. . . the Board Game market, that is.
Since the 1980, Mensans have been beta-testing board games. One of the first winners of the award is Trivial Pursuit. In the early days of doing this, the event consisted of a half dozen Mensans evaluating about a dozen games. Then in 1995, someone said “let’s turn this into a convention and invite more people to play more games” and MindGames was born. It has since grown into a monstrously fun convention; game developers look forward to this event, because they know their sales will skyrocket if their game(s) win.
This past weekend, there were almost 300 people crammed into a Best Western in Albany NY. Most were veterans of the event; I was one of two dozen first timers. The official start time was 4pm Friday, but some people had been there since Thursday and had already played twenty or more games.
Each qualified judge (must be a Mensan, but folks will sometimes bring non-M friends who play for fun) is required to play test 30 games and grade them on criteria such as playability, visual aesthetics, intelligibility of the instructions, etc. We’re also encouraged to include any suggestions on how to improve a game, or comments on why it would need a complete overhaul before it becomes available to the public. We are each also given a list of (up to) 30 other games to play for the heck of it, but we don’t vote on those. Some of the regulars make it their goal to play every game (there are several copies of each) at least once. P (it was her first time as well) and I drove up Friday morning and were settled in to playing at a steady pace by 1:30 pm. When I finally called it quits at 12:30am, I had gotten through 14 of my 30, so I felt I could sleep in until 8:30. P was up, showered, dressed, and playing by 8:00 am. I sauntered in at about 10:00 and had finished my last game at 5:00 pm. At that point I felt I deserved a nap. P came back to the room about 6:30, having finished her 30th game. We ordered room service, then went back in to the main room to play the fun and silly games with our old and new friends.
Sunday morning at 8:30 some people were still trying to get through their required 30 for the 9:00 am deadline. At 10:00, the hosts started their “thank yous” to their committees and volunteers; talked about 2012’s event (also within driving distance for me, so I’ll be there even though it coincides with Pesach). and reward all the judges (us) with their choice of game to take home. They read off a randomized list of all the names, and there were still boxes on the tables, so they started again, this time from the bottom up, so that those of us who couldn’t get any of our first 23 choices could leave with 2 games instead - I brought home a visual acuity game and a game of balance and strategy. (I’ll provide links for the games once they’re on the website - meanwhile, feel free to check out past years’ winners.)
I didn’t bring my camera because I knew I wouldn’t have time to take any pics - but there is this one. (The Meeple is the Mascot of the host chapter’s monthly game night)
And Hey! we also made the media! Read on!
Nothing much to say to the OP – I don’t really enjoy board games very much (sometimes to the extent of calling the worst of them “bored games”) – but cool OP nonetheless and it sounds like you had fun and the event is right for you, so yay on having fun!
And happy Passover to you and **Ivory **(and any other Jewish mumper I am not aware of). We’re hosting 12 people for the Seder tonight! :eek: (actually, we’re only hosting 7 people, but there’s also 5 of us…)
Those of you not fortunate enough to have a holiday tonight – Happy Monday!
Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffienatin’ YAWN 'Tis 48 Amurrkin out with a predicted high of 85 today. IOW it’s a typical Spring day in south Jawja. Also it’s full moon. It looks so purty up there!
Rosie sounds like a good time! I like board games but don’t get to play often because I have a lot of friends who don’t like to play. Poor me. Do the ones that get approved get to advertise approved by Mensa? That would be cool.
To all the Jewish Mumpers and Lurkers… HAPPY PASSOVER!!!
Tonight is usually men’s night at the church house but since it’s Holy Week and we shall not be frivolous, it is postponed until next Monday. Thus, I shall make a roast for dindin tonight.
Now I go in search of more caffiene and some brekkie for rumbly tummy prior to irk purtification.
Good morning all, and yes, a happy Passover to our Jewish Mumpers!
That’s a very interesting OP, Rosie, although I would probably be one of the stragglers still trying to get through 30 games at 8:30 on Sunday! Not to mention that I’m not Mensa so wouldn’t qualify as a tester! I don’t have time to check the links right now (getting ready to leave for work), but will later tonight - after I get home from work.
I’m caffeinated, mostly, and brekkied, so am a bit coherent. Happy Monday all!
Sounds like a really fun event,** rosie**. I like playing board games, but don’t get to do so very often. Should really force my friends to get together to play sometime soon.
Happy Passover to all who celebrate it. And Happy Monday all!
Great OP, rosie - sounds like a fun thing to do. I haven’t played any board games for a very long time but we always used to play them as a family when I was younger.
Happy Monday, everyone! And happy Passover to those who celebrate it - hope you have fun doing whatever you’re doing.
Our good friend Margarita came to visit last night, well what else are you supposed to do when you find you’ve got some spare limes in the house? Consequently I went to bed late and got up half an hour later than usual this morning. Not that I am at all bothered about turning up late at work, I currently don’t have that level of loyalty to this office.
Only two and a half more days until we go away, and less time than that until 'im indoors finishes his job and becomes a proper 'im indoors again.
A board game convention does indeed sound like a blast! I love to play board games, but nobody around me does. I have been playing the WordFeud and WordSmith apps on my smartphone. You can play an unlimited amount of games, against random people, against the computer, or against friends. Challenge me! My name is rebo2610.
Last night I helped to distribute some hygiene kits to the homeless with a friend and A Simple Thread. It was awesome! It feels good to help, even just a little…
We went to downtown Houston, opened the trunk and gave out kits, and water, and ice cold oranges. The looks on their faces was incredible. They were so happy! The oranges were particularly well received.
Items in the kits vary: deodorant, toothbrushes, soap, toothpaste, combs, washcloths, bug repellent, peanut butter crackers, cookies, hard candies, notebooks and pens to name a few.
It was very fullfilling, and I’ll be going back again and again.
Do any of you volunteer? I’d like to hear your stories.
Happy Passover, and happy Monday! I’m off work all week. I was going to clean the front room (guest room) today for my brother’s visit this Thursday, but my husband did it already! Plus he shampooed the carpet in there. w00t!
I’m beginning to think we need a Doper’s Minyan to discuss oddities and philosophies of Jewish life. That Jews/Racists thread was INTENSE. Thank you for the intellectual stimulashuns of the internets.
**Ivory **told me to poke my head in here, so hello!
How’s this for vague? I’m trying to log in at Sears to see why I got a robo-call saying that I missed a layaway payment, despite having an email from PayPal saying that I made the payment on Friday.
Their site says “We are processing your previous payment request. Please try after sometime.”
I haven’t played any board games since…actually I played a lot of Monopoly with Nephew Z at Christmas. Silly boy, he still hasn’t figured out that a youngest child can’t cheat a youngest child. Stop making up your own rules as you go along, kiddo, we both know how to play Monopoly right. (Last year he tried to cheat me on Uno. He’ll learn eventually.)
That’s the philosophy I’m working off of. I haven’t heard anything from or about my dad (tornadoes hit Salisbury and he lives about ten miles south) or the Pirateville house so I’m assuming both came through okay.
Today is Job Search Day here at the GunnyFun place. Culinary Boy called about a detailing job and is getting an application for a place where a friend of his works. I sent my resume to Kelly Services. Crossing appendages now.
**Happy Passover **to them of you as celebrates such.
Maybe tonight I can get Culinary Boy to make the latkes I bought. LATKES.
Yes. Winning games are allowed and encouraged to place this seal on the packaging.
Welcome, CitizenPained. We are a friendly crowd - as long as you continuously provide offerings of chocolate, beer, and/or photos of that kid of yours.
That’s one of the cutest outfits I’ve seen
The goat however, if properly dispatched, will be sufficient.
– Happy Monday!
I don’t have time to check the links right now (getting ready to leave for work), but will later tonight - after I get home from work.
I was going to clean the front room (guest room) today for my brother’s visit this Thursday, but my husband did it already! Plus he shampooed the carpet in there. w00t!