The Oxford History of Board Games

The Oxford History of Board Games PDF Author: David Parlett
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN:
Category : Games & Activities
Languages : en
Pages : 410

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Book Description
For thousands of years, people have been planning attacks, captures, chases, and conquests - on a variety of different boards designed for an astonishing diversity of games. Today the compelling mix of strategy, skill, and chance is as strong as ever; new board games are invented almost daily,while the perennial favourites continue to attract new devotees and reveal new possibilities. The Oxford History of Board Games investigates the principles of board games throughout the ages and across the world, exploring the fascinating similarities and differences that give each its unique appeal, and drawing out the significance of game-playing as a central part of human experience - asvital to a culture as its music, dance, and tales. Beautifully illustrated and with diagrams to show the finer points of the games, this is a fascinating and accessible guide to a richly rewarding subject. In his trade-mark accessible, entertaining style, David Parlett looks at the different families of games: games based on configuration or connection, races or chases, wars or hunts, capture or blockade. He focuses mainly on traditional games, the folk entertainments that have grown up organicallythrough the centuries, and which exhibit endless local variations, although he discusses also the commercial products that have tried, with varying degrees of success, to match their astonishing popularity. This is not primarily a how-to book, although the rules and strategies of certain games are discussed in detail, neither does it offer sure-fire tips for success, although with a fuller understanding of a game the reader will undoubtedly become a better-informed, if not better, player. Rather, itis an affectionate and authoritative survey of one of the most familiar parts of our cultural history, which has until now been inexplicably neglected.

The Oxford History of Board Games

The Oxford History of Board Games PDF Author: David Parlett
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN:
Category : Games & Activities
Languages : en
Pages : 410

Get Book

Book Description
For thousands of years, people have been planning attacks, captures, chases, and conquests - on a variety of different boards designed for an astonishing diversity of games. Today the compelling mix of strategy, skill, and chance is as strong as ever; new board games are invented almost daily,while the perennial favourites continue to attract new devotees and reveal new possibilities. The Oxford History of Board Games investigates the principles of board games throughout the ages and across the world, exploring the fascinating similarities and differences that give each its unique appeal, and drawing out the significance of game-playing as a central part of human experience - asvital to a culture as its music, dance, and tales. Beautifully illustrated and with diagrams to show the finer points of the games, this is a fascinating and accessible guide to a richly rewarding subject. In his trade-mark accessible, entertaining style, David Parlett looks at the different families of games: games based on configuration or connection, races or chases, wars or hunts, capture or blockade. He focuses mainly on traditional games, the folk entertainments that have grown up organicallythrough the centuries, and which exhibit endless local variations, although he discusses also the commercial products that have tried, with varying degrees of success, to match their astonishing popularity. This is not primarily a how-to book, although the rules and strategies of certain games are discussed in detail, neither does it offer sure-fire tips for success, although with a fuller understanding of a game the reader will undoubtedly become a better-informed, if not better, player. Rather, itis an affectionate and authoritative survey of one of the most familiar parts of our cultural history, which has until now been inexplicably neglected.

Parlett's History of Board Games

Parlett's History of Board Games PDF Author: David Parlett
Publisher: Echo Point Books & Media
ISBN: 9781635617955
Category : Crafts & Hobbies
Languages : en
Pages : 400

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Book Description
Focuses on different families of traditional games and folk entertainments, with some discussion of rules and strategies.

It's All a Game

It's All a Game PDF Author: Tristan Donovan
Publisher: Macmillan
ISBN: 1250082730
Category : Games & Activities
Languages : en
Pages : 294

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Book Description
"[A] timely book...It’s All a Game provides a wonderfully entertaining trip around the board, through 4,000 years of game history."—The Wall Street Journal Board games have been with us longer than even the written word. But what is it about this pastime that continues to captivate us well into the age of smartphones and instant gratification? In It’s All a Game, British journalist and renowned games expert Tristan Donovan opens the box on the incredible and often surprising history and psychology of board games. He traces the evolution of the game across cultures, time periods, and continents, from the paranoid Chicago toy genius behind classics like Operation and Mouse Trap, to the role of Monopoly in helping prisoners of war escape the Nazis, and even the scientific use of board games today to teach artificial intelligence how to reason and how to win. With these compelling stories and characters, Donovan ultimately reveals why board games--from chess to Monopoly to Settlers of Catan, and more--have captured hearts and minds all over the world for generations.

A Dictionary of Card Games

A Dictionary of Card Games PDF Author: David Sidney Parlett
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 9780198691730
Category : Games
Languages : en
Pages : 360

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Book Description
Ranging from such classics as bridge, poker, whist, and rummy to the more familiar Cucumber, Pishti, Go Fish, and Spinado, this book provides clear and expert advice on the rules and playing strategies of virtually any card game popular in the Western world. Discover such historical favourites as hombre, piquet, and trappola, great national games, including belote (France), scopa (Italy), and skat (Germany), and all manner of patience and tarot games. Whether planning party games (Newmarket, Old Maid, and Oh Hell!), or a civilized card evening with friends, this will be an invaluable source of information and entertainment.

A History of Card Games

A History of Card Games PDF Author: David Parlett
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN:
Category : Card games
Languages : en
Pages : 396

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Book Description
An historical guide to the card games of Europe and America. It surveys how the games originated and developed, and the rituals and etiquette which surround them.

Board Games in 100 Moves

Board Games in 100 Moves PDF Author: Ian Livingstone
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1465498710
Category : Games & Activities
Languages : en
Pages : 178

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Book Description
Surprising stories behind the games you know and love to play. Journey through 8,000 years of history, from Ancient Egyptian Senet and Indian Snakes and Ladders, right up to role-play, fantasy and hybrid games of the present day. More than 100 games are explored chronologically, from the most ancient to the most modern. Every chapter is full of insightful anecdotes exploring everything from design and acquisition to game play and legacy.

Eurogames

Eurogames PDF Author: Stewart Woods
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 0786467975
Category : Games & Activities
Languages : en
Pages : 269

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Book Description
While board games can appear almost primitive in the digital age, eurogames--also known as German-style board games--have increased in popularity nearly concurrently with the rise of video games. Eurogames have simple rules and short playing times and emphasize strategy over luck and conflict. This book examines the form of eurogames, the hobbyist culture that surrounds them, and the way that hobbyists experience the play of such games. It chronicles the evolution of tabletop hobby gaming and explores why hobbyists play them, how players balance competitive play with the demands of an intimate social gathering, and to what extent the social context of the game encounter shapes the playing experience. Combining history, cultural studies, leisure studies, ludology, and play theory, this innovative work highlights a popular alternative trend in the gaming community.

The Book of Word Games

The Book of Word Games PDF Author: David Parlett
Publisher: Echo Point Books & Media
ISBN: 9780963878472
Category : Games & Activities
Languages : en
Pages : 260

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Book Description
If you were to imagine your ideal guide to a book of word games, who would you picture? Does an urbane, witty writer come to mind? How about a widely recognized authority and historian of games? Perhaps you'd want someone who successfully creates games himself and has written extensively on a wide variety of games? And oh what the heck let's make him British to add a bit of extra charm. Well, if that sounds like the ideal game guide, look no further. David Parlett is an internationally recognized master of games. The author of many books, including the Oxford History of Board Games and The Penguin Book of Card Games, he has also created many games including Hare & Tortoise, which has sold over 3 million copies. In "The Book of Word Games" Parlett presents a practical and entertaining guide to word games and how to play them. He offers clear and witty introductions to over 150 word games, indicating degree of difficulty, appropriate number of players, and age range (many of the games are great for the classroom or to give your kids some fun while improving their language skills). Parlett also gives a wealth of interesting etymological knowledge, including word origins, phonetic facts and interesting tidbits like the longest word in the English language. There is something for everyone, from new readers to sophisticated word connoisseurs. From well-known favorites such as Boggle and Consequences to lesser-known but equally enjoyable games such as Bacronyms and Aesop's Mission, "The Book of Word Games" presents a wide-ranging collection of word games for verbivores of all ages. "

A History of Board-games Other Than Chess

A History of Board-games Other Than Chess PDF Author: H J R (Harold James Ruthve Murray
Publisher: Hassell Street Press
ISBN: 9781015003057
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 290

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Book Description
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Board and Table Games from Many Civilizations

Board and Table Games from Many Civilizations PDF Author: R. C. Bell
Publisher: Courier Corporation
ISBN: 0486145573
Category : Games & Activities
Languages : en
Pages : 464

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Book Description
This encyclopedic volume provides the rules and methods of play for more than 180 different games: Ma-jong, Hazard, Wei-ch'i (Go), Backgammon, Pachisi, and many others. Over 300 photographs and line drawings.