The Games Bible Review and Giveaway (CLOSED)

Product: The Games Bible

Author: Leigh Anderson

Publisher: Workman Publishing

Category: Books, Adults

Price: $15.95

My family loves games....board games, dice games, card games. We even play dinner games like "20 Questions" and "I Spy" while eating our nightly meals together! But, as much as we love games, there is one thing I dislike about them and that is how much space it takes up to store all those games! In our old house, we had a dedicated "game closet" but since we moved, we have not designated such a space. The end result is that our games are scattered here and there, and it doesn't take long for the pieces to end up missing. Have you ever stepped on a Monopoly hotel in the middle of the night? It isn't a pleasant experience, that's for certain! That is what drew me to Leigh Anderson's book, The Games Bible! 

This wonderful book has over 300 games that are sure to put the fun into any occasion! The games are adaptable for one, two or more people, on up to the whole neighborhood! It's easy to navigate as well, as the Contents section lists each game by name according to chapters. The index gives quick and easy reference for the games you might search for and if that weren't enough, it also includes a Zagat like index as well, which allows you to look up the games in the index according to type and category, such as Athletic Games, Cocktail Party Games, Family Games, Games for the Waiting Room and so forth. This allows you to plan a game night or a spur of the moment game in no time!

Although The Games Bible has some family friendly games such as Sharks and Minnows, Jinx, Charades and more, it is not designed to be a book of games solely for children. Inside, there are many games designed for adults which are meant to break the ice and help liven up a party! In the front of the book there is an "Icons" page that explains how each game is intended, so that you will know what to expect from each game. For example:

• For super game geeks, there is a pair of glasses depicted beneath the game
• A pair of lips icon means that the game is potentially naughty
• A cocktail glass means that the game is even more fun after a few drinks
• The family icon lets you know that the game is good to play with adults and children alike!
• For a noncompetitive game, look for the peace symbol
• and so on!!

Just remember, the book covers the gamut from children on up to adults and some of the titles and games may be inappropriate for children to play or read. Therefore, I do recommend that an adult help the children pick out the games in the appropriate categories so that the children do not learn games which are not suited for their age group.

One game that you can find in The Game Bible is Family Jeopardy:

"Family Jeopard requires you to make 5 categories--family vacations, memorable holidays, school days, etc .Just like the game show, you should pose an answer to your family: "This person was Jeff's first girlfriend at summer camp" and someone responds with the right question: "Who is Linda?" Write both answer and question on the index card. The person with the correct question gets to read the next answer off a new index card. The winner is the person with the most index cards at the end of the game.   ---excerpt from Workman Publishing and The Games Bible

What I really liked about The Games Bible is that the game cards, score cards and game pieces for some of the games are located in the Appendix and can be photocopied for multiple use. No need to create your own!! When other items may be needed to complete a game, it is clearly defined. Anderson has designed the book for ease of use and it is definitely organized to the fullest!

Author, Leigh Anderson, is a game expert and writer/reporter who researched each and every game in the book, as well as consulted with top game inventors in the process of writing her book to assure you the best gaming experience ever!

Let the fun begin!!!

Where to Purchase: Workman Publishing

---

One winner will win a copy of "The Games Bible" by Leigh Anderson. Simply leave a comment below telling me what your favorite family friendly game is!! Be certain to leave your email address or have it available in your profile so that I have a way to contact you or your enter will be invalid. Winners chosen by a randomizer and will have five business days to respond to winning email or another winner will be chosen.

Good Luck!

Giveaway open to United States residents, 18 years of age or older, void where prohibited by law. Ends at midnight, central time on January 5, 2010.




Congratulations to Larry H!!!! You have won your own copy of THE GAMES BIBLE!!! 

---

Read More

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer DVD Game Review (CLOSED)

Product: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer DVD Game

Produced by: Screenlife, LLC

Category: Children

Age Range: 6 years and up

Price: $19.99

Brought to you by the same makers as the Scene It? line of games, ScreenLife, LLC has made a Christmas game starring one famous reindeer!!! The Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer  DVD Game takes you and your family to the North Pole where your mission is to gather all the misfit toys that have been scattered all over due the horrible winter storm! While the main objective is to search and find these toys, there is a catch. You must find at least three different colored toys before the Abominable Snow Man (Bumble) finds and collects six toys on his own. Find your toys before he finds his, and you win!!! The concept is simple and makes it easy for children aged six years old and older to play! What is unique about this game is that it combines a board game with the interaction of a DVD game.  The DVD interaction will allow you to solve puzzles such as movie trivia (straight from the original Rudolph cartoon), concentration, sing-a-longs, sorting games and many more. As you play along, the DVD game will tell you what Bumble is up to and how close he is to finding all the misfit toys. Pay close attention and use a bit of strategy to get all your toys before he gets his, while exploring the different regions of the North Pole!! When Bumble steals a toy, it goes back to the Island of Misfit toys and your player's token gets moved back to the beginning, so BEWARE OF THAT BUMBLE!!!

Contents include the following:

• One game DVD
• One game board
• 4 Player Movers including Rudolph, Hermey, Clarice and Santa Claus
• One Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster Mover
• 5 Mover Stands
• 20 Toy Tokens
• 1 Die

Our experience: We played with two adults and two kids aged 8 and 11. At first, we were complexed as to how to start, but the narrator of the game made it a little easier as instructions were given throughout the game, yet it took us a little bit of trial and error before we got the hang of what to do.  However, once we did, the game went smoothly and even the children were able to grasp the concept after a few turns. As your turn ends, the narrator instructs you to "pass the remote" so the next player has a turn. We loved the mini games, especially the trivia as it shows short little clips of the actual cartoon and since my kids have only seen Rudolph a few times, they loved seeing the short clips the best!  These mini games were fairly easy, so we would kind of "ask" for help from the kids so that they could have more game play and they loved that. The game is rather quick, about 20-30 minutes of play, after you figure out exactly what you are doing, and therefore, we played several games in a row. I loved the fact that the game is bringing in the characters of Rudolph as watching him was part of my holiday traditions growing up, and my kids hadn't shown much interest in watching the program before playing this game. Now, they want me to purchase the DVD, which I think is WONDERFUL as I loved watching Rudolph every year!! They loved being able to play the game on the DVD as well as the board game, and since the remote gets passed from player to player, there was not even one argument on whose turn it was...woohoo!!!  This game is probably going to work more with the younger range for long term enjoyment, but if played only during the holiday season, I can see it become a tradition in and of itself!! 

Where to Buy: Screenlife Games or Amazon.com, Buy.com, Toys "R" Us, AreYouGame.com, and other online and retail venues.

---

Quick Links:

Critique of the Unique on Twitter

Scene It Games on Twitter

Scene It Games on Facebook

---

FTC guidelines require that I disclose that I received the game reviewed above at no cost to me in order for me to facilitate this review. No other monetary compensation was received. All opinions herein are my own honest opinions. Other opinions may vary. For the full disclaimer, disclosure, and giveaway rules and regulations, please visit the Legal page. 

Read More