12/4/2008 10:11:00 PM Eurogames are the newest trend in board games
Paula Rhoden/The Daily Courier
Prescott residents Bob and Sara Harder play the Eurogame “Ticket to Ride.” The Harders will teach ‘Modern Board Gaming for Parents and Grandparents’ at the Prescott Adult Center in December.
PRESCOTT - The newest board game craze to sweep the nation - and Prescott - is Eurogames.
Haven't heard of them? Don't worry. Prescott residents Bob and Sara Harder are keen to introduce local residents to the new board game trends.
The Harders are teaching "Modern Board Gaming for Parents and Grandparents" at the Prescott Adult Center from 6 to 9 p.m., Friday Dec. 12, and Sunday Dec. 14, and at Yavapai College from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 27 and March 6 and 13, 2009.
Bob Harder said Germany is "dominating the world of board games. These new board games are strategic and economic rather than militaristic, and do not eliminate players."
"Board games do well in times of recession," Harder added.
The history of board games is an old one. In ancient times, people played Senet, Backgammon, Go and Chess.
During the 1940s, '50s and '60s, Monopoly, Yahtzee, Risk, Life and Gettysburg were popular board games. Today, boardgamegeek.com ranks these games almost last among 5,000 games. Eurogames are at the top.
The designation Eurogame indicates a style. Not all of them are from Germany, Harder said.
He estimates that Prescott has more than 100 "gamers" and not all of them are teenagers. Harder said he plays with a group of people in their 40s or older.
The modern board gaming class is hands-on and participants learn how to play Ticket to Ride, Settlers and Carcaassonne, as well as card games.
Bob Harder said card games are "gateway" games and often lead to people trying other games.
Almost everyone can play Eurogames. The games have simple rules and short playing times (90 minutes or less). Unlike other games, Eurogames do not eliminate anyone and have a lot of player interaction.
Participants still win or lose, but winning relies on strategy rather than luck or conflict.
Conventional board games have one configuration, and each game follows the same path around the board.
With Eurogames, players can change board placement. The shape of the board develops during play.
While the goal of conventional games always is the same, Eurogames usually allow for different levels of play depending on playing skills. Game players can expand the basic game with additional add-ons.
Anyone interested in attending Modern Board Games for Parents and Grandparents can call the Prescott Adult Center at 778-3000 or Yavapai College at 717-7755 to register.
Contact the reporter at prhoden@prescottaz.com
Reader Comments
Posted: Saturday, May 16, 2009
Article comment by:
Cindy Andree
Hi- I'm here in Mars,Pa looking for my cousin Sara there in Prescott and I come across this article. I'd be interested in some Eurogame recomendations since somehow we never progressed from playing cards. I also could'nt help but think this a unique way to say "Hey." I know this may be difficult to grasp,especially for Robert,but, you're just about the last social E-mail I ever sent out. I'm now ready to tackle that great divide. Hope all is well in your mile- high environment, baking and otherwise. Cousin Cindy
cindyandhal@zoominternet.net
