A plug for the two online sites I have frequented for game purchases, Fungain.com and Fairplaygames.com.
The first, Funagain, was the first site I frequented heavily. They have an extensive "Amazon.com" style review system, 2-3 photos of the game box, and some good linking resources. I even wrote a review for one game (Star Wars: Queen's Gambit).
Their prices are decent, typically 15-20% off. They occasionally have a sale, sometimes up to 30% off, and have a good selection of "ding and dents". They shipped quickly on my orders, and were available by phone when I had a question.
Their best feature is their "shopping lists". During the early phases of my Brettspiel collecting (right after discovering Settlers, and then the 'Geek, etc.) this was invaluable as I constantly evaluated and reevaluated games to determine what I was looking for.
Recently, I've tried Fairplaygames. These folks have amazingly fast shipping, daily 30%+ discounts, free or descounted shipping on large purchases (currently $125, or half off on $80 orders).
No frills like reviews, often no photos (or just a photo of the box), no "wish lists", few game highlights. Basically, just hot links to Boardgamegeek, and fantastic prices.
Funagain claims that they match prices, although I have never tried this. I check them daily, and they have a nice looking site. I've tired of their user reviews (most of them by casual gamers, generally only positive comments), so I've split time with Fairplay.
Update: as of 11/24/05, Funagain has added "frequent buyer points" to their purchase program, and have begun selling exclusives, like a new version of Carcassone only available from them! They also consistantly seem to have a deeper selection that Fairplay, and I've been able to find some games there that I've found nowhere else! I recommend checking both retailers!
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Friday, June 17, 2005
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Gaming Ethics (edited)
Post EDITED on 7/25/05, most new comments below in BOLD
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A fascinating subject, one that I would love to discuss with you all, is the subject of gaming ethics. Check out this article, from the Games Journal.
Consider this quote regarding sportsmanship:
"With regards to sportsmanship, you could say that most principles of sportsmanship are also basically ethical, with a few exceptions. Basically, the principles of sportsmanship are: don't quit, don't whine, do your best, play fairly, win gracefully, lose gracefully, abide by any decisions of the referees, and keep the game moving. All of these principles ensure that people a) don't feel that their time has been wasted, and b) have fun in the process."
The article discusses many aspects of gaming behaviors, including "metagaming", whereby results or events in one game are carried to the other. For example, attacking a certain player in Risk because he beat you in the previous game. Or, forming an alliance with a player in exchange for preferential treatment in the next.
One example which we had some discussion about was a situation in Serinissima, where a player (me) was overly agressive in gathering resources in the early stages of play. This made me an easy target for a second player (my Dad).
I argued against being attacked, suggesting other ways for my Dad to balance my apparent advantage, perhaps by alliance, or some other form of compensation. As leverage, I threatened that if he attacked me (which would have certainly knocked me out of contention for a win), I would spend all remaining resources on counter-attack for the rest of the game, even if it pushed a third player (my brother) into a winning position (which it certainly would).
In other words, the argument to my Dad was:
"If you attack me, I will spend the rest of the game attacking you back (with no chance of actually defeating you), effectively handing the victory my brother (who would certainly benefit from the war between the two of us). This will basically insure that neither of us can win."
If I did not employ this "poison pill strategy", Dad would probably have had a chance against Tab, and in fact I would have as well, although I would have had a better one than Dad. So I was offering a small chance for Dad, a decent one for me and Tab, OR ZERO chance for Dad and I, and hand Tab the game.
Naturally, Dad refused to see my logic, and attacked me. I fought back futilely, and Tab won the game.
In the end, both of them argued that I had behaived poorly, that he was not given any real choice but to attack me because I had over extended myself. Therefore, I deserved to be attacked.
Do you agree?
------------------
A fascinating subject, one that I would love to discuss with you all, is the subject of gaming ethics. Check out this article, from the Games Journal.
Consider this quote regarding sportsmanship:
"With regards to sportsmanship, you could say that most principles of sportsmanship are also basically ethical, with a few exceptions. Basically, the principles of sportsmanship are: don't quit, don't whine, do your best, play fairly, win gracefully, lose gracefully, abide by any decisions of the referees, and keep the game moving. All of these principles ensure that people a) don't feel that their time has been wasted, and b) have fun in the process."
The article discusses many aspects of gaming behaviors, including "metagaming", whereby results or events in one game are carried to the other. For example, attacking a certain player in Risk because he beat you in the previous game. Or, forming an alliance with a player in exchange for preferential treatment in the next.
One example which we had some discussion about was a situation in Serinissima, where a player (me) was overly agressive in gathering resources in the early stages of play. This made me an easy target for a second player (my Dad).
I argued against being attacked, suggesting other ways for my Dad to balance my apparent advantage, perhaps by alliance, or some other form of compensation. As leverage, I threatened that if he attacked me (which would have certainly knocked me out of contention for a win), I would spend all remaining resources on counter-attack for the rest of the game, even if it pushed a third player (my brother) into a winning position (which it certainly would).
In other words, the argument to my Dad was:
"If you attack me, I will spend the rest of the game attacking you back (with no chance of actually defeating you), effectively handing the victory my brother (who would certainly benefit from the war between the two of us). This will basically insure that neither of us can win."
If I did not employ this "poison pill strategy", Dad would probably have had a chance against Tab, and in fact I would have as well, although I would have had a better one than Dad. So I was offering a small chance for Dad, a decent one for me and Tab, OR ZERO chance for Dad and I, and hand Tab the game.
Naturally, Dad refused to see my logic, and attacked me. I fought back futilely, and Tab won the game.
In the end, both of them argued that I had behaived poorly, that he was not given any real choice but to attack me because I had over extended myself. Therefore, I deserved to be attacked.
Do you agree?
Friday, June 10, 2005
Game activities: Acquire, Settlers-online, etc.
Not much boardgaming to report on these days. Everyone's been bus, myself included. I have had time for a few online sessions of Settlers, and NetAcquire. My rating for Settlers is around 1650 in 15 games, and I have probably won my share in Acquire.
I did purchase a new game, China a few weeks ago. By the same company and developer as made Hansa, so you know I'm going to like it. (China is apparently an update to Michael Schacht's Web of Power which I have never played, but is ranked 79th overall in the world according to the Geek).
I did purchase a new game, China a few weeks ago. By the same company and developer as made Hansa, so you know I'm going to like it. (China is apparently an update to Michael Schacht's Web of Power which I have never played, but is ranked 79th overall in the world according to the Geek).
Sunday, May 22, 2005
Saturday, May 21, 2005
MS Catan Online is up!
Okay, it's official. Catan Online has been launched by (the most powerful) company in the world, Microsoft!
I've been following the development of the game for some time, and I know many of us have played the computer version. Microsoft signed a deal with Klaus Teuber, having the exclusive rights to the only official version of computer Catan.
Now that the online version has launched, there should be more to come, perhaps in the form of cell phone games, probably an Xbox version for it's Xbox Live! service (yay!), and maybe even the expansions.
This has to be considered a major step in the popularizing of German-style games.
Find me online with the handle: Phuntomx, or better yet add me to your MS Messanger Friends list: oberheu_d@msn.com
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Days of Wonder has some excellent online games, that are free if you own copies of the game. Ticket To Ride, for example (game of the year last year).
I've been following the development of the game for some time, and I know many of us have played the computer version. Microsoft signed a deal with Klaus Teuber, having the exclusive rights to the only official version of computer Catan.
Now that the online version has launched, there should be more to come, perhaps in the form of cell phone games, probably an Xbox version for it's Xbox Live! service (yay!), and maybe even the expansions.
This has to be considered a major step in the popularizing of German-style games.
Find me online with the handle: Phuntomx, or better yet add me to your MS Messanger Friends list: oberheu_d@msn.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Days of Wonder has some excellent online games, that are free if you own copies of the game. Ticket To Ride, for example (game of the year last year).
Friday, May 13, 2005
Play Acquire online
Discovered and online version of the 1962 classic by Sid Sackson:
NetAcquire!
Have played several games so far, very easy to find opponents, easy to use interface, and 100% free!
Acquire is one of the all-time classics, and was my first exposure to German style boardgames. I first played it back in 1986, was introduced by my cousin Bob and his family in Benton Harbor, Michigan at a family reunion. I've played the game over 100 times, and until Settlers of Catan, was the gateway game I used to introduce non gamers and American style gamers to a better alternative.
Currently published by Avalon Hill (in the Wizards of the Coast company), it has been continually in print over 40 years, and has had it's apprearance improved and upgraded over the years. The 5th game listed on Boardgamegeek, it is on everyone's all time best list.
Sid Sackson passed away recently, and during his life he was relatively unknown in the US, many of his games only being played and published in Europe. He is the American version of Klaus Teuber (Settlers of Catan series), and Reiner Knizia (Tigris and Euphrats, Ra, Merchants of Amsterdam, many others). Click the names of these authers for bios/home pages.
Look me up on NetAcquire as Phuntom!
NetAcquire!
Have played several games so far, very easy to find opponents, easy to use interface, and 100% free!
Acquire is one of the all-time classics, and was my first exposure to German style boardgames. I first played it back in 1986, was introduced by my cousin Bob and his family in Benton Harbor, Michigan at a family reunion. I've played the game over 100 times, and until Settlers of Catan, was the gateway game I used to introduce non gamers and American style gamers to a better alternative.
Currently published by Avalon Hill (in the Wizards of the Coast company), it has been continually in print over 40 years, and has had it's apprearance improved and upgraded over the years. The 5th game listed on Boardgamegeek, it is on everyone's all time best list.
Sid Sackson passed away recently, and during his life he was relatively unknown in the US, many of his games only being played and published in Europe. He is the American version of Klaus Teuber (Settlers of Catan series), and Reiner Knizia (Tigris and Euphrats, Ra, Merchants of Amsterdam, many others). Click the names of these authers for bios/home pages.
Look me up on NetAcquire as Phuntom!
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Downloadable board games on the web
For those days when you get the brettspiel "bug" and have no friends around to play with, you can sometimes find a version of your game online, and often for free!
There are many lists of these games available on the geek, and I thought you might find these links to some of the lists helpful:
List 1, List 2, List 3, List 4, List 5
List 5 contains information about downloadable PDA games for playing on your Windows CE or Palm Pilot.
There are many lists of these games available on the geek, and I thought you might find these links to some of the lists helpful:
List 1, List 2, List 3, List 4, List 5
List 5 contains information about downloadable PDA games for playing on your Windows CE or Palm Pilot.
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
$400 Settlers Game
A new Settlers game was just announced, with a retail price of $400 (listed at $319 at Fairplay). It's a 10th anniversary limited edition, with 3d pieces! Check it out here.
Yes, I'd like to have it.
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Update:
Kevin did some searching, and found this better link to the Mayfair site, with more information about the game, here.
Turns out it retails for $400, and will be available sometime in October.
Fairplay originally had it listed at $299, it's up to $319 as of 5/13/05.
Yes, I'd like to have it.
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Update:
Kevin did some searching, and found this better link to the Mayfair site, with more information about the game, here.
Turns out it retails for $400, and will be available sometime in October.
Fairplay originally had it listed at $299, it's up to $319 as of 5/13/05.
Sunday, April 24, 2005
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