Comments on: The Simple Dollar Podcast #6: Games People Play

By: Andrea

Andrea — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:41:13 +0000

I’m an only child, so I didnt play a lot of games growing up. My real comments are around the feedback on the podcast itself.

You are sounding much more comfortable and the single topic focus also worked much better. There was less jumping around from one subject to the next, which i heard more of during the first few weeks.

Keep at it. I think you’ll be making really good progress in another six weeks.

By: prodgod

prodgod — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:34:13 +0000

Alas, I have never had much patience for games, much to the chagrin of my family. My ADHD perhaps?

By: Doug

Doug — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:07:03 +0000

I enjoyed this podcast and I’m going to check out a couple of the games you mentioned.

I wanted to make an additional sports suggestion, especially if you’re interested in golf. Disc golf (aka “frisbee golf”) is a great alternative. You can start off a single disc that costs around $7 or $8 and the vast majority of courses are completely free to play. Check out http://www.pdga.com/course-directory to find a nearby course.

By: A.J.

A.J. — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:21:20 +0000

Twelve hours for Monopoly? Sounds like nobody knows any strategies for the game, if you ask me.

I spent a summer working in a camp kitchen, and the kitchen crew didn’t have a whole lot to do during our afternoon break other than play Monopoly, so we did that on a disturbingly high number of afternoons. We had the game down so much that by the end of the summer, we considered a game that ended in an hour to be LONG.

Every game ended up looking something like this:

1. Everyone rolls the dice and scoops up properties.
2. Once the last key property is bought (usually either the third Orange or third Red), a flurry of trading. Within five minutes, the number of monopolies in play has gone from zero to six.
3. Everyone who can afford it puts 3-4 houses on their best properties. Everyone else is pretty much screwed.
4. Roll the dice until the massive rents bankrupt all but one player.

If it do it right (for example, roll the dice as soon as the person before you announces they’re buying a property; no reason to wait while they count out the cash, the Bank fishes out the deed and makes change), none of these steps take that much time at all.

The only real problem with Monopoly is that step 4 is pretty much all luck and the only thing you can do about it is to increase your chances by trading for/landing on the Oranges/Reds (or maybe Blues if you feel lucky).

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:50:30 +0000

GREAT podcast…I should have had “plays games” on my list for the perfect DH, since when I found him, he had everything on that list…but he doesn’t like games. I think because he grew up with cousins who tended to beat each other and him up over the results – taking competitive to a different level? I promised him I wouldn’t really smack him during slapjack, but he’s still resistant! (kidding) I finally got him to learn cribbage when our power was out for a few days after a storm a few years ago and he still plays with the Doyle’s rule book at his side to make sure I’m not cheating him! I had never heard of the board games you referenced, by the way. I’m glad you included them in your show notes, as they would make great gifts as well, for a gaming family.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:17:55 +0000

For single gameplay, those who have a Facebook account can play a variety of strategy games for FREE by downloading the application to their Facebook page. Most noteworthy are the games by Zynga, such as Vampire Wars, Mafia Wars, Yoville, Sorority Life, Fashion Wars, etc. These games are static, asynchronous gameplay with other players; not at all like the graphic interaction with World of Warcraft or similar online gaming, but more like the Dungeons and Dragons board game style of gaming.
I have found Vampire Wars to be terribly addictive. Basically the games have the same strategy: acquire clan members, acquire booty and abilities and combat other players as you move up the levels and increase your skill points.

By: Zach V

Zach V — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:45:38 +0000

I noticed in your show notes that you use Gamerz for your game trading. I use Goozex, an online trading service similar to the book services you’ve written about in the past, and have only good things to say.

http://www.goozex.com

If you trade a newly released game, you get enough credit to receive a new released game. The only cost to the user is the $1 trade credit Goozex charges for the use of their service. You are also responsible for shipping the games you are trading to other users, which costs money obviously.

Anyway, I end up playing all of the big new releases but only buy a game or two each year. I _never_ trade away games to retail outlets for pennies on the dollar.