Dale Yu: Review of Face Cards

Posted on November 29, 2017 by Dale Yu

Face Cards

  • Designer: Leo Colovini
  • Publisher: Ravensburger
  • Players: 3-7
  • Ages: 10+  (well, box says 10-99.  I’m guessing that super senior citizens can’t handle all the laughter?!)
  • Time: 20 minutes
  • Times played: 7, with personalized review copy provided by Ravensburger

Face Cards is one of the many party games that I brought back from Essen in 2017.  I find that I have a bunch of party games in my collection, and while many of them are similar, the ones that stick around are those that bring a new twist or gimmick to the genre.  This particular game breaks the rule because it doesn’t really offer anything groundbreaking – but I will say that it does it well and has never failed to cause lots of laughter.  I suppose the one novel thing is that this is the only party game that I have which I am also a part of. Continue reading →

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Dale Yu: Review of Invisible Ink

Posted on November 28, 2017 by Dale Yu

 

Invisible Ink

  • Designer: Martin Nedergaard Andersen
  • Publisher: Huch! & friends
  • Players: 3-6
  • Ages: 10+
  • Time: 20-30 minutes
  • Times played: 4, with review copy provided by Huch! & Friends

 

Invisible Ink is one of the many party games that I brought back from Essen in 2017.  I find that I have a bunch of party games in my collection, and while many of them are similar, the ones that stick around are those that bring a new twist or gimmick to the genre.  This particular game uses red-film glasses in a mechanism that is new to me. Continue reading →

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Flamme Rouge

Posted on November 28, 2017 by Mark Jackson
  • Flamme-Rouge_webDesigner: Asger Harding Granerud
  • Publishers: Lautapelit.fi & Stronghold Games
  • Players: 2-4
  • Time: 30-45 minutes
  • Ages: 8+
  • Games Played: 9 (with a review copy provided by Stronghold Games)

 

My ability to speak French is nicht sehr guht. Yes, I know that’s German, because that’s a language which I can (barely) speak/read. Which leads me to the beginning of this review.

I’m not sure how I’m supposed to say the name of this game.

I’ve been calling if “flaw-may rouge”… but then I hear Stephen Buonocore (the English publisher) call it “flaw-mmm rouge”… and as I noted a couple of paragraphs above, I don’t know enough about French to hazard a guess which is correct. I feel like a tourist that doesn’t know how to find los baño. (And that’s Spanish – which my vast knowledge of consists primarily of curse words and food items.)

Regardless of how you say the name, Flamme Rouge is an excellent game that occupies a particular niche in my game collection: sports games that capture the feel of the sport without being simulations. Continue reading →

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Wizards of the Tabletop

Posted on November 27, 2017 by gschloesser

WIZARDS OF THE TABLETOP

A Rogues Gallery of Board Game Designers and Conspirators

Authored by Douglas Morse
Review by Greg J. Schloesser

In regards to writing reviews, board games are undoubtedly my forté.  Having written well over 500 reviews (I lost count a long time ago), I have a bit of experience in that department.  Book reviews are certainly not my specialty, but when that book deals solely with the board game industry and the personalities involved, I am certainly willing to give it a go!

Wizards of the Tabletop is the creation of Douglas Morse, a board game aficionado and photographer extraordinaire. Years of work, including extensive travels and interviews, have resulted in this impressive work, a large, coffee-table style pictorial that tells the story, both in text and gorgeous full color photos, of some of the industry’s most renowned personalities.  The tome focuses on game designers, publishers and influential individuals who have greatly impacted the board game industry.

Each subject–be it a designer, game-related company, publisher, etc.–usually receives a two-page spread revealing a bit about that person or company and the impact they have had on the hobby and/or industry.  These usually provide interesting background and insights, and are sometimes accompanied by humorous anecdotes.  In many cases I would have preferred a bit more detailed information, but as the old storytelling adage goes, “always leave them wanting more.”  In any case, there is information here that will be of interest to anyone immersed in the board gaming hobby.

Continue reading →

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Dale Yu: Review of December 2017 Hasbro Gaming Crate (Party Crate)

Posted on November 26, 2017 by Dale Yu

Hasbro Gaming Party Crate #2 – November 2017

 

Games included:

  • 21st Century Problems
  • Hold That Face
  • Coin Hole
  • ** Extra bonuses!

If you haven’t already heard of the Gaming Crate, it’s a fairly new product that is specially curated by the folks at Hasbro on a quarterly basis.  It is set up on a subscription basis.  In general, there are two different types of crates: the Family Crate or the Party Crate.  As the name would suggest, the Family crate has games designed to be played by families or with kids of all ages.  The Party crate has more mature offerings that would be better suited for adults or college students.

https://www.hasbrogamingcrate.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/homepage?crateOptions=true

Continue reading →

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Alan How: Review of Alien Artifacts

Posted on November 25, 2017 by Dale Yu

Alien Artifacts

  • Publisher: Portal Games
  • Designers: Marcin Senior Ropka, Viola Kijowska
  • Players: 2-4
  • Time: 45 minutes to 90 minutes depending on player count.
  • Times played: 9 games played so far with review copy from Portal Games

 

I first came across this game in April 2017 at a convention. I was vaguely aware of it but intrigued to play a game. It was in prototype form and I did not know its stage of completion. Four days later and four games later I had experienced the changes that a developer could make to a game.

Continue reading →

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