The Game of Life – Zapped Edition

One of the advantages board games still have over video games is getting players together and interacting with one another across a table. The new “Zapped” edition of The Game of Life aims to even the playing field.

Published: 04/05/2012

by Allen Rausch

One of the great advantages board games still have over video games is getting players together and truly interacting with one another across a table. Still, pulling kids away from the Xbox, DS or iPad can be tough. The new “Zapped” edition of The Game of Life aims to solve that problem and give you the best of both worlds.

By and large, it works. The box comes with a game board, pieces and fake money and you’ll have to download the free “Game of Life” app from the App Store. When you put your iPad in the middle of the board, the App automates a lot of the game functions. You spin an electronic spinner, the app tracks your money, how many kids you have, and a lot more.

The really fun part is the way it adds to the original game. Landing on spaces marked with certain symbols prompts you to trigger functions on the app that do things like launch funny videos from the America’s Funniest Home Video archives or play mini-games to get a bonus in your paycheck. You’ll also enjoy customized animated figures that change based on your path through the game.

The biggest annoyance is that the game board is a bit too small for an iPad to fit comfortably on it without occasionally covering up game board spaces. That being said, the Zapped edition of The Game of Life takes classic board game play and updates it for the 21^st century without losing all the fun that made it a classic in the first place.

Allen also recommends …

• Monopoly Hotels, by Electronic Arts for iPad, Free, ages 8+

• Scrabble for iPad, by Electronic Arts for iPad,$1.99, ages 10+

• The Game of Life – iPad Edition, by Electronic Arts for iPhone, iPad, $.99, ages 8+

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