A few weeks ago I had the privilege of attending the launch party of the World Tabletop Championships, hosted by Unrivaled in San Francisco. On that bright Saturday afternoon, the restaurant on bustling Fourth Street was packed with people eating $1 appetizers and playing various board games. Behind the bar was a television screen streaming a game played by celebrities, who were off in a side room to themselves. While I was at the event, none of the celebrities came out to mingle with everyone else, although I heard that they did so later in the day. On the opposite side of the building, the restaurant opened up into a long sitting room filled with more game makers showcasing their newest releases, and there were a ton of people milling around who were willing to try them out. My personal favorite was Klask, a tiny magnetic game that resembles air hockey but with a more complex point system. I must admit that my competitive side got the best of me at times, which resulted in tiny magnetic chips flying halfway across the room, but the challenge of playing on such a miniature scale was thrilling. I recognized other games like Exploding Kittens, but there were also several others that I had never heard of before. It was refreshing to see that new boardgames are still being invented and enjoyed by kids and adults alike.
Here at Gaming Cypher, we usually test and review virtual video games, so it was a completely different but enjoyable experience to play games with physical pieces and structures. I also cannot deny the unique social energy that filled this event—rather than teaming up with people online, I was playing with and against real people, and that made me all the more engaged and competitive. It even inspired me to take a break from my PC and invite friends over to play physical board games for a change. Of course, I still love video games, and you can expect me to publish another virtual gaming review for Gaming Cypher in the very near future. But many thanks to Unrivaled for creating and hosting this wonderful event, and be sure to check out the World Tabletop Championship Road Tour, happening now!
From the moment I first played Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy on the original Xbox, I have always had an avid curiosity and enthusiasm for video games. I admire their ability to immerse us in completely different worlds, and I am always eager to see how they integrate the newest breakthroughs in digital technology to make virtual reality feel real. I am currently a senior at UC Berkeley, but when I'm not studying I always make time to play Xbox One with my younger brother.
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