Let the games begin!

This question was recently posed to me by a friend:

"If you are running an online games store, why do you blog so much about television and film?"

The answer to that question was simple, I view CanGeek.com as more than an online games store, I like to think of us as a pop-culture resource with a variety of products including games and collectibles - in short we try to have a little something for everyone. And since my personal love of both board games and video games began with my love of television and film, it somehow seems right to blog about that which I love.

With that in mind.... we're half way through the month of May, and with the Summer Blockbusters just beginning to roll into local theaters, there are going to be a multitude of games released which will allow fans to continue their journey alongside their favorite heroes.

Here are some of my picks for games to try over the next few months.

1. Thanos Rising: Avengers Infinity War

Personally there is no doubt in my mind that Avengers: Infinity War will be the biggest release of the year, and with everyone feeling the need to talk about the events of this incredable film, I'd advise you to see it soon.

To coincide with the release of Infinity War, game publisher USAopoly has released Thanos Rising: Avengers Infinity War. This cooperative dice and card game challenges a group of 2 to 4 Players to recruit a team of heroes in an attempt to face off against the Mad Titan and prevent him from collecting all six Infinity Stones and wreaking havoc on the fabric of reality.

Are you up to the task? 

2. DEADPOOL VS The World

The Merc with the Mouth is coming back to theaters as Ryan Reynolds suits up for the release of Deadpool 2. As Wade Wilson kicks ass, takes names, and continues to break the fourth wall with jaw-dropping dialogue, we're also preparing for the release of Deadpool VS The World.

This adult party game which has been compared to Card Against Humanity will feature 100 custom illustrations of Deadpool in some very strange and unsightly situations. Players are tasked with then filling in the blanks on caption cards to produce the most outrageous explanations of why the Merc with a Mouth has found himself in his current position.

The player with the best, most jaw-dropping explanations wins! 

3. MONOPOLY: Deadpool

Love Deadpool but looking for a more "Family Friendly" game to play?  Not only is the Merc with a Mouth conquering the world, he's also conquering the world of MONOPOLY!

While playing MONOPOLY: Deadpool players build their own team of Mercs for Money as they purchase the contracts of the world's best-mercenaries. Some are Deadpool's allies, some are Deadpool from alternate universes, and one is just Deadpool in a maids outfit.

Players pay when they land on Mercs purchased by opponents, buy vehicles like a chimichanga truck, and steal friends' stuff with the Cheap Shot and Low Blow spaces.

Will you be the Last Merc Standing?

4. MONOPOLY: Han Solo

Continuing with their plans to release a Star Wars themed film every year for the foreseeable future, Disney and Lucasfilm are set to release SOLO: A Star Wars Story on May 25th.  

Alongside the release of the film, fans of the MONOPOLY board game will see the release of MONOPOLY: Han Solo.  This edition invites players to enter a world of smugglers and adventure as they journey from the battlefield to the spice mines and attempt to make the Kessel Run!  Players are encouraged to buy as many Star Wars locations, Vehicles, and Power Sources as they can while taking risks with the smuggler and scoundrel cards.

As with other versions of the game, the last player with Imperial Credits wins!

5. MONOPOLY JR: The Incredibles 2

It's been fourteen years since the release of The Incredables, now some of the children who grew up watching this Pixar classic have children of their own - which is why it's a GREAT time to take them on a SUPER adventure! Players of MONOPOLY JR: The Incredables 2 are invited to suit up as one of the four members of the Parr family as they visit and explore locations inspired by the new Disney/Pixar film. 

In this easy and fast-playing game the hero who earns the most money saves the day!

These games, as well as many others, are available for purchase from our online store at cangeek.com. 

Why do I blog so much about television and film? Because in my opinion that is in some way where almost every great gaming adventure begins.  

As always, thanks for reading.

Magic The Gathering: My Story

My love of collectable card games began at seventeen when I was first introduced to Magic: The Gathering, this is my story:

I had been gaming for years with Battletech on Friday nights and Dungeons and Dragons every Sunday afternoon being my games of choice.  One Sunday our second edition D&D group got together as we usually did however this Sunday it seemed like no one was really interested in adventuring through Ravenloft and that is when it began.

One of our party members reached into his bag and produced two decks of cards.

Upon inspection the cards were smooth to the touch, had a glossy finish and contained some of the most breathtaking art I had ever seen.  During the next three hours the five people sitting at that table took turns playing with those same two decks of cards and my personal addiction was born.

Within two weeks I had purchased multiple packs of cards and had designed three playable decks with my Red & Black deck being my pride and joy.  Our Sunday afternoon games quickly became our Sunday afternoon Magic games (until our Dungeon Master put a stop to that).

Within a month of my first introduction to MTG I was in need of more compilation, so much like it had happened previously, I introduced my Friday night Battletech group to this amazing new game with surprisingly similar results.

Out of a group of four Battletech players I had recruited three new Magic: The Gathering players and had greatly increased my available competition in the process.

The Friday night Battletech games quickly took a back seat to the Friday Night Magic games.

When we played, we all played to win which inspired some fierce and aggressive rivalries in the process.  Each week someone was sure to arrive with a newly designed deck or a slightly re-tuned deck with the intentions of putting everyone else to shame that particular week.

This fact kept us all slightly poor as we were always buying cards in an attempt to "One Up" everyone else.....

With that fact in mind it should have come as no surprise when our group started burning out and we went back to playing Battletech, everyone had tired of Magic: The Gathering.  We still played the odd game once in awhile, but nothing like before.

Eventually people started cashing out and selling off their cards, myself included, but my story didn't end there.  For sometime I was sure I would never play again, I had an amazing collection of mint cards that I'd sold off so why would I ever go back?  Friendship!

Eight years ago I got a call from an old friend whom I use to play against, he was getting some people together at his place for a one day game, a booster draft, and he wanted me to come.  At first I resisted the temptation but I was weak and in need of a good game so I relented and went - it was one time so it couldn't hurt, could it???

Eight years have passed and I have amassed an even larger collection of cards then before, partially because I introduced my wife to Magic: The Gathering and much like before I crafted another addiction!

We don't play as often as we once did but we still play and I've reassembled some of our original group just to keep it interesting.

The competition is intense, old habits die hard after all.....

 

Conquering The Stars And Riding The Rails

Fifteen hours per week.....

Like most people working a full time job I spend a lot of time on public transit moving back and forth to and from my current place of employment, So out of curiosity I recently sat down and calculated roughly how many hours I spend commuting and came up with fifteen hours per week.

This represents a ninety minute commute each way to and from work five days per week, and a fair chunk of that time is spent riding the trains.

Needless to say things can get more then a little boring.

I usually spend this time reading, sleeping, or playing with my phone because in truth who wants to stare at strangers (its kind of creepy)

Now I'm the type of person who gets really involved in whatever game their playing, so much so that I have been know to, on occasion, miss my stop because I'm so engrossed in what I'm doing (Dragons Crown for the PS Vita had me doing a lot of backtracking).

Conquering The Stars:

About a month ago a close friend introduced me Star Realms, a new deck building game designed by Magic: The Gathering pro tour champions Rob Dougherty and Darwin Kastle.  Star Realms is a two player space combat game that takes less then 25 minutes to play yet provides hours of enjoyment at an unquestionably reasonable price (it's $14.99 in physical format and once you've played it you'll keep coming back for more!)

Each player begins the game with fifty life points, three points of currency and two points of attack, then the objective is simple, destroy your opponent to secure victory!  This is achieved by shopping the marketplace and making strategic decisions in an effort to build the strongest fleet possible.

It's fast moving and every mistake truly matters!   

Now what does this have to do with my long commute to work?  Star Realms was also recently release in digital format for the PC, Android and IOS as a free download (without the expansions!) 

So if like me you have time to spare as part of your daily trip to and from your place of employment then give Star Realms a chance, I don't think you'll be sorry.

As always, thanks for reading!