Games Overboard

Not often do you find a game that is so universally loved by your gaming group and family that you actually wear copies of it out.  I found this game in Tichu.  I grew up as early as 8 years old playing Pinochle, so I have a long-time attraction towards trick-taking games.  I had read about and heard about this game numerous times online, but had never got the opportunity to play it.  I even bought a copy on Funagain.com during their fall clearance sale.  Too bad the rule book was in German.

When my wife and I got to Dallas for BGG.con the forst game that we were asked if wanted to Learn was Tichu.  It was love at first “bomb”.  We literally cannot get a group of people together without someone asking if we can play it.

Enjoy our video.  IT was tough to get all the info into less than ten minutes, so if you have questions or comments we’d love to hear from you.  We love this game, and I’m sure you would also if get the opportunity to play.

I work as a manager for a local web company and one of the larger challenges I face on a daily basis is motivating my employees.  In the past I’ve tried talking to them, increasing training on product knowledge, and even bribes.  (I offered a cake to anyone who sold double their monthly goal.)  Sadly, few of these have really worked to increase sales or the overall morale of the group. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s an exciting time for Games Overboard.  More specifically it’s an exciting time for me.  I have been submerged in the world of old technology for the last few years.  I work as a repair technician for musical instruments.  Our industry hasn’t really changed much in the last……. couple centuries.  Well, recently I dove headfirst into the world of the technologically elite.  I got a Droid.  No, not the robot, although that would be even cooler by any standard.  I got a smart phone, and boy is it changing what I’m doing with games overboard.

I started looking for apps for the phone, and the first thing I found, or rather found me was that my phone automatically linked my Gmail and Facebook contacts.  I can see and communicate with the people from both areas instantly.  I can also post on the wall of the GAmes Overboard group and on my personal wall instantly.

I further delved into the realm of instant updates when I got the Bettr Flickr app (I think I paid $1.99 for it).  I can set it up to post pics directly to the Games Overboard Photostream, so you amy have seen a ton of new on-site pics over the last week.

Add to that the ability to Tweet from the phone,  and that about rounds it out.

But WAIT!  THERE’S More.

Read the rest of this entry »

Rare doesn’t even begin to describe the recent purchase of the Nazi Luftwaffe game “The Eagle Defense Game” (or Adler Luftverteidigungs Spiel in the original German.)  As this is possibly the only remaining copy of the game, purchaser Alan Goldsmith has to consider himself a lucky man.

The game, created by a Luftwaffe officer, challenges players to defend the Fatherland from swarms of RAF fighters and bombers.  Purchased for the sum of £600 ($900US) the game will find its way into the House on the Hill Toy Museum of Stansted.

While I’ll appreciate the rarity of this game and the purchase, I think above all it shows us just how creative the Germans have always been in board game creation.  Another similar game, The Eagles Dog Fight Game, was also produced in 1941 and had a similar goal.

Both games will be displayed in the museum this year as a tribute to the 70th anniversary to the Battle of the Bulge.

Source:  Cambridge News

While I’ve never played World of Warcraft (the closest I’ve gotten was the Leroy Jenkins video) I thought this was worth sharing.  What if the addicting MMORPG were a real-life game with the goal of being a better husband?