Kickstarter Game Update: Week 2

[spacealien_vamp]

Not much new this week...probably because anyone who intends to launch a project is at GenCon running game demos to drum up interest.

Looking back: Week 1.

Game I Backed:
Havok and Hijinks

Status: Funded

Aaaaaagh! BABY DRAGONS!

Game I Viewed:
Legends of the American Frontier

Status: 33% funded

In this game, players are characters from the time just after the Revolutionary War, and they must complete adventures that earn points, eventually stringing together the tales of the characters' lives. While I find the theme mildly interesting, the gameplay didn't grab me. Also, the project seems to have stalled at a relatively low amount, so I have doubts about it being funded.

Other game-related news:
I've been trying to keep up with reports of games being released at GenCon, and so far two seem to be worth buying.

Lost Legends

This is a drafting game (each player draws cards, chooses one, then hands the rest to the next player) with a monster-fighting fantasy theme. It is currently voted the #3 best game at the convention. It's not a cooperative game, but at least the players are all fighting their own monsters, not battling each other.

Trains

This game is an American reprint of a Japanese deck building game about constructing trains. The game is modeled after Dominion, but it adds extra ways to obtain points via laying rails and building stations on a map. It also adds a mechanic whereby performing actions causes the player to draw "waste" cards that clog the deck and must be managed if the player wants to accomplish anything. I'm sad that the original game appears to be out of print (despite just coming out last year), because I would have liked to get a copy with the kanji for all the cards and locations. (The Japanese version was both Japanese and English. The American version is 100% English. ;_;) If any future expansions are released, though, they will be for the American version (which has different art on the card backs), so maybe it's for the best?

Comments

[mangaroo.livejournal.com]

Havoc & Hijinks looks adorable. I loved the interactive website they have set up to demo the game to potential backers. They've more than earned their funding. (I am, as usual, wrestling between "multiplayer game = no" and "kickstarter alternate cards = yes.")

[spacealien-vamp.livejournal.com]

I am, as usual, wrestling between "multiplayer game = no" and "kickstarter alternate cards = yes."

If it helps, you're always welcome to play mine anytime.

[wednesday-10-00.livejournal.com]

Haha, I knew you wouldn't be able to resist the baby dragons!

I'm looking forward to checking out the GenCon stuff once I'm back with my computer.

PS - hurray for Incredible Edpeditions being funded! On to stretch goals! (Come on, fancy dice!)

[spacealien-vamp.livejournal.com]

I knew you wouldn't be able to resist the baby dragons!

Predictable? ...Who...me?

hurray for Incredible Edpeditions being funded!

Yay!

[sara-tanaquil.livejournal.com]

once I'm back with my computer

Are you Up North right now, or waiting on the delivery of the new laptop?

FYI re: Incredible Expeditions: I met the developer during playtesting, and she mentioned that they are working on releasing pricing for the ??? goals very soon, as soon as they can nail down more of the underlying math, but she was thinking the top goal (the minis for everyone, I think) would be in the 50K range. Hopefully there will be more concrete updates soon.

[wednesday-10-00.livejournal.com]

I was Up North, but home now. (Though I am actually expecting my laptop today.)

I think the last IE update said she was going to try to post more details on the stretch goals today?

[sara-tanaquil.livejournal.com]

Havoc & Hijinks added to starred projects! Oh, my budget. At least it's an inexpensive one (I have no need to see my likeness on a card >.<).

Ooh, I didn't know there was an ongoing list of "best at GenCon," sorry I missed that. I took my laptop to Gencon but ended up having almost no access to wireless unless I paid for it, so I was limited to phone and ipad (mostly phone). Besides I was just too busy to spend much time online.

I spent every spare minute I had at GenCon demoing and viewing game after game (report to come, eventually), but sadly I didn't get to try either of those. Trains was on my list of games to investigate, but like you, I would really far rather have the Japanese version.

[spacealien-vamp.livejournal.com]

At least it's an inexpensive one

Yeah...though I'm a little grumpy that it's $10 (nearly the price of the base game!) for the four exclusive cards.

I spent every spare minute I had at GenCon demoing and viewing game after game

I don't blame you!

report to come, eventually

Hooray! I can hardly wait.

[wednesday-10-00.livejournal.com]

(now that I've had a chance to look some more at the games)

Lost Legends looks pretty cool. I would definitely like to try that. Not sure I'm sold on Trains, but I'm not opposed to looking around for the original Japanese version in December, if you want.

[spacealien-vamp.livejournal.com]

I would definitely like to try that.

I ordered both games, so if it's compact enough I might be able to bring it on the Japan trip.

I'm not opposed to looking around for the original Japanese version in December, if you want.

I would love that! (megory says she'll buy the American version from me if I can find a Japanese copy.)

[spacealien-vamp.livejournal.com]

Update on this: Lost Legends was delaying my order, so I swapped it out with Seaside. Depending on when it actually becomes available, I may add it to a later order, but it's beginning to get reviews saying that the replayability is not very good (repeated plays all feel the same).

[wednesday-10-00.livejournal.com]

Hmm, too bad! It's something I may look into later, but my list is growing longer all the time (right now I think my top priorities are Agricola, Arctic Scavengers, and the new Pandemic expansion), so...we'll see, I guess.

[sara-tanaquil.livejournal.com]

t is currently voted the #3 best game at the convention.

I meant to ask - which list are you following? I went to BGG, but while there were a lot of forum threads, none seemed to be a simple best-in-show list.

[spacealien-vamp.livejournal.com]

I meant to ask - which list are you following?

It's the GeekBuzz (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geekbuzz/overview) list. It's not technically a ranking, it's just a list of which games got the most "likes" from the people at the convention. The assumption is that the best games got the most likes.

[collarnojutsu.livejournal.com]

Spotty attendance on LJ, I know, but I just popped by looking something up, and saw this (!!).... Ya'know, the dragon game people are in NC and they held a launch party at a local game store here in town earlier this month. So adorbs! I actually backed this one, too. It's kind of sad & funny at the same time to see you guys all talking games now since I've basically been begging anyone who comes to visit to play games for years but no one really seemed interested. Now that I have several friends who like games, they all live far away! what!?

Speaking of said local game store, I was in there last week and spotted the sequel to Forbidden Island (Forbidden Desert), which I was surprised to see already (or maybe I just forgot when the release was?) so I nabbed it. I haven't had anyone over to play it yet, but I expect that will change this weekend. It looks neat.. just different enough. I remember you talking about FI before; have you seen the new one or played it yet?

[spacealien-vamp.livejournal.com]

Ya'know, the dragon game people are in NC and they held a launch party at a local game store here in town earlier this month. So adorbs!

I'm such a sucker for dragons--especially baby dragons!

have you seen the new one or played it yet?

I've seen video and reviews of it, but all the online sellers were out of stock when I placed a game order. It's on my shopping list for next time, though.