Back to the old school – traditional games bite back
More than a quarter of UK homes have a games console but not all of them are geared up for family entertainment
In these recession-hit times, it seems that the simple pleasures in life are making a comeback and high street retailers are expecting a big rise in sales of traditional toys and games over high-tech gadgets this Christmas.
When you are full of turkey and get bored of Christmas TV specials, you can have hours of fun challenging your loved ones to a classic game. And, if sitting round a table is not enough for you then why not go large.
Traditional games have been brought into the 20th century on a giant scale and here are some of our favourites:
Giant Connect 4 – Hip hop stars Kanye West and Beyonce are massive fans of this classic game. Two players choose a colour and drop discs, trying to outfox each other. The winner is the first to get four in a row in any direction
Giant Jenga – physical and mental skill combine as players take turns to remove a block from a tower and balance it back on top, creating a higher and increasingly unstable structure as the game progresses.
Giant ker plunk – a plastic tube, with a web of plastic straws and marbles balanced on top. Each player takes turns to remove a straw, trying to stop the marbles from falling. The player with the least number of dropped marbles wins.
Giant buzzwire – keep a steady hand and see if you can get the metal loop to the end of the twisted metal shape without triggering the buzzer.
If you don’t want to buy all of these games yourself, why not hire a package of giant games to ease the Christmas day lull and provide hours of family fun. Those who can afford high-tech gadgets will still probably buy them this Christmas but it is high time for a return to the toys that have been entertaining families for generations.