The 2011 Spiel Des Jahres Nominees Are...

Matt Leacock's Forbbiden Island (Gamewright, 2010)

It is the Most Wonderful time of the year for board game designers and publishers. Today, the Spiel Des Jahres (SdJ) jury announced its nominees for the coveted German Game of the Year trophy.

...and the 2011 nominees are:
-Asra
-Qwirkle
-Forbidden Island

But wait, aren't there usually five nominees for the SdJ?

Yes, but this year the SdJ jury decided to split the nominees into three groups. The three already listed are for the regular SdJ trophy. There were three more nominated for "kinderspiel des jahres" (children's game of the year), as well as for "kennerspiel des jahres," which goes to the best complex game of the year.

You can find the full list of nominations at the SdJ website.

A list of 12 other "recommended" games was also announced by the jury. Apparently these are games that didn't make the cut, but might be worth your time and money anyways. Check out those recommended games here.

Board Game Are Management Tools

Don't tell me they can't. They can!

Board games Can help train managers. They Can help foster skills for better management decision making.

I am not alone in this bizarre type of thinking.

In an interesting, although somewhat dated, article by Ari Manor, board games are highlighted as versatile training tools. Board games, teach teamwork, decisions under pressure and logic among other skills.

Manor, a CEO himself, says that "Quite a few senior managers say that the skills and habits they acquired in playing games give them an extra edge in business and in management. This includes handling fast changes, taking calculated risks, self-discipline, improved memory, "coolness" under pressure, and determination to carry-through the right strategy - even if it leads to short-term loss."


He suggests several games for developing management skills in the article, which you can find here, none of which I have played, unfortunately, but I am certain that another could be added to the list: Forbidden Island by Matt Leacock.

What better way to learn '"coolness" under pressure' than when the island you traverse with your team mates begins sinking under your feet?!

AND SO, I undertook my own quest to find Forbidden Island's nugget of training treasure.

Details on Thursday!