DuckDuckGoDuck, Duck, Go!
Ape Games, 2008

Who doesn’t love rubber duckies? Who wouldn’t love to play a game that uses real rubber duckies for pawns? Not me. I LOVE ’em. And this game is the perfect combination of toy value, theme and good game play. Each game comes with a variety of rubber duckies, so each game is slightly different, and you can purchase other types of duckies to add variety to your game. The type of ducky has no game effect (other than “bird dogs” see below), so you can use superhero ducks, christmas ducks, or any other theme that you like.

Duck, Duck, Go! is a racing game, much like Robo Rally. In Duck, Duck, Go, you are duckies that are racing around a bathtub (modular board) trying to touch each buoy, and be the first to reach the drain. You move your duckie with movement cards played from your hand, and revealed simultaneously and resolved based on the numbers on the cards. The boards is modular and can be arranged to form many different combinations. Each board piece is made up of seven hexagonal spaces. Some spaces have life rings which act as transporters, and one piece has the drain. The buoys are cardboard pieces which can be placed in any location on the board. The game comes with a few “starter” board combinations, but you can change it up however you want, making this game have a lot of re-playability.

There is a basic game, and an advanced game included in the box. The advanced game adds some special actions, as well as a “bird” dog duckie. As a “catch up” mechanism, the last player “controls” the bird dog, using it to block or set back other players.

This is a good way to get kids to learn higher strategy games. The duckies are fun and the theme is entertaining. It’s a race, so it keeps the action going and keeps everyone in the game. The movement is more complex because it uses hexes instead of squares. Some people with spatial difficulties may have some problems with the movement.

I think this game may be out of print, so if you find a copy, pick it up. And pick up a few extra duckies while you’re at it.

Recommended.

  1. Call to Order
  2. Minutes from last meeting plus Introductions of people in attendance. Minutes were posted online and on list.
  3. Treasurer’s Report — we have money.
  4. AnimeIowa Report (July 29-31, 2016) (Coralville Marriott)
    1. Pre-Registration count is currently about 2,054 attendees, expect total of about 4,000 with at the door registrations.
    2. Cost at the door will be $60.
    3. Moving to Des Moines in 2018.
  5. ICON Report (#41 October 28-30, 2016) (Cedar Rapids Marriott)
    1. Working on a Children’s Programming Track, Harry Potter Children’s LARP.
    2. Online T-shirt orders will be available soon.
  6. Gamicon Report (February 24-26, 2017) (Cedar Rapids Marriott)
    1. Tim is working on guest of honor.
  7. Old Business
    1. TrekFest, June 24-25, 2016 in Riverside Iowa.
      1. We have 2 tables.
      2. This is the 32nd year of Trek Fest.
  8. New Business
    1. Kirk Con (Riverside, 1 day con in the Riverside Casino).
      1. Tentative date is Sunday October 2, 2016.
      2. Planning costumes, games, vendors.
      3. Mindbridge will probably have a table in vendor area.
    2. Proposal for new square card reader (Jon) (Handout).
      1. Moved, seconded and passed to purchase a new square reader that can accept chip cards, to see how it works.
      2. Cost expected to be about $87.00.
      3. First use will be at AnimeIowa Registration.
    3. Board Member Nomination and Vote.
      1. Dennis Lynch said he was not running for re-election but will continue handing email to info at mindbridge dot org for us.
      2. Nominees were Michelle Weinard-McKibben and Katie Heckel.
      3. Ballets were collected, counted, and Katie Heckel is the new board member.
  9. Meeting adjourned for Food and Fun. Our thanks to Michelle Weinard-McKibben and her minion Mark for arranging the food.

Next Meeting: Wednesday July 6, 2016 at Denny Lynch’s house