New year, new resolutions, new games, new thread, and new topics.
Resolutions first.
2016 is going to be the year I buy more games. Because that is every year. However, before that, I’m going to make a resolution to get some of my “underplayed games” played, and if I decide I don’t like them, try to find a buyer.
Currently, I have a bunch of games in my collection purchased on clearance or used, and thus got them at a great price. Yet, I’ve not yet played them. This includes Smallworld: Underground, Battue: Storm of the Horselords, and Munchkin: Some Spinoff. Actually, a better goal might be to get Rex and Chaos in the Old World played more than once. I mean, I spent like $90 bucks on Fief with the plastic buildings expansion, and I’ve only played that twice.
New games?
Well, they are coming. Honestly, I just can’t get hyped about games that only exist in protypes. So, I rarely pay attention to games before they actually come out. Yet, I have heard enough about Star Wars: Rebellion to be interested. Also, apparently a ‘sequel’ to the Age of Empires 3 board game is coming, called Empires: Galactic Rebellion that sounds cool. It is important to note that the second game is NOT in fact a Star Wars game. Which says something. I am also very interested in the Kemet expansion, but boy am I worried that it will add superfluous parts to an otherwise excellent game. Remember, perfection in design is not when there is nothing else to add, but nothing left to take away.
Which brings me to new topics.
Tom Vassal predicted more games utilizing electronic apps in 2015. That really did not happen, with XCOM being the notable exception. Which does not really surprise me, nor displease me. Making apps is a different skillset than making board games. Plus, my greatest challenge when board gaming is to get people to pay more attention to the game then their phones. So, I’m just saying there is a reason I go analogue about once a week.
Asmodee now owns Fantasy Flight and Days of Wonder, which is a lot of big brands and games. Also, apparently companies will not be able to sell their product online unless they get a special license. Best guess? Asmodee is trying to stabilize prices for brick and mortar stores by charging online retailers a higher base price.
So, what are you going to try to accomplish in board games this new year? Play more games? Buy fewer games? Avoid Kickstarter hype?