Playing games at the Nerdz Garage has been a staple since before there was a Nerdz Garage. Birthdays, dinner parties and vacation houses, without a doubt involved party games. You knew if you were heading to Chez Smith it was a safe bet that games were in your future. The beginnings were geared towards playing with the kids; Imagineiff, Pass the Pig or Trouble. These evolved to party games; Cards Against Humanity, Million Dollars But or Exploding Kittens.
Since the inception of Nerdz Garage, just over a year ago, our tastes have progressed to strategy and RPG games. I presupposed that the journey into these games would be peculiar and herculean, and I treaded prudently. Our collection grew, and the gaming commenced. To my delight, these new worlds were not unyielding or out of my depth. In fact, these games beget a feeling of nostalgia and churned memories of games I played as a child. These once fuzzy, now luminesce memories churned a lively conversation about we played in our youth. Derek’s treasure from the past was, The Awful Green Things from Outer Space. We were pleased to find that it was still available, and we swiftly sent away for it. TAGTFOS appeared first in the pages of Dragon magazine and creator, Tom Wham, was looking to expanding into the realm of family board games and thus the creation of the TAGTFOS game in 1980.
What we like about the game was that it isn’t just playable but re-playable. Much of the game play is random, from the placement of starting positions to the effectiveness of your tactics, and that ensures that every game was different. Success in TAGTFOS is dependent on being a quick thinker who could roll with the random punches the dice threw at you.
The Awful Green Things from Outer Space
The crew of the exploration ship Znutar just wanted to cruise around the Galaxy, discovering strange new worlds and playing pool. But then their ship was invaded by the Awful Green Things and suddenly they were fighting for their lives. They grow and multiply every turn and they can gobble up a crew member! The other player commands the crew, frantically trying weapon after weapon (pool sticks, fire extinguishers, cans of Zgwortz) to find something that kills the monsters.
Game Type: Board Games, Strategy Games
Number of Players: 2
Written by Tom Wham Developed by Steve Jackson
Art by Tom Wham, J. David George, Beverly Hale, and Carl Anderson
My treasure from the past is 221B Baker Street. 221B Baker Street plays like an advanced version of Clue. Each player is a detective hunting the streets of London for clues. The first player to return to 221B Baker Street and correctly guess the killer, murder weapon and the motive is declared the winner. Unlike Clue, each game begins with a three-paragraph mystery.
Since players are never certain if they can back their claims, the game creates a risk versus rewards tension. What I appreciate is the the contemplation of the opponents moves, scribbling my findings in my detective note pad and racing to 221 B Baker Street in a panic to solve the crime even if my deductions are questionable because revealing my sometimes-daft theory first, (even though incorrect) in my mind is a win.
221B Baker Street: The Master Detective Game (1975)
Game Type: Board Games, Strategy Games
2–6 Players
Playing Time 90 Min
Age: 10+
Designer Antler Productions, Jay Moriarty
Nerdz Garage give 221 Baker Street and The Awful Green Things from Outer Space
Huge Nerdz love.
What games from your youth give you a sense of nostalgia?
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