Free-range thoughts about design, writing, and play
Vast: the Crystal Caverns is one of those high-concept games that you really want to see work. It takes a hoary old theme — dungeon crawls! — and reinvigorates it with clever gameplay and visual designs. The question is: is Vast too clever for its own good?
We’re replacing a 22-year-old air conditioning system today, and the salesman did a fine job of reassuring us and explaining our options. When he learned I was a game designer, he also told me to check out something new and interesting: a multi-level marketing sports game from an outfit called United Games.
Lanterns has made a splash over the last year, earning plenty of great reviews and awards nominations. It’s a “lay tiles for points” game that looks a lot like Carcassonne, but is Lanterns likely to dethrone that classic game?