Escape Bodom

Have you ever played an escape room game? There are a couple of good ones here in the Helsinki region. Recently though a really cool new one has opened in Vallila.

Exit Room Helsinki sets you back into the year 1960 on a camping trip to lake Bodom. Does that ring a bell? Exactly, at that time the most mysterious and until today unsolved crime in Finnish history took place: the murder of Bodom.

Put together a team of fearless friends and solve the mystery around what happend 55 years ago. You have 66 minutes time. And during November and December all games are 20 € off.

Exit Room Helsinki will also open a second room soon. This one will actually be a whole appartment. And not anyone's but the president's himself. So stay tuned!

Check it out and enjoy the game!

Board game eldorado

Instead of heavy partying would you rathe be up for a relaxed evening at home this weekend? How about a round of board games with some friends or your family then?

And if you are still searching for the perfect game then go check out Lautapeli at Kamppi. The store on the 3rd floor has a big selection of board games both in Finnish and in English. You will definitely also find something for your taste. You can also buy their games online.

Check it out and have a great weekend!

Hockey Champions League

After a long break this season the Champions Hockey League is back. Several rounds have already been played and Helsinki's IFK is doing quite well. They are now in the quarter finals where they have to play the Swedish team Frölunda Gothenburg.

Why not join it live in the stadium? The good thing is that tickets to the CHL games are relatively cheap. For just 17,50€ you get a seat anywhere.

The next game will be in one week on December 2 here in Helsinki. Check it out and cheer for HIFK to win.

Miniature Golf inside

The miniature golf places in Helsinki haven't opened yet. At least the ones outside since it is still a bit too cold to play. And after all it's more of a summer thing, right?

Well, not necessarily. At Salmisaaren Liikuntakeskus a new indoor miniature golf court opened. FunGo has nine tracks with each two holes which gives it the whole 18 hole experience. The low light and the fluorescent colors make an even more special experience. Before or after your game you can make a stop at their small café, sit down and watch others play.

FunGo is located on the second floor of the building. The normal ticket for an adult is 14 €.

Have fun!

Mölkky – the Finnish summer game

Most Finns spend a big part of their summer at their summer cottages. One of the best things to spend time there in the middle of nowhere is with some fun games. A truly Finnish one is Mölkky.

The outdoor game that was invented just in 1996 rapidly became popular in Finland. The concept is rather easy. With a wooden throwing pin (called “mölkky”) you have to try to hit the other pins marked with the numbers 1 to 12. The winner is who scores exactly 50 points first.

The game can be bought at any toy or department store. But most Finns will have their own set already anyway.

Let's watch the Hockey Championships!

The Ice Hockey World Championships 2013 start today. As last year the games are partly played in Helsinki and partly in Stockholm with the difference that the last games (starting from semifinal) will be in Sweden this time.

And as last year if you want to see all the games you will have to either get a subscription to MTV3 total (24,95€), buy the games as a whole package (24,95€) or singularly (7€) online at Katsomo or find a nice sports bar that shows the championships.

All Finland games will be shown on MTV3 for free though:

03.05.    20:00     Finland – Germany

04.05.    20:00     Finland – Slovakia

06.05.    20:00     Finland – France

08.05.    20:00     USA – Finland

10.05.    20:00     Russia – Finland

11.05.    16:00     Finland – Austria

14.05.    20:00     Latvia – Finland               

16.05.    18:15     Quarterfinal 3

18.05.    15:45     Semifinal 1

              19:45     Semifinal 2

19.05.    16:45     Bronze Medal Game

              21:15     Final      

Let’s Kimble!

Do you know Kimble? It’s a board game for two to four players. And it’s a Finnish invention.

The concept is easy. Try to get your four counters once around the board into their save home. Be aware of the other players. They might send your counters back to their starting point. The dice you need to play that game is fixed in the middle of the board and to roll it you have to press the small plastic dome it’s covered by.

You will find Kimble in almost every pub in Helsinki. Or just get your own one.

Enjoy the game!

Angry Birds in Space and at Kamppi

Today Rovio released its new game Angry Birds Space. And at Kamppi they gave people the possibility to check out the new game. 

With a huge campaign Rovio advertised the new Angry Birds and even cooperated with NASA for that. Angry Birds Space basically works the same way you are used to from Angry Birds. With a big sling you have to try to through the little birds at the evil piggies. What has changed in the new version is that the rules of gravity have changed. Now you have to take into account zero-gravity and the gravity single planets have. Therefore Rovio made it a bit easier showing the player where the bird will go in advance. That seems to make it way easier than before but believe me it’s still tricky enough. But it’s hard to just explain a game with words. That’s why you should check out the following two short videos to get a better idea of Angry Birds Space.

Angry Bird Space can now be downloaded for Android, iOS, PC and Mac. Apparently the cooperation with Nokia didn't work that well this time since there is no version for either Symbian or Windows Phone yet.

Merchandising for the new game and its new characters (the birds looks have changed and the icy bird has been added) is just available in the US so far but will come to Europe in May. One of them is a book about space that Rovio published in cooperation with NASA and National Geographics. It’s a science book about space.