Cheapass Games provides amusing and original board and card games based on the assumption that everyone owns at least one other board game with dice, pawns and money. (Time to dig out that Parcheesi game last played in 1981.) Their games come with instructions, and those materials which are unique to their game. You, the buyer, provide any dice, pawns, or money which may be needed, from other games. By not replicating these gaming basics, Cheapass Games is able to keep costs down and entertainment up. The games are priced anywhere from $2.50 - $10.00, with the average falling around $7.50.

But is it worth it?
"Now $7.50 is cheap," you say, "but is it well spent?" On their website, cheapass.com, is listed the gaming awards which several of their games have one, for both originality and playability. Besides, how can games with titles such as "Give Me the Brain", "Lord of the Fries" and "Devil Bunny Wants a Ham" not be fun to play?

Newmoanyeah has only had the opportunity to play one cheapass game so far, but several are on order. So keep watching for cheapass game reveiews. In the meantime, for your consideration, I offer... Unexploded Cow.

Cow-tipping is for Pansies
If you've ever entertained the idea of cowtipping, then this game's for you. Premise: Europe has hundreds of disease-ridden "Mad Cows" which must be needlessly slaughtered. France has hundreds of unknown landmines lying about leftover from the war. Objective: You do the math. Use diseased cows to "find" landmines by blowing up. It's simple. It's elegant. These are the two critical elements behind a great plan.

Mmmrrrr?
The game is an intricate balance of purchasing and placing cows in fields. You hope to blow up the cows valued more than their initial price in order to put coin into your pocket. So the REAL objective of the game, like most things in life, is to turn a profit and end with the most money. The less cynical view is to save France, as if anyone would ever really care about THAT.

It may sound simple, but several obstacles begin to crop up. Other players may place "spy cows" in your field, cow ownership may change hands several times, and not neccessarily to your advantage or liking. Some cows just "ain't quite right" and actually cost you money when they explode.

All Hail General Cow
But do not despair for there are cows and events which also work in your favor. For example, "General Cows" may hand off bombs to any other cow, "Mechanic Cows" diffuse bombs, and "Mad Bomber Cows" blow up every cow in a field. "Unexploded Cow" has that perfect blend of what makes games fun: Dumb luck and strategery (for all of you Bush supporters).

But is it Art?
As an added bonus for your $7, the artwork on the cards is a blast (no pun intended... ok, maybe a little.) Each cow is uniquely drawn and personalized with his own name, even if he performs the same function as another cow. Original ideas deserve original art, and cheapass sees to that.

Are we almost there yet?
So to summarize: Cheap AND a good time. It's like that date you always want, and rarely find. So splurge and spend the $7. You're worth it.