Not to be confused with the documentary with the same name directed by Morgan Jon Fox and released in the same year, The Hobby by Simon Ennis looks at the phenom of modern board gaming. The introduction quickly reveals the origins of board games: apparently, one of the very first games dates back to Babylonian times, and it was simply known as the Royal Game of Ur.
Flash forward a few decades, and in Egypt, Senet earned widespread popularity. Had this feature-length examination had focused on the past, I would still find tracing its history just as fascinating as the look at the present.
This work examines the motivations behind why certain individuals go above and beyond in pursuit of their passions. Mind you, Irving Finkel–the individual who starts off this film–is a hoot, and he almost steals the show. Only a third of the other passionate souls interviewed reveal their first time playing and what they talk about more is in what keeps them going. When I looked at some games like Arkham Horror, these rules heavy products are just that. To micromanage on top can be daunting. However, for those youths getting introduced to easier games, they may even get a heads-up in developing their people and cognitive skills.
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