Issue 3.2

Dear Peter,

Just got TGR. Anyway, some comments.

1) I am not solely responsible for "Godzilla." The Godzilla variant to Manhattan was created by myself and Eric Moore after a comment by Ben Peal ("I can't wait to take a Godzilla from a White Wind game and play with this...").

2) Weapons and Warriors looks like the old Crossbows and Catapults game, except that W&W has 'triggers' whereas in C&C, you just had to knock over the flag, no men. You launched your disks and could fire them from where they landed. If you shot another players disk, you killed it. Why add dice and strategy to a game of flinging stuff?

3) Sports Dynasty is actually available in Kaufman's (a local department store!) along with a local version of Monopoly and a few other games. I'd hesitate to say if that's a good sign or a bad sign, but it is an increasing visibility sign. However, the US gaming industry is still pretty lame. I saw ads for a game called Mall Madness. A game to teach young girls fiscal irresponsibility? That's almost as bad as the "We have a product, let's design a generic game and attach our product name to it" train of thought that seems to be prevalent in most toy store games.

4) I got the Games Magazine ‘95 Buyer’s Guide and the Dec. issue of Games. I used to subscribe to Games (about a decade ago) and woah! was this a rude awakening from innocence. The buying guide had some good stuff (I am looking, although not too hard, for a review of Subbuteo. Played it?) and some bad stuff, the reviews are all upbeat and meaningless (imho); but the pictures and ideas gave me a mild clue.

But the Games 100? Where the hell did that come from. Seven measly pages, no pictures. When I was younger Games Magazine was touting Cosmic Encounter, 4000AD, and the like (I don't remember what other games they picked, I just remember those two from the pictures). Now, 4000AD and some of the games in the Games 100 were dogs, undoubtedly (from my tastes now), but I could see why you'd pick them.

Now they have MtG in a category with a computer game? *AND* MtG lost? (Like it or hate it, MtG has done more for the gaming industry than any other game since D&D, and has probably done more business than D&D has ever done). I didn't check last year, but did MtG win a category? And I see some VCR Spy Game that I had never heard of (either seen, seen an ad for, heard discussed on r.g.board, had a friend mention, nothing) _EXCEPT_ for the full page color ad they had in Games Magazine.

I think Games has seen the last of my money. I can live with nepotism. But if they are going to give favorable reviews to anyone who buys an ad, could they at least get ads from games I can buy at a store, and not solely from some possibly fly by night mail order place?

You could certainly ignore the dice in Weapons and Warriors and have just as much (perhaps even more) fun. As for strategy, there really isn’t any.

Games Magazine did a review of Subbuteo a few issues back. Apparently it’s been a perrenial favorite in England for years.

I’d have to check my back issues, but I don’t believe Magic won any of the Games 100 categories last year. The phenomenon hadn’t really taken off when the Games 100 issue went to press, and by the next year it wasn’t new anymore and so couldn’t win. As for nepotism, Games editors denied such allegations when I asked them at last year’s Gathering of Friends. Although it does look suspicious, I can believe the reviews of so many advertised games is a result of synergy rather than nepotism. Companies probably get more mileage out of an ad if the game is reviewed in the same issue, so when Games does a review, they undoubtedly contact the publisher and sell them on the value of placing an ad in that issue. At least one Games Magazine staffer reads TGR... Andrew, care to comment?

Hello Peter!

Well TGR 3.1 arrived and what a surprise! Nice new format. I've seen several zines of late use the "digest" format but your ‘zine appears to be better organized. Very nice job.

I was very disappointed with both Games Magazine's "Games 100" in their December issue and their 1995 Game Buyers Guide. Too many computer and video games were listed and many excellent board games which I had seen advertised elsewhere were left out. My particular areas of interest are abstract strategy games and wargames. Games Magazine listed several new and older abstract strategy games but also failed to list many other fine games. Some of the wargames listed are so complicated that only a small percentage of the wargaming community actually play them. Their game choices give the impression, among knowledgeable game players, that Games Magazine is using a very random approach to their game selections. Overall I found very little of value in these game lists and I haven't made any game purchases based on their choices.

My most recent game purchase has been Trax, published by the U.S. Playing Card Company. This is an older abstract strategy game first published in New Zealand in 1981. You get 64 high quality, thick plastic tiles with curved track on one side and straight track on the other. The object is to complete a loop or line of tiles in your color of trax (black or white). This is an easy to learn and very fast playing game. The quality of the game pieces make it a joy to play. I intend to buy a second set of Trax to increase my number of tiles and move up into the advanced version of the game. I've also recently purchased Time Agent by TimJim Games. This is a multi-player game (6 people) with some high quality game components and a rather obscure game topic; time travel/war. The game only has four pages of rules but I'm finding the play concept a little difficult. I haven't played this game as yet, but it does look challenging!

In order to avoid game burnout I often switch between games rapidly. Lately I've been playing: Trax, Shuttles, Ploy, Pipeline, Tri-Ominoes, Liftoff, Hornet Leader, Centurion, Football Strategy and Othello. My game collection contains only a measly 150 game titles. How I wish I had opponents and time enough to play them all!

That's all for now, Peter. I've really enjoyed reading TGR.

Trax is one of those games which has been around for years but which I’ve somehow never played. I know there’s a Trax mailing list on Internet, so it clearly has a following. Time Agent is another I’ve never played. It’s gotten mixed reviews from what I’ve seen. I’ve never seen Liftoff— what’s it like?

Dear Peter,

Many thanks for a year of enjoyment subscribing to your ‘zine. I hope you will continue to derive as much satisfaction producing it as I do in reading it.

First of all, let me tell you a little bit about myself (the short version). Now in my forties, I have been a game enthusiast since my early teens. It was in my late teens that I realized that my interest in games was a genuine hobby, and not just the small diversion in life it is for most people. It was mainly the Avalon Hill Game Company that was fueling my gaming interests with their wargame and sports games titles. I also dabbled a bit in statistical sports games. For many years my interest changed back and forth from sports games to war games (and once in a while card games were thrown in there). My hobby was becoming very masochistic as I was never really content with any genre of simulation games. Wargames were complicated, time consuming (both in setup and play), tedious, anti-social, and had a plethora of ambiguities. Sports games were luck-driven, time consuming (for season replay), and required constant outlays of cash for current rosters. But I finally found my niche in gaming— what I refer to as “multi-player strategy board and card games” (it may be pretentious, but I think it sounds much better than “family games” or what Sumo calls “fluffy games”).

It may sound strange to many, but I enjoy getting a good game, looking over the components, and reading the rules to see how everything works, just as much as actually playing the game. In fact, I have several games which I have had for a few years, which I still have not gotten around to playing. Yet, I still feel I’m getting my money’s worth. To pick my favorite games would be a difficult task, as I tend to put most games in temporary storage after a few plays. This is not because of failing interest (although, of course, some games are only good for a couple of plays). Rather it is an unfortunate aspect of always wanting to see some new games. For this reason, my favorite games are current favorites only, subject to change.

Anyway, let me press on to my current choices for “Desert Island” games, and yes, these are games I’ve actually played. In no particular order:

Black Monday by Salagames. Practically any game by Sid Sackson is a joy to play, as it invariably has simple rules yet ample opportunities abound for serious decision making and player interaction. This is not one of his best efforts, but I’m currently finding it to be entertaining, and perhaps more importantly, I have no problem getting people to play it.

Bazaar by 3M. I have just recently had the opportunity to play this one, but this Sackson design is a real gem. Normally, I don’t enjoy abstract games or even ones such as this where the game background seems to be pasted on after the fact, but this is a clear winner. I only wish it was still available.

Power Barons by Milton Bradley. I’ve only played one full game of this one so far but my friends and I have enjoyed it. It is essentially a card game but MB has unnecessarily added to the cost by including an oversized board with player pawns and many special tokens. This is just my observation but I also suspect that many players may welcome all the extra paraphenalia. Regardless, the essence of the card play is bluffing and “knowing when to hold them and when to fold them” as it’s fun.

Elfenroads and Santa Fe by White Wind. Alan Moon’s Black Spy by Avalon Hill was a big disappointment to me because it was merely a variation on the common card game of Hearts. But Mr. Moon has hit paydirt with these two winners. So much has already been said about these titles that I have nothing more to add except: buy them both!

High Bid by 3M. This one has been reincarnated as The Collector and now as Auction by Avalon Hill, but I prefer the better quality of the components on the original. The rules governing the use of the Buyers cards were a bit flawed but AH’s version cleaned them up. The name change (twice) obviously suggests problems with sales but AH’s desire to keep it in print seems to validate my opinion of it. The game was panned by the writer of a book written in the 70’s called A Player’s Guide to Table Games but from his comments I doubt he read the rules properly.

Conspiracy by Milton Bradley (aka Sigma File by Gibsons). I’m glad you’ve tried this one, Peter, but from your comments in a previous TGR I don’t think you gave it a fair shake. I’ve played it around 15 times and really enjoyed it. I did encounter what seemed to be a stalemate situation once or twice but this type of situation was due to not taking proper advantage of the options available to each player. Give it another try!

Hoax by Eon. The Future Pastimes team has consistently designed highly original games that play well. This one is sort of an oddball (even by their standards) but it is a unique and challenging experience.

Nuclear War/Escalation/Proliferation by Flying Buffalo. Although designed to either be played separately or collectively, I prefer playing each game by itself. However, if the games are played only separately, the deficiencies of the original Nuclear War should become apparent. Although a very simple yet clever concept, the game is often spent making useless plays, hoping to draw the “right” card. I developed a few rules to remedy this situation plus give players a few other choices to consider in card play. The additions basically remedy the frustrating situation of drawing propaganda cards when there are only two players left (with a war going on), allow a player to double or triple the megatonnage by playing extra cards from their hand, and allow an espionage play which involves stealing cards from an opponent’s hand (but not his deployed or deterrant force cards, which gives a meaningful purpose to displaying cards in a deterrant force). While still not a classic, I feel these additional rules make Nuclear War an enjoyable social game and more worthy of being included in this trilogy.

Magic the Gathering, Spellfire, Star Trek TNG CCG, On the Edge, by various companies. This newly developed genre of trading card games represents an exciting new dimension in game play. I have always been interested in fantasy and science fiction but did not care for role playing games due to the unstructured nature of play. However, these trading card games remedyy that situation yet are still open-ended to allow for countless variations of play with the addition of new cards.

In closing, if nobody is looking I’d like to smuggle a few other titles along, as it could be a long stay on that island. How about Amoeba Wars, Sleuth, Venture, Cosmic Encounter, TV Wars, and Clue?

You’re not alone in having games for which you’ve read the rules but never played. I’m sure I’ll get around to playing Extra Blatt eventually... Bazaar is a dynamite game unfortunately out of print. I’m actively searching for a copy, preferably the Discovery Toys version. If anyone knows of one...

I like the idea behind Conspiracy/Sigma File a lot, and am definitely willing to give it another go. If we get another draw, though, I get to give you a great big raspberry.

Hoax is a very confusing game to teach to newcomers, who usually take a while to grasp that you can claim to be any of the six characters at any time— even different characters in the same turn. Once everyone catches on, it’s a great game. The one problem I have with it is that the Wizard is much more powerful than the rest of the characters, which tends to give the actual Wizard an advantage over fake Wizards. Everyone claims to be the Wizard at some point, and eventually someone will get annoyed enough to call someone on it. If the person being called is the real Wizard, he wins. I’ve seen it happen a lot. But even so, still a good game.

Dear Peter,

Thank you for sending your newsletter and for reviewing Perspective... The Time Line Game so favorably. I am particularly impressed by the insights you had about he game, which show that you played it a lot. One complaint that game inventors have about the big game companies is that it’s difficult to get them to play the games. Regretfully, they only look at the boxes or, at most, open them up and peek inside. I can’t tell you how many samples have been returned to me with rejection letters, without the card packets even being opened!

So, I’m happy that your group is enjoying Perspective. And best wishes for continued success with your excellent newsletter.

Dear Peter,

Nice issue. I like the pamphlet format much better, although I noticed that my issue came in an envelope in spite of what you said in "Opening Move" (foreign postal regulations? [Exactly— Ed.]). "Grey Matter" is nice too, except for the background grey screen. I remember a physics professor telling me that a photocopier really functions mostly as an edge detector: I'd just switch to a grey box around the outside instead (and for the review summaries too) to make it easier to read. As for the "he/she, his/her" issue, I've decided to just ignore official grammar and use "they/their" for gender-neutral singular. I felt quite justified when I read somewhere that English grammar was only "defined" by Victorian cataloguers: for example, split infinitives are evil because in Latin an infinitive is a single word.

If I may boast for a moment, I did indeed find both Daytona 500 and Liar's Dice at the K-Mart just down the road from the last Gathering of Friends (the other copies didn't last very long). I've seen exactly one copy of Daytona 500 in Canada, last fall in a Toronto game store (they said it was a "one-of", and they couldn't get more), so the distribution system is definitely weird. Perudo (Liar's Dice without the board or the "show and reroll" rule) is cheap now at Toys `R Us, but given the lack of components in the box it should have been cheap in the first place. This December's cheap K-Mart purchase, from Manchester N.H. (I was down visiting my sister over the Christmas holidays), was Trump. I got this because of the favourable comments in an older issue of Sumo, and after a look at the rules and components (but without playing it) it does indeed seem to be an interesting game for exactly four players.

Cathedral was another purchase from my Christmas trip, and it's quickly become my favourite abstract strategy game. Given my normal dislike for this sort of game, I was very pleasantly surprised by how much fun it turned out to be. Consequently, I was much more interested in the reviews of Pyraos and Quarto than I would have been two months ago. And one of these days I'll have to give you something more to publish about Formule De than just hints.

I’m still playing around with gray screens to try to find a way to get an acceptable gray effect. TGR’s print run isn’t large enough to warrant offset printing, so I’m afraid we’ll have to suffer with copier defects for a while.

Trump is easy to come by at thrift shops these days and well worth buying, though you really need exactly 4 players for a good game.

I’ve heard lots of good things about Formula De. I’m not much of a race game fan on the whole, but I hope to give it a try at the next Gathering.

Dear Peter,

I received issue 3.1 (number 9) of "The Game Report" several weeks ago and have since read it cover-to-cover. Excellent work!

In your review of Perspective you comment on "the reaction of the people in my game class..." Do you either teach or take a class on gaming? You also mention "last year's Gathering of Friends" in your review of Sports Dynasty. Is this a convention of some sort? Also, you mention "Sumo" which I assume is a British board gaming publication. Do you have subscription information on this?

Later, in your Random Draw column, you comment on the differences between computer and board games. Reading this article pleased me no end since I had recently come to similar conclusions. After Myst had been named Game of the Year, I decided to review the past Games 100s. Looking back, you'll find that in 1980 (the first Games 100), there were very few solitaire games, and even fewer computer games. But in the latest Games 100, a full half of the games are computer games, most of these being solitaire. When I mention to people that I'm a game enthusiast, they assume I mean computer games.

Computer games are not games, but puzzles. There are those few computer games that can be played by two or more, but the computer is not a convenient medium for multi-player games. Many people reply to this by pointing to MUDs and Door games on BBSs. However, I dismiss using a computer as a moderator as being interaction. After all, if a games' artificial intelligence is written well enough, you can't tell if a computer or a human is at the other end. I need humans in the same room, and a table between us.

Too many people are relying on computers as a means of communication (witness our conversation!) and their personal interaction skills are degrading. As evidence of this I point to such overused terms as "by the way" and "in my opinion" that are abbreviated to BTW and IMO (my solution is to simply drop these terms altogether) as well as emoticons that are used by those who cannot express their humor or sarcasm (Shakespeare never used these!).

Admittedly, I take a somewhat extremist view. But, I'm not a Luddite who feels that our computer technology is evil. Nor do I think that computers can ever replace the tactile enjoyment that comes from moving a pawn, holding cards, or rolling dice. I do, however, feel that our present economic and governmental situation has created a society that spends too much time working and has too little leisure time. For that matter, coordinating this leisure time with others is so difficult that turning to solitaire games is too often an easy solution. I enjoy Infocom adventure games, X-Wing and TIE Fighter, Doom and Doom II, as well as many other computer games--but if the opportunity presented itself more often, I'd play parlor games in their place.

BTW 8->, have you ever found yourself a copy of Daytona 500? It's one of my favorite games, although I'm somewhat biased--I conceived of the idea myself less than a year before it came out! However, my theme was horse-racing, and players secretly placed bets prior to the race. Players would attempt to get their horses to win while keeping those horses a secret (no easy task!).

By now you’ve gotten your back issues, so you’ve probably seen the Random Draw column where I talk about my games class. The Gathering of Friends is an annual event (early May this year) run by Alan Moon, to which all TGR readers are invited (call him at 508-927-1184 for details). It’s most fun gaming event of the year— don’t miss it. And yes, I’m still looking for a copy of Daytona 500.