Board games are on the brink of extinction ever since online gaming was introduce. Lives are being update over social media instead of over coffee and cakes. An actual get together is losing its appeal. We are all guilty of this. Imagine my surprise when at this day and age, I came across this board game called Goolee.
In today’s world, everything is going digital. Technology is taking over especially our lives. Everywhere I go, I see people sitting together, couples on a date, family out for dinner, friends get together and yet they are all separated. People no longer speak, they text even when across from each other. Board games are on the brink of extinction ever since online gaming was introduce. Lives are being update over social media instead of over coffee and cakes. An actual get together is losing its appeal. We are all guilty of this. Imagine my surprise when at this day and age, I came across this board game called Goolee.
I was on assignment for Pangkor Dialogue 2017 in Ipoh when I stumbled upon goolee. We were covering the Festival of Ideas in Kampung Karyawan Malim, Gopeng. So many events were taking place and a particular one caught my eye. I saw children between 12-15 years old sitting down, eyes on a board, hands moving without a care for their surroundings. I was intrigued and as I stepped closer, I realised it was a board game. There were big ones, small ones, something I clearly hadn’t seen before. It was amazing to see how each child’s brain was hard at work without them realising I had invited myself to this party.
At first glance, Goolee looked pretty self-explanatory. Instructions were pretty clear too. The colourful buttons were to be arranged as per the card given after which it was to follow the pattern of the following card. Seemed easy until you actually sit and make your own attempts. Now I know why the children’s concentration couldn’t be divided. Your mind needed to move quicker than your fingers. In that moment, no other problems existed except for the board game in front of you. Once I got the hang of the Goolee, I never wanted to leave the bench and returned to work! It was an amazing experience with the children so much so that I was looking for the person in charge as I wanted to purchase the board game. That was when I met Dr Zieman.
Dr Zieman is definitely a master of a few trades. Before creating goolee, he was an educator. On top of that he is also a practitioner of alternative medicine having a Medical Doctorate in Homeopathic Medicine. His other notable products include The Human Overhaul and KnowVenture. His involvement in Computer Based Learning at the National Level starts when he contributed his expertise in The MOE-MDC Smart School Task Force. With his vast experience as a consultant and academician, it is no wonder he knows just what to do to help people reach their full potential. I am not his only testimony, from the kids to the young at hearts, they were all addicted to Goolee. I tried talking him into selling me one of the board games but it was to no avail, although he caved eventually when we met for the second time for an event in Kuala Lumpur.
Goolee enhances knowledge in strategic thinking, problem solving, pattern recognition as well as team building. The board game is proven to help project managers in particular, focus and find the best solution for the challenges that they face. Personally, the game managed to increase my level of concentration along with the ability to recognize patterns. With goolee, you’re subconsciously awake and alert. Goolee ensures that human communication and interaction can be saved from its endangered status. It’s soothing to know that in the world of Minecraft, Jumanji remains relevant.
