A Google survey has found that people in Taiwan spend more time on their mobile phones than people in any other place in the world. They spend 197 minutes a day, a high number compared to the world average of 55 minutes.
But despite the Taiwanese love for high tech devices, the LA Times has reported about a non-digital trend in Taiwan: young people gathering at board-game parlors. In the past 5 years, Taipei has seen nearly 50 board-game parlors open and become a place for people to make and meet friends.
The trend started around 2008, when a local publisher released Chinese-language versions of numerous global games. College students and young professionals got into them and the fun became contagious.
Game parlors usually charge NT$30 to NT$60 an hour per person, which usually includes a soft drink and use of any game in the shop. Some are open past midnight and sell food. Board-gaming also takes place in restaurants with live music in the background. So in Taiwan’s high-tech society, the old-fashioned board game has become an inexpensive option for fun and entertainment.