Getting my brain to work

[captain_slinky]

It's 1:30 in the afternoon and even though I've been UP since 6:30 this morning, I'm still not *awake*. So let's wake my brain with a simple list:

THREE THINGS THAT MAKE A GAME IN TO THE *PERFECT* GAME

1) Full game can be played in under an hour.

2) Instructions legibly fit on less than 3 folded 8x11 pieces of paper.

3) Minimal reading skills required to play.

When I look at all my favorite games right now (Cattan, Dixit, Apples To Apples, Forbidden Island, T'schak!, Aquarius), they all fit these rules. These are also the rules I try to follow whenever I'm making up a new game. And the games that break *one* rule out of the three? They're good games... solid games... but if you break 2 of those rules? Forget it.

Comments

[xerhino.livejournal.com]

Thinking about games... good. I'm emailing you about "Forbidden Program".

[aurora77]

I don't mind a time investment of a couple of hours here and there, but most of my favorite games follow those three rules, too.

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

Exactly! Bust out a Robo Rally every once in a while, but eventually you come to a point where you're just no longer willing to play Risk :)

[aurora77]

Or Sentinels of the Multiverse. It's like crack around here. If it's at a game night, it's getting played. Sometimes THREE copies show up. I have no idea how long it takes, because we lose track of time every time. XD