s not hoarding if you have them all written down.” Sound familiar? I have a lot of games. That is to say, “lots” of games (plural). Games of all kinds, sizes, ages, themes, etc. And they’re all on shelves…more or less. Are they sorted by any of these aspects? It...
Who’s on First?
How do you choose a first player? A few common methods are: Rock-Paper-Scissors (one-two-shoot); flip a coin (heads, I win - tails, you lose); high roller with dice used in the game (or high spin if it’s a spinner); the person who chose the game, or owns the game, or...
Why Do I Collect Table-Top Games?
“So many games, so little time.” Heard that before, have you? The sentiment is very much linked to a disease that I am afflicted with. It’s a common malady known by the acronym GAS which translates as “Game Acquisition Syndrome.” It is likewise related to, and often...
Board Games as Time Machines
It’s fairly obvious that I’m very much into historic and vintage board games. My game collection and YouTube video series all attest to that. And you may also be aware that I’m an advocate of games in the classroom, for a number of reasons. Recently, I was invited to...
A game is not a game unless the players make meaningful decisions
“A game is not a game unless the players make meaningful decisions.” That doesn’t mean that those decisions need to be complex or multifaceted or have far-reaching consequences. The simple decision to roll those dice once more, to drop a token onto a space, or to play...
Cyber Monday is for Board Game Gifts!
Black Friday used to mean just the shopping day after Thanksgiving. Now, of course, it lasts for weeks, including Cyber Monday. Tabletop Games are not left out of these holiday spending sprees, with millions of gamers anticipating great bargains. Board games are the...
Take It Personally
When my kids were small, we played games (of course). But we generally played by our own house rules rather than the mundane exercise offered by the publisher. Rules were made to be bent, right? So when the kids pulled out Candyland, we started at the basics. Draw a...
Games for your Hallowe’en Party?
Someone asked me, “What games would you recommend for a Hallowe’en party?” My first question was “What KIND of Hallowe’en party?” Would it be a sit-down affair with room for a table-top game (or several)? A large gathering with room for dexterity or group games? A...
Games Workshops
Over the years I’ve provided many games workshops for audiences of all ages. In addition, I work with Boy Scouts who wish to earn the Game Design Merit Badge. (Yes, there is one!) The workshops depend greatly on the audience, the setting, the materials at hand, and...