Welcome new players to join the exploration
by Deirdre Cross, Senior Vice President of Gaming at Moose Toys
If you’re like me, you probably have 1,000 games in your collection. Even if you don’t, if you’re reading toy book, you may have come across a large number of games in various categories. In this industry, everyone seems to expect you to be a game master, so here are some tips to make sure you’re ready to bring the fun into any adventure!
Choosing which games to play on your next vacation is a bit like developing the product itself. When I mentor young inventors, I often share an important piece of advice: Consider who your audience is. Think about them and imagine your own situation; this perspective will help you make the right game to connect with them.
Know your audience
What is the age of the person you are vacationing with? When was the last time they learned a new game? Are they experienced gamers? Resist the urge to introduce your most complex game to non-gamers, even if it’s your favorite game!
For children, the age of the player is an obvious criterion, but for adults, game selection requires more nuance. We’ve found that older generations often prefer the familiar terrain of classic games to the uncharted territories of new or unusual game modes. They may enjoy classic card games or subtle variations on familiar themes.
Imagine how these games would fit into their holiday adventures
If you’re going to start traveling by air, you’re going to need some portable equipment – that’s a given. Should it also be sand and water resistant at the beach? When thinking about “vacation life,” I also think about screen-free activities and how games fit into those brief windows of time, such as the time between when a plane door closes and the internet turns on at 30,000 feet.
How much time do they have to play?
They have a long time to play. | Source: Deirdre Cross
As we headed to the family cabin—an off-the-grid adventure without the internet—it felt like we had all the time in the world. In fact, I can usually get people to play the game with me for about an hour or so. But without interference, their appetite for gameplay innovation is surprisingly high!
Leave them craving for more!
It’s easy for board games to go out of style during the holidays. Try setting a specific game time (a time-limited afternoon or evening) and choose a specific set of games to play. I often go over the rules before we sit down to play to reduce the time spent learning them. Knowing the rules can help players at the poker table get up to speed quickly, making the gaming experience less intimidating and more fun!
Deirdre’s Top List for Vacation Adventures
- Backseat boredom buster: Flipslide (moose game), classic backseat bingo (with a small sliding window!)
- Party Games: Scream (Funko Games), Codenames (CGE)
- Light strategy games: Kingdomino (Blue Orange), Harry Potter: Battle of Hogwarts (The Op), Villainous (Ravensburger)
- Card games: Push (Ravensburger), Slamwich (Gamewright/Buffalo Games)
| A version of this feature was originally published in The Toy Book’s 2024 Action & Adventure Special Issue. click here Read the full article! Want to receive a printed copy of The Toy Book? click here Subscription options! |
