The Offspring received Sorry! the board game for Christmas this year.
The object of the game is thus: each player has four tokens. You must move your tokens around the board from “Start” to “Home.” The first player to put all four tokens in his “Home” space wins. You can move one token all the way around and then move the next and so forth until all four are moved, or you can distribute the movement, in a true Marxist fashion, amongst the pieces. During the game you can switch places with opponents, bump their pieces back to “Start”… It’s a cut-throat game, and during the course of an evening you can really learn which side your bread is buttered on, as well as what that night’s sleeping arrangements might be. Alliances are forged and then – just as easily – torn asunder. All in all, a very wholesome game. The Offspring thinks this game is the best thing since… well, it’s just awesome (he doesn’t seem to find sliced bread that impressive.) We played a game last night before bedtime.
Now, I have my own unique style of playing. I don’t like to send any of my pieces out onto the cold, cruel board alone, so I tend to let them travel together. It makes absolutely no difference to the outcome (I haven’t won a game yet) but I think the sense of solidarity helps them out on their journey.
Having my pieces traveling in a pack is fine. Telling my opponents that “my peeps are hanging, yo” however, is not fine, and leads to the obligatory (it seems) eye rolling.
Who knew?
This post is hanging with its posse over at humor-blogs.com.
January 11th, 2008 at 10:58 am
My kids got “Trouble.”
This was a mistake.
The “Pop-O-Matic” is one of the most annoying sounds on the face of the earth. Sure, it’s fun for, say, 2 minutes…then it’s all:
Pop-CLICK. Pop-CLICK. Pop-CLICK. Pop-CLICK. Pop-CLICK. Pop-CLICK. v Pop-CLICK. Pop-CLICK. Pop-CLICK. Pop-CLICK. Pop-CLICK. Pop-CLICK. Pop-CLICK. Pop-CLICK. Pop-CLICK. Pop-CLICK. Pop-CLICK. Pop-CLICK. Pop-CLICK. Pop-CLICK.
I’m going slowly insane.
Thank you, Milton Bradley.
Next year, I’m kicking Santa’s ass when I see him.
January 11th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
My brother would always get me a board game for Christmas when we were kids, then promptly inform me that he hated to play games. The game you mention was the only one where his intentions were proclaimed, boldly, on the box.
Needless to say, at that age, I was totally unaware of any gang affiliation concerning the game.
January 11th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
moooooog35: I’m pretty sure that Milton Bradley is owned and operated by sadistic Oompa-Loompas that have it in for people over 4 feet tall. I’m unaware of “Trouble,” but now I know to avoid it at all costs. Thanks for the warning.
January 11th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Pinhole: so you know the game! I’m glad I could open your eyes to its deeper meanings. Perhaps now you can figure your brother’s true leanings.
Or, as they say, “how he rolls…”
January 11th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Dude- My dad is evil at that game. I mean eeeeeeviiil. It’s the only boardgame that my husband has played with my family, and he hasn’t been back since. Coincidence? I think so.
Hey, I loved trouble! Pop! Pop!
January 11th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
To maximize your eyeroll earnings, be sure to include hip Snoop-Dog boardgame phrases like, “Slizzle my Pizzle on home.”
January 12th, 2008 at 10:35 am
wordvixen: is the family avoidance thing your husband’s idea, or your family’s? Either way, after a few rousing games of Sorry! it’s understandable.
Yet another Trouble aficionado. This game, apparently, bears more investigation. I have a niece in need of board games, I think.
January 12th, 2008 at 10:37 am
Brent: I think usage of Snoop terminology would catapult me past eyeroll territory and into Smackville, but it’s a good thing to remember, should the couch start to look comfortable.
January 19th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
sorry is a good one! it is always nice when you graduate from the Candyland era into more fun games like sorry!
January 21st, 2008 at 8:41 am
If by “good” you mean “cutthroat and evil,” you’re absolutely correct.
I kid, of course. The Offspring has fun, so we do too.