Super Bowl Party Pick 'Em

Many people spice up their Super Bowl parties with a pool based on scoring - which can be fun, even for non-football fans.  But I was sent an even more interesting game, certain to involve and entertain everyone at your Super Bowl shindig.  Check out the following scoring system that includes guesses for all aspects of the TV event.  Let me know in the comments if you try this yourself, and what your final score ends up being!

SUPER BOWL CONTEST – 2011
From the Blood & Mud Football League for the 2010 Season

Make all picks prior to start of the game! Circle choices below the text of the
question. Questions have been grouped so those scores can be processed at
certain points of the game to get a running total. There are thirty (30)
questions in all worth a total of one hundred (100) points.

PRE-GAME: (16 points)

1) Number of players at coin toss?
(2 points) 6 & under or 7 & up

2) Who will win the coin toss?
(3 points) Pittsburgh or Green Bay

3) Last Commercial before Kickoff
(4 points) Beer, Car, Movie/TV, Snack, Soda, Computer/SW/Internet, or, Other

4) Minute (PST) kickoff happens
(3 points) Before 3:30 – Between - After 3:40

5) First Commercial after Kickoff
(4 points) Beer, Car, Movie/TV, Snack, Soda, Computer/SW/Internet, or, Other

FIRST QUARTER: (10 points)

6) First team to score in quarter
(3 points) Pitt or GB or Neither

7) Will Packer quarterback Aaron Rodgers score in the First Quarter?
(2 points) YES or NO

8) Winning at end of quarter
(5 points) Pitt (+ 7) or GB (- 6)

SECOND QUARTER: (10 points)

9) First team to score in quarter
(3 points) Pitt or GB or Neither

10) Will Steeler wide receiver Mike Wallace score in the Second Quarter?
(2 points) YES or NO

11) Winning at end of quarter
(5 points) Pitt (+ 5) or GB (- 4)

HALF TIME: (17 points)

12) Team with ball at end of 1st Half
(2 points) Pittsburgh or Green Bay

13) First Commercial after 1st Half
(4 points)Beer, Car, Movie/TV, Snack, Soda, Computer/SW/Internet, or, Other

14) Last Commercial before 2nd Half KO
(4 points) Beer, Car, Movie/TV, Snack, Soda, Computer/SW/Internet, or, Other

15) Minute (PST) of 2nd Half kickoff
(3 points) Before 5:00 – Between - After 5:15

16) First Commercial after 2nd Half kickoff
(4 points) Beer, Car, Movie/TV, Snack, Soda, Computer/SW/Internet, or, Other

THIRD QUARTER: (10 points)

17) First team to score in quarter
(3 points) Pitt or GB or Neither

18) Will Packer wide receiver Greg Jennings score in the Third Qtr?
(2 points) YES or NO

19) Winning at end of quarter
(5 points) Pitt (- 4) or GB (+ 3)

FOURTH QUARTER: (10 points)

20) First team to score in quarter
(3 points) Pitt or GB or Neither

21) Will Steeler running back Rashard Mendenhall score in the Fourth Quarter?
(2 points) YES or NO

22) Winning at end of quarter
(5 points) Pitt (- 3) or GB (+ 2)

OVERTIME/POST-GAME: (27 points)

23) Will there be overtime?
(2 points) YES or NO

24) Who will score more points in the game?
Steeler kicker Shaun Suisham or Packer kicker Mason Crosby?
(2 points) Suisham or Crosby or Tie

25) First Commercial after Game End
(4 points) Beer, Car, Movie/TV, Snack, Soda, Computer/SW/Internet, or, Other

26) Winning at end of GAME
(5 points) Pitt (- 2) or GB (+ 1)

27) Over/Under for game (total points)
(5 points) Under 42 or 43 & up

28) Minute (PST) GAME ends
(3 points) Before 6:45 – Between - After 7:15

29) Will Steeler quarterback Ben Roethlisberger be the game MVP?
(1 point) YES or NO

30) First Commercial after Trophy
(4 points) Beer, Car, Movie/TV, Snack, Soda, Computer/SW/Internet, or, Other

Five Board Games Every Adult Should Play

Any regular viewer of any of my shows (or reader of this blog) will know that my current geek obsession is designer board games.  Only in the last 2 years have I discovered how vibrant and full of awesome the hobby is, but I wish I had known earlier!  So I'm trying to spread the word.  I truly believe there is a board game perfect for everyone, and I've made it my mission to get more people playing great board games!

If you've only ever played Trivial Pursuit, Clue, Scrabble, or Monopoly, this post is for you.  Here are five games that will open your mind to what designer board games have become.  There are a lot more out there, and I'll be highlighting a lot of my favorites over the coming weeks and months, but if these whet your appetite you can always check out boardgamegeek.com, the ultimate source of everything board game.

1. Settlers of Catan    

This is the one that did it for me.  In the board gaming community a lot of people talk about "gateway games", which are used to get non-gamers to see what designer board games are all about and hook them on the hobby.  This might be the king of them all.  A classic "Euro" game, in that the theme is mostly about commerce and set in a historical period, it can admittedly look a little dry at first.  But when you start to play and realize that every single turn involves every single player, and notice how the multiple paths to victory allow for numerous different strategies, you start to understand how modern board games have evolved.  This is no longer top among my favorite games, but it is the one that turned me on to the hobby, and it can for you, too.  Grab 3 friends and give it a try.  Easy to find and not too expensive, this is a great first game.

2. Dominion

This is a relatively new kind of game, known as "deck building", but it is simple, elegant, and extremely fun.  It works a little like a collectible card game (think Magic: The Gathering), except every player starts with exactly the same cards as every other, so you don't have to spend a lot of money collecting cards and everyone is on an equal footing at the start.  You build your deck as you play, by using cards in your hand to get new cards into your deck, which, in turn, allows you to acquire even more, and progress to victory.  There is so much variety in the box, almost every play will involve different cards and strategies, and it plays quick and is easy to teach.  Once you grasp the key concepts I promise you'll have a blast and want to play again, immediately.  

3. Pandemic

Competition is great in board games, but working together can be even more fun.  One of the most popular genres of board games lately is the co-op game, and Pandemic is one of the best.  In this game, every player is working together to try to stop diseases from spreading all over the world.  You are all actually playing against the game itself.  It is a brilliant mechanic that works with people who might not like to lose to their friends.  Here, everyone wins or everyone loses, and it is exhilarating trying to manage everyone's strengths to curb the outbreak all over the globe.  

I could also recommend Forbidden Island in this category, especially if you have younger players to play with.  Same designer, similar concept, less medicine.

4. Agricola

Okay, so now you've played a few of these excellent gateway games and you're ready to sink your teeth into something a bit heavier.  May I present to you... Agricola.  Yes, it has a funny name.  Yes, it is about farming.  It also happens to be my very favorite game at the moment.  Just superbly designed, with tons of options and different strategies, Agricola is as close to pure board game perfection as I have experienced.  It is much more on the heavy side in terms of learning curve - you will need patience to wrap your head around all of the rules (I recommend starting with the "family" rules and watching this informative, if cheesy, overview by Scott Nicholson) - but well worth the investment.  It is a worker placement game (of which there are many excellent varieties), which means that each player claims places on the board with their "workers", so if one person gets to do something, the others don't.  You are constantly changing your strategy to compensate for other players' actions, which makes things unpredictable and extremely fun.  I believe it isn't too tough to learn, even for newbies, and it will open you up to an entire world of heavier strategy games - the games I love most.

5. Wits & Wagers

Then again, if all else fails... try Wits & Wagers.  Maybe strategy and Euro games aren't your thing.  You gave Settlers of Catan a go and you couldn't get into it.  You lost a couple of times at Pandemic and didn't have any fun.  "Jeff," you're saying, "you're crazy.  These games aren't any better than the ones I grew up with."  Okay, if that's the case this would be my last hail mary try.  A sure-fire, no-way-it-can-lose, 100% fun guarantee.  Get as many people together as you possibly can and play Wits & Wagers.  It is a trivia game - "Ugh, like Trivial Pursuit?  That sounds boring!"  Ah, then you haven't tried Wits & Wagers!  The brilliant design of this game manages to sidestep mere factoid knowledge to create a fun, communal experience that makes not knowing something just as fun as knowing it.  Best with teams, and wildly fun, I'll bet you can't just play it once.

 So there you have it.  A starter kit.  Let me know what you think - especially if you're new to designer board games - down in the comments section.  I'll be back periodically with the newest games I'm playing, and hopefully, together, we can get people sitting down to board games just as often as they reach for a controller.

World's Most Delicious Board Game

Many people have been asking me about how to get into designer board games, so I'm planning some blog posts about it soon.  In the meantime, check out this edible version of one of the best, Settlers of Catan.  You can find the recipe here.

I love all the details, even down to the dice.

Thank you, Toronto!

It is a little late, but I want to thank everyone who came out to the meetup in Toronto.  I was overwhelmed by the number of people who showed up, and loved getting to meet so many rad folks.  Whether you just stopped off quickly to say hi, stayed for a while to drink and chat, or were just there in spirit, thank you all.  You truly make what I do so rewarding.

Here is a taste of the fun we had:

Top 10 for 2010 - Everything else!

2011 has begun, but that doesn't mean my look back at 2010 is quite over.  Today I've got my favorite list of them all - everything else that I loved about the year that doesn't fit into the categories I usually review on the Totally Rad Show.  These are ten items or activities that enriched my year, that I'd like to recommend.

1. Travel

I love to travel, but don't remember a year in which I've had more opportunities to go more places, or it has meant more to my life.  I was fortunate to be able to take a trip to Hawaii with my family, a wonderful rendezvous in Paris with my girlfriend, a hiking adventure in Bryce Canyon, Utah with @amtrekker and friends, several trips to Canada for work and pleasure, our annual trek to San Diego for Comic Con, and a few jaunts up to the San Francisco Bay Area, all in 2010.  It can be expensive and stressful at times, but I am a firm believer that nothing is more interesting, educational, or fun than venturing away from home.  Near or far, travel added more to my year than anything else.

2. WTF Podcast with Marc Maron

I make my living creating content for the web, and have hosted or participated in many of the top podcasts on the Internet.  I can safely say that WTF with Marc Maron is the best use of the medium I have ever experienced.  I LOVE THIS SHOW.  As my friends can attest, I reference it constantly.  I have learned so much about art and artists, the creative process, comedy, life... I could go on and on.  On the surface, it is a standard interview show focusing on stand-up comedy (with a who's-who list of guests), but the secret is Maron's relentless honesty.  He is so unflinchingly truthful about his own insecurities, opinions, and flaws, his guests can't help but join in.  The result is a conversation so revealing and honest it never fails to be the most thought-provoking, inspiring way to spend my time.  Plus, it is damn funny, and has opened me up to a ton of comedians I never knew I loved.  Proof that truth is always the most engaging thing in art.

3. Volunteering at Comfort Zone Camp

Thanks to Totally Rad Show editor extraordinaire Mike Gaines for introducing me to this life-changing experience.  I'll let our episode of TRS about it do most of the talking, but just add that volunteering and having a positive impact is incredibly rewarding.  I know as well as anyone that finding the time and motivation to sign up to do something in your community can be daunting, but it really does feel great - even better than watching a great movie or downing an epic boss in WoW.  

4. iPad

A few of my early-adopter friends have soured a bit on the iPad, but not I.  I continue to use it every day, all day long, and it remains my favorite tech purchase of 2010.  It is my preferred web surfing experience, even without flash, and I consider it the best airplane device ever invented - everything I could want on a flight is right there: books, videos, and games.  Take my laptop, take my phone, but please don't take my iPad.

5. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

Though it was released long before 2010 began, The Name of the Wind is the best book I read this year.  I am a huge fantasy novel fan (The Song of Ice and Fire books ranked highly on my list last year), but few are as entertaining or well-written as Ruthfuss' first.  Plus, it is about an actor and lover of words who becomes a badass.  How could I not love it?

6. The Dice Tower podcast (Honorable Mention: Little Metal Dog Show)

My top 5 of everything else last year featured my newfound discovery of designer boardgames.  Settlers of Catan, Puerto Rico, Cutthroat Caverns and more helped build a love for the hobby in 2009.  That love grew in 2010 (and got intense and expensive, as a forthcoming blog post will surely attest), fueled by the excellent boardgaming podcast, The Dice Tower.  Tom Vasel and Eric Summerer make for affable hosts who know their stuff, and the wealth of informed, interesting contributors create a wonderful variety show.   As an honorable mention, I'll throw in The Little Metal Dog Show - another fantastic board game podcast, looking at the hobby from the British perspective.  As a one-two punch, those two shows have given me many hours of entertainment away from my gaming table this year.

7. Taking the physical challenge

2010 was a banner year for me in terms of having a go at things I'd always wanted to try.  On TRS, we got a chance to do two big physical activities I'd always dreamed about.  Our segment on professional wrestling training taught me that that particular form of entertainment is MUCH more difficult (and painful) than I ever imagined, while our attempt at Cirque du Soleil circus training made that seem much more doable.  In all, I learned that there is somewhere nearby where I can try just about anything, and there is no excuse not to live out your dreams, even for just a day.

8. Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More

Another product that was already out when 2010 began, but new to me this year, Sigh No More quickly became my most listened-to album of the year.   What a phenomenal record.  Each and every track is evocative, melodic, and so soulful.  I dig the blend of Irish folk instruments and poetic, modern lyrics.  Great rock and roll with powerful themes.

9. Irredeemable

I don't know why I didn't start reading Mark Waid's new comic for BOOM! Studios until this year, but I'm sure glad got around to it.  It is dark, post-modern superhero fiction at its best.  The premise is delicious.  What if Superman turned evil?  Could the combined powers of the Justice League stop him?  Here Superman is a guy named Plutonian and the other characters are analogues as well, but the ruthlessness and commitment to which Waid maintains the premise is awesome.  Irredeemable is the definition of page-turner, and the best comic series I read in 2010.

10. Avatar: Extended Collector's Edition blu-ray

Since I started reviewing blu-rays for Reviews on the Run this year (and watched well over 200 movies and their special features in the process), I thought I should mention my favorite blu-ray of 2010.  There were numerous excellent packages released this year, including the One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest re-release, the A Man With no Name trilogy box set, and the Anchorman: Rich Mahogany Edition, but the pinnacle was undoubtedly the Collector's Edition release of Avatar.  This might seem like a no-brainer, since Avatar was my favorite film of 2009, but let me tell you the movie is the least of the awesome crammed into this 3 disc package.  Copious amounts of behind the scenes footage and making-of featurettes, wonderful interviews, rehearsal video, alternate scenes - everything in high-quality HD - simply the deepest, most rewarding blu-ray release I've ever seen.

So that sums up 2010.  Thanks for counting down my favs over the past few posts.  I plan to take this blog to new and better places in 2011, so be sure to check back often. :)  Happy new year.