Published Apr 8, 2020

#600: What Board Games Teach Us About Life

Explore the fascinating intersection of board games and life as Jonathan Kay, co-author of 'Your Move: What Board Games Teach Us About Life,' delves into how games reveal cultural values, psychological insights, and societal shifts, highlighting the evolution from moralistic lessons to Euro trends and cooperative dynamics.
Episode Highlights
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Episode Highlights

  • Early Games

    The evolution of board games like Life reveals much about societal values over time. explains that the original Victorian-era game, The Checkered Game of Life, emphasized moral lessons and avoiding sin, reflecting the era's values 1. In contrast, modern versions focus on material success and wealth accumulation, mirroring contemporary priorities. This shift highlights how board games can subtly impart cultural values and philosophies to players 2.

    The lesson was that it's really easy to sin and to do wrong things in life and to suffer a bad end, and that you had to avoid all these things. It was about avoiding bad things. It's a very victorian mindset.

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    Euro Games

    The rise of Euro games marked a significant shift in board game design and popularity. These games, originating in Europe in the 1980s and 1990s, blend fun and complexity, moving away from the hyper-militaristic themes of earlier games 3. notes that games like Settlers of Catan focus on building and indirect competition, which reduces the bitterness often found in traditional games 4. This approach has made Euro games appealing to a broader audience, including adults looking for more strategic and aesthetically pleasing gameplay.

    It's basically who can grow the most fastest. And in that way, it takes away some of the bitterness that you got from the old games.

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    Design Challenges

    Modern board game design faces unique challenges, particularly in avoiding the pitfalls of older games like Monopoly. argues that Monopoly's design flaws, such as player elimination and winner-takes-all dynamics, would prevent it from being produced today 5. Modern games often include mechanisms to keep all players engaged until the end, enhancing the overall experience. Additionally, players have adapted rules to make classic games more enjoyable, demonstrating a collective effort to improve game design 6.

    Monopoly is a game with no safety net. And there's very few mechanisms in the game that allow a person to get back into the game when they're losing, whereas modern games have that.

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