Video games are a way to escape from the real world, and it’s easy to take it too far. The line to addiction is fine and only takes a step to cross. Lawyer, make that ex-lawyer, Mathew Eshelman of Pennsylvania leaped over that line. He used video games as a method to escape stress from his job and problems at home, but it became an obsession. He was fired from a firm in 2007 over his addiction and the problem followed him when he tried to set up his own practice.
In the end he was found to have mishandled 17 cases, including bankruptcy, divorce, and debt collection cases because of gaming. He lied in a divorce filing, ignored calls from clients and lost track of client money. As a result he’s been banned from practicing for three years. In fact, the disciplinary board backed down from a 5-year ban because “Eshelman had once been a competent lawyer”.
It seems absurd that a 43-year old man would throw away a promising career over video games, but I’ll bet most of you have blown off homework or sleep on a weeknight to play, or maybe even taken a sick day or two.
(Philly.com via G4)
Worlds that are fantastical or in space tend to parallel our world. Fictional universes aren’t utopias. Aliens face the same decisions and challenges that humans do. They need entertainment and escape from daily regimens. To add to the realism of fantasy and science fiction worlds, it only makes sense for authors to add games. Just look at the role that gaming – from tabletop to video games – plays in our daily lives. It’s one of the most popular activities we choose for relaxation. There are lame options in the real world and otherwise, but mostly a plethora of awesome choices abound. If I was sitting around the Millennium Falcon or Hogwarts, these games would be in my cupboard.
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Knokkers is the hybrid between billards and bowling that we didn’t realize, until this moment, how much we wanted to play.
The game was created by Steve Wienecke of Fredericktown, Missouri—and he hopes to see Knokkers platforms on cruise ships, amusement parks, restaurants, and my backyard (hopefully) one day.
(nxtbook via BJN via Neatorama)
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One of the first games we learn as kids is Rock, Paper, Scissors. I think it comes shortly after Candyland and Chutes and Ladders. The rules are ridiculously simple, it’s quick and it will settle arguments of any kind within just a few seconds. Although sometimes it does escalate into a best 2 out of 3 situation, but nothing good can come from following that route. Where does it end? At what point do you just accept that you have lost and move on? Let’s just stick with the premise that in a matter of seconds, any argument can be settled with this spiffy little game. And then came Sheldon.
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Stern, one of the last pinball machine makers on the planet, is releasing a classic version of its Iron Man pinball machine aimed at hardcore collectors and gamers with deep pockets.
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Baby’s first D&D dice? Game night stress relief? A safe solution for game night violence? Indeed, these giant foam D&D dice have several advantages over the traditional versions. Comes in 4, 8, 10, 12 and 20 sided flavors.
Product Page ($20)
The same company that brought us live action Duck Hunter showed off a skeet shooting prototype at CES back in January, and it seems that the product is now available for purchase.
Like the Duck Hunter game before it, the targets register and react to hits from the IR gun. In this case, disks are shot up to 7-feet in the air at either 2-second or 10-second intervals. When a target is “hit”, it will break apart into two pieces.
Product Page ($50)
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I can’t believe it took this long to make a board game based on The Princess Bride—but here you have it. Storming the Castle: The Princess Bride Card Game.
Playing as Westley, Buttercup, Inigo, or Fezzik, you’ll race your adversaries traversing your Path Tiles to get to the castle. But you’ll have to make sure you have the proper Tactic Cards to get you onto each tile. Maybe you’ll even play a card that will add Path Tiles to your opponent’s path. Inconceivable? Not in the least! Storm the castle, save the princess (even if you are the princess), and win the game. Add your own favorite quotes as you play, and Storming the Castle: The Princess Bride Game is some of the best fun you’ll ever have. Ever.
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