Seattle's Child: Blue Highway Beckons




				June 2007 Blue Highway Beckons By Becca Bergman If it is not e-mail, it’s instant messaging; if it’s not YouTube, it’s PlayStation. These days, kids – and their parents – are more plugged in than ever. Concerned about how screen time is sapping family face-time, two former Microsoft employees are prescribing an old-fashioned approach to this relatively new-fangled problem: board games. As schools are letting out later this month, Scott Cooper and Brian Bennink will open the doors to Blue Highway Games on upper Queen Anne. In addition to stocking a unique selection of card and board games from around the world, the store will play host to different events (such as “Parents Night Out” and tournaments for enthusiasts) as well as birthday parties, summer camps and after-school programs for kids. Customers can try out games on demo tables or, better yet, consult the experts. Cooper and Bennink, who both grew up on staple diets of classics like Monopoly, Strageo and cards, met while working in the computer games division of Microsoft and bonded over a joint passion for off-screen games. At that time, some of the best games were only available in Europe, especially in Germany. In their spare time, Cooper and Bennink worked on translating instructions for games that they found overseas during business trips. Though Germany is still the breeding ground for many of the best games, in the past five years a few new American companies have begun importing the games and translating them into English – only don’t expect these games to show up in Target anytime soon. That’s where Blue Highway comes in. (The name refers to the way old maps would indicate alternative routes in blue ink. Providing “alternative routes” to computer games is the impetus of the Blue Highway venture.) Here the motto is “unplug and reconnect.” As Cooper explains, not only are board games essential for bringing family and friends together, but also play a vital role in teaching skills like taking turns and good sportsmanship, as well as increasing reading and math aptitude and having fun. This summer he’s looking forward to sessions of Sherlock and Go Away Monster, the current favorites of his 6- and 8-year-old kids. Blue Highway Games (Opens mid-June) 2203 Queen Anne Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109 206-282-0540 www.bluehighwaygames.com Recommendations by Scott Cooper and Brian Bennink of Blue Highway Games PRESCHOOL CARIBOO by Cranium This game combines a treasure hunt with matching skills. Try to find five hidden balls by opening any door that matches the color, shape or letter on your card. KIDS OF CATAN by Mayfair Games Great wood pieces, simple decisions and quick play are perfect for young kids. Fill your wagon with resources needed to construct buildings. Be the first to build all four and you win. MYSTERY GARDEN by Ravensburger Ask yes/no questions and remember the clues as you try to guess a hidden object on the game board. AGE 6+ RAT-A-TAT CAT by Gamewright Swap rats for cats in this card game as you use memory, luck and deduction to come up with the smallest score. ZOOREKA by Cranium Collect and trade food, shelter, and animals as you race to construct a zoo. KING OF THE BEASTS by Playroom Entertainment Collect cards and vote for which animal you want to be “king,” but be sure to keep some cards back for scoring. No reading is required and the game provides for quick turns and interesting decisions. AGE 8+ WHOONU by Cranium Pick the things you think the judge will like best from your cards. Players take turns being the judge. This game works equally well as an ice breaker or with kids who know each other well. JURASSIC JUMBLE by SET Enterprises Race to collect a set of dinosaurs while keeping one eye on the pile of bones so you can grab one if someone else goes out first. If you want a loud, crazy game to help a large group of kids work off some energy, this is it. BOHNANZA by Rio Grande Games Funny names and artwork and a lot of player interaction make this game work. Players trade with each other as they collect sets and take on the role of bean farmer. MIDDLE SCHOOL / FAMILY GAMES BLOKUS by Educational Insights Take turns placing pieces of different shapes on the board, trying to block your opponents and carving out room for yourself. LIGRETTO by Schmidt Spiele This is a game of pure speed that gets crazier as you add more people. Everyone plays at once, trying to get as many cards as possible on shared stacks in the middle of the table. This game is very popular in Europe. TICKET TO RIDE by Days of Wonder This is our favorite light strategy game. Balance collecting resource cards with claiming routes. It won the prestigious Spiel des Jahres - 2004 (German game of the year). NIAGARA by Rio Grande Games Navigate the river as you collect jewels, but be careful not to get swept over the waterfall. Very elegant: simple enough for kids, but strategic enough for adults. It won the Spiel des Jahres - 2005. TRANSAMERICA by Rio Grande This is a simple and fun train game that plays quickly. Be the first to lay track to connect your five cities. Join with other players and you can use their track too. SETTLERS OF CATAN by Mayfair Games This is possibly the best board game ever made. It’s a perfect blend of cooperation and competition as you trade with other players to gain the resources you need to build and win. It is a 1995 Spiel des Jahres winner.
	©2007 Seattle's Child, a publication of the Washington Post Company All rights reserved Web design by Intentional Publishing & Design