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Games

The Oregon Trail Card Game
Producer: Pressman Toy Corporation
Created in: 2017

Summary: In a physical version of the class computer game, in The Oregon Trail players work together to make it to Oregon while using dice to play the game of change. 

 

Critical Evaluation: The Oregon Trail is the perfect game for anyone who likes a simple game of chance paired with teamwork and creativity. Using a dry erase board and marker provided by the game, players are able to create unique names for their characters, and write out epitaphs for their tombstones if they’re unfortunate enough to pull a “calamity” card that results in fatality.

 

One of the most unique parts of The Oregon Trail Card Game is that it’s based on teamwork, and everyone either wins or loses together. As long as one member playing reaches Oregon, the quest is considered to be successful. Players familiar with the computer version of this game will be happy to explore its new format, and newcomers will enjoy the hilarity that ensues. 

 

Reader’s Annotation: Take on The Oregon Trail Card Game and see if you have what it takes to reach your goals…but make sure you have a tombstone picked out in case you pull a dysentery card! 

 

Producer Info: “Founded in 1922 Pressman Toys has been delighting families for decades with classic games such as Mastermind, Rummikub, Tri-Ominos and innovative licensed products!” 

 

Retrieved from: https://www.pressmantoy.com/

 

Genre: Card game

 

Booktalk Ideas: 

  • How do games like this combine fun, hilarity, and a bit of education?

  • Discuss the history of the Oregon Trail. 

 

Playing Level: Ages 12 and up

 

Challenge Issues: Discussions of death/illness

 

Reason for Including: Not only is The Oregon Trail Card Game fun, but it opens the door for discussions about history and the hardships people have faced. If teens really enjoy the card game, there is also the original computer game that they can check out. 

Scrabble
Producer: Hasbro Gaming
Created in: 1933

Summary: A twist on the crossword puzzle, each player uses the letter tiles they’ve drawn to build words and score points on the scrabble board. 

 

Critical Evaluation: Scrabble is a game that manages to combine fun, competition, and education. Because each word is scored based on the points a player gains from each letter, teens will be encouraged to expand their strategy skills, holding onto some letters and using others in order to form the perfect gameplay and gain the most points.

 

Besides being a game of fun and strategy, Scrabble also will help teens learn vocabulary and spelling. Not only do they have to form words in order to win, but the game is often played with a dictionary in hand. Teens therefore will build up their word banks for everyday life and also become pros at using the dictionary.

 

Scrabble can get fairly competitive, especially as players swoop in and steal spots. Some teens may not enjoy this, but others will find it lively and enjoyable. 

 

Reader’s Annotation: Think of the most obscure words you know and get ready to score endless points against your friends in an exciting game of Scrabble!

 

Producer Info: “Hasbro, Inc. (a syllabic abbreviation of its original name, Hassenfeld Brothers) is an American multinational conglomerate with toy, board game, and media assets, headquartered in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Hasbro owns the trademarks and products of Kenner, Parker Brothers, and Milton Bradley, among others. Hasbro is incorporated in Rhode Island, and as of August 2020 over 80% of its shares were held by large financial institutions.[5]

 

Among its products are Transformers, G.I. Joe, Power Rangers, Rom the Space Knight, Micronauts, M.A.S.K., Monopoly, Furby, Nerf, Twister, and My Little Pony. The Hasbro brand also spawned TV shows to promote its products, such as Family Game Night on the Discovery Family network, a joint venture with Discovery, Inc.. As of end 2019, it is also the parent company of mass media and entertainment company Entertainment One.”

 

Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasbro

 

Genre: Word-play game

 

Booktalk Ideas:

  • What makes games like Scrabble so simultaneously satisfying and frustrating?

 

Playing Level: Ages 12 and up

 

Challenge Issues: none

 

Reason for Including: Not only is Scrabble a fun game to play with friends and family, but it also increases vocabulary, strategy, and critical thinking skills. 

Risk
Producer: Hasbro Gaming
Created in: 1957

Summary: In Risk, the players’ goal is to capture all 42 territories on the board in order to win the game.

 

Critical Evaluation: Risk has maintained its popularity, especially among young people and families, for a variety of reasons. The first is that it’s the perfect balance of strategy and luck. While players do rely on dice rolls to win “battles,” for the most part a strong strategy is needed to capture territories and win the game. Players who really enjoy Risk can improve their tactics over time, ensuring that they’ll get closer and closer to world domination. Risk is also popular because of the long time it takes to play a full game. It can often take hours, or even a whole day to get through a game of Risk. Teens who enjoy these types of games can host Risk tournaments or have Risk weekends. The long amount of time players spend together builds friendships, despite the competition. 

 

Risk has also remained well loved by fans because of the different versions of the game that exist based on pop culture. For instance, there is a Lord of the Rings Risk where players fight to dominate Middle Earth. One might say there is truly a Risk for everyone, or at least the possibility of one. 

 

Reader’s Annotation: With a whole lot of strategy and a little bit of luck, you can dominate the world…as long as your competitor doesn’t beat you to it! 

 

Producer Info: Hasbro, Inc. (a syllabic abbreviation of its original name, Hassenfeld Brothers) is an American multinational conglomerate with toy, board game, and media assets, headquartered in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Hasbro owns the trademarks and products of Kenner, Parker Brothers, and Milton Bradley, among others. Hasbro is incorporated in Rhode Island, and as of August 2020 over 80% of its shares were held by large financial institutions.[5]

 

Among its products are Transformers, G.I. Joe, Power Rangers, Rom the Space Knight, Micronauts, M.A.S.K., Monopoly, Furby, Nerf, Twister, and My Little Pony. The Hasbro brand also spawned TV shows to promote its products, such as Family Game Night on the Discovery Family network, a joint venture with Discovery, Inc.. As of end 2019, it is also the parent company of mass media and entertainment company Entertainment One.”

 

Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasbro

 

Genre: Strategy board game

 

Booktalk Ideas:

  • Discuss the pros and cons of games that take a long time to play and games that are relatively short.

  • Perhaps go over some strategy techniques as if we were planning actual world domination, then reveal the game.

 

Playing Level: Ages 10 and up

 

Challenge Issues: War metaphor

 

Reason for Including: Risk is a fun game that teens can spend all day playing with their friends either at home or in the library, and will help their critical thinking and strategy skills. It teaches them to think ahead and not rely on the luck of rolling dice. 

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