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Why can I never help becoming a bit wistful at the end of a year? Looking back on 2002, many things stick out -- incredibly busy times at work, wonderful time (but not enough) spent with my wife, and a lot of board games (but not nearly enough!) played with good friends.
The year began with grand ambitions of tracking every game I played. That didn't work out, although I'm proud to report that it didn't fall off until June.
I do know that I played more games in 2002 (best estimate: 150 plays, including repeats) than I ever have before. So that makes it a great year. (By the way, depending on your perspective, my total of 150 games is either extraordinarily high or worthy of nothing more than a shrug. It's way above average as far as typical families go, but I know gamers who played double and even triple that number of games in 2002.)
Here's hoping your 2002 was filled with great memories, and here's to a 2003 in which we all get to spend some more time hanging out with family and friends, enjoying each other's company and playing great games!
Christmas 2003
It's always fun to give gifts to my family, because I load them up with games, games, games!
This year's gift list included Top Secret Spies (compare prices), given to my niece Linsey, which I know was played at least twice. If you're interested in a new game that doesn't tax your brain too much but does include opportunity to exercise some strategy, consider Top Secret Spies. It's among my personal favorites.
Games I'm Playing
Last weekend, we managed to play six games with Tom and Dana (Mark and Amy joined us for a little while, too): Survive!, The Touch, Nodwick Hench Games, Dragon's Gold, Murder in the Abbey, and Citadels.
All are top-notch games, but the highlights for me were the two newest ones -- The Touch (a party game in which the sense of touch is the most important factor in determining the winner) and Nodwick Hench Games (a wild card game is based on the Nodwick comic books).
If you'd like to read it, my full report on all six games, including rules summaries, is available.
Games I Can See While Sitting At My Computer
There are no games in our home office this week, absolutely none. I cleaned it up for Christmas! (Well, "cleaned up" may be overstating it a bit. For example, there are a dozen D-size batteries sitting on our desk right now, but that's not my fault. Really. Our power went out and we needed to power up our little camp-style electric lanterns.)
Boardgame Top Picks List of the Week - Best Games of 2002
Every "best of" list is subjective, but for some reason listing the best games of 2002 feels more subjective than most. Still, not wanting to disappoint you, the intrepid SMG reader, I plowed forward and came up with a list. A darn good list.
Here are my top 3 games of the year; my complete top 10 is also available.
From an email by Mark Jackson of Game Central Station:
Take a look in the About Board Games Forum.
Board Games Survivor Island Update
This week, Merchant of Venus was tossed into the ocean. There are only three games remaining -- Liar's Dice, San Marco, and Star Wars Epic Duels. Which one deserves to be the sole survivor? Only you can decide by voting today.
Boardgames Poll of the Week
Which of these games, chosen in The Apples Project as the most innovative games, is your favorite?
Last Week's Poll Results
Which of these, the all-time best-selling games at Funagain Games, is your favorite?
It's never too late to add your vote!
About Something Else Site of the Week
The old Pets.com sock puppet had one commercial, my favorite, where he asked, "Can the tabby cat come out to play?" Or something close to that. About.com's Cats Guide, Franny Syufy, has a tabby tribute.
Green Bay Packers Notes of the Week
We stand at 12-3, with the possibility of home field advantage throughout the playoffs (which is huge considering the Packers have never -- not once -- lost a playoff game at Lambeau Field) if the Giants beat the Eagles Saturday night. Let's go, Kerry Collins!
I'll be at the Meadowlands for Sunday's game, when the Packers take on the very dangerous New York Jets. And I hope they're able to leave the Meadowlands with a last-game victory, just like the did last year with a win over the Giants. (Can anyone explain to me why the Jets are a 1-point favorite?)
Prediction: Packers, 24, Jets, 17.
What's That You Say?
Talk back to SMG in the About Board Games Forum.
--Erik Arneson
28 December 2002
About Board Games Forum Post of the Week
"It was midway through a game of Apples to Apples... and I, as The Judge, drew a green apple with the word 'feminine' on it. What happened next can only be explained by the fact that I was playing with a group of game geeks (in the most pejorative sense of the word 'geek'). The best answer of the set was 'A Cheap Motel.' Thankfully, the rest of the cards I was looking at have faded from my long-term memory..."
What is this all leading to? Great question. The answer: The Apples Project. Mark has done a wonderful job of compiling "best of" lists for boardgames in a variety of categories, with input from a couple dozen gamers. Get ready to waste some time, because there's a lot of good stuff here to digest.
Vote now!
