A return to the table: Revival of Table-Top Gaming

There comes a time in every person's life where they will be utterly and completely bored.

All of their normal likes and loves will offer no real comfort. They will seek some adventure. Gamers are not exception to this rule, and usually are the case study for this actual behavior.

While being here at PAX EAST 2011, my primary focus has been to break away from my standard pursuit of the biggest console titles. This opened up exploration of a gaming genre that I've only ever explored from time to time...table top gaming.

Table top gaming was always something that was overlooked. It was seen - to some as backwards gaming- nostalgic, something you may or may not do with your parents on a Saturday night. Who would refuse a game of Scrabble or Apples to Apples with mom or dad?

Then again - I can't picture ESH-mom dungeon crawling with me either.

However table-top gaming can be far more expansive and can test the boundaries of one's imagination. It also can sharpen your strategic skills and make you better at voicing other accents.

The game that showcases this is none other than Dungeons and Dragons. Wizards of the Coast has steadfastly stayed grounded in the gaming community and has only grown through its loyal business and social communities.

At PAX East both games by Wizards of the Coast (Magic the Gathering & Dungeon and Dragons) had announcements that were primarily directed towards their console games - but surprisingly enough both franchises had the same thing to say about their console versions: "Since making playable versions of Dungeon and Dragons/Magic the Gathering, we have seen an increasing number of players."

These console versions have struck a cords with past table top players and new console gamers and both have come back to gain or regain a their appreciation for the genre. Maybe these console expansions will lead gamers down the path to a main-stream revival of table top games?

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