Back in April, you’d think that the world would be back to normal again somehow by the end of the year. But fast-forward to November, and the world is still pretty much still on hold as many families and businesses continue to run things from home. However, the presence of digital board games, or just simply the ability to interact via video conferencing apps, has gone a long way in helping to raise one’s spirits.
And to help out the lockdown blues even more, American board game company Asmodee has launched Connect & Play, an initiative that lets folks play their physical board games with their friends without having to invite them over.
All one needs to do is have the physical version of the board game on hand (yup, just one box will do), and host the game on an app such as Zoom, Skype, and Google Meet. The other players can just join in and, via (free) special rules on the Connect & Play website, play resumes as how it would in a regular tabletop setting.
At present, only five games come with Connect & Play support, including Spot It, Dixit, Sherlock Holmes, Time’s Up and Just One.
“We thought about ways to bring socially distant relatives together, and truly believe that tabletop games are the best social entertainment there is” said Ruby Nikolopoulou, Head of US Marketing, Asmodee USA. “Connect & Play gives friends and families who can’t physically be together a way to have fun and laugh, a must in these trying times and just in time for many of the upcoming holidays.”
Aside from English, the Connect & Play titles also come in French, Spanish, German, and Italian.
In addition to the Connect & Play initiative, Asmodee has launched free print & play versions of some of its most popular board games, including Catan, Pandemic: Hot Zone – North America, Carcassonne, and 7 Wonders Duel, so you don’t have to spend a single cent on these titles (though you might want to invest in a good printer and paper).
Marion has a serious RPG addiction. Sometimes it bleeds into real life; he forgets to sleep because he thinks he has a Witcher’s body clock. Forgive him in advance if he suddenly blurts out terms such as “Mind Flayer” and “Magic Missile”, because never once does he stop thinking about his next Dungeons & Dragons game.