Nation Board Game Day approaches... with great prizes to be won
Over the past few years there has been a drive to promote National Board Game Day in South Africa. Coinciding with the Youth Day public holiday on 16 June, NBGD is an opportunity to boost awareness of the hobby while giving back to the community.
Although it remains an expensive pastime of privilege, board gaming is certainly becoming a more mainstream activity in South Africa. While the likes of Monopoly, Scrabble, Uno cards and 30 Seconds have been in households for decades, these days you can find titles like Settlers of Catan, Ticket to Ride and Battlestar Galactica in places like Exclusive Books stores. The fringe is making its way to the centre.
Anyway, I'm a massive proponent of board gaming. Unlike video gaming - which comes with the very real threat of abuse and nastiness when it comes to multiplayer - the face-to-face nature of board gaming makes it instantly more inclusive and social. There may be sulking, tantrums and, erm, shattered drinking glasses but regardless, there is nothing like a board game (even a simple party game) for breaking the ice at a social gathering.
Anyway, this year public board game events are being held around the country at the following locations:
From 11am until late you'll be able to play demoed games and make donations. You see this year, NBGD plans to give away 23 board game parcels valued at R2 150 to schools of the public's choice. At the same time by making a donation to this cause - by buying a R50 ticket online at Digital Sushi or Boardgames.co.za - you can win almost R3000 worth of board games yourself. Every ticket bought is an entry into the competition.
I'll be away this weekend, but certainly celebrating National Board Game Day in my personal private capacity with mates. I hope you'll all be doing something thematically appropriate to commemorate the day.
Although it remains an expensive pastime of privilege, board gaming is certainly becoming a more mainstream activity in South Africa. While the likes of Monopoly, Scrabble, Uno cards and 30 Seconds have been in households for decades, these days you can find titles like Settlers of Catan, Ticket to Ride and Battlestar Galactica in places like Exclusive Books stores. The fringe is making its way to the centre.
Anyway, I'm a massive proponent of board gaming. Unlike video gaming - which comes with the very real threat of abuse and nastiness when it comes to multiplayer - the face-to-face nature of board gaming makes it instantly more inclusive and social. There may be sulking, tantrums and, erm, shattered drinking glasses but regardless, there is nothing like a board game (even a simple party game) for breaking the ice at a social gathering.
Anyway, this year public board game events are being held around the country at the following locations:
- OUTER LIMITS, MELLVILLE (17 June)
- OUTER LIMITS, PRETORIA (16 - 17 June)
- UNSEEN SHOPPE, DURBAN (16 June)
- FANATICUS, HIGH STREET (17 June)
- Select EXCLUSIVE BOOKS Stores (16 June) - Centurion, Greenstone, Mimosa, Westville, Tygervalley, Somerset, Canal Walk
From 11am until late you'll be able to play demoed games and make donations. You see this year, NBGD plans to give away 23 board game parcels valued at R2 150 to schools of the public's choice. At the same time by making a donation to this cause - by buying a R50 ticket online at Digital Sushi or Boardgames.co.za - you can win almost R3000 worth of board games yourself. Every ticket bought is an entry into the competition.
I'll be away this weekend, but certainly celebrating National Board Game Day in my personal private capacity with mates. I hope you'll all be doing something thematically appropriate to commemorate the day.
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