board game — MomStart

Family Game Night This Week We’re Playing Monopoly Revolution

March 2, 2011 By Momstart 14 Comments

Monopoly is my favorite game. I have over 3 dozen different varieties of the game. Actually the total probably comes closer to 5 dozen, yes I’m a glutton for the family game of Monopoly. After Christmas and at garage sales is the best time to stock up on Monopoly games if you’re a collector like me, and Target we struck gold. We purchased Monopoly Revolution for close to 8.00 and it has been an explosion of fun. The best description I can give is Monopoly Revolution is made for our ADD generation.

The basic idea of Hasbro’s Monopoly stands, you pick your game piece out of six different characters and instead of doling out money you get a credit card. That’s right charge it baby, until you reach your limit. Now, the directions are in the box, but my husband and I always play by our own house rules. Just because we don’t like to auction off properties, but I think the official rules say that every time you land on a property you either buy it or auction it off, so here is how we play. Roll the dice and move that many spaces. Buy it. Place your credit card in the red section of the Monopoly Revolution Bank controller and make your payment. Continue with regular monopoly rules. If you land on a property that is owned and you owe rent then your card goes in the red and the property owner goes in the green. Then the calculator subtracts the total from the renter and adds the money to the owner. Just don’t forget to grab your property deed.

Now, remember how I said this game is for a generation that is always having things flash before our eyes? Well, the calculator has a mind of it’s own. Occasionally to move the game along it will make you take a chance!

Chance happens just like any other Monopoly, you usually have to pay for something unexpectedly. The chance belongs to the person that last placed their card in the machine. So if you are the last person to pass go, or the last person to pay rent then you’re taking a chance if the machine starts singing the chance song. Chance on the board is the most challenging part of the game. Because the board is broken up into four quadrants, each quadrant is a different symbol. If you are in the same quadrant as the person landing on chance then you have to participate in the chance as well. Yeah it could be good or bad, making sure to keep the game moving along and interesting.

Are you confused yet? Monopoly Revolution is a fun quick version of Monopoly. Game Time goes quickly in this version as everything seems to happen faster. Of course, my husband and I have just been stopping when we’re done and using the Calculator to tally up who has the most net worth. he’s won both times so far. We have yet to play until someone goes bankrupt. Maybe tomorrow night will be the night!

What do you play with your spouse?

Filed Under: personal, review Tagged With: board game, directions, family game night, How to play, Monopoly, Monopoly Revolution, review

ThriveTime Board Game for Teens

November 18, 2010 By Momstart 1 Comment

Playing games as a family kept my family together for a very long time. My sister and I would play and my dad would referee for as long as I can remember. Parents should encourage family time and there are quite a few fun games out there for teens too! I just received a came called Thrive Time for teens. Thrive Time puts life into perspective for kids, the players are presented with real life scenarios and you have to make smart decisions. All of the real life scenarios are geared toward teenagers. Do you want to buy a car, do you want to save your money, can you manage money. Money management is something I think should be taught in school. Yikes, I’ve seen firsthand how hard it is for some to learn how to manage money. Whoever gets to the end of the board first wins! Woo Hoo! Have fun, make decisions and be a family! A great board game for teens. Oh, and my favorite part of the game is that it encourages giving to charity. Now that is my kind of game!!

You make decisions and take action!

Smart Spending
Going to College
Giving back
Buying a Car
Using Credit Cards
Starting a Business

How to Play the Game:

You pick cards from the draw deck and make decisions based on the information given on each card. Document your decisions on your Game Sheet and move your Player Piece on the Board.
Some of the Choices You Will Make:

Is it the right time to buy a car?
How will I pay for college?
Should I start a part time business?
Should I pay for those concert tickets with cash or use my credit card?
How will I give back to my community?

How to keep Score:

While the Board tracks your Thrive Score, the Game Sheet shows the true impact of your choices.
On the Game Sheet you will:

Track the money you make (INcome) and the money you spend (EXpenses).
List your new businesses and investments.
Watch your savings grow.
Monitor your credit card balance.
See the full cost of car ownership.
Follow your college finances.

How did you do?

I received a free Thrive Time Game to review for this post.

Filed Under: 2010 Gift Guide, review Tagged With: board game, game night, high school student, teen, thrive time

Mastermind a game of logic review and #giveaway

January 5, 2010 By Momstart 443 Comments

additional product image Mastermind is a classic game of strategy. I’ve played it many times, it was one of my roommates favorite games. She and her boyfriend played it all the time in the apartment we lived in in college. I love logic games so it was fun to watch them play and fun to play myself. It’s still a great game. I was recently sent one of these games to review but since I already know all about it I’m going to donate it without opening. it. Thanks to Pressman, I am able to make this donation and offer one to giveaway to one of you.

But first, let’s make sure you know how to play the game:

This game is for two players only and is for ages 8 plus, but you know your child and their ability at logic. So use your judgment. Just know that there are small pieces in it and that they make a mastermind for kids. (ages 6 +)

It’s the Codemaker vs the Codebreaker

You set up your code and your opponent must guess you code in a certain amount of turns.

The code is made up of four pegs. You choose your code based on six different colors in the order and pattern of your choice. The codebreaker has 10 chances to duplicate your code based on clues you provide. You provide clues or feedback rather on the responses that the codebreaker made as guesses. Did he get two colors right? One color right? There are more than 2,000 possible code combinations and every game can be a challenge. Which is why I love it so.

When I was in college I remember my favorite professor used to complain about how they no longer teach logic in school. I was taught logic in school, but I went to a private school. Do they really not teach logic anymore? That’s insane. So if it’s true then get your children some games that will encourage logic. I find it a very important skill.

Enter to Win one for yourself.

To Enter:

Visit Pressman and tell me what other games you might like to try from them. (required)

Extra Entries:

Advertise this giveaway on any giveaway site and tell me where you advertised it. 10 Extra Entries
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Blurt Board Game Review/Donation and Giveaway

November 24, 2009 By Momstart 152 Comments

I was offered Blurt from Educational Insights to review and giveaway on Mom Start. I said yes but said that I would do the best review I can without opening the box because I want to donate it. I really want to make Christmas a happy time for others and my kids are too young to play this exciting game. One other reason I’m giving this game to charity is because it is for 3 or more players and well I may be a family of four but compressively we’re still only a family of two.

Blurt is a board game based on vocabulary, coming up with words. The object of the game is to make you way around the board before your opponents. One player will reads the definition of a word and it is up to you to be the first to guess the word. The game also has different skill levels. There are two sides to each card with one side being easier and more appropriate for younger kids.

For example, the definition might be "A Flat Moving Part That Sticks Out From The Body Of A Fish", then hopefully you can come up with the answer. When you do you blurt it out.

“Fin”

Then you would advance on the board. Simple but very mind boggling and for people like me nerve wracking. I have a love hate relationship for games like this. Especially when it’s played in a large adult party setting. Blurt would be perfect for that.

Blurt also wants one of my readers to receive one.

To Enter:

Visit The Play Makers and take a look around. Come back and tell me something you learned on the site.

Extra Entries:

Advertise this giveaway on any giveaway site and tell me where you advertised it. 10 Extra Entries
Subscribe to my blog
Follow me on twitter tell me your twitter ID
Blog about the giveaway include a link to me and to the sponsor for 10 extra entries
Tweet the giveaway (every time you tweet you get an entry) Link to the giveaway please!!!
Comment on any other non giveaway post and come back and tell me you did
Use any of the Share options at the bottom of this post: Dig, Stumble, or fav me on Technorati (two entries for each one)
Add my button/blog to your blogroll/friend list 3 extra entries
You can vote for me too for five entries: Tell me your vote number.