Looking for a game that can easily fit into the busy lifestyle of today's kids? Take a look at this review of X-Ceter-O. It looks like Kim may have found just the thing.
Game Review: X-Ceter-O
by Kim Vandenbroucke, The Game Aisle
Games with a "very familiar feel" can be the easiest to squeeze into small breaks in the classroom. With only a sentence or two of instruction you can get players started which allows for more playing and less explaining. The game X-Ceter-O is based on classic tic-tac-toe and players can learn in less than a minute, but unlike the dull paper-based game of Tic-Tac-Toe, it requires strategy and planning ahead to win – and there is ALWAYS a winner!
X-Ceter-O by Endless Games is a great classroom find. It retails for a little over $10 and includes only 6 pieces (3 Xs and 3 Os) and a tic-tac-toe grid which can easily be replaced by a hand drawn one if the original gets damaged. While it’s only a 2-player game, the rounds are quick so lots of games can be played in a relatively small amount of time. It’s also great for a wide variety of ages and skill levels because you just need to know how to play tic-tac-toe.
To play, each student gets 3 Xs or 3 Os and the Xs and Os are numbered 1-3. Students must play their Xs or Os on the tic-tac-toe grid in numerical order and once all 3 of their movers are on the board they must continue to move them in numerical order. So once you’ve played your #3X, on your next turn you’ll have to move your #1X to an open space. First player to get their three Xs or Os in a row wins!
Ann Tucker, Special Education Teacher at Talman School, part of the Chicago Public School system, said the following about X-Ceter-O:
I love the X-Ceter-O game! My students often choose to play this game during their free time incentive. They enjoy it so much because it is quick and straight forward, yet challenging. It takes skill and a little luck so, every once and awhile, the students are even able to beat their teacher! I like the game so much because I know the kids are learning to strategize and problem solve while having fun. Students of all levels can play this game and it only takes a few minutes, unlike other educational games that are often too long to play during short free time breaks.
X-Ceter-O is what tic-tac-toe should be: easy to learn but strategic. And I believe it teaches some of the best lessons students can learn from games: think ahead, your moves have consequences and losing isn’t the end of the world since you probably have a couple minutes to squeeze in one more game!
If you're looking for an expert in the game industry, you're probably looking for Kim Vandenbroucke. Not only does she review games at The Game Aisle, but she also designs them and is one of those people that companies call when they need to have a game designed.
