Christmas is coming and all children want lots of electronic devices and games for their Wii, DS or PSP but there are cheaper options and surely more interactive, in the line of many and varied board games.
Board games of all kinds have been around for centuries, with some of the oldest in Egypt dating back to 3500 BC. C. and 3100 a. C. A version of Backgammon found in Iran dates from 3000 BC. It arrived in China around 220 – 265 AD. C., is still extremely popular in Iran, but is now also played around the world.
Chess originated in India, in a very different form from today’s variation of the game. This current version came from southern Europe in the late fifteenth century. Competitive games of chess were first organized in the 16th century and the tradition has continued ever since, now recognized as an Olympic sport. It is a game for two players on a chessboard with sixty-four squares and thirty-two pieces.
Scratch, a word game for two to four players, was first invented in 1938 by Alfred Mosher Butts, but was reinvented in a slightly different form in 1948 by James Brunot. It had its first real hit in 1952 and has been a household favorite ever since. Thousands of people around the world play scrabble in clubs and tournaments, and world scrabble championships are held in odd-numbered years in countries around the world.
Monopoly is another family favorite and sometimes the games can take hours to complete. It was first mass-produced in 1934. Many new versions have been produced for different countries and cities, as well as certain film versions (Star Trek and Star Wars), as well as Nintendo, Disney, and Peanuts. The newest version replaces paper money with a credit card and a machine to add or remove money.
cluedo (or Clue) a murder mystery game for up to six players was invented in 1946 by Anthony Pratt. It was released in 1949 after World War II. The board is laid out as an English country house and the cards are a selection of people, weapons and places where a murder has taken place. The objective of the game is to be the first player to find the murderer’s weapon and the place where it happened. It is a game for the whole family.
Many new board games have been produced based on the latest fads, movies, and trends; there are games for all tastes and pockets. Board games are great for bored kids on a rainy day, or having game night and turning off the TV to get everyone involved and have some quality time together.