Welcome to Missing in Action, a column solemnly dedicated to the non-existent memories all of the games we wish we could be playing. This is intended as a free and public service, so there’s no need to thank us. Hell, we’ll even consult with you if you want to make one of these games – as long as the end product doesn’t suck.

This month’s installment is dedicated to a genre that mainstream gaming has almost completely ignored:

Board Games

I’m not trying to say that there’s never been a video game based on a board game – they’re definitely out there. Even recent games like Settlers of Catan and Carcassone prove that this genre works well in digital form, but why don’t we see more of these games?

Microsoft recently announced that they’ll be bringing “Scene It?,” the movie trivia game, to Xbox 360 and I couldn’t be happier about this announcement. It comes with four “big button” controllers; aptly named for the single large button right in the center of the small ergonomic design (the button actually hides a d-pad). This game, which comes with the disc and four controllers for the regular price of $60, should bring a whole new group of users to 360’s around the globe. Easy access to easy-to-play games is key when translating board games for console play, and that’s just what these streamlined controllers provide. So what’s next?

We’ve got Mario Party, which is probably the closest thing to a board-video-game, but I’d like to see more traditional fare as well. We’ve got Backgammon and the like, but where is my downloadable Xbox Live Arcade Monopoly? Where’s the Milton Brady Family Pack for the Wii? How about Go on PS3? Risk? Anybody?

(Note: During the day prior to posting this article, Atari announced that they have renewed their license with Hasbro, which very well may lead to an upcoming release of games like Monopoly, Risk, Scrabble, and more Dungeons and Dragons games.)

Board games, for the uninitiated, are the things that some of us used to play prior to being able to interact with our televisions and computers. Before CDs and rumble packs, we had dice and draw-cards. What I don’t understand is how these conventions haven’t been translated to the virtual world.

Especially with the possibilities that the new controllers like the Wii-mote and Big Button controller provide, it seems like now is the time to bring these games to the small screen. Not only are games like these easier to control than ever, but the opportunities provided by each system are something wholly new. How about a game of Risk that actually takes place on Xbox Live across multiple continents? How about 8-player online Monopoly? How about Pop-O-Matic Trouble using the Wii-mote as the popper? How about traditional board gameplay with cinematic interludes?

And it’s not just traditional play, either. Games like Mario Party show us exactly what could be done to expand on all our old favorite board games. More than a simple “roll the dice, move, wait, repeat” gameplay, this format could allow us to take our childhood memories and relive them in a whole new way. Interludes of minigames between turns or replacing the luck of dice rolls with skill games could lead to a whole new level of competition and fun.

Board games, to put it simply, work great both as party games and as online games. Sure, you can play against AI if you want to hone your skills, but in the age of social gaming these games provide a great opportunity. Playing games like these operates at a wholly different pace than FPS or MMO games and can lead to the development of real friendships and rivalries. All I can say for sure is that when we eventually see the (hopefully) inevitable version of online Monopoly, I get to play as the dog. Or the thimble – I’m willing to compromise.