Have you ever been undecided on what to play next?
Should you buy that game? Should you install that game?
I’ve been there, and sometimes you just need to take a look at the graphics, hear the music, and learn a little about the plot to see if it resonates with you before taking the next step. I’m here to help! I am creating the first 30 to the first 60 minute videos of games; indie and mainstream, new and old!
This week let’s take a look at the first 30 minutes of Crash Bandicoot: Warped…
Part of the fun in raising Zoey is finding things that delight and educate her; I want to find fun, creative board games to play with her during our family game nights! This week we played the Dr. Seuss Pattern Party Game for 2 to 4 players!
This game was a Christmas gift to Zoey from her great aunt and uncle, and we love it! Zoey has enjoyed most of the Dr. Seuss books we have read to her and the opportunity to play a game with all the characters she recognizes is an opportunity we can’t pass up! Especially when Dr. Seuss’s birthday is coming up on March 2nd!
Let’s play!
IN THE BOX
4 game spinners
A game board
Goal cards
Tiles
INSTRUCTIONS
Place the board in the center of the play area.
Each player chooses a color (blue, green, red, yellow) and then takes all the tiles of that color.
Starting with the youngest player, each player chooses a spinner and a goal card (if you are playing with fewer than four players, place the remaining spinners next the game board in front of pretend players, then leave the remaining tiles and goal cars in the box).
Each player places their goal card in front of them. Each goal card has a basic green side and an advanced pink side. When you set up the game, choose which side to use (you may want to choose a different side for each player, such as younger players using green sides and older players using pink sides).
On your turn, spin your spinner.
If you spin a picture (character, color, shape or pattern) play one of your tiles on a matching space on the game board. If there are no matching spaces, you may play on an empty space. You cannot play on a space that already has a tile.
If you spin WILD!, play one of your tiles on any space on the game board. You can even play on another tile if your tile will fit – only four tiles may stack in each space.
If you spin SWAP!, everyone passes their spinner to the left. If you’re playing with fewer than four players, don’t forget to pass the pretend players’ spinners. Then spin again!
You can match squares on your goal card anywhere on the game board, even if they’re facing a different direction.
The first player with four of their tiles showing on the game board that match their goal card is the winner!
Have you ever been undecided on what to play next?
Should you buy that game? Should you install that game?
I’ve been there, and sometimes you just need to take a look at the graphics, hear the music, and learn a little about the plot to see if it resonates with you before taking the next step. I’m here to help! I am creating the first 30 to the first 60 minute videos of games; indie and mainstream, new and old!
This week let’s take a look at the first 30 minutes of Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back…
Have you ever been undecided on what to play next?
Should you buy that game? Should you install that game?
I’ve been there, and sometimes you just need to take a look at the graphics, hear the music, and learn a little about the plot to see if it resonates with you before taking the next step. I’m here to help! I am creating the first 30 to the first 60 minute videos of games; indie and mainstream, new and old!
This week let’s take a look at the first 60 minutes of Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden…
Weekly family game nights, now doesn’t that sound wonderful? Imagine it, gathering around a table and playing tabletop games, familiar or new. Or getting into pajamas and snuggling up on the couch or pillow-strewn floor, playing video games. There are many ways to create happy memories, and this is one of them!
We’ve already had seven family game nights this year and they were fun and relaxed. We played a mixture of board or tabletop games and video games. Our only personal rule (more-so for my husband and I) is no cell phone usage.
I’ve created a list of some fun starter tabletop games for children ages 4 and up to inspire your family game nights!
Have you ever been undecided on what to play next?
Should you buy that game? Should you install that game?
I’ve been there, and sometimes you just need to take a look at the graphics, hear the music, and learn a little about the plot to see if it resonates with you before taking the next step. I’m here to help! I am creating the first 30 to the first 60 minute videos of games; indie and mainstream, new and old!
This week let’s take a look at the first 30 minutes of Crash Bandicoot…
Welcome back friends! Do you crochet? I dabbled in crochet off and on for a few years, always fascinated, but never fully catching on. I kept at it, and suddenly, it clicked! I feel calm and cozy when I’m crocheting, and fiercely proud whenever I complete a project.
It’s that time of year for keeping warm! And, in the spirit of playing the Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes game, I thought I’d make a blue crochet cat ear hat!
This hat is whimsical and cozy! The pattern is easy, and ideal for any level of crocheter (beginners included)! Any size 4 yarn can be used in this pattern, but for the Pete the Cat blue of my example piece, I used Red Heart yarn in the “soft navy” color. The size of the hat can also be adjusted for smaller heads by reducing the amount of rows to match half the circumference of the intended person’s head.
Let’s get started!
SUPPLIES
Crochet hook (size 5.50 mm)
Red Heart yarn (color: soft navy)
Scissors
Yarn needle or small crochet hook
INSTRUCTIONS
Create a slip knot and then at least 60 chain stitches (you can chain a few more if you want to make the brim wider). I wanted a wider brim/slouchier hat so I chained 70.
Turn your chain around and half double crochet (hdc) into the third stitch from the hook, then continue to hdc all the way across your chain.
Chain 2 and turn your work. Hdc into the back loop of the third stitch from the hook, then continue to hdc in the back loops of each stitch all the way across your project.
Repeat step 3 until there is a total of 28 to 30 hdc rows (the amount of rows can be adjusted so that the width of the project matches half of the circumference of your head).
After the last hdc of your last row, fold the length of the project in half (the fold will be the top of your hat where the “ears” form).
Using the yarn that is still attached, stitch up this side of the hat towards the fold. Insert your hook through the aligned stitches on either side and perform a single crochet to bring them together.
Once you’ve reached the top corner of the fold, tie a knot and cut the yarn. Use a yarn needle or a small crochet hook to weave the remaining yarn into the project.
Knot the tail from the beginning of the project to your yarn skein and repeat steps 6 and 7 up the other side of the hat.
Fold up the brim, place the hat on your head and adjust the ears to your preference!
Have you ever been undecided on what to play next?
Should you buy that game? Should you install that game?
I’ve been there, and sometimes you just need to take a look at the graphics, hear the music, and learn a little about the plot to see if it resonates with you before taking the next step. I’m here to help! I am creating the first 30 to the first 60 minute videos of games; indie and mainstream, new and old!
This week let’s take a look at the first 30 minutes of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge…
Part of the fun in raising Zoey is finding things that delight and educate her; I want to find fun, creative board games to play with her during our family game nights! This week we played Pete the Cat: The Missing Cupcakes Game by Briarpatch for 2 to 4 players!
Zoey loves Pete the Cat and loves cupcakes so this game is a perfect fit for her! It’s also enjoyable to play a cooperative game that we all work together to complete rather than always be competitive. Competition is great, but teamwork is a valuable skill too!
Let’s play!
IN THE BOX
4 game pieces
14 colorful cupcakes
20 birthday present cards
A Game board
A Game spinner
A Grumpy Toad & cupcake tray
INSTRUCTIONS
Each player chooses a character pawn and places it on one of the four corners of the game board (it is ok for 2 players to share a space).
Place all the cupcakes onto Grumpy Toad’s cupcake tray.
Shuffle the present cards and place them all, face down, next to Pete the Cat.
The youngest player goes first by spinning the spinner and moving clockwise around the board.
Players move around the board performing one of the following activities, based on the space landed on:
Present spots-The player picks up one present card and performs one activity (playing like charades, but sounds are okay). If someone guesses successfully, then the player who performed the activity takes two cupcakes from Grumpy Toad’s cupcake tray and places them on two of the open slots (shaded circles) on Pete the Cat’s birthday party table on the game board.
Activity spots-(animal, food, letters, music) If a player successfully completes one of the four activities, the player takes a cupcake from Grumpy Toad’s cupcake tray and places it on one of the open spots on Pete the Cat’s birthday party table:
Dog – Name an animal and say its sound (i.e. cow…moo!).
Apple – Name a yummy food.
ABC’s – Think of a letter and name something that starts with that letter (i.e. T…table).
Musical note – Sing a verse from a song (i.e. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star) or make up a new song!
(Once something has been named by a player, other players cannot name the same thing. They must remember what others said and say something new.)
Grumpy Toad spots – Grumpy Toad decides he’s still hungry and, if there is a cupcake on Pete the Cat’s birthday party table, takes one (any) cupcake off the table and back to his cupcake tray.
Home spots – Relax, you’re home, not activity is performed.
After the player performs one of the above activities, his or her turn is over and play passes to the left.
When all the cupcakes have been taken from Grumpy Toad’s cupcake tray, the game ends and ALL the players celebrate the team victory by singing Happy Birthday to Pete the Cat!
Have you ever been undecided on what to play next?
Should you buy that game? Should you install that game?
I’ve been there, and sometimes you just need to take a look at the graphics, hear the music, and learn a little about the plot to see if it resonates with you before taking the next step. I’m here to help! I am creating the first 30 to the first 60 minute videos of games; indie and mainstream, new and old!
This week let’s take a look at the first 30 minutes of Spyro: Year of the Dragon from the Reignited Trilogy…
Whole Heartily 