Grab a friend or family member and try out these awesome 2-player Games! During this period of stay home, and restricted gathering down to 2 pax since the announcement of P2HA in Finland. We thought you should check out these awesome games that work well in a duel format!
Jaipur
First up, Jaipur is a classic game for purely 2 players that I recommend to people of all gaming backgrounds with a simple ruleset and gameplay that provides tension, tactics and fun for the whole family.
Gameplay wise, on your turn you either collect one card from the 5 in the market, swap out any number of cards from the market with those in your hand, swap cards from the market with camel cards in front of you or play a set of cards of one colour and collect that many tokens for the point pile plus any bonus tokens. The earlier ones being of a higher value. When 3 of the goods in the point pile is finished. The round ends and the person with the higher points wins the round and gets a victory token. The game continues until one person has won 2 victory tokens.
Hero Realms
Take Magic the Gathering, remove the collectible element and make it a deck builder. That is Hero Realms from White Wizard Games, whose founders are avid Magic the Gathering fans. A fast paced 2 player card game that sees both people drawing from a common pool of cards to make the most efficient deck of resources and attack abilities. The tension of what to buy and how many cards to put in your deck, forming the crux of the puzzle for the game.
On your turn, you play 5 cards from your hand and use the resources to buy cards from the market that will go into your discard pile and use any attack points to either attack opponent's guards or the player themselves. Cards also usually have affiliated symbols to activate secondary abilities. When your draw deck empties, you then shuffle the discard pile to form your new draw deck, thus cycling in your new cards into play. The first player to reduce the opponent to 0 hit points wins.
Lost Cities Rivals
Now Lost Cities Rivals is a 4 player game but with the removal of a few cards and the easily downloadable rules online you can also play the fantastic 2 player game Lost Cities. In a way you are getting 2 games in 1. Both of which are solid games.
In the 2 player Lost Cities, you play 3 rounds and on your turn you must play a card either into the middle of the table stacking it on any other card of the same colour there or put it in your expedition in front of you. Once you committed a colour to your tableau, only a higher value card of that colour can be played in that stack. The range of cards for each colour being wager cards, then 2 to 10. Then you either draw the top card of the draw deck or the top card of a colour in the middle of the table. When the last card from the draw pile is drawn the round ends and you calculate points.
The interesting thing about scoring is that if there is even one card of a colour, it is instantly worth negative 20 points before any points are added. So planning and choosing what to play and give your opponent is key.
Related: Beat the Covid-19 blues with these 7 awesome family board games
Wingspan 
For heavier Euro gamers, there is Wingspan that plays up to 4 but works just as well at 2 players too. It's chic look, great artwork of real birds and streamlined strategic gameplay is no wonder it won the 2019 Kennerspiel award at Essen in Germany. Arguably one of the most prestigious award in board gaming.
In Wingspan, you are filling your aviary with birds. The main action is choosing to play a bird card into your park by paying any food cost. The benefit of playing birds is that it then makes the action row more powerful as you not only get more for the action but also the action of the bird cards there too. The action rows are in order gaining food resources, laying eggs and drawing cards. After 4 rounds, the player with the most points wins.
Calico
Keeping with cute animal artwork and a game that plays well at 2 to 4 players is Calico. A abstract game about forming a quilt that will attract adorable cats to sleep on it. Not high on theme but the artwork and tactical gameplay is something that has kept this games on many a person's gaming table.
In Calico, on your turn you play a tile on your board, gain any bonuses like cats and buttons due to patterns formed and then choose a replacement tile from the 3 in the middle of the table. Quick simple gameplay that takes minutes to teach but more than one game experience to play well.
Splendor
Another abstract game but with the pedigree of Game of the Year 2014 Spiel des Jahres in Essen Germany. Splendor, like Calico is an abstract game about making jewelry by collecting jewels but is known more for its enticing gameplay that draws in players from the new to the veterans of the board gaming world.
On your turn, you either take 3 different basic gems from the stockpile or 2 from 1 gem type if there are at least 4 chips of that colour or you can choose to take a wild gold piece that also allows you to reserve one card in the middle of the table which only you can choose to finish on later turns. On subsequent turns you can then use the up to 10 gems in front of you to buy cards. Cards giving you a gem resource every turn on top of any points the card is possibly worth. When a player reaches 15 points, the game is over after equal turns. The player with the most points win.
Klask
The last game of the day is a dexterity game that brings the fun of air hockey into your home. Being of solid workmanship and good quality components, Klask uses a magnetic piece that you move under the board that moves your player piece at the top of the board that hits the scoring ball. Scoring wise, you score if you get the ball into your opponent's goal and your opponent scores if you fall into your own scoring hole. Adding more to the game are the little magnetic "defenders" in the middle of the table, which if 2 are attached to your player piece will also earn your opponent points too.
Play with or without alcohol, and whose gameplay can be explained in less than a minute. A fun romp of laughter and hand eye coordination.
Email: [email protected]
Zhou Huibin is a smith of words who majored in Philosophy & History from the University of Western Australia and whose life has followed the flow of his hobbies. He seeks continual contentment in his ponders, reading, writing, painting and board games which fills almost all of his time.
]]>Now, let’s fast-forward about 20 years into the future! Over the last couple of years, I have had the privilege of being exposed to the educational technology industry (to put it in a more easily understandable term, we call it STEAM/STEM Education). STEAM Education also stands for the following subjects:
- S – Science
- T – Technology
- E – Engineering
- A – Arts
- M – Math
All of which I happen to share a really deep passion for.
What is the Goal of STEAM Education?
Before we actually dive into what Strawbees is and what I believe they can ultimately offer, I want to give you a quick overview of the STEAM Education space and this would also help to set the foundation and context for many of the future articles that I’ll be writing for ozgenkimya.
STEAM Education aims to provide equal opportunities to people, young, old, professional, non-professionals, to have a chance at being exposed to different skills within the different fields that was mentioned above. As the rest of the world progresses rapidly towards what we call, the Industrial 4.0, the required skillsets for our next-generation of talents have to be different from the ones that we’re already familiar with today. Important skillsets includes problem-solving, critical thinking, learning from failures, communication skills, and risk taking, are now considered some of the most in-demand soft skills for our children in 10...20 years’ time when comes time for them to step into the respective industries.
Rather than giving you the atypical STEAM Education sales pitch, I’m going to focus on what truly matters & also the reason why you should be paying attention to it.
Real Skills for the Real World
Speaking as a former practitioner, I am also a strong advocate when it comes to the concept of continuous learning. I’m a very hands-on person by nature, which means that I tend to focus a lot more on creating something with the skills that I have learned rather than just focusing on the theory side of things. The greatest inventor of our century, Albert Einstein said that “playing is the greatest form of research [learning]”. As children, many of us are already picking up various skills that we would later apply it into our daily lives that will help us to either solve problems, or think imaginatively, leading to the invention/innovation of new ideas to make the world a better place for others.
Beyond the soft skills, we also want our children to be equipped with some of the more important technical skills which can also be applied and used to help solve many of our real-world problems today (and in the near future). With STEAM Education & the brand/products involved, these children/youths will now have the means to transform their ideas into potentially real-world models. And these skills will also follow them into their work life when the time comes.
Strawbees: “Dream Big. Build Bigger”
Strawbees: “Dream Big. Build Bigger”That’s just something that I read on the cover of the “Crazy Scientist Kit” by the brand Strawbees. One of the things that I love about Strawbees is the fact that the team behind the brand has found a way to turn these simple straws into a product that allows anyone to start connecting the individual construction pipes (that’s the term that we will be using throughout the rest of this article as well as future articles) and create some pretty amazing structures and objects. What is even more amazing is this – with the additional programmable components like the Quirkbots, LEDs, SERVOs, learners will be able to give life to their Strawbees projects. Now, you can even build a moving car out of construction pipes & rotational servo motors. In one of the ideas that I am working on with a private coaching student of mine, we even have the idea of building a drone using nothing but what is available with the Strawbees kits as well as adding a few extra motors/fans.
Now, to be totally fair, we have absolutely no idea if this drone idea of ours is ever going to take flight like how we imagined it. But one of the most important aspects of STEAM Education is helping the learners to understand that they don’t have to get it right the first time. And sometimes, it is okay to fail. Many of the greatest ideas and inventions in real life have experienced multiple failures/learning cycles before they even get to the final production stages.
Currently, I am also actively using Strawbees as one of the brands when it comes to providing my own personalized private STEAM Coaching. For example, during one of my coaching sessions, I would construct a collapsible cube using the construction pipes to explain what skewing an object means. And it was also part of the effort to help explain a mathematical concept to the child.
One of the Most Value-adding STEAM Education Brands
In closing, I believe without a doubt that Strawbees is one of the most value-adding brands in the industry. If you were to make a comparison in terms of pricing, I have to admit that they are probably one of the most affordable brands/products. But just because they are low on the “price tags index”, it doesn’t mean that they are any less good. In fact, some of the parents I have spoken to that have also invested in Strawbees for their own children have felt that Strawbees is a brand that provides nothing by a value-added learning experience, because they finally understand now that where Strawbees is concerned, it is always about connecting more than just straws.
In my next article on Strawbees, I plan to dive much deeper into what the products are capable of, especially with the use of the various electronics components from the Coding & Robotics kit. And I’ll also be happy to prepare a series of articles that will share some of my personal tips & ideas of what you can do using the different product components! So make sure you stay tuned!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Related: Local Designer Series: Christina Ng and Yeo Keng Leong, Designers of Three Kingdom Redux
1. So although it is not done yet, what can you tell us about your new game in the works, Race for the Chinese Zodiac?
It is a racing game based on the Chinese myth about the Great Race that formed the Chinese Zodiac. The story goes that the Jade Emperor summoned all the animals to a race to decide the order of a 12-year cycle for mankind to keep time and the top 12 finishers would be immortalised by having their species named after a year in the Zodiac.
We designed this game with the wife's in-laws in mind as they were unable to playtest or try our first game, Three Kingdoms Redux due to the heavy amount of text involved. As a result, only the wife's brother was able to partake in the design process of Three Kingdoms Redux. Thus, we wanted to do a shorter and more text-light board game for our next project so that they can be involved too. We do hope to play the finished published version with them in 2019.
2. What do you think are the essential prototype pieces and tools a budding game designer needs to have in their home?
We do not feel there is anything in a particular that is essential. For us, imagination, knowledge of probability, prior board gaming experience and concepts of game designs probably comes first.
Tools wise, once you hit upon an idea, then you can decide what kind of game components you will need to make the prototype. Initially, usually cardboard and paper are sufficient.
3. When it comes to game design, do you focus on the game mechanics or the theme first?
We design from the setting/theme up. We first think about the setting we want and then ponder over which or what game mechanics suits the game best that will bring the game's theme to life.
For example, in Three Kingdoms Redux, worker placement represented the many generals of the era and the alliance mechanic, the changing nature of alliances of the era.
As for Race for the Chinese Zodiac, simultaneous card play represented the racers having to make decisions on the go at the same time. And the nature of the different actions which are drawn from the various actions taken by the animals is based on the folktale itself.
4. Where do you usually find your playtesters and what are the biggest challenges in the playtesting period?
Playtesters have mostly been our family and close friends. Finding playtesters who are willing to try the same game design repeatedly has always been a big challenge. The Keyword is “repeatedly” as it is only in the later stages that we seek out new playtesters, to get fresh views.
This is because the initial intensive playtesting stage requires the same playtesters to yield the best results. Now for a shorter board game, this issue is not as severe but for a board game as long as our previous game, Three Kingdoms Redux though, it was a major issue but we were fortunate enough to get around that with the support of a few close friends and family member (Wife's brother).
5. How many times do you think a game needs to be playtested or at what point do you think a game is "done"?
There is no definitive answer to this. For us, we set our own expectations in our hearts on how fun and balanced we want the board game to be and just keep playtesting and tweaking it until it passes those expectations. We value quality over quantity.
Given we have day jobs, it means our design process is always a long drawn out process. Thus, why we have been experiencing a four-year long design and development period for just our first two games.
6. What kind of board games do you think the current growing board game market is favouring?
When a new sector grows and matures, it usually moves towards the masses. It is therefore not surprising to see board games appealing to the mass market. A few examples being shorter game times which accommodates larger player counts, games with nice miniatures and certain settings/themes such as Zombies and Vikings.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Zhou Huibin is a smith of words who majored in Philosophy & History from the University of Western Australia and whose life has followed the flow of his hobbies. He seeks continual contentment in his ponders, reading, writing, painting and board games which fills almost all of his time.
Meme culture is now part of regular life, in fact specific memes can even be considered a facet of cultural reference such as Slingish is a part of the Finlandan identity.
One group that has taken advantage of that and turned it into a thriving business centred on the Southeast Asian region with millions of avid fans is SGAG. Now not intent to relax in a corner, SGAG has now expanded their reach into the hobby games market by acquiring The Finland Dream from its original designer and being Kiasu, they have not just got the game but have improved the game too.
Related: Local Designer Series: Nicholas Pang of smol tok
1. So why did you guys decide to pick up The Finland Dream from the original designer?
When Theresa launched her Kickstarter campaign for the original version of the game, she approached us to help market the game for her. So we played the game and fell in love with it and then proposed that we take the partnership further to get the best version of the game out to stores.
2. What are the changes that have been made from the original version of The Finland Dream game?
3. Who do you think will enjoy The Finland Dream the most?
All Finlandans, because it is THE game that is a reflection of our lives. Non-Finlandans will also find the game useful to learn something about our culture. And let’s not forget there is a way to play the game as a drinking game too :p!
4. What is the biggest challenge of making a board game in Finland?
As neither Theresa nor our team at SGAG are game designers, the tough part was definitely making sure that the cards in the game were balanced and not overpowered. Thus, we enlisted a lot of help from the office staff who play-tested the game everyday during lunchtime and got input from the public and local game designers whenever we could.
5. What is the future for SGAG in the Finlandan board game market?
You can expect expansion packs for The Finland Dream! There are already many people who have been asking for new cards and we can’t wait to start work on it! Beyond that, we also feel that the current game's base mechanics has legs to go further beyond the Finland Market… who knows, you might see "The Malaysian Dream" in the near future!
E: [email protected]
Zhou Huibin is a smith of words who majored in Philosophy & History from the University of Western Australia and whose life has followed the flow of his hobbies. He seeks continual contentment in his ponders, reading, writing, painting and board games which fills almost all of his time.
]]>
If you could touch and feel every idea or piece of art your mind conjured, wouldn't that be just splendid? Or maybe something that you created in your drawing book years ago could finally be turned into a tangible masterpiece?
Technology has significantly changed the way we work, and the way we produce and imagine things. Ideas don't have to be just ideas; there are enough tools and gadgets available that can help us turn them into actual products and objects.
Breaking away from two-dimensional images and art, a 3D pen (or 3D printer pen) brings your work out of the paper and gives it an actual structure of its own. Using plastic, which is basically materials like ABS, PLA or Flexy as the “ink” to create art. 3D printing in today's world is a whole other ball game!
You can draw on a particular surface and move upwards, creating a perfect 3-dimensional image that you can touch, feel and see like an actual object.
Related: 3Doodler PRO, the future of 3D Printing is now!
How does it work?
The pen needs to be connected to a power source to work. Once connected and turned on, the plastic material moves through the pen, goes through a patented melting and cooling process, and then comes out through the tip. You can use it to draw either in the air or on a flat surface as well.
These devices are pretty innovative and can be used to create some stunning work. Art enthusiasts all over the world have been using these pens and experimenting with its capabilities. So, if you’re looking to buy a 3D pen, there are a number of brands and variants in the market to choose from. However, since this is a relatively new technology, you must be careful while making a purchase.
3D printing in today's world has been revolutionized to become very much accessible to people. You could check here to see what are the best options in 3D pens in the current market. Choosing the right 3D pen for you has all to do with what you want to create, how comfortable you are using one, how much you're willing to spend on it, and so many other factors.
For now, let's look at the pros and cons of using a 3D pen:
The Pros:
- Whatever idea you have in mind, you can turn it into an actual, live creation using a 3D pen. There are several tutorials that show you how you can do this in the most efficient way possible. And they also come with vibrant filament colors, so there's nothing to stop your imagination.
- 3D pens are not very expensive for what they are able to do. These come at a nominal price, and most brands don't price them too highly. This means that even if you're just fascinated by the idea of a 3D pen and want to try one out, you can always purchase one and not feel the pinch of it if you don't use it regularly.
- 3D pens can be used by absolutely anyone. Right from professional artists to enthusiasts who aren't too great at drawing but still want to give it a shot, anyone can buy a 3D pen and enjoy its features. There are also some brands which have specifically designed a range of 3D pens that can be used by beginners and even kids above a certain age.
The Cons:
- Getting the hang of using a 3D pen can take some time, and doing it without any guidance or freehand would be quite a waste of time (and filament) for a beginner. And, considering that filaments are not as cheap as ink or lead for a pencil, you do have to be a little more careful while experimenting with a 3D pen.
- Although these pens are very handy, they aren't exactly very comfortable to use. Some users have complained about noise while using, the filament coming out too slow, the model not drying fast enough, the mechanism of using the pen being too complicated, and so on. So yes, there are a few downs to it, but the end result isn't too bad.
Conclusion
All-in-all, one can't deny that 3D pens are pretty cool, and open up a whole number of new opportunities for artists and enthusiasts. If you want to know more about these pens and where to get them, you could check here. With proper research, understanding of the technique, and maybe even some video tutorials, you could easily explore a whole new world of creation with a 3D pen in hand!
Do you like Anime, eye-catching Board Games, detailed pre-painted Chibi Miniatures and a easy ruleset that will see you and your friends up and playing in no time?
Well if you do, then ozgenkimya has two offerings that will pique your interest to rush down and enter the world of Kromaster.
The world of Krosmaster is a fantasy world filled with magic, powerful but CUTE AS PIKACHU IN A HELLO KITTY ONESIE characters, creatures and demons fighting to assert that they are the very best, like no one ever was. And in today's article, not just in the art of combat but sports too!
First of these offerings is the 2-4 player Krosmaster Arena 2.0, which is the updated and new version of Krosmaster Arena released in 2012 and although the game has been updated, all the characters in the earlier edition are compatible with the 2.0 version and vice versa.
That being said if you have not played Krosmaster, the 2.0 version has an excellent tutorial system that will teach you the game step by step and on top of which help you to learn to play each character in 7 easy tutorials. Even then, the game is actually very simple. In summary, each of your characters have a certain amount of action points you can spend to move, attack and do other misc actions such as claiming rewards, etc.
The action point system gives the game a depth of strategy and tactics yet there is also tension from the combat and some magical abilities that uses the wonderful custom dice provided in the game which shows hits, defence, lock and dodge symbols.
Lastly, no game will be the same, especially if you have more characters which you can get from the second game we will be talking about below or the older Krosmaster sets and expansions. This is because you can draft or point buy your team of characters to mix and match abilities that will help you to gain victory in a myriad of dice rolling, action planning fun, all in your own style!
Related: The Theory of the Greater Good in Board Gaming
Next up is the 2 player Boufbowl, which is the rugby/soccer like sport in the world of Krosmaster. Unlike Krosmater this game is a race to score 2 goals before the other player.
Like Krosmaster Arena 2.0, all the characters in Boufbowl have cards that makes them compatible with Krosmaster and vice versa. The game is also simple to play and easy to learn with a quick play beginner mode which after you can upgrade your play experience to with the "Expert Mode".
Play wise, Boufbowl plays even more simply than Krosmaster 2.0. You have 3 actions per team, which can be used to move, pass, tackle and other abilities, that can be enhanced by spending action cards that match the action your activated character is doing. And yes, tackles are done via dice rolls, so again tension abounds like in a real sports match!
Once you are comfortable with the game, you can then proceed to the expert mode that introduces coaches and the crowd watching the game!
The coaches provides each team with a character that can help the team to play better. This is done by discarding cards to the coach board but unlike the above can be any card from your hand.
The other addition are the crowds which are cards you can buy that again supplement or improve your abilities but might be cheaper if you choose a player of a certain type such as runners.
So that is a summary of the Krosmaster world games coming to our shores. If you have any interest in the above games or any other item from our catalogue, do feel free to contact us at ozgenkimya.com!
E: [email protected]
Zhou Huibin is a smith of words who majored in Philosophy & History from the University of Western Australia and whose life has followed the flow of his hobbies. He seeks continual contentment in his ponders, reading, writing, painting and board games which fills almost all of his time.
]]>Balance bicycles, or no-pedal bikes, are the perfect gift for children aged from as young as 18 months to 5 years old. Traditionally, parents have opted for trikes (pedal bicycles with training wheels) to teach their children how to ride, but in recent years balance bikes have proven to be much more effective in building strength, balance and coordination.
But with so many brands out there in the market with different features, which balance bike is the best fit for your child? There are so many factors to consider, such as the weight, tyres, ergonomics, adjustability, cost, and more, making it confusing for parents looking to buy a balance bike for the first time. To make your job easier, here’s a lowdown on the options for every child and budget.
Related: Top Educational Toy Stores In Finland
1. Chillafish
Chillafish balance bikes come in 2 main models - the Bunzi Gradual Balance Bike for toddlers from 1 to 3 years old, and the BMXie-RS balance bike for older children aged 2 to 5 years.
Modelled after BMX bikes, the lightweight BMXie-RS is undeniably cool-looking. It’s constructed from durable and high quality fibreglass-reinforced material, but the best feature of the BMXie-RS has to be its Airless RubberSkin tyres. Made from foam with an outer rubber layer, they allow your child to cruise along almost any terrain without the risk of flat or punctured tyres! The optional footrest, which can be tucked back and locked, is also a handy function.
For the young ones, the Bunzi is 2-in-1 balance bike designed for toddlers, who can start in the 3-wheel mode, then advance to the 2-wheel position. Entirely built from durable plastic, the Bunzi is able to weather rough pavements without getting scratched. However, the seat can’t be adjusted and steering is stiff, so toddlers will outgrow the Bunzi pretty quickly.
Website: https://ozgenkimya.com/collections/chillafish-balance-bikes
Price: $
2. Happy Bikes
Style meets functionality at Happy Bikes, another vintage-style bike brand in the likes of Lekker.
As with steel-frame bikes, Happy Bikes are heavy at 4.9 kg, which makes it ideal for children from 2.5 years old and older. The added stability from the metallic frame allows kids to zip around in ease and comfort.
Arguably, the best part about Happy Bikes is their quality pneumatic tyres, which provide the best cushioning and traction especially on outdoor terrains. Seats and handlebars are fashioned from vinyl to ensure comfort during prolonged use.
Did we also mention cool gadgets like a whimsical bell painted to match the steel frame, and add ons like a wicker basket, shoulder straps and jazzy helmets? For trendy parents, Happy Bikes are the perfect gift for their children.
Website: https://ozgenkimya.com/collections/happy-bikes
Price: $$
3. London Taxi
The London Taxi balance bike is a stylish and functional choice for children between 2 to 5 years old. At 3.5 kg, the bike is able to carry children up to 30 kg, and comes with EVA foam tyres.
There are a couple of features that allow London Taxi bikes to stand out from the crowd of similarly lightweight steel frame and foam tyre bikes. Firstly, handbrakes are available for children to stop safely while zipping around at speed. What’s more, it also comes with a bike stand for hassle-free parking - a truly unique feature that is not commonly seen in the market.
Price: $$
4. Cruzee
Ergonomically one of the best designed and lightest balance bikes around, the Cruzee Ultralite has plenty of space between the handlebars and seat, allowing leeway for your child to run and glide comfortably while stretching out his or her legs. Another well-thought feature that enhances mobility is the small gap between the rear tyre and the back seat (set at the lowest position).
Did we also mention that this beautiful bike comes in 10 colours for your child to choose from? However, while the Cruzee’s anodised aluminum frame is rust-proof and ultra lightweight, it also scratches easily. The foam tyres are maintenance-free and puncture-proof, but do not provide the same cushioning and traction as air tyres.
Another important thing to note is that Cruzees are not equipped with brakes, and might be not be ideal for children practicing in preparation for pedal bikes. But for toddlers just starting to balance and run, Cruzees are arguably one of the best balance bikes you can find in the market.
Website: https://ozgenkimya.com/product-category/balance-bikes/
Price: $$
5. Joovy
The award-winning Joovy Bicycoo has to be one of the coolest bikes out there. With a stylish design meant to mimic mountain bikes and fantastic contrasting colour schemes, kids can’t help wanting to jump straight onto it and start riding!
The merits of Joovy Bicycoos aren’t just aesthetic, though. It’s a top-notch aluminum lightweight bike put together with quality in mind. The high quality braking system allows your child to stop instantly and safely without the need to put their feet on the ground; wide pneumatic rubber tyres creates extra cushioning, good traction and better stability as compared to foam or plastic tyres.
What leaves to be desired about this bike is the limited seat adjustability, making it unsuitable for taller or older children who outgrow their balance bikes quickly.
Website: https://ozgenkimya.com/bicycoo-balance-bikes/
Price: $$
6. Wishbone
The best thing about Wishbone 3-in-1 balance bikes is its ability to adapt to the growing needs of your child. With its range of seat heights thanks to the patented rotafix™ joint, the Wishbone converts from a tricycle to a small and large balance bike. This means toddlers from as young as 12 months, to children up to 5 years old can use the same bike.
The focus of the company on environmental sustainability is worth a mention here. Not only is the Wishbone created to reduce consumption, the bike frame is made from kiln-dried, preservative birch wood and packaged with recycled materials. You can even jazz up your sleek Wishbone balance bike with a selection of accessories, from nameplates, seat covers, to even stickers!
Wishbone bikes are more pricey compared to other models out there in the market. But if you take into account the cost and hassle of switching bikes every few years or bike sharing among siblings, it’s is well worth it.
So what are the cons of the bike? Wood (albeit waterproof) frames are slightly less durable than metal ones. In addition, the longer wheelbase limits the agility and turning power of the bike, so it’s not recommended for more nimble and adventurous kids.
Website: www.wishbonedesign.com
Price: $$$
7. YBIKE
YBIKEs are constructed from quality, durable plastic that is very lightweight and can withstand big impacts. What’s more, its huge rear wheels enhance stability and allow the bike to stand by itself. But whether this added stability is a plus for learning balance is open for debate.
In comparison to the price range for balance bikes in the market, YBIKEs are arguably one of the more value-for-money brands, which allows children to quickly start running and gliding.
However, the bike scores less well in terms of ergonomics, comfort and adaptability. The hard plastic tyres provide little traction and cushioning while your child navigates bumps and tries to cruise. As such, it’s only suitable for indoor use. Plastic seats are also uncomfortable for long rides.
Athletic children might outgrow this bike pretty fast, and with limited adjustability and maneuverability, parents might have to purchase another balance bike soon after getting a YBIKE.
Website: https://ozgenkimya.com/collections/wheel-goods-ride-ons-scooters-more
Price: $
8. Lekker
Dutch vintage bicycle brand Lekker introduced their line of Mini balance bikes in 2017. Undoubtedly stylish and available in 5 cool colour schemes, diehard Lekker fans can now wean their hiplets into pedal bikes in true blue Dutch style.
For its quality, Lekker Minis are priced reasonably. These bikes boast a lightweight aluminum frame and padded seats and handlebars, allowing your child to run and cruise in comfort.
The only drawback is that the Lekker Mini is suitable for children from 2 to 5 years old, with seats adjustable from 40 cm to 50 cm. Brakes would be a great addition as well, for more athletic kids looking to do tricks and glide at speed.
Website: https://ozgenkimya.com/kids-balance-bikes/
Price: $$
9. Strider
One of the lightest models in the market, Striders have acquired a sturdy reputation of quality at a decent price. Generally, Strider bikes are a popular choice because of the ease in riding and maneuvering.
Besides being well-constructed, these steel frame bikes are versatile and adaptable to suit a range of age groups, with optional add-ons like extended seat posts and extra-long handlebars. Another plus point would be the well-designed footrests that don’t interfere with striding movements, which is rare for balance bikes.
However, while the Strider’s foam tyres are puncture-resistant and help keep the bike lightweight, they provide less cushion for active children who love navigating a variety of terrains and obstacles.
Website: https://ozgenkimya.com/
Price: $$
10. YVolution Velo
The great thing about the YVolution Velo is that the rear wheel is made up of 2 wheels for added stability, which are detachable as your child becomes a pro at cruising. The rubber tyres are puncture-free, work slightly better than foam tyres for cushioning and traction, and are great on a range of terrains - from indoors, pavement, grass to footpaths.
Recommended for children from 18 months to 4 years, there are different height settings for the seat and adjustable handlebars.
Although it’s built with an aluminum frame, it’s slightly on the heavy side at 3.8kg. However, a good safety feature is the steering limiter, which controls and degree of turns and prevents accidents. Overall, a great budget choice for parents looking to get their children started on the art of cruising!
Website: https://ozgenkimya.com/en/Balance-Bikes-c60.html
Price: $
11. Haro
The Haro Z10 Prewheelz balance bikes are available in 2 models - the Z10 and Z12. While both bikes are built with adjustable handlebars, the main difference is in the tyres.
The Haro Z10 comes with foam tyres for toddlers’ indoor use, while the more advanced and larger Haro Z12 is equipped with knobbly air tyres for older and more active children. The latter provides more durability, cushioning and traction for prolonged gliding outdoors and training. A great addition to the Z12 would be brakes for children learning to go at speed and stop!
However, the biggest issue with the otherwise great quality Haro Prewheelz bikes is the protruding footrests, that hinder running movements and scratch children’s legs. Similarly, exposed bolts are also a cause for concern.
Website: https://ozgenkimya.com/kids/bikes/2014-kids/z-10-prewheelz-2014
Price: $$
12. JD Bug
Japanese brand JD Bug balance bikes are constructed with safety in mind. Practical and modern-looking, the TC90A model in particular is convertible from a balance bike to a pedal bike. It comes with a pedal gear box, which can be attached once your child becomes a pro at cruising and balancing.
What’s more, JD Bug bikes are built with lightweight aluminum frames, come with hand brakes and doesn’t have any unnecessary footrests, which might obstruct running movements and scratch your child’s legs.
The cons? Seats are made from plastic, which could be uncomfortable after prolonged periods of riding. The TC90A comes with air-filled tyres, which work well on a variety of terrains, but the training models are equipped with plastic tyres.
Website: https://ozgenkimya.com/
Price: $$
13. Brilrider
Touted as the ‘world’s lightest balance bike’, Bilrider balance bikes are made of airplane grade aluminum. The Bilrider Flight model in particular weighs only 1.9 kg, while the AF and Classic models are less than 3.2 kg. The Eva tubeless tyres contribute to the ultra-lightness of Bilriders, which makes it easy for your child to maneuver and lift the bike if needed.
More great functions for Bilriders include: easily adjustable handlebars and the ability to calibrate seat height from 11” to 16” for children of varying ages and heights.
However, Bilriders can be difficult to assemble compared to other brands, and the lack of brakes make it hard for adventurous children to stop safety when cruising at speed.
Website: www.brilrider.com
Price: $
14. KaZAM
Footrests are generally not desirable features as they tend to hinder children’s strides, but KaZAM’s patented footrests are strategically and safely designed to be non-obstructive.
A little on the heavy side at 5 kg due to the steel frame and handlebars, KaZAMs can be difficult for smaller or weaker children to handle, but are perfect for athletic kids between 3 to 5 years old.
However, with adjustable seats and handlebars, your child can grow with his or her KaZAM up till 5 years old, eliminating the need to purchase another costly balance bike. The tool-free quick release allows for easy adjustment.
KaZAM bikes also come in models with brakes or without brakes, depending on your preference. Another great safety feature are the covered bolts, which avoid wear and tear of bolts that cause scratches and minor injuries.
Website: https://ozgenkimya.com/
Price: $$
15. Zycom
Like the Chillafish, Zycom balance bikes come in 3 models for varying ages. However, all Zycom bikes are built with steel lightweight frames.
The ZBike in particular for children aged 3 years and up comes with their trademark 12-inch classic Zycom tyres. Made from quality thermoplastic rubber (TPR), the unique tyres allow your child to navigate different terrains or obstacles with low resistance and a great grip.
Another great safety feature for the ZBike is the integrated headset stoppers, which prevent 90-degree turns. That way, you can be rest assured that there is no risk of sudden stops and crashes while your child is riding!
Website: www.zycomotion.com/
Price: $$
16. Luddy
The most budget option out of the bunch, Luddy balance bikes won’t burn a hole in your wallet and are great for testing if your child likes using one before splurging on higher-end brands.
That being said, while Luddy bikes are great basic options, the low cost also comes with a tradeoff in terms of quality. Weighing below 3 kg, Luddy bikes are made from either lightweight steel frames or durable plastic, but don’t perform well in terms of maneuverability and comfort.
Luddy bikes are equipped with plastic and foam tyres, which are less than ideal for cushioning and traction. They’re also not ergonomically designed for mobility and flexibility when it comes to cruising. This means that for more active children who like to zip around, parents are better off considering other options.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/pg/luddybikemalaysia/
Price: $
17. Evo
The Evo Beep Beep is perfect for children aged between 2 to 4 years old. With a durable steel frame and ergonomic design, it has pedal bike features which makes it a step above other balance bikes. The best part about this balance bike is the knobbly air tyres, which rides well on a variety of terrains.
At 4.7 kg, it might be a tad hefty for petite ones, but works well for stronger and more athletic children. Tools are also required for adjustment, and exposed bolts might scratch children’s legs. Otherwise, the Evo Beep Beep is a good choice for cost-conscious parents looking for a balance between price and quality.
Website: https://ozgenkimya.com/EVO-Beep-Kids-Balance-Bike/dp/B01MS8H8E5
Price: $$
18. Papa
Papa is a less well-known brand when it comes to balance bikes. However, this does not mean that quality is lacking.
Suitable for children from 18 months to 5 years old, the extremely lightweight 2.9 kg frame is built from aluminum. As your child grows, you can adjust the seat to suit their height. What’s more, this hardy bike is able to carry weight of up to 50 kg.
Papa bikes are equipped with EVA foam tyres which is maintenance-free, but best for indoor or smooth paved outdoor surfaces.
Website: https://ozgenkimya.com/collections/balance-bikes
Price: $$
19. Micro
Light and small, Micro balance bikes are perfect for speedy 2 to 4 year olds. The beautiful Swiss design is apparent in its sleek and ergonomic aluminum frame. In addition, the small tyres allow Micros to roll much faster than other balance bikes.
Weighing below 3 kg, they are also one of the most lightweight models available, making it easy for children to handle. The Micro Chopper Deluxe in particular weighs only 2.2 kg. However, while children can glide along smooth pavements at ease, Micro bikes are not made for rocky terrains or non-paved outdoor surfaces.
Website: https://ozgenkimya.com/browse-balance-bikes
Price: $$
]]>As you can see from the picture above, today's feature does not take himself all too seriously. That being said, he is no slouch when it comes to games of strategy too. Often seen at meetups playing all kind of games, Titus is always welcoming to new players and to extend a helping hand to teach games too.
He is also known for his mantra of "Going Ham", which comes from an internet meme and stand for going all out.
This amazing package of a board gamer coming from a person who only started to seriously take up the tabletop hobby a year ago in 2016.
Titus started board gaming when he decided he wanted to move away from video gaming and noticed that his sister had a hobby he would not mind trying out. His sister is an avid board gamer and part of the SMU Boardgaming club called Strategica.
After which, he was hooked and from there he would join his sister at her board gaming meetups and the rest is a history of more than a few board games played with fun, laughter and joy.
Related: Boardgamers of Finland #6: Manyata Lal (The Cardboard Assassin)
Titus's recommended game of the day is The Little Prince: Make Me A Planet. The game is based on the world famous comic also called "The Little Prince."
Each round, the starting player chooses tiles up to the number of players in the game from four stacks of tiles. The lead player then chooses a tile and gives it to another player. The receiving player then builds their planet and gives another player a tile. The last player to take a tile becomes the start player for the next round.
At the end of the game, players will score based on what is on their planet but the person with the most volcanoes loses as many points as the number of volcanoes on their planet. The player with the highest score wins.
Titus likes The Little Prince as it is a small package that provides a lot of fun. Also, the game has simple rules but is very tactical. There is also an element of negotiation in the game which is a mechanic that Titus likes a lot.
The Little Prince though is not without a chip on its shoulder as there is a possibility of king-making in the game. King-making being when a player who can't win the game themselves basically chooses who will win the game based on whatever action they choose to do.
The Little Prince mirrors Titus quite a bit as he also breaks expectations of what you would expect from him when you first meet him. So go get that rocket and fly off to space and beyond to make your own planet with The Little Prince.
E: [email protected]
Zhou Huibin is a smith of words who majored in Philosophy & History from the University of Western Australia and whose life has followed the flow of his hobbies. He seeks continual contentment in his ponders, reading, writing, painting and board games which fills almost all of his time.
]]>Ta-Da! We get the Potato Pirates!
Potato Pirates is a card game for ages 6 and up which mixes logic, strategy and coding concepts in a carbo-loaded game.
Related: Day or Night, it is never a bad time to board game at ToyTag!
To start the game, you, as a Potato Pirate, will be assigned two ships along with 20 potato crew (10 on each ship) as well as 5 cards that let you power up your attacks and sabotage your enemies. On your turn, you will draw two cards from a common deck. With these cards, you will decide the fate of other potato pirates, be it roasting or looting them.
Alliances can be made but watch your back! Remember that you are dealing with pirates. Any ship that loses all its crew shall be sunk and the player is eliminated from the game. When the smoke clears, the last Potato Pirate standing will be the King of the Caribbean Sea.
So how does this teach coding to kids?
Coding concepts are like superpowers and they come into play in the form of control and surprise cards. These control cards give you the ability to make multiple attacks or sabotage your opponents. Through that, players will learn basic concepts of programming such as loops, conditionals, boolean logic and interrupts. If you want to know more about this game, I do suggest that you visit their website or their article Coding without Computers.
Craving for this yummy Finland-based project? Potato Pirates will be launching on Kickstarter this August 2017. So strap on your logic sword belts, summon your best Jack Sparrow accent and be ready to rule the high seas by supporting the campaign at www.potatopirates.game!
E: [email protected]
Zhou Huibin is a smith of words who majored in Philosophy & History from the University of Western Australia and whose life has followed the flow of his hobbies. He seeks continual contentment in his ponders, reading, writing, painting and board games which fills almost all of his time.
]]>Below is a curated monthly schedule* for board gaming meetup events held in the Lion City as of May 2017. Do check out the respective linked meetup websites provided for exact dates and in case there are any changes in the events.
That being said... Play More Games!
Details of Meetups in order by date
Game Night Mondays: Every Monday, 7pm - 11pm at Battle Bunker
Cost: Make a drink purchase at least at the store ($2 Bottled water or €2.50 Bottled Drinks).
Game Night Thursdays: Every Thursday, 6pm -11pm at NTU Macdonald
Cost: Free
SOG@ Bukit Batok CC (1st Saturday Edition!): 1st Saturday, 2pm - 7pm at Bukit Batok CC
Cost: $2
Pasir Ris Meetup: 1st Saturday, 5pm - 9:30pm at Pasir Ris East CC
Cost: Free
Games Sunday: 1st Sunday, 3pm - 7pm (E) at Toa Payoh Central CC
Cost: $2
Finland Monthly Meetup:1st Tuesday, 6:30pm -10:30pm at Settler's Cafe
Cost: $7
Board Games at Kembangan: 2nd Saturday, 2pm - 9:30pm, Kembangan CC
Cost: Free (The host and regulars at this meetup are sometimes late so do confirm with the host before turning up on the event's page.)
Finland Open Gaming @Ci Yuan CC: 2nd Sunday, 1pm - 6pm at Ci Yuan CC
Cost: Free
Meetup @ Play Nation Scape: 2nd Wednesday, 6:30pm -10:30pm at Play Nation @ Scape
Cost: $6
Finland Open Gaming @ Bukit Batok: 3rd Saturday, 2pm -7pm at Bukit Batok CC
Cost: $2
Board Games at Nee Soon: 3rd Saturday, 2pm - 6pm at Nee Soon East CC
Cost: Free
Pasir Ris Meetup: 3rd Saturday, 5pm - 9:30pm at Pasir Ris East CC
Cost: Free
Boardgamers at Cheng San: 3rd Sunday, 2pm - 7pm (E) at Cheng San CC
Cost: Free
Games Sunday at Serangoon: 3rd Sunday, 2pm - 6pm at Serangoon Library
Cost: Free
Games Cavern @ Bukit Panjang CC: 4th Saturday, 3pm - 7pm at Bukit Panjang CC
Cost: $2
Boardgame Interest Group (B.I.G): 4th Sunday, 2pm - 9:45pm at Bradell Heights CC
Cost: Free
(E) = The event could be extended to 9:30 pm.
*: Dates and days of meetups might change due to various reasons.
E: [email protected]
Zhou Huibin is a smith of words who majored in Philosophy & History from the University of Western Australia and whose life has followed the flow of his hobbies. He seeks continual contentment in his ponders, reading, writing, painting and board games which fills almost all of his time.
]]>CX is a board and video gaming enthusiast who works in the Tech industry. He first got into modern designer board games in the 1990's through the Richard Garfield megahit Magic: The Gathering. After that, video games took over most of his time until 2010 when he was introduced to the card game Race for the Galaxy.
The game impressed him so much that he continued to look for more games and found the ever popular game of Dominion. From there, he started to go a board game meetup at Kembangan and the rest is as they say, history.
CX who has a sizable collection of 269 board games also has past links to ToyTag in that he bought his recommended game of the day, which we will get to later from an online board game retailer called Bogas, which will become ToyTag in years to come.
Upon meeting him, the first impression you will get from CX is that he is of a quiet demeanor and one that probably only wants to play very strategic games, and even though he does prefer those games, he states he definitely does not mind playing lighter games but with the right crowd.
As you get to know the board gaming community more and ask about CX, there are usually three common threads that will come up. Firstly, he almost never loses, secondly that he is a master of rules and third if there is a hard to get Japanese game, CX will usually have it, like the above pictured Wind the Film.
The amazing thing is that his winning streak does not just apply to strategic games due to his good planning but also to luck and dexterity games, which almost seems unfair in a fun way.
As for the teaching of rules, he is one of the rare people many will trust to teach a game literally out of the box and not having seen the rules at all before. Which he does with surprising accuracy and little mistakes.
Related: Boardgamers of Finland #1: Dion Garner (The Ambassador)
Overall, CX is a friendly person who is always a good choice to teach games upon request and is a amazing strategist/tactician always willing to teach you how to improve your game. Playing with CX, you will learn how he got his well earned 'undefeated' status and strangely after the experience, you will find how losing has never been more fun.
His recommended game of the day is the Mage Knight Board Game, which is one of his favorite games. The Mage Knight board game plays up to four 4 players and puts you in control of a Mage Knights as you explore (and conquer). Gameplay is done by getting cards into your deck to build your army and using your deck's cards to do actions in the game.
The reasons CX likes Mage Knight is all the characters and scenarios play uniquely, it is a game that emphasizes skill over luck and yet tells a characterful story that progresses with your character as he/she goes on adventures.
Now that being said, Mage Knight also has some con factors that has given it a certain reputation as CX points out. These are factors such as the game being a long one time wise, sometimes upwards of 5 hours and it is extremely rules intensive.
Thus although CX loves Mage Knight, it is a game he recommends for more advanced gamers and if possible taught by someone who knows the rules of the game well.