Avatar Contest for the week of 1/23/2008

[Sanagi]

The subject shall be BOARD GAMES.

"Board" is a really funny looking word.

The Rules:

The CBR Avatar Contest© begins on Wednesday and ends on Tuesday, at which point voting begins, ending when Tuesday ends in all time zones. As a rule, voting before Tuesday is frowned upon, though exceptions are made if you've got a good reason. Suggesting avatar ideas for others is prohibited. By suggesting, you are in essence removing that idea from consideration by any and all players. Contest eligibility is dependent on keeping your entered avatar for the entire week. Changing your avatar before the week is up will disqualify you, unless you're changing it to something else that fits the contest theme and announce your change in the thread. Changing avatars within your chosen subject is permitted. Putting 'dibs' on a subject lasts for 48 hours, at which time it's free to be taken by somebody else. In the event of a tie, the winner will be decided by the first vote by a poster who has not previously voted in that week's contest. There is no rule six! Ed Cunard (I assume by when the sentence got added) once got stung by a jellyfish in his bad place. The contest winner chooses the next week's contest theme and must add something stupid to the rules. Value of prize is 1/100 of 1¢, and is not redeemable for cash. CBR management shall not be responsible for any monetary damages, intestinal distress or stigmata caused by said contest. No prize alternatives are available. If the winner does not respond with a new game by Thursday it will be up to the runner-up; unless something clever is decided such as defaulting to "comic book characters" or skipping the week for low voter turnout. All decisions are final, and bitching about the decisions in a silly online game is stupid and will result in shameless mocking for an indeterminate period of time. Contest void in Delaware. We aren't sure why, but who cares? It's Delaware.

[Mike Smash!]

I'm in with the game of kings...

CHESS.

(can I get a shrink?)

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/CAN/5471~Chess-Posters.jpg

[Winslow]

I'm in with everybody's first board game:

Candy Land

I can't tell you how many times I threw the game so my toddler son would win just so he wouldn't have a melt down.

[Matt Algren]

edit: nevermind. That's impossible to turn into an avatar.

[Sanagi]

I'm in with everybody's first board game:

Candy Land

I can't tell you how many times I threw the game so my toddler son would win just so he wouldn't have a melt down.
Wait, isn't that game completely random? How do you lose on purpose?

And, a chess shrink:

[Donald M.]

I'm in with the game of kings...

CHESS.

(can I get a shrink?)

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/CAN/5471~Chess-Posters.jpg

Here you go, with a couple other options as well.

[Bouncing Boy]

Dibs on Clue. Avatar to come later

[Mike Smash!]

Muchas gracias, guys!

[Donald M.]

Back in the stone age, before video games, there were a lot of really weird licensed board games.

I'm in with Barney Miller: The Board Game!

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/donmilliken/BarneyMiller1.jpg

[Matt Algren]

Dibs take 2: the game of LIFE

[Typo Lad]

Dibs on THUD!

[Dr. Hfuhruhurr]

Scrabble!

http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/europe/9810/13/giant.scrabble/story.scrabble.jpg

[jessecuster3]

Dibs on Trouble and the Pop-O-Matic.

[HomerJay]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/HomerJay64/dawnotdgame.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/HomerJay64/g_instru.jpg

Yes, that's right, there was actually a DAWN OF THE DEAD board game.

[GozertheGozarian]

I'm going with Settlers of Cataan. Shrink helpful.
http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/resources/2007/05/Settlers.jpg

[Dom]

I'm in with the greatest board game of all time.

THE BATMAN RETURNS 3-D BOARD GAME

http://images.boardgamegeek.com/images/pic18856_md.jpg

[Lone Ranger]

I'm in with the Board Games closet from the Tenenbaums house.

How cool would it be to have a house so big that you could have a closet dedicate to board games?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/scottandkat/CBR/royalgames.jpg

[Typo Lad]

I had a friend with a board game closet. It rocked.

[thehod]

I'm in with the board game that all budding Pattons, Ceasers and Wellingtons choose.... and then spend all their time on the defensive in Australia....

It's Risk

[Cei-U!]

I'm in with Operation!, the game that convinced me I had no future in medicine.

Cei-U!
I summon the ersatz anatomy!

[Matt Algren]

I had a friend with a board game closet. It rocked.
We had one. Still do, even. It's kind of cool that the boys are getting old enough to start playing some of the more advanced game.

I'm in with LIFE. Interesting game, in that they update the look as culture changes. Here's the current box design:
http://images.boardgamegeek.com/images/pic288405_md.jpg

And the box from 1960:
http://images.boardgamegeek.com/images/pic279073_md.jpg

And the original box from 1860.
http://images.boardgamegeek.com/images/pic91264_md.jpg

Here's the tshirt design I'm getting my avatar from. Get it here. (http://www.threadless.com/submission/133295/LIFE)
39242

[Winslow]

Wait, isn't that game completely random? How do you lose on purpose?

Completely random? You do what God did with evolution and you stack the deck! (I'm kidding here people)

Drop a plumb drops card for your turn when it's time to shuffle the deck. I don't know what's funnier, their gleeful taunts when you draw the plumb drops card, or the fact the they never figured out what was so obviously going on every time you shuffled.

BTW, my avatar image is fuzzy, I'm going to make an animated gif tomorrow.

[Dizzy D]

Edit: sorry, bit busy over the next week, so I'll retreat.

[GloryQuest]

Dibs on Monopoly.

[Michael P]

There is a wonderful, transcendent board game out there that breaks the boundaries of what board games can be, defies stereotyped gender roles, and teaches children to make the best of their limitless potential.

Mall Madness is not that game. Instead, it teaches young girls (and boys with whom none of the other boys will play on rainy days) the joys of crass commercialism, irresponsible credit management, and living beyond one's means.

[Matt Algren]

Instead, it teaches young girls (and boys with whom none of the other boys will play on rainy days) . . .DON'T JUDGE ME!!!

[StoneGold]

I need a ruling. Does Twister count as a board game?

[Matt Algren]

I need a ruling. Does Twister count as a board game?
Flat play surface? Check
Random move generator? Check
Confusing rules? Check
Awkward when played by adults? Check

[K'Nort]

Gus and I still play this.

And none of that fancy new-fangled electrical stuff.

http://www.boardgameratings.com/graphics/game_pictures/00090.jpg

[Michael P]

DON'T JUDGE ME!!!

I was actually speaking of myself.

[Matt Algren]

I was actually speaking of myself.
HAHAHA FAG!

[Gingold]

Dibs on Hungry Hungry Hippos.

[MWGallaher]

I'm comfortable enough with my own masculinity to dare to go for...
MYSTERY DATE! (I was always the "dud", anyway!)

[Perry Holley]

Yes, that's right, there was actually a DAWN OF THE DEAD board game.I know, because I wanted a copy.

Never got one, though.

Oh, and dibs on Dungeon, TSR's attempt to make a board game introduction to D&D.

[GloryQuest]

Over 70 years old, sold in over 100 countries around the world and available in over 37 languages...I'm in with Monopoly.

[Michael P]

Over 70 years old, sold in over 100 countries around the world and available in over 37 languages...I'm in with Monopoly.

I hear they're coming out with an Atlantic City-themed version.

[StoneGold]

Yeah
Well, Well, Milton Bradley's got a def one
It's a Twister (Twister, Twister, Twister)
Yeah, all the girls and homeboys
Playin' Twister (Twister, Twister, Twister!)
Spin the spinner and call the shot
Twister ties you up in a knot
That's Twister
Yeah, Twister

Check it
Right foot blue (Right foot blue)
Left hand red (Left hand red)
Left, Right, Yellow, Blue, Green
Yeah, Twister

Now, everybody's chillin'
With the Twister (Twister)
Wherever things are illin'
You'll find Twister (Twister, Twister!)
That's Twister
Yeah, Twister

Yeah buddy
You gotta get it
Yeah Twister
From MB!

[GloryQuest]

I hear they're coming out with an Atlantic City-themed version.
I wouldn't be surprised, as they seem to have versions for whatever you can think of, but the original game could almost be considered an Atlantic City version.

[GozertheGozarian]

I wouldn't be surprised, as they seem to have versions for whatever you can think of, but the original game could almost be considered an Atlantic City version.
You know the original is based on Atlantic City, right?

[GloryQuest]

You know the original is based on Atlantic City, right?
Yeah, that's exactly what I meant.

[Michael P]

Here's the joke.













































































































And here's GQ's head.

[GozertheGozarian]

I was thrown off by the almost could be considered part.

[GloryQuest]

Michael P, nothing went over my head. There was nothing to indicate that your comment was a joke and no one informed me you were a comedian, I just thought you were the clueless one.

I was thrown off by the almost could be considered part.
I said it could almost be considered an Atlantic City version, because I knew the properties in the original was based on Atlantic City and the surrounding area.

[Sanagi]

I'm choosing Carcassonne.
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/2135/carcassonneif3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I'm going with Settlers of Cataan. Shrink helpful.
http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/resources/2007/05/Settlers.jpg
That was another one I was thinking about choosing.

I need a ruling. Does Twister count as a board game?
In spirit, if not fact. Close enough.

[Paradox]

Wow, NOT a good day to miss the "Dibsing War". This may take some thought...

EDIT: OK, dibsing Mouse Trap

[Bouncing Boy]

Clue: the only board game (that I know of) to have a movie based on it. I did do a clue avatar before, but instead of using the avatars I used before (I switched off every day to have a different suspect room and weapon) I decided to do a daily avatar that showcases a diferent character, as they appear in the game and as they appear in the movie. Today I give you Mrs. Peacock, as portrayed by Eileen Brenan in the movie.

[Lance]

I'm in with Sorry!

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p181/ljdw/sorryretro.jpg
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p181/ljdw/Sorry.jpg

and how I felt last time I played it...

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p181/ljdw/aliamthegreatest.jpg


A few months ago, I drove to Atlanta to see my woman. She's working there at the moment. So she gets me to go over a co-worker's house for dinner.

Towards the end of the evening I'm pretty stoned, and out comes the Sorry!. It'd been years since I played that. The game gets going, and the whole thing kinda turns into the equivalent of a shit-talking prelude before a middle school fight.

I was the villain of the night, knocking their pawns off with my Sorry! cards. Hadn't laughed that much in a long time.

[Lance]

I'm going with Settlers of Cataan. Shrink helpful.
http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/resources/2007/05/Settlers.jpg

A couple options for you...

[Paradox]

It's the game that's so fun no one I know of has actually PLAYED it. They just build the really cool mousetrap. :)

http://www.boardgameplayer.co.uk/assets/images/mousetrap1.jpg

Also of note is that the Maker Faire (http://www.spurgeonworld.com/blog/archives/2007/05/maker_faire_200.html) has a life-sized workable version of this. I'd like to see that!

[Matt Algren]

I'm in with Sorry!

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p181/ljdw/sorryretro.jpg
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p181/ljdw/Sorry.jpg

and how I felt last time I played it...

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p181/ljdw/aliamthegreatest.jpg


A few months ago, I drove to Atlanta to see my woman. She's working there at the moment. So she gets me to go over a co-worker's house for dinner.

Towards the end of the evening I'm pretty stoned, and out comes the Sorry!. It'd been years since I played that. The game gets going, and the whole thing kinda turns into the equivalent of a shit-talking prelude before a middle school fight.

I was the villain of the night, knocking their pawns off with my Sorry! cards. Hadn't laughed that much in a long time.
The Eunice/Mama's Family bit where they were playing Sorry is one of my favorites from the Carol Burnett Show. Take a look. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmdfSXWVW1M)

Slliiiiiide!

[Lone Ranger]

I'm choosing Carcassonne.
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/2135/carcassonneif3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

My wife and I were in Carcassonne a couple of years ago. We laughed when it was referenced by Peter's dorky son on Weeds.

I totally thought it was made-up.

[Mac Danny]

I am in with the coolest game EVER!

DARK TOWER!


Without this game I would not know how to spell Bazaar


http://www.gamepile.com/images/game0401.jpg

[Cei-U!]

Wow, NOT a good day to miss the "Dibsing War". This may take some thought...

EDIT: OK, dibsing Mouse Trap

I feel your pain, brother. thehod beat me to Risk by *seconds*. Mouse Trap was my second choice but I couldn't find a pic I liked. Ditto for its siblings Fish Bait and Silly Safari. (I wish I could've used a photo that ran in the local paper of me at age 7 assembling Fish Bait with my mouth. I really need a scanner. :( )

Cei-U!
I summon the second childhood!

[Sanagi]

I'm in with Sorry!

A few months ago, I drove to Atlanta to see my woman. She's working there at the moment. So she gets me to go over a co-worker's house for dinner.

Towards the end of the evening I'm pretty stoned, and out comes the Sorry!. It'd been years since I played that. The game gets going, and the whole thing kinda turns into the equivalent of a shit-talking prelude before a middle school fight.

I was the villain of the night, knocking their pawns off with my Sorry! cards. Hadn't laughed that much in a long time.
It's strange how fun Sorry is when the only strategy is keeping a guy at the start so he can back up into the goal.

[Nitmo]

I'm in with Backgammon, baby

[Bouncing Boy]

The subject shall be BOARD GAMES.

"Board" is a really funny looking word.



No it's not, it hasn't got a 'k' in it, and everyone knows that 'k' is the funniest letter. Now Boark is a funny word.

[Lance]

The Eunice/Mama's Family bit where they were playing Sorry is one of my favorites from the Carol Burnett Show. Take a look. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmdfSXWVW1M)

Slliiiiiide!

It seems so simple and innocent. A kid's game.

But when those first couple Sorry! card come out, you see where everyone's loyalties lie.

Here's Part Two (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmdfSXWVW1M) and an outtake from that (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RqzclCLrP0&feature=related).

[Dreadstar]

Sorry! is one of those great lowest common denominator games. It's made for the people who don't "get" Parcheesi.

[Lance]

It's more about the people you're playing with than the game. A good time could be had.

[Matt Algren]

Sorry! is one of those great lowest common denominator games. It's made for the people who don't "get" Parcheesi.
I looooove Sorry.

It's especially fun playing with either all adults who fake get mad at each other (see Carol Burnett) or kids who are just at the age where they 'get' the strategy and like to say SORRRRYYYYYY!

[Dreadstar]

Don't take offense, mindless LCD games are IMPORTANT.

Sorry! is the game you pull out when you don't have time for Monopoly, don't have enough for a good Clue game, and don't want to think enough to play Scrabble.

[Winslow]

Don't take offense, mindless LCD games are IMPORTANT.

Sorry! is the game you pull out when you don't have time for Monopoly, don't have enough for a good Clue game, and don't want to think enough to play Scrabble.

Like Euchre instead of Bridge.

[jessecuster3]

Ok here I am with the Pop-O-Matic Trouble.

http://images.boardgamegeek.com/images/pic135797_md.jpg

[Bouncing Boy]

Avatar # 2 featuring one of my favorite character actors, Christopher Lloyd, as Prof. Plumb.

[Lex]

My entry is a clasic game from my youth: The Game of the States!

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/haggard/gameofthestates2.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/haggard/gameofthestates.jpg

This game is awesome. It's perfect for kids because it teaches them fun things like economics and what products you can find in exotic locations such as Texas and Alabama. And it prepares kids for the glorious career of being a trucker.

I recently dug out thsi game when some cousins came to visit. It was fun playing with them because they always wanted me to transport the grossest or dirtiest products like fish or coal.

[Nick Soapdish]

Like Euchre instead of Bridge.

Another bridge fan? Cool!

I haven't played in forever though. I don't feel like joining a club for it and I haven't been able to talk my friends into playing (assuming we have the exact number we need anyway).

[Winslow]

Another bridge fan? Cool!

I haven't played in forever though. I don't feel like joining a club for it and I haven't been able to talk my friends into playing (assuming we have the exact number we need anyway).

Honest Nick, I've only played a handful of times.

Bridge and penocle take some memory skills I just don't have (or haven't cultivated).

Euchre is half a deck, and I can remember what's been played.

[Perry Holley]

My late entry is with TSR's Dungeon! board game, their attempt to make a gateway drug to the D&D RPG.

http://homepage.mac.com/nephilim/blog/dungeon_board_game.png

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n67/Knightsky_2006/Dungeonboardgame.jpg

[Bouncing Boy]

I can't believe I totally dropped the ball on continuing the avatar change...and I had even already done all the avatars too. Well I should go ahead and show all the avatars I intended on doing.


Here's the first three:
Mrs. Peacock
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/Bouncing_Boy/clueAv1-1.gif

Prof. Plum
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/Bouncing_Boy/clueAv2-1.gif

Miss Scarlett
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/Bouncing_Boy/clueAv3-1.gif

[Bouncing Boy]

And last three


Col. Mustard
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/Bouncing_Boy/clueAv4-2.gif

Mrs. White
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/Bouncing_Boy/clueAv5-2.gif

Mr. Green
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/Bouncing_Boy/clueAv6-2.gif

[Night]

In with a most boring board game.... tic tac toe

[Lance]

I vote for Cei-U!.

[morna]

My favorite avatar in this thread is Dreadstar's!


...but I guess that doesn't count, so I vote for Dr Puffypuff yaay scrab(ulous)bble.

[Chris Nowlin]

My favorite avatar in this thread is Dreadstar's!


...but I guess that doesn't count, so I vote for Dr Puffypuff yaay scrab(ulous)bble.

Scrabulous has nothing in common with scrabble. Whatever Hasbro may allege.



But you're right. Dr. Huggsnstuff deserves it

[Ben Morgan]

I guess I'll vote for Dr. Muffinstuff

[LungerTony]

I used to enjoy this game when I was younger - X-Men Alert.
http://www.gamepart.net/phpshop/shop_image/product/5da295ad554b2735299b3fc0f5feaa2d.jpg

[Chris Nowlin]

I remember playing that.

Very nice figures as I recall.

[Paradox]

Chris Nowlin cracks me up:

Scrabulous has nothing in common with scrabble. Whatever Hasbro may allege.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Hee, yeah, RIGHT! ;)

I'm going with Matt Algren and "the Game of Life has two daddies". :)

[Demon Slawter]

Hahaha carcassone, great game! :D

[Perry Holley]

I used to enjoy this game when I was younger - X-Men Alert.
http://www.gamepart.net/phpshop/shop_image/product/5da295ad554b2735299b3fc0f5feaa2d.jpgMe and my gaming group played that once. We liked the board/map and the figures, but didn't care for the way the game played.

I believe the quote that summed it up for us was "it would be a great game, if you changed all the rules."

[Perry Holley]

HomerJay gets my vote for the week.

[GloryQuest]

Dr. Hfuhruhurr

[jessecuster3]

DocFluffandfold, for indentifying the obsession.

[Lone Ranger]

I've gotta got with 'Dox

My sister and I played mousetrap all the time.

[Night]

thehod, with Risk...

[Cei-U!]

Me for thehod vote too: Risk!

Cei-U!
I mangle the mothertongue!

[Slam_Bradley]

'Dox. My wife, brother, sister-in-law and I spent a few nights playing drunken Mousetrap.

[Matt Algren]

Lance gets my vote for the best boardgame ever created by man.

Also, Winslow, by sheer coincidence Steve from The Sneeze wrote about Candy Land and Princess Frostine a couple days ago.

Players draw picture cards to see (http://www.thesneeze.com/mt-archives/000758.php) how far they should move forward in the game. On any given turn, this aging confectionery whore can be pulled from the deck practically sending the recipient to the finish line -- while sending the other young players into the type of tantrum that makes men google "Vasectomy."

If you're an adult and find that YOU have drawn the Frostine card, I suggest you quietly slide it back into the deck and draw again. If you've been spotted with it, just calmly play the card. Then strap on a little riot gear and aim your rubber bullets at the youngest player.

[Paradox]

Har! I liked this paragraph.

"I should point out that as a responsible parent, I do realize the value of teaching children good sportsmanship. Which is why when my son is sad after losing a game, I usually put the little guy on my knee and gently tell him, "C'mon, Sweetie. Don't cry. Daddy doesn't like how it sounds."" :p

[J Dog]

Well, I'm voting for this one time only.

Yeah, yeah... I think we all remember. Look, I don't do these anymore, but I must vote for jessecutter3's avatar.

I remember Trouble... and the thing annoyed me. Sometimes when I pushed down on that thing, my pegs would fly out of their sockets.

[Paradox]

J Dog in the avatar thread?????:

Well, I'm voting for this one time only.

Yeah, yeah... I think we all remember. Look, I don't do these anymore, but I must vote for jessecutter3's avatar.

I remember Trouble... and the thing annoyed me. Sometimes when I pushed down on that thing, my pegs would fly out of their sockets.

Ah, that explains it. I always thought your pegs were a little out of their sockets. ;)

[J Dog]

Ah, that explains it. I always thought your pegs were a little out of their sockets. ;)

I always get that. I'm now used to it.

Oh, and it's jessecuSter3. Dang it, I had a lapse in memory. Oh well.

[Mac Danny]

My vote is for Michael P and MALL MADNESS!

[Bouncing Boy]

I have to vote for 'Dox and Mousetrap. Great animated Avatar for it too.

[Winslow]

Paradox and Mousetrap gets my vote.

Also, Winslow, by sheer coincidence Steve from The Sneeze wrote about Candy Land and Princess Frostine a couple days ago.

Heh . . it's so true. You have to throw the game to keep the little ones from melting down.

[Donald M.]

I vote for HomerJay and the Dawn of the Dead boardgame.

[Dr. Hfuhruhurr]

Another vote for 'Dox, the man who built a better Mousetrap.

[thehod]

yeah, its gotta be Dox's funky mousetrap

[Lex]

I vote for Bouncing Boy. Especially since he incorporated images from the awesome Clue movie. That won me over.

[StoneGold]

It's official: you're all gay.

[Bouncing Boy]

It's official: you're all gay.

I'm not gay, I'm bisexual...there's a difference.

[Night]

It's official: you're all gay.

I'm very heterosexual... and monogamous....

under the rules are we required to mock you now?

[Winslow]

Aaaaaaand the Winner is

Paradox with 6 votes

Others receiving votes:

Doc - 5
the hod - 2
Homer Jay - 2
Michael P - 1
Matt Algren - 1
Lance - 1
jessecuster3 - 1
Cei-U - 1
Boucning Boy - 1

[Matt Algren]

It's official: you're all gay.
I think people were confused by the dissonance between your avatar and your headline.

[Sanagi]

Mouse Trap won? Really? It's more of a toy than a game. Oh well, that's democracy for you.

Now that the contest is over, I want to mention that Betrayal at House on the Hill is another good game, sort of a board game that wants to be an RPG. But there isn't really any avatar-worthy artwork for it, so I went with Carcassonne.

[Paradox]

Once again, flashy wins over substance! ;)

New one up in a minute.