Gaming with Grandma - 120

Another Saturday morning gaming session with my 9 year old daughter Maddie and my mother (AKA Grandma).

Our first game was Liar's Dice (AKA Bluff). This was a fairly quick game with Grandma winning with 2 dice left.


Our second game was an old favourite, Gulo Gulo. 4 year old Georgia joined us for this and amazed us all with her skill of nimbly plucking the eggs from the bowl. Maddie led for most of the game but I overtook her right at the end when she missed a purple egg after being the first to find Gulo Junior. Final scores were 1st Wayne, 2nd Georgia, 3rd Maddie and 4th Grandma.

Redeemed

I've thoroughly enjoyed playing Red Dead Redemption over the last few months. In fact, I've enjoyed it so much that it's the first video game in which I've ever played through the single player game twice. The second time I played it through to get all the trophies I missed on the first run through. Today I finally achieved the Redeemed trophy which is earned for being able to "Attain 100% in the Single Player Game Completion stat" which was a very satisfying moment.


Now I'll mainly concentrate on playing Red Dead Redemption online in the fantastic multiplayer free roam and various co-op challenges. Rockstar Games have already announced further support for this great game with another four DLC packs scheduled for release over the next six months. Yeehaw!

Still more westerns

I've been shootin' through a posse of Western films lately. Here are the ones I've seen over the last week or so.

• The Revengers (1972)
  
• Hang Em High (1968)
  
• True Grit (1969)
  
• The Professionals (1966)
  
• Rio Bravo (1959)

One thing I've noticed since pursuing an interest in the Western genre of films is that the majority of these films are 40 to 50 years old, and hence most of the actors are now deceased. I've been enjoying following up with a little research into these actors' lives and deaths after they made these films. Some of their life stories are fascinating.

Gaming with Grandma - 119

Another Saturday morning gaming session with my mum (AKA Grandma) and 9 year old elder daughter Maddie. This morning we played Atlantis (AKA Escape from Atlantis). Grandma took yellow, Maddie took red and I took green.

The board at the beginning of the game

We'd placed all our people one at a time at the beginning of the game and then I realised that I'd forgotten to place the ships at their designated starting points. Rather than go through the initial people placement process again we just left the people where they were. I suspect that the placement of people would have looked different had we all known where the ships were going to be. I'll read the set up rules more clearly next time.

Maddie made an early start and was able to get a ship with two of her people and one of mine to the safety of one of the outlying island harbours. As the outer parts of Atlantis started to sink that's when all manner of sea creatures were attracted to the screams of the terrified Atlanteons. There is a sense of evil enjoyment as one sends a sea serpent to destroy a ship filled with your opponent's people. Maddie's now at an age where she's less likely to take personally a move that hinders her, and can even take pleasure in 'take that' moves she makes herself.

Chaos ensues as the ocean drinks Atlantis

Final scores were Maddie and me sharing 1st place with 4, and Grandma coming 2nd with 2. I'm not aware of a tie-break mechanic in Atlantis although Maddie reached her score before I did. I was just happy to share the win.

Lots of Westerns

I continue my fascination with the Western genre of films. These are the latest films I've seen over the last month or so.

• The Magnificent Seven (1960)
  
• The Long Riders (1980)
  
• The Searchers (1956)
  
• Young Guns (1988)
  
• Young Guns II (1990)
  
• The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
  
• High Noon (1952)
  

Luckily I have a local Video store that has Tuesday $1 weekly movie specials.

The Saxon Stories - 4

Today I don my armour and ready sword and shield to once again join Uhtred of Bebbanburg in his adventures in 9th century Anglo-Saxon England.



I have been taking my time in reading this series by Bernard Cornwell. I've been savouring the journey, not rushing from book to book for I know it will eventually end. Sword Song is the fourth in the series and there is only one further book published at this point in time.