Why Game Reviews?

From time to time here at kevinplarson.com, I'll be posting some board game reviews. I began to get into games a year or so ago, thanks to my good friend and fellow Karis elder Rob Gaskin. He introduced me to Settlers of Catan. There are a number of Karis peeps who enjoy that one, and Amy and J. Hadley love it, as well. That led me into a bit of an obsession with finding and trying out new titles that might work well for our family. Note: I'm actually a pretty poor board gamer. Rob kills me in most everything. Hadley truly beats me most of the time. Yet here are some reasons why I endure it, and why you'll find some game reviews here on this site:

• A former mentor of mine encouraged me to play games with my kids, arguing that it was a good way to bond with them. I took his advice. I now agree.
• I don't want our kids watching TV and playing video games all the time. We have DirecTV. We have a Wii. We don't think they're evil. They just should be used in moderation. These games force you and your kids to actively use your minds. They make you smarter, not dumber.
• Games give us other ways to keep busy but also interact. Some games are more intense than others. For the most part, though, you can laugh, talk, and enjoy each other while playing a good game.
• I think the mainstream games you find in most discount stores are horrible. There are so many great games out there. I'll share a few I've found with you and take you along as I find more.

Get ready for the first review. It'll be a title we're loving right now, Quarriors.