So Happy Together (A Guide on Cooperative Games)

Only you and your teammates can stem the tide of disease in Pandemic

When non-gamers first hear that I like to play board games, I think one of the first scenes they imagine in their minds is the one with a group of young siblings playing a competitive game of monopoly or sorry until they get in a fight and quit angrily.  And while some relish the conflict and competition inherent in most board games, there is a genre of game which pits players not against each other, but against the game itself.

Even though cooperative games aren't a new phenomenon, many outside of the hobby gaming scene haven't heard of them, and aren't sure what that means.  Usually one of the first questions I get when I introduce a cooperative game is, "So you're on, like, teams?"

Fortunately, if you've run into trouble explaining the concept, or are unsure what it means yourself, this guide is here to help you out.  

So, what is a Cooperative game?

You're Under Arrest (A Review of Police Precinct)

We demand to be taken seriously!

Down at the precinct, all is quiet. Then, with the ring of a telephone, everything bursts into bustling activity. There's been a murder and you and your fellow detectives have been assigned to the case.

The phone rings again. An accident on Third Street. No big deal, you can spare someone to handle it.

Another call. There's been a robbery at the electronics store. Oh, and a crowd of unruly punks has started to form on the street. 

Yes, crime and chaos has run amok in the city, and Batman is nowhere to be found. Only you can investigate the murder, find the killer, and arrest him before it's too late. Just make sure there's a city left when it all ends.

Welcome to the world of Police Precinct.

News Bits: 4/15/2013

A fairly light week as far as news is concerned, but there's some good stuff here nonetheless. Here it is, the NEWS:

Z-Man Games reveals Pandemic triptych [Link] Z-Man Games revealed the final artwork for the In the Lab and On the Brink Pandemic expansion covers this week, and all three games form one long photo. Is this a compelling enough reason to buy the new edition? Maybe, just maybe...