In connection with National Game Week, November 23-29, the folks at Hasbro would like to "Clue" you in about a recent survey taken by Kelton Research which reveals some interesting facts regarding board game popularity among families and adults. It provides the perfect excuse for families to sit down at Thanksgiving, after the nap-inducing tryptophan has sunk in, and take out that dusty game of Scrabble.
A family that plays together stays together... Nearly half (48%) of Americans believe that a family game night is the most enjoyable form of family bonding. The survey also revealed that nearly 2 in 3 (59%) people play board games with their family or significant others more than anybody else.
Give the gift of games... 78% of those surveyed believe that board games make excellent gifts. Christmas is the most popular time (75%) to give games, followed closely by birthdays (62%).
Board games get the party going!... A majority (52%) of those surveyed have hosted a game night.
However, it's interesting to know that men are more likely to host game nights (58% male to 44% female). Ummm, did anybody check to see if those game nights involved poker rather than board games???
More than just turkey and football at Thanksgiving... According to more than 4 out of 10 Americans (44%), their families would rather have a huddle around a board game than watch football on Turkey Day.
My husband's family used to break out Yahtzee, Scrabble or Clue after Sunday family dinners, and I remember playing Operation as a kid. Monopoly was always a favorite, although our games always ran so long that we sometimes joked that it should have been called "Marathon"!
Game lovers will be pleased to note that many of these classic games have been updated this year. According to Hasbro, Operation has been reinvented to introduce new multi-sensory sounds such as squishy "Funatomy" parts and silly, quirky sounds that "include croaking frogs, flushing toilets and loud sneezes." I can see where the sneezes might come from but I'm at a total loss to explain the frogs or flushing. Guess I'll have to try out the new version to find out!
Scrabble is offered this year in the "Diamond Anniversary" edition with a redesigned game board that holds the tiles in place on the board and curved tile racks that make it easier to keep your tiles a secret.
While the usual suspects remain the same in Clue, new rooms and new deadly weapons provide twists to the classic game. Game changing elements, such as Clock cards and Intrigue cards change the pace of the game.
Yahtzee: Free For All introduces a new element of suspense with the possibility of another player being able to steal a card if they roll a grouping with a higher number.
Last, but not least, Monopoly has gone global. New cities have won spots on the game board in what is now called "The World Edition." Updated Community Chest and Chance cards, renewable energy utility spaces like "Wind Energy" and "Solar Energy" and international houses and hotels are among the other changes.
So, get your game on this holiday season! BORED kids? No problem. Gather the kids around the table or on the living room floor after dinner and play a BOARD game. For more information on the classic games mentioned, visit www.hasbro.com.
i like the concept of your blog, very interesting to know, thanks to you, keep up the good work for the kids
Posted by: Busby SEO Test | January 19, 2009 at 04:56 AM