Before Last Call, an online community for entertainment in
the Greater Toronto Area, posted a blog called “7 Toronto Board Game Cafes to
Help Ruin Friendships.” The blog mostly delved into the growing popularity of
board game cafes in the city and their ability to rehash old grudges amongst
siblings and families over classic board games. One phrase in particular caught
my attention. The author wrote; it is “fun to relive the type of atmosphere
that once enriched your childhood.” That got me thinking; what does the future
of board game cafes look like? Will board game cafes go extinct as the
population ages? It is possible. Many children now a day have not even played a
single board game in their life! So how can we keep the excitement of a classic
board game and still appeal to new audiences who are more technically savvy? We
have to meld the two together!
I believe the future of board game cafes is not dying...unless
we let it. With the massive advancements in technology there is almost no
telling what the future has in store for entertainment. Right now you can see
trends like Xbox, PlayStation 4, hand-held gaming devices, online gaming, cell
phone games, apps, etc. All of these are digital. Maybe the future of board
game cafes incorporates the technological aspect of games with the classics.
Imagine playing digital Clue with technology similar to Google Glass. The possibilities are endless!
Of course many of us would disagree with the merging of
classic board games and technology. Children who have never played a board game
will never understand the frustration of having your angry cousin flip the
Monopoly board and having to pick up all the pieces around the living room.
They will not know what it is like trying to manipulate a teeny-tiny piece
around a board, rolling dice in your hands, or how a marble feels. However, for
many children, especially those who have grown up playing Nintendo, PlayStation,
and Xbox, the feeling of a controller in their hands is much more enjoyable. By
combining classic board games with new age technology, adults are given the
chance to share a valuable piece of their childhood with their children.
The future of board game cafes is still very unpredictable.
They are emerging worldwide and having great success in many places, however,
the worry about the future is still there. It is our job as representatives of
the board game café movement, to remain open and optimistic and listen to our
customers. In my opinion, board game cafes have a very bright future ahead!
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