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Battery-free FunHaving a Blast the Old WayBy Patricia KutzaThere are travelers and then there are smart travelers. The latter variety can usually be spotted in a crowd: They’re the ones who, faced with travel plans drastically altered by late or cancelled flights, detoured bus routes and other such out-of-their control scenarios, manage to weather them with a certain aplomb. More often than not, these intrepid souls are carrying their own fun to distract them from their travel woes. And to the great surprise of those who think having fun must be synonymous with using ‘battery hog’ electronic devices, they resort to battery-free games. Set Enterprises This fact is not lost on the creative folks at Set Enterprises. Their suite of five clever and colorful games offers up hours of fun for travelers who like to test their powers of perception and word skills.
Visit Set’s website for game tutorials, daily puzzles (created for most of their product line) and shareware versions of Set designed for both Windows and Mac users.
For me at least half of the joy of traveling is based in anticipation of my journey. This attractive spiral-bound game stoked my interest in this special place. It’s a great way to prep for a trip of the Outer Banks. Each question/answer page serves as a window into the history, flora and fauna of this special place. Do you know what sports fishermen call a ‘grand slam?’ What’s another name for the oyster toadfish? There’s lots of fun to be had within these pages. Images courtesy of Set Enterprises, OuterBanks.org Contact information:All of the Set Enterprise games are priced at $12 each (with the exception of the computer version of Set ($25) and can be purchased online at: www.setgame.com. OR By contacting: phone 800-351-7765 The Outer Bankers’ Trivia game also costs $12 (includes shipping and handling) and can be purchased by check or money order from: LIGHTKEEPERS COMPANY, LLC OR online from: Manteo Booksellers |
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Recently
in an airport lounge full of fidgety and cross customers waiting for
information on a delayed flight, I spotted a group of squealing travelers.
Among so much angst, what could they possibly be so tickled about? I peaked
over one shoulder and discovered that they were playing Quiddler. Billed as
the ‘short word game’, it is Set’s answer to those legions of Scrabble
enthusiasts who need a speedy dose of word challenges. It is also designed
for solitaire use. Like all the Set products, Quiddler is played with very
attractive and strikingly illustrated cards packaged in a box slightly
smaller than a standard-sized videocassette. 
Set
is the company’s centerpiece product, a game that tests visual perception.
It’s developed almost a cult following and Set devotees can also test their
level of skill with a daily puzzle published at the company’s website (
Both
Five Crowns and Xactika look like more traditional card decks. Here’s where
the similarities end. Five Crowns adds new rules (throwing out aces and
twos) and Xactika should appeal to aficionados of such games as Hearts,
Spades and Euchre, adding some surprising twists to the usual formulae.
Outer
Bankers’ Trivia, The Game of Choice, Volume 1