NewsBiscuit

Board game manufacturer Waddingtons is predicting a huge hit with its new board game ‘Family Punch Up’ which it is modelled upon the festive season in the average English family home.

Players move around the board experiencing typical family Christmas mishaps and gain points for ruining the special day with bitter personal asides exploding years of bottled-up resentment. Characters include ‘Brooding teen’, ‘Unfaithful Dad’, ‘Martyred Mum’, and ‘Obviously Lesbian Auntie in complete denial’.

Against a backdrop of crying toddlers, impossible to assemble toys and all day drinking; the tension increases as grandparents repeatedly turn up the central heating and the TV volume until a full blown screaming row is guaranteed.

‘The fighting can be triggered by the smallest of things’ said a proud Waddington’s spokesman. ‘A casually racist remark from Granny about the BBC having a black newsreader maybe? Or drunken Dad under the mistletoe and kissing his sister-in-law with tongues.’

Players pick up ‘Unhappy Family cards’ describing familiar seasonal scenarios such as ‘Creepy Uncle hugs teenage neice for slightly too long’ or ‘Granny drinks entire bottle of cooking sherry; prepare for over-aggressive accusation that “You’re all glad my Ron’s dead”.’ The last one left sobbing alone at the Christmas dinner after everyone else has stormed out is the winner.

‘This is the perfect game for the whole family to play on Christmas afternoon’ said Waddingtons. ‘Except that we have made the rules deliberately vague and contradictory so that over-competetive family members will end up fighting about what it says in the instructions before they’ve even started.’

Posted: Dec 3rd, 2009 by antharrison