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MacBeth
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| Posted: March 16 2005 at 9:26am | IP Logged
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In my search for ways to make history interesting, I often check for hte latest games, both for computers and board games...I prefer board games as they are interactive. I just found a series of fun games, including Settlers of Canaan, Settlers of Catan (a fictional island set in the age of exploration), and Settlers of the Stone Age (prehistoric). Has anyone tried these? They are billed as a cross between Risk and Monopoly, and all have great reviews. The Canaan version is based on the OT, and seems like a nice Easter gift.  .
For Sci-fi fans, there is also a starfaring version... 
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MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
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cathhomeschool
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| Posted: March 16 2005 at 1:56pm | IP Logged
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Macbeth, I just saw these in the our local hobby shop and wondered about them too. Looking forward to others' more experienced answers... 
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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theNetSmith
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| Posted: March 16 2005 at 3:30pm | IP Logged
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at a garage sale a few weeks ago, i bought a computer game (for $2!) called Empire Earth. i've only played it a couple of times, but Nicholas (11) and Zachary (9) play it every chance they get. more than one player can participate in the same game over the network.
the point of the game is to manage a small 'civilization' by hunting, fishing, gathering natural resources (wood, stone, gold, etc.), building things, defending your people from foes, etc., all the while trying to accumulate enough of the various assets to advance to the next epoch. the game starts you off in the Stone Age and you proceed to advance through the Bronze Age, the Dark Ages, etc. during each age, you can 'produce' either a strategist leader or a militaristic one (maybe both, i'm not sure), and the figures are actually historic (like Charlemagne (sp?)) and supposedly have some AI built in to demonstrate the qualities/tactics of the real-life person.
altho the boys get a kick out of being able to build things and shoot catapults at things, they are definitely learning to appreciate the resource-gathering aspect, and i'm hoping (don't laugh, Janette) that they will learn to distinguish the difference between the two types of leaders as well as what strengths/weaknesses made the various civilizations successful/vulnerable.
altho it is a fairly 'modern' game and runs well on our systems, it is not brand new and may not be available in stores anymore. however, there appear to be plenty for sale on ebay.
oh, one other thing: you can turn off blood. the game is rated T (for Teen), but the characters are fairly small, so the violence is very tame compared to any first-person shooter-type game. alas, i do miss the innocence of the old Atari and Intellivision games -- it is so hard to find anything suitable for children these days.
-Tim
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Kathryn UK
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| Posted: March 16 2005 at 3:46pm | IP Logged
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I haven't tried any of them, but a homeschooling friend of mine has a family of enthusiastic board gamers (dad plus six kids) and their family website includes a list of recommended board games . Settlers of Catan is on their list, along with several other historical games. Some are out of print (is that the right term for a game?) but should be possible to find on ebay. There isn't much description, but the list does give the approximate time a game lasts and a realistic estimate of the age at which a child could play it.
By the way, we have been enjoying The Hobbit board game I bought for Christmas on your recommendation. And my 6yo manages it quite happily
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MaryM
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| Posted: March 16 2005 at 4:31pm | IP Logged
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My husband and sons have played Settlers of Catan on-line and really enjoy it. There is a Java version that you can play against others on-line or against the computer. Here is the link my 13 yo ds gave me. Settlers of Catan You might try it on-line to see if they like it.
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Mary M. in Denver
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juliecinci
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| Posted: March 17 2005 at 9:39am | IP Logged
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That is too funny! I was just coming here to post about Settlers of Catan. I am hooked! I didn't study for my midterm, I didn't do the writing I should have done, I put off making dinner...
We are playing this game round the clock.
And then yesterday, one of my kids was watching some news item and said, "They need more resources to pull that off." (I have no idea what he was referring to, but I knew that his insight came from the game.) Lol!
We have the board version and bought the extended play option so up to six people can play. The game changes every time you play it because the board is made up of movable parts.
Also, even my eight year old who doesn't read as well yet, has no trouble playing. She won once, in fact!
It's a great game of strategy and interaction. Not slow-paced and satisfying to all ages.
Highly recommended.
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Julie
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MacBeth
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| Posted: March 17 2005 at 10:25am | IP Logged
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Thanks all for your input! It sounds like just the game (series of games??  ) for our family.
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MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
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MaryM
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| Posted: March 17 2005 at 11:39pm | IP Logged
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MacBeth,
Are you familiar with these games? Chatham Hill Games
Since you are into ways to make history interesting and interactive you may have already seen them. We have several of the cut-out paper games - mostly the ones related to sailing and sea battles, but have one of the revolutionary war ones as well. They are good for making the connection to history in concrete and fun ways. What I particularly like about them is that they are inexpensive and don't take up much space. I haven't seen the new computer ones, but am interested in getting the Lewis and Clark one. They are pretty new.
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Mary M. in Denver
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MacBeth
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| Posted: Aug 01 2005 at 8:42am | IP Logged
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For those of you who have enjoyed the Settlers games, there is a new add-on edition, Cities and Knights of Catan. You have to have the original, but this sounds like the perfect addition, and includes ways to improve your cities.
My kids, btw, have declared "Settlers" is their favorite game of all times. They have played for huors without a single argument (difficult with 4 different personalities  trying to--er--express themselves).
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MacBeth in NY
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Courtney
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| Posted: Aug 01 2005 at 9:36am | IP Logged
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What ages are the Settlers games appropriate for? My dc are 7 1/2 and 5. Would the 5yr old be too young?
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Courtney in Texas
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MacBeth
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| Posted: Aug 01 2005 at 10:20am | IP Logged
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My 9yo is usually a poor player, and he plays this well, but I am not sure how young one can be...anyone use have this game for younger kids?
I actually think there is a younger version...yes! Kids of Catan! is for younger kids.
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MacBeth in NY
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MacBeth
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| Posted: Aug 01 2005 at 10:27am | IP Logged
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Wow, Mary. sorry I missed this post in MARCH! . Must be a software glitch . I am not familiar with Chatham hill products, but they look good, too. Magnetic travel games are a special treat in the car,  ! I love the "Recreated Hisotrical Scene" barrier tape! That would cause quite a stir around here.
Games seem more expensive than when we were younger...or is it just inflation?
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MacBeth in NY
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Courtney
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| Posted: Aug 01 2005 at 11:02am | IP Logged
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Thanks, MacBeth! I just added Kids of Catan to my never-ending shopping cart on Amazon.
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Courtney in Texas
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TracyQ
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| Posted: Aug 13 2005 at 10:53am | IP Logged
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Tim,
We have Empire Earth, and the newest version as well. The boys (all three including my husband) LOVE this game, and have learned a LOT by playing it. Sometimes we let them use it for school on *those days we are stressed and need game day*.
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Tracy Q.
wife of Marty for 20 years, mom of 3 wonderful children (1 homeschool graduate, 1 12th grader, and a 9th grader),
homeschooling in 15th year in Buffalo, NY
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theNetSmith
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| Posted: Aug 27 2005 at 3:15pm | IP Logged
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Tracy-
sorry it took so long for me to realize you had posted about this...
how is EE2 different, better, etc. from the original? do they even play the other any more?
thanks-
T
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TracyQ
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| Posted: Aug 28 2005 at 7:31am | IP Logged
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Tim,
Here ya go, Tim.....straight from their mumbling mouths. Talking to teenage boys is like talking to a BRICK wall!
EE 2 is different/better in these ways:
* It's more in depth how you can deal with other civilizations, for example, you can deal with your allies during the game, rather than only before the game. You can send them peace treaties, and visa versa.
*You can create war plans and send them to your allies, the war plans tell them where to send their soldiers, so you can surround your enemy.
*You can set up trade routes with other countries, so you can get resources.
*You can make spies, which can poison people's warehouses. They can also steal information from other countries.
*There are a bunch of countries' specific units; for example, for America, you can make minute men when you're in that time period, not only for campaign missions, but for regular games as well.
*There are only three campaigns in EE2. They say that's not a big deal though, because they're not sure how long they are.
*The weather can affect how battles take place, like making shots miss, and make it more difficult for the guys to move around, making it more realistic.
*In the regular game, the map is split into territories, the more territories you control, the higher your population cap will be.
They said that there could be some other things that they're not thinking of at the moment. They just woke up, and tell me their brains are not yet fully functioning. But that if there's anything else, they think they are small things.
I hope this will help you make an informed decision.
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Blessings and Peace,
Tracy Q.
wife of Marty for 20 years, mom of 3 wonderful children (1 homeschool graduate, 1 12th grader, and a 9th grader),
homeschooling in 15th year in Buffalo, NY
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theNetSmith
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| Posted: Aug 28 2005 at 1:24pm | IP Logged
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awesome. give them my thanks for their input.
-T
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TracyQ
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| Posted: Aug 28 2005 at 2:11pm | IP Logged
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Will do, Tim. Glad they could help!
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Blessings and Peace,
Tracy Q.
wife of Marty for 20 years, mom of 3 wonderful children (1 homeschool graduate, 1 12th grader, and a 9th grader),
homeschooling in 15th year in Buffalo, NY
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4Real Forums : Across Time and Place
Topic: Historical Board Games
