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    Mike Smith

    Mike Smith

  • Golem Arcana turns your tablet into a board game overlord

    Itching for a new board game but intimidated by super complex rules? Meet Golem Arcana: a fantasy-themed board game that makes your iPad do all the work.

  • New Dungeons & Dragons is a worthy hit

    If you’ve stepped into your friendly local game store within the past few weeks, you can’t have failed to notice there’s a new edition of role-playing classic Dungeons & Dragons on the shelves. Even if you haven’t, you might have seen it flying high on the Amazon sales charts: the core “Player’s Handbook” surprised just about everyone by topping the bestseller list for several days.

  • Seven games that are also educational

    We’re smack in the middle of summer, so any talk of education might seem downright unpatriotic. Still, the dark secret of many great games is that they can teach you stuff without your even realizing it. These winners are as enjoyable as they are edifying.

  • Lego Fusion turns Lego creations into virtual objects

    The company has announced a new range of toys that’ll interact with camera-equipped smartphones and tablets.

  • Sony goes games crazy at impressive E3 press conference

    Here's what to expect from your PlayStation 4 in the not-too-distant future.

  • What your kids are learning from Minecraft

    The wildly popular game is better for your kids than you might think.

  • What’s the harm in pink toys? Plenty.

    Girls like pink. Boys like blue. It’s a cultural attitude so strong it might as well be burned into our DNA. Few things are more powerful than that -- and the idea’s never been stronger than it is today. But … Continue reading →

  • The Most Controversial Toys of 2013

    Some toys are born to greatness, like the Slinky, say, or Barbie. And some toys are born to mediocrity, like Mr. Potato Head, or the rubber duck. And then some toys are born to just rub people the wrong way. … Continue reading →

  • Hi-tech spy toys are no longer child’s play

    Keeping secrets gets harder every day. Your employer is watching you check your bank statements online during your lunch hour. That guy you met once at a party is following your every move on Facebook. And the NSA already knows … <a href="http://blog.tools.news.yahoo.com/ygamesblog/2013/10/08/hi-tech-spy-toys-are-no-longer-childs-play/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>

  • Six ways to freshen up old board games

    Classic board games are classics for a reason: they’re well-designed. But there’s only so many times you can pull out the Scrabble board before boredom starts to set in. Here’s a set of variations on six timeless family favorites that’ll … <a href="http://blog.tools.news.yahoo.com/ygamesblog/2013/10/03/six-ways-to-freshen-up-old-board-games/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>

  • How to make money playing with Legos

    Timeless. A design classic. The best thing to come out of Denmark since bacon. Lego is many things, but cheap is not one of them. With current pricing around ten to fifteen cents per brick, if you're one of the … <a href="http://blog.tools.news.yahoo.com/ygamesblog/2013/09/26/how-to-make-money-playing-with-legos/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>

  • Gaming conventioneers settle for new world record

    Under normal circumstances, the annual Gen Con gaming convention in downtown Indianapolis, IN is a four-day whirlwind of dice-rolling, bargain-hunting, and celeb-spotting. But this year, 922 conference goers took time out from their Friday night schedules to set a massive … <a href="http://blog.tools.news.yahoo.com/ygamesblog/2013/08/18/gaming-conventioneers-settle-for-new-world-record/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>

  • Hungarian man wins World Yo-Yo contest with “terrifyingly difficult” routine

    The resort hotels, amusement parks, and shopping malls of Orlando, Florida’s International Drive are no strangers to quirky forms of entertainment, but it’s not often that a bunch of yo-yos can draw a crowd. Of course, when the people flinging … <a href="http://blog.tools.news.yahoo.com/ygamesblog/2013/08/11/hungarian-man-wins-world-yo-yo-contest-with-terrifyingly-difficult-routine/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>

  • Tips for winning McDonald’s Monopoly

    Since 1987, McDonald’s Monopoly has lured fast-foodies into plunking down extra bills in the hopes of winning big. This year’s model, which wraps up August 12, is no exception, offering a slew of prizes to anyone dedicated (and hungry) enough … <a href="http://blog.tools.news.yahoo.com/ygamesblog/2013/07/30/tips-for-winning-mcdonald%e2%80%99s-monopoly/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>

  • The World’s Fastest Roller Coasters

    When it comes to roller coasters, speed matters. Roller coaster junkies love their stats, so it’s no wonder the last decade or two has seen an ever-accelerating arms race to build the fastest ride in the world. Who’s on top? … <a href="http://blog.tools.news.yahoo.com/ygamesblog/2013/07/16/the-world%e2%80%99s-fastest-roller-coasters/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>

  • The Hottest Trailers of E3

    The Xbox One might be flashy and the Playstation 4 might be sleek, but amid all this hardware news, you could be forgiven for losing sight of what’s really important about video gaming: the games. Here’s one way to solve … <a href="http://blog.tools.news.yahoo.com/ygamesblog/2013/06/12/the-hottest-trailers-of-e3/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>

  • Xbox One to launch November at $499; new Halo coming next year

    Amid growing doubts over its next-generation strategy, Microsoft today told the world’s gamers when they’ll be able to get hold of the latest and greatest Xbox, and how much they’ll have to pay for the privilege: this November, and $499, … <a href="http://blog.tools.news.yahoo.com/ygamesblog/2013/06/10/xbox-one-to-launch-november-at-499-new-halo-coming-next-year/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>

  • Eight video game treasures you might actually own

    You've seen the headlines, no doubt: Unsuspecting homeowner is cleaning out the garage, attic, or storage building, stumbles across a dusty box of old video games, and discovers a goldmine of valuable rarities that nets them tens of thousands of … <a href="http://blog.tools.news.yahoo.com/ygamesblog/2012/11/12/eight-video-game-treasures-you-might-actually-own/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>

  • Eight great iPhone distractions for kids

    You're heading out for a doctor's appointment, long flight, dull social engagement, or other event packed with potential for serious boredom. You have to take the kids -- and you know they're going to get antsy. What do you do? … <a href="http://blog.tools.news.yahoo.com/ygamesblog/2012/10/25/eight-great-iphone-distractions-for-kids/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>

  • Six odd facts about Pokemon

    Though nobody saw Pokemon's success coming when the first game hit unsuspecting streets in 1996, in retrospect it shouldn't have been too hard to predict. Tapping into kids' timeless love of building collections, playing with cute critters, swapping things with … <a href="http://blog.tools.news.yahoo.com/ygamesblog/2012/10/05/six-odd-facts-about-pokemon/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>