2-25-14 board game resurgence

MANITOWOC, Wis. (AP) — Board games appear to be growing more popular in Wisconsin, due in part to the introduction of more games that rely on skill and strategy more than luck.  Over 400 people filled the Manitowoc County Expo Center this weekend for a board-game convention. That's up from about 50 when the event began in 2001.   Dan Kelm of the Sheboygan area started the conventions as a way to meet like-minded people.  He attributes the growing interest in board games to the introduction of more strategic games like Settlers of Catan. Kelm says before that, popular U.S. games were mostly "roll and move," like Monopoly.  He also says electronic games are fine, but board games foster social engagement where people are all having fun together.