First, there were articles about how Settlers being talked about as the new golf in Silicon Valley. Hopefully the people who were playing Settlers have figured out where they can find much better games. One of the difficulties in picking a game is to figure out a game where re-playability is high, the dimensions of luck are controlled, the skill to win percent relationship isn't too high, kingmaking isn't easy and the length of time dedicated to the game is known in advance. With the right board game, socializing around a board game seems like it should provide the same level of mental stimulation and socialization as golf. The main difference in function is that golf provides marginally more exercise and an excuse to get out of the house.
At around the same time, it has become more fashionable to look like a nerd. Well, maybe I should say that it has become more fashionable to look like an athletic person with good skin and thick glasses.
But it isn't just board games and oddly expensive** nerdy glasses that are getting main stream. Web comics targeting nerdy humor are more popular than ever and were the subject of recent article in the Economist. Around the same time, Forbes had a post on the rise of Esports. These are all trends that are hitting critical mass. The creator of The Oatmeal is able to raise millions of dollars for a Tesla museum, Penny Arcade is able to raise millions for Child's Play, a charity that puts video games in children's hospitals and there is currently a lot of money being spent and made on spectator video games. Next year they will be hosting three of their own convention, with the main one filling up Seattle's convention center and selling out in hours. Maybe money is all it really takes to catch the attention of the mainstream.
Board games, web comics and E-sports will remain a growing trend as the generations that grew up with gaming acquire more disposable income with age. It will be interesting to see how their inherently niche nature impacts their growth. There aren't as many people dedicated to debating whether or not football or baseball is a better sport, and when there is a question the existence of the other sport is not questioned as closely. With E-sports many people fear that if another game becomes respectable their favored game will become superfluous and disappear from the scene. This means that the rivalry is much more intense than it is among traditional sports***, especially for games within the same genre. It is still an open question as to which games will be the main representative of their genre 5 years from now and how long any one game can stay at the top given how faster computers and gaming company's desire for more sales leads to newer versions of the same game being released every couple years.
Societal trends like this almost make up for how shows like Jersey Shore are creating celebrities. Almost.
*A high skill differential means that some games cannot be casually between two people. This is case with chess and go. It's also the case for many board games but they generally have some mechanisms for luck to sometimes turn the game in the less skilled player's favor.
** Hat tip to VP
***It will probably still be a while before a match shoutcasted by Day9 causes a riot in San Francisco.