Critical but Creative Thinking
The government has started using strategy board games much more often — not to predict outcomes, but to foster the critical but creative thinking needed to win (or avoid) a complex battle or campaign:...
View ArticleDavid A. Trampier, 1954-2014
Dungeons & Dragons has attracted some unusual individuals over the years, including illustrator David A. Trampier, who just passed away, according to the The Southern Illinoisan: He disappeared in...
View ArticleDungeons & Dragons & Philosophers
Dungeons & Dragons & Philosophers features Michel Foucault:
View ArticleYou Must First Invent the Universe
Sid Meier describes the allure of Civilization, his groundbreaking 1991 game: We really didn’t design it in, but as I look back, I realize there is a really interesting growth path in the game. In the...
View ArticleDifferent Worlds
BeanFest is a silly little game that has nothing to do with politics: It’s a simple learning video game in which the player is presented with a variety of cartoon beans in different shapes and sizes,...
View ArticleIn War, Not Everyone Is a Soldier
Many video games have a military theme, and in many of those, the player plays as some kind of soldier — or super-soldier. In war, not everyone is a soldier though, as 11 Bit Studios’ This War of Mine...
View ArticleThe Mystery of Go
In 1965 New Scientist published I.J. Good’s The Mystery of Go: Go, the Japanese national pastime, was recently described by Ralph Fox, a Princeton professor of mathematics, as the most interesting game...
View ArticleMagnus Carlsen’s Route to Chess
World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen’s route to chess took longer than his subsequent progress might suggest: Henrik, 52, a keen chess player himself, remembers introducing the game to Magnus and his...
View ArticleCreating History Is Hard
I still haven’t played Dwarf Fortress, but its world-building process intrigues me: Adams has, over the years, developed an intricate process to simulate eons of complex geologic time, a way of...
View ArticleWorld Of PeaceCraft
“You’ve fought terrorists in Call of Duty and alien hordes in Gears of War. Well, now get ready for the opposite of that“: (From Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.)
View ArticleSports are Broken
Most sports were invented years ago, Scott Adams(Dilbert) notes, and much has changed since then: Equipment technology has improved. We have far more knowledge of health risks. Our attention spans have...
View ArticleThe Philosophy of the Science of Poker
Existential Comics illustrates the philosophy of the science of poker: (Read the whole thing.)
View ArticleDogs Playing Dungeons & Dragons
Dogs Playing Poker is fine, but Dogs Playing Dungeons & Dragons is better:
View ArticleCreator of “Choose Your Own Adventure” Dies
R.A. Montgomery, co-author and publisher of the “Choose Your Own Adventure” books, has passed away. His partner, Edward Packard, was considered the better writer, but Montgomery had his strengths:...
View ArticleGreek Hold ‘Em
Existential Comics turns its philosophical eye toward poker — Greek Hold ‘Em:
View ArticleDenigration of the Great Revolution
The latest Assassin’s Creed video game takes place in Paris during the French Revolution, and French leftists are appalled that the heroes of the People are depicted as bloodthirsty savages: The former...
View ArticleThe Checkered Game of Life
The Checkered Game of Life, released in 1860 by Milton Bradley, evolved into the very different modern-day game of Life: Instead of becoming hair stylists or police officers and poking plastic...
View ArticleThe Packers of Catan
Apparently the Green Bay Packers are obsessed with Settlers of Catan. I suppose they’ll move on to The Cones of Dunshire:
View ArticleDesigning The Best Board Game On The Planet
Twilight Struggle is the best board game on the planet — at least according to BoardGameGeek: Twilight Struggle traces its roots to the early 2000s and a board gaming club at George Washington...
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