Ask Mike: Breaking Into Board Games
Hey Guys,
Despite the tremendous popularity of big TVs and all things “tech,” many people still love old fashioned board games. After browsing around Yahoo! Answers, I discovered that not only do you like to play board games, some of you also have aspirations of creating one of your own.
A simple search on “board games” within Yahoo! Answers returns over 13,000 results. A good number of those come from folks seeking information on how to break into the industry. Weasel281 aspires to design games in the toy industry and is looking for help getting started. Another community member, Ajaho, has already made his own board game and is looking for tips on getting it published.
Some aspiring designers don’t necessarily want to manufacture the game themselves — they just want to license the idea to an existing company. Anyone who is thinking about making their own game would do well to check out this question from PhillGood_13. He asks, “What are the most important features of a good board game?”
Building off that question, one might also want to ask what makes a successful game so successful. That’s exactly what jculala365 wants to know about Monopoly. What is it about this game that has made it so popular for so long? The thimble, perhaps?
What about you? Do you still play board games? Have you ever tried to make one of your own? What makes a great board game great? Strategy? Simplicity? A bunch of plastic hippos? Please leave a comment and let me know.
Thanks for reading,
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Hmm well im making one in my science class in high school. its very hard but fun ! if u have any tips.. u can always use some help ^^
Hi, I do play board games with my 9 year old son at least once a wk. We play junior monopoly, card games such as War, Gold fish, Operation, Dominoes, Sorry, Scrabble, Boggle, Battleship and Strategy…usually we play these on Sunday nights. I think it’s fun and it keeps our minds healthy. It also gives variety because I know that my son gets sick of his games after a while and wants to ride his scooter.
i am in the process of creating a board game (im 25) that i started with an idea when i was 14. i left the original thoughts and detailed board drawing in my closet, lost it in young adulthood transit, and had it mailed to me by an old roommate who found it! i have begun again really thinking it out. its a simple enough idea but i havent yet played a board game like it. hopefully it flies.
i have a couple ideas for versions of monopoly that should be made. also other versions of chess (all based on movies and tv shows of course)
When I was in grade school, we were playing all sort of paper games. The only difference to board games is just instead of board we used paper. We had some interesting games back then, some war game with the use of pencils. Basically you push the top of the pencil and let it go forward, the line created by the pencil will be a “shot”. You might think its stupid but it was really fun back then.
Why Monopoly is so successful? I think because it partly has to do with money, people simply love money, at least that’s one of the reasons why its so addictive. As well as luck, sort of gambling but then you don’t lose any real money. Unless you are crazy enough to play Monopoly (the board game!) with real money.
Hey this is a good thing, I have a game that I am trying to sell. I’ve got about 3000 already made and ready to sell but I haven’t found a buyer.It’s a simple game sort of like chinese checkers,any who I would really like to sell these games and make a little scratch. If anyone can help me out on this I would appreciate it, we have it on EBAY but nothing yet!
Go Sorry!!!
It’s sad because I could never win but I always enjoyed it =)
Great idea.
Look at the modern eurogames for the best in current gaming design. The key factors are:
Simple rules but multiple choices of action each turn
Fast gameplay – no downtime
Every one stays in till the end – unlike monopoly where eliminated players have no further interest in the game.
Good theming and attractively designed components
pal, i am a new man to board game. please enlighten me more.
I still play and love the old wheel of fortune game board and scrabble, I need to get my hands on Monopoly, I think that game is fun for adults & kids because we love money and buying those darn hotels but hate to get locked up but then you can laugh at that person and its fun breezing by with my little shoe by you with my get out of jail card.
Monopoly and other board games that deal in realestate and money are not only engaging but the players learn something as well. For young players its math skills and beginning strategy, the railroads and board walk are strategic spots on the board and they learn real quick to avoid monopolies. Goal setting is also important as the younger set realizes that they get money for passing GO each time they begin to strategize how to do that in the least turns.
I learn a lot about people that I play with. Some are out to take over the little world and some want to make the game go as long as possible. I don’t know any one that hasn’t modified the rules for some reason from letting younger kids play with older kids to increasing playing time.
Clue is my all-time favorite board game. It is very fun and keeps me and my family entertained for hours. If you haven’t played Clue, you most definitely should!
Check out boardgamegeek.com. There are lots of boardgames developed every year. They are played at local weekly and monthly gatherings and at conventions around the country. The best boardgames are recognized with prizes. The importance of each player’s decisions in determining the outcome of the game is a critical factor in the appeal of a game. The game’s theme can also help its appeal.
What makes a board games good depends on the age group. Adults may like something challenging, when kids would want something with lots of colors and crazy characters.
First, anyone who is trying to get a board game published, I wish them “Good Luck!” with their efforts and hope that it works well for them.
Second, in addition to the recent games that coming out, I have noticed that the classics are still as popular as ever, if not growing in popularity.
A good family evening spent together playing board games is definitely going to be of more value than anything that technology has to offer.
Bradford
Check out the “Zillions” program. It plays many, many standard board games with you. In addition, you can change the rules, and even make up board games of your own with it.
I used to play board games like Snakes and Ladders, Mancala, and Sorry!, but now, it’s all about computer games and DS games.
If you play chess you may be interested in looking at ring chess, a chess variant I invented about forty years ago. It is played on a field without any boundaries, so I sometimes refer to it as free chess.
I totally agree with you! There’s nothing like sitting down with the family and playing a board game like Scene It! or Aggravation. Those were my favorite!
I like board games that are short in gameplay, which is why I hate Monopoly. Anything that takes over 2 hours to play is too long. I have been working on a RPG/Board Game, that does not require a GM and RPG fans can pull out a premade quest and the 3D fully customizable gameboard and explore the dungeon.
i’ve always wanted to make a board game but never could figure out how….
cool
I think board games will never leave in any way. Batteries die, lines crash and sometimes the immediate interaction makes the time so much more fun. My fmaily & I have always had a series of games and my wife & I keep a few such as Scrabble, Risk, Monopoly and the like in our home for certain times of the year or when we invite friends to come enjoy an evening with us of dinner and company.
Blessings,
Jaime
I like playing board games. I really enjoy them on the computer. It takes care of the boring, routine tasks that some games require. Chess, checkers and parchesi (can’t spell it tho’). I also enjoy card games and dominoes.
I have designed only one game. It was a game I called WAR. It used dice and dominoes and did not require a board but borrowed some stuff from RPG which was brand new at the time.
I’m designing a board game at the moment for my school coursework project. I’m really enjoying it!
I found this site very helpful when it came to thinking of ideas and inspiration for my game.
My friends and I play them all the time! It’s a great socializing activity. We enjoy playing Cranium most of the time.
Board games are a good way to socialize. This is especially true for families. It gets them to interact with each other instead of just sitting down in front of the tv.
Also, these are good for senior citizens. Good for socialization and for keeping the minds active.
Also, before going to sleep if I am not reading a novel I like to do either a crossword or a word search puzzle.
The geek website is all you need to increase your awareness of boardgames and the boardgaming community
http://www.boardgamegeek.com
GOOD TO HEAR THAT THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE WHO ENJOY BOARD GAMES. THEY ARE NOT ONLY FUN, BUT THEY ARE EDUCATIONAL. YOU LEARN A LOT ABOUT THE OTHER PLAYERS. THE SIMPLER THE GAME THE MORE FUN. ALL AGES CAN GET INVOLVED. WE PLAYED OLD MAID AS KIDS WHO EVER HAD THE OLD MAID GOT ONE MARK WITH LIPSTICK FROM THE OTHER PLAYERS. AS A KID IT WAS GREAT REVENGE ON GROWN UPS.
I believe that our modern society has unfortunately drifted away from board games, and most human social interactions. I think it is a major loss. I have played all sorts of games with youth and adults alike. If you are looking for clues on subject matter or backgrounds, you might want to narrow your target audience. I have played my share of monopoly and chutes and ladders.. But it had much more fun playing games with more interaction. I believe that games are better with cards and dice. Physically interacting with the game seems to create a fun experience. these are plenty of adult themed games out there, although harder to find. There is a great card game called guillotine that can be played from teen on.. Humorous situations and non-violent resolutions are lacking in many games now adays. I think we have plenty of games that teach someone to be a greedy tycoon or militant general, (risk is still be played isn’t it). Its time to teach different types of mind activities.. Try the idea from apples and Oranges or Travel games
I love board games in general. I hate Monopoly. My kids love it – 8 and 12 – so I tolerate it. My favorites include Trivial Pusuit, Go, Yahtzee, Life, and others like cards and dominoes.
I teach Kindergarten to high-poverty kids so I also introduce board games to them: candy land, cootie, hi-ho cherry-o, guess-who, and whatever else I can use to initiate turn-taking, acceptance of chance, and obedience to rules. i also invent games played on table-top or on foot with sidewalk chalk, to introduce kids to game play.
Monopoly and Risk are my two faves. They both require a zeal to take it all, and to make it personal. They also employ some measure of strategy instead of just the luck of the dice alone.
Of course its just a bit of fun and since it does all hinge on the dice, ultimately, the tables can easily be turned and fortunes reversed in the next game, so you can’t get too arrogant.
In addition to Monopoly and Risk I’m also a big fan of Euchre. for much the same reasons. They add strategy to the blind luck elements of dice and cards.
Poker is good too but it focuses too much on gambling and is too heavily reliant on luck and bluffing rather than deployment of tactics
It’s not a good example for the kids.
Board games are an easy way to spend time wuth the ones you love, No matter the age
Axis and Allies! The game I’ve never stopped playing!
Here is my own table-top miniature based space attack game. Right now it’s self published. I have run it at several gaming Ohio (Bash-Con, AnCon, Origins Gamefest, and I’ll be at Con-on-the-Cob this week)conventions with very positive feedback and also run it at several gaming stores in the immediate area. I’m hoping to find a publisher, but after talking to a few people it can take some time as most publishers are looking for something that has “Staying power” in the market place. It took him 3 yrs to get his game published and mines been around for just over a year.
eric
I think in this modern time,board games are a great change to computer games and video games,You are not clicking on a computer or holding a controller.You are playing face to face with family and friends.You can see their reaction when you win or even better when THEY lose.If it were not for board games,we wouldn’t have today’s online versions of Monopoly and other favorites.I always loved board games and enjoy the different versions of Monopoly that have come out.I am hoping to see board games continue to be made and become more popular with the modern family.
yes i play chess, scrabble, monopoly, sorry!, checkers, and a lot of other things
well idk what makes monopoly so popular..its just kinda there
My mom and us three kids used to play card games alot when we were young. It was alot of fun. The kind of interaction with everyone and everyone was equal. We all seemed to have time with our mother without any one butting in.
When we would visit our father, we would play board games with us three kids, him, and our stepmother. It was the same thing. Just all of us, together, enjoying each other’s company, all getting the same amount of attention. Both sides of our family (mom and dad) love to laugh. I wish we could all find the time to set down and play again.
I love chess! Best of all board games lol. At least once a week I opened my Fritz and “waste” about two hours cursing the computer (read : I lost most of the time lol)
i really do love old time board games not much for the videos games i have a playstation its mostly my brothers i only us it to watch movies
Yes.I can do some more .
THANK !!!
I really enjoy playing chess but have had a harder and harder time getting a good competitive game in recent years. But the chess board, a beauty and large at that, also serves as a very unique writing board on which to compose poetry and brief lyric essays. Still, a few more chess games would be nice…
Board games have always been a part of my life, and I don’t think I will ever grow out of them.
The classics are great, but my new favorite is Crainum.
It is definitely a great game to play and compromise since it has trivia, art, word puzzles, and charades all rolled into one! Oh, and who doesn’t love sculpting things out of clay?
Kudos on this one whoever created it…
I love board games but most of the time i would just get distracted by the snacks we had at the table and I would leave the game and just eat them.
I have been playing board games with some friends for over 10 years now. We play pretty much every Wednesday and Friday evenings. We play games like “Settlers of Catan”, “Cosmic Encounters”, “Too Many Cooks”, Crayon Train games, etc. There are so many good games out there. Check out http://www.HobbiesAndGames.com. The guy who runs this website, Ron Charity, plays in our group. He brings over new games, we play them, and Ron can post an honest review of the game on his site. If you want to get a game published, you want to start to go to gaming conventions. “Origins” is one of them. You want to meet the people in the industry. They are very good about looking at your game and telling you if it is good enough to be successful. You can also find people who will test-play your game. Feedback is very important. There is the option of publishing the game yourself. Some games have taken off that way. What makes a good game? That is difficult to say, because different people like different types of games. If a game is going to be over an hour, then it better be worth the time invested. But, sometimes a quick game lasting under 30 minutes can be fun, too.
My family and I love board games! We usually play games during the freezing winter, but many bored games take a lot of time and effort. we usually opt for card games although a good game of monopoly or settlers of catan is very fun!
I wish more families played games togather rather then watch tv
I always played board games as a child and continued playing them when my children were still at home. I would play them now if there was someone to play them with me. My wife has no interest in them.
We played checkers, chess, monopoly, risk, scrabble, yahoo, life, hiho cherrio and probably a few more.
My husband is a collector – over 150 of them. He gets them at garage sales, flea markets and thrift shops. The kids love them, as do the entire extended family. It can be great fun having 8+ people over for game night – and with so many, there is always a new one to add to old favorites!
Having had some life changes I haven’t played recently, but untill that Board games have been huge, from Cosmic Encounter to all the good modern ones, like Settlers of Catan, Ra, Carcosone ’spelling’ and many many others, board games are way better when getting together with friends, Funagain games is a great place to shop online or just check out the massive amount of board games.
My best friend and I invented our own game last yeat that completely focuses around twist-ties. Sounds strange but we still play every chance we get. We also taught all our school friends to play and it’s great on long bus rides!
We play it so often that we carry twist-ties everywhere we go, just in case!
Chess is my fave
Nothing seems to be easier than seeing someone whom you can help but not helping.
I suggest we start giving it a try. Give love to the ones that need it.
God will appreciate it.
When we’re looking for games to purchase, one of hte major decisions is how it looks. You’ve got to have good graphics – otherwise, you need to be really, really good.
Also, be sure who you’re targeting – children, serious gamers, the party crowd, etc.