Online Board Games

Online board games are, as the term suggests, games played over the Internet either alone or with various people. Many of these games are the board games we used sit around a table and play with our family and friends. The only difference is now, we have no physical contact with the people we play with, nor can we see them. Additionally, we probably do not, nor will we ever, know our partners and opponents. Although, many game rooms offer a "chat" option as well.

With a few exceptions, online board games are free, and there are millions of people playing different board games online at any given time. This favors anyone who wants to play at any time because you are always guaranteed to find people who are willing to play the same game you are interested in.

Additionally, when playing online you can try any type of game you want without purchasing it. As noted, many are free, and many also offer a free "trial" period to allow you the option playing the game for a while before deciding whether you want to purchase it or not. This means that you can test literally all board games online without spending any money at all or give it a 'test-drive' before you consider buying. This is a huge advantage if you are a big fan of board games, since you can always expand the range of games that you like to play.

Finally, because you are playing over the Internet, you can definitely find some of the most challenging opponents to play with. Some games include a ranking system for all players who compete. If you rank high, you will be listed as a top player and could win some very nice prizes. Two of the most popular free, game websites) are MSN and Yahoo. Have fun and enjoy the games!

Discount Board Games

Anyone out to find a cheap form of entertainment can always count on discount board games to the do the trick. These board games are perfect for those people who are living on a budget and trying to save money. A good game board, especially if bought at a discount, will not only give out hours of enjoyment for the whole family, it will also be available at just a small cost compared to taking the children out for a movie or the arcade.

There are now thousands of toys from which children can gain enjoyment from, aside from computers and video games. However, the allure of playing a board game is still one that children can not pass up. It is also among the activities that parents should encourage in their kids' lives. These games have a great number of benefits for kids. These board games will not only aid children in developing their counting and reading skills, these will also teach them the important values of fair play and sportsmanship. Playing a board game is also a perfect opportunity for parents and children to have those precious bonding moments.

Board games are also great sources of entertainment for adults. Getting discount board games is not only a way to save on entertainment expenses but also a change of pace from the usual evening routine at home watching television. There are even studies that show that the regular playing of these board games, which stimulate brain activity, reduces the risks of acquiring Alzheimer's disease or dementia.

There are many great board games now available that cater to every taste and preference. There are trivia games like Trivial Pursuit and word games like Boggle and Scrabble. Dungeons & Dragons is also a popular role playing board game while there are also party board games like Cranium and children's games like Operation and Candyland. Strategy games like Herascape as well as Battleship and Monopoly, which are classic board games, are also available. The good thing about these popular games is that on sale as discount board games.

There are now a lot of venues where discount board games can be bought, including a number of them on the Internet. There are a lot of sites now selling cheap board games, especially if people will take the time to comparison shop or use money-saving coupons. There are even sites that offer promotions for free shipping. Brick and mortar discount stores or toy stores are also great places where you can find board games at lower prices. The best time to get a number of these board games is during the Christmas season when shopping for gifts is the norm and sales are common.

Board Game

Board games have been in existence over centuries ago. The oldest known board games trace as far back as 5870 B.C. This just proves the human necessity to be entertained and challenged at the same time. Board games, more than any, requires mental strategizing. Unlike sports, where the mind is challenged as well but concentrates more on the physical capabilities of the player, board games requires the competence of the player's thinking process and quick-wittedness to win. This is one of the attributes that set apart board games from many other games.

Board Games Live and Die

This does not mean, however, that all board games are successful. Board games live and die depending on their popularity. If there is an art in playing them, there is even greater art required in creating them. Senet and Mehen are board games traced back in ancient Egypt, but their existence in contemporary or popular culture is almost nonexistent, but their evolution can be more recognizable today. Truth to be told, it is the applicability of the game towards the modern times that, most of the time, decides if the game will live on or wither away.

Grandparents of Board Games

Backgammon, Go and Chess are probably the oldest games still played today. Backgammon is considered as a race game. It requires moving one's pieces across to the other side of the board. This game needs to roll dice to determine the moves of the game. This game dates back to ancient Egypt, around 3000 B.C., and it's believed to have evolved from the ancient game of Senet.

Go is believed to have originated in China back in mid-2000 B.C. specifically, it can be traced to Emperor Yao, and subsequently its popularity spread to Korea and Japan. Chess, on the other, was believed to have originated in India in the 6th century. Scholars consider chess to have evolved from an ancient game called Chaturanga.

Clearly Go predates chess a few thousand years back, but they have their similarities. Each only requires two players, and they have to outwit one another. It is not surprising to know that chess originated from India, a country that shares a border with China. However, one glaring similarity both Go and chess have is that they are both war games.