Free-range thoughts about design, writing, and play
There are hundreds of card games built around numbers. You match them in poker and crazy eights. You order them in trick-taking and ladder games. It’s hard to imagine that there are any new twists on number card games left to be found — and then a game like Fuji Flush comes along.
Cooperation can be hard to find on the internet, which means the digital board game Mysterium is a breath of fresh air. But can a game that relies on unspoken communication thrive online?
When Civilization VI was announced, I sent a note to my friends and family: “Will be unavailable for several weeks after October 21”. But thirty hours into the game, I was wondering if I’d made a mistake.
The San Marcos Board Gamers have a new venue! On Thursday, January 12, we start weekly meetups at Cephas House, a community center run by the City of San Marcos. Our official time is from 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm, and we have a little wiggle room for long games.
A local-favorite card game reaches its 20th anniversary in 2017, and Amigo Spiele is celebrating with a special edition. Bohnanza: 20 Jahre adds a new look and a new bean to the game later this year.
I keep a game log over on the BoardGameGeek website, and it tells me I got in 235 plays of 80 different games in 2016. Here’s my top 10:
It’s almost the new year, and a good time to take a step back. How did 2016 stack up for the San Marcos Board Gamers?
It’s easy to take the success of Moana for granted. Disney animation is coming off a string of hits, and can reasonably be said to be in a third golden age. But what’s spectacular about Moana is only there if you look for it.
Evolution has become a local staple. I’ve taught it to all kinds of players who love the mix of simplicity and strategy. But can Evolution: Climate create a more strategic “gamer’s” experience without losing accessibility?
History, science, and technology have a magnetic pull for me, which makes me a natural customer of Dirk Knemeyer‘s publishing company Artana Games. I couldn’t resist last year’s Tesla vs. Edison: War of Currents, and was quick to pick up its new expansion, Powering Up. So was this trip to the past worth my time?