Editing Board game (section)

==Software==
{{main|Digital tabletop game}}
Many board games are now available as video games. These are aptly termed digital board games, and their distinguishing characteristic compared to traditional board games is they can now be played [[Internet|online]] against a computer or other players. Some websites (such as boardgamearena.com, yucata.de, etc.)<ref name="onlineboard">{{Cite web |date=25 February 2019 |title=6 Best Sites to Play Board Games Online for Free |url=https://mykindofmeeple.com/play-modern-board-games-online/ |access-date=23 January 2021 |website=Mykindofmeeple.com}}</ref> allow play in [[real time (media)|real time]] and immediately show the opponents' moves, while others use email to notify the players after each move.<ref name="chessbyemail">{{Cite web |title=U3a International Chess by Email |url=http://www.u3abroadbeach.com/chess-by-email.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015070203/http://www.u3abroadbeach.com/chess-by-email.html |archive-date=15 October 2014 |access-date=8 October 2014}}</ref> The Internet and cheaper home printing has also influenced board games via print-and-play games that may be purchased and printed.<ref name="printplay">{{Cite web |title=Print & Play |url=http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1120/print-play |access-date=8 October 2014 |website=Boardgamegeek.com}}</ref> Some games use external media such as audio cassettes or DVDs in accompaniment to the game.<ref name="dvdgames">{{Cite web |title=DVD Board Games |url=http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamefamily/7348/dvd-board-games |access-date=8 October 2014}}</ref><ref name="cassettegames">{{Cite web |title=Audio Cassette Board Games |url=http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamefamily/7477/audio-cassette-board-games |access-date=8 October 2014 |website=Boardgamegeek.com}}</ref>

{{anchor|Virtual tabletop}}There are also [[virtual tabletop]] programs that allow online players to play a variety of existing and new board games through tools needed to manipulate the game board but do not necessarily enforce the game's rules, leaving this up to the players. There are generalized programs such as ''[[Vassal Engine|Vassal]]'', ''[[Tabletop Simulator]]'' and ''[[Tabletopia]]'' that can be used to play any board or card game, while programs like ''[[Roll20]]'' and ''[[Fantasy Grounds]]'' are more specialized for role-playing games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Charlie |date=22 April 2015 |title=D&D now on Steam, complete with dice and a Dungeon Master |url=http://www.polygon.com/2015/4/22/8470473/dungeons-dragons-virtual-tabletop-fantasy-grounds |access-date=10 April 2017 |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Charlie |date=1 December 2016 |title=Tabletopia is slick as hell, and it's free on Steam |url=https://www.polygon.com/2016/12/1/13806190/tabletopia-steam-board-games-free-to-play |access-date=7 September 2017 |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]}}</ref> Some of these virtual tabletops have worked with the license holders to allow for use of their game's assets within the program; for example, ''Fantasy Grounds'' has licenses for both ''Dungeons & Dragons'' and ''[[Pathfinder (periodicals)|Pathfinder]]'' materials, while ''Tabletop Simulator'' allows game publishers to provide [[microtransaction|paid downloadable content]] for their games.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SmiteWorks USA, LLC |url=http://www.fantasygrounds.com/press/ |access-date=21 July 2017 |website=Fantasy Grounds |publisher=SmiteWorks}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Conner |first=Alice |date=1 October 2015 |title=Cosmic Encounter Officially Invades Tabletop Simulator |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/10/01/cosmic-encounter-tabletop-simulator/ |access-date=1 August 2016 |website=[[Rock Paper Shotgun]]}}</ref> However, as these games offer the ability to add in the content through [[mod (video gaming)|user modifications]], there are also unlicensed uses of board game assets available through these programs.<ref name="gamasutra interview">{{Cite web |last=Wawro |first=Alex |date=3 July 2015 |title=Mod Mentality: How Tabletop Simulator was made to be broken |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/mod-mentality-how-i-tabletop-simulator-i-was-made-to-be-broken |access-date=8 July 2015 |website=[[Gamasutra]]}}</ref>