(For reference, everything in this piece refers to the 1960 version of The Game of Life. This version is the version I had as a kid and re-bought when Winning Moves Games remade it. There have been many versions since, but I haven't played all of them. The ones I have played tweaked the formula and have failed to capture "life" laike the original.)

Sigh. I just finished another play-through of the newest life-simulation board game, Coming of Age. As a "gamer's game" it is okay, if a lot heavier than I anticipated. There is a lot to think about, manage, and optimize. Plenty of cubes, tracks and tokens, if that's your jam. It gave my brain a workout.

That's not the reason I bought it, however. I was (and still am) looking for a fun, "gamer's" life-simulation game to replace The Game of Life. I've tried almost all of the life-sim games out there. Pursuit of Happiness. CV. Adulthood. And now Coming of Age. They are good games, for the most part, but they lack the pure fun and whimsy of The Game of Life.  

As a kid, The Game of Life was just a blast. We'd put the pegs on the spinner and send…

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Loneliness is an epidemic. And evidence shows it is not just an issue in the USA where I live, but across the developed world. For some reason, as much as it promised to unite us, the Internet seems to have found so many ways to fracture and fragment society. Longer working hours and the pace of modern life combined with the geographic mobility often finds us living hundreds or even thousands of miles from our friends and families. And if you work remotely, it can be even worse. As an educator, I find that despite interacting with hundreds of teenagers every day, and attending several compulsory meetings with adults every week, I can start feeling isolated and lonely too. To make matters worse; despite living within walking distance of John Steinbeck’s birthplace (and grave), I have only one, small, used bookstore and no board game stores nearby. Fortunately, I travel often to attend conferences, present my research and check in on family a few hours away. And this has led me to a way to feel more connected.

[caption id="attachment_334660" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] It’s a beautiful Fall day in Santa Cruz, CA, so where should we go? The beach? Nah! I am going to my FLGS, Game Santa Cruz![/caption]

About three years ago,…

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What is gaming without games? What is life without memories? In Gaming Memories Volume 03, our team shares happy, sorrowful, or deeply impactful memories of their lives, seen through the lens of tabletop gaming. Please join us for Gaming Memories, and if you have one you’d like to share, drop us a line.

Board Building - K. David Ladage

I was about five years old when I realized I had a thing for board games. I was about nine years old when I discovered role-playing games, and that took over much of my gaming energy. Once I was in the Navy  many years later, Magic: the Gathering had taken over most of my board gaming time, and GURPS was the linchpin in my RPG space. Once I left the Navy, my circle of friends for playing anything dwindled.

My Navy buddy, Rich, returned to civilian life not long after I did and moved to Iowa. While he was working, looking to get back into school he opened his own game store. He would often come to my place to show us new games he was selling. We discovered a lot of games in those days, some of them quite eye-opening.

One of the first of those games to alter my view of what a board game could be…

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I've been playing board games since the 1970s, and playing what are considered hobby games since the 1980s. (Yes, I am that old.) I've also played many RPGs in that time, and even a few wargames. I've seen many changes over the years, especially regarding the treatment of women in the hobby. Thankfully, things have improved greatly for women in gaming since those long ago days.

It was once the case that a woman just had to accept sexist remarks, inappropriate jokes, and offensive artwork as part of the gaming experience. Even after demonstrating interest and ability, many women were dismissed or belittled. Now, attitudes in many spaces have changed, and it is easier to find groups and shops that not only welcome women but embrace the different perspectives we bring to the hobby.

But…

As the saying goes, "The more things change, the more they stay the same." Unfortunately, even in the year 2026 CE, I still encounter more than a few casual assumptions about women who play and buy board games.

I don't bring this up to bash anyone, or to throw an entire gender under the bus. As I said, things have improved greatly. Learning is happening, and positive change is all around. There are some…

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