[iOS/MOBILE] Boardgame Adaptations Catch-all

Tagging, and props to shame on SommerMatt for bringing in screenshots and video reviews to further the enablement.

SixteenBlue wrote:
Teneman wrote:
SixteenBlue wrote:

Plague Inc is an original mobile game. Kind of the opposite of Pandemic.

Hmm, I admit I may have thought it was Pandemic when I bought it. Is there a consensus on which is better on iOS?

As shoptroll said, there's an iOS game called Pandemic that is similar to Plague Inc.

Pretty sure there is no iOS version of the board game Pandemic.The closest you can get to that is Forbidden Island.

... which is an excellent adaptation. I'm more likely to pull out the iPad version than the physical version if I want a quick play with my kids.

I think the only iOS board game adaptation I have that hasn't been mentioned yet is Dominant Species. $5 for the app vs $90 or whatever for the cardboard was a no-brainer.

Naturally, I haven't played it yet.

SommerMatt wrote:

Another one that came out this week:

Battle of the Bulge
By Shenandoah Studio

ERROR. Battle of the Bulge is an original game for the iPad, it was never originally a board game.

Consider me enabled on For The Win.

Forbidden Island is another game I've eyed for awhile. The kids love the physical version. I just couldn't see myself playing alone. Aristophan, are you saying you and the kids play on the same iPad rather than pulling out the board game? Does that work well?

Yes. You can put the ipad down at a table (or bed or sofa, etc) and all stare at it, or you can set it up as pass-and play and pass the iPad back and forth. It saves player names, has nice sounds and good effects. You don't get to play with the lovely chuncky treasures, but otherwise it is much faster to play.

Dang, that's too bad. I was going to use that $5 for something else. Lunch tomorrow perhaps.

Seriously though, that sounds pretty cool. I may have to pick that up, the girls would love to play Forbidden Island again, we haven't dug it out in ages.

Ok, first, read my signature

Second, I believe this is the entire list. I tried hard to ensure I didn't include stuff that wasn't truly physical versions:

Food Fight
Carcassonne
Ascension
Ticket To Ride
TTR Pocket
TTR Europe
Summoner Wars
Neuroshima Hex
Lost Cities
Titan HD
Fluxx
Stone Age
Nightfall
Small World
Forbidden Isle
That's My Fish
Tikal
Hive
Ingenious
Keltis HD
Army of Frogs
Tigris & Euphrates
Colony
Elder Sign
Ghost STories
Blokus
Labyrinth HD
Wars of the Roses
Battleship
Risk
LeHavre
It's Alive
Bang!HD
Bohnanza HD
Gubs
Zombie Dice
A Fistful of Penguins
Piecepack

I'll second that Forbiden Island works well with pass and play, or just setting the iPad down in front of everyone. My wife and I have played it a number of times that way.

My list isn't as extensive as some others, but here it is:
Ascension
Summoner Wars
Stone Age
Ingenious
Tigris and Euphrates
Lost Cities
Catan
Neuroshima Hex
Forbidden Island

Probably going to pick up the Penny Arcade game as well as For The Win in the next couple days.

SommerMatt wrote:

Cool idea.

My boardgame folder(s):

-7 Wonders companion
-Ascension
-Bang!
-Dominion
-Army of Frogs *
-Battle of Gundabad (Dominion clone)
-Blokus HD
-Can't Stop
-Carcassonne
-Catan HD
-Caylus *
-Fealty *
-Forbidden Isle
-Hacienda HD *
-Hive
-Le Havre *
-Lost Cities
-Nightfall
-Nueroshima Hex *
-Puerto Rico HD *
-Racer Feud (Formula Dé)
-Roll Through the Ages
-Small World
-Stone Age
-Summoner Wars
-Tichu
-Ticket to Ride (iPad)
-Ticket to Ride (iPhone)
-Ticket to Ride: Europe (iPhone)
-Tigris & Euphrates *
-Tikal *
-Zombie Dice

Sadly, the ones marked with a "*" haven't been played much (if at all).

Le Havre, Puerto Rico and Tigris are well worth the effort it takes to learn them - they're all excellent, engrossing games if you can get over the initial learning curve.

Gravey wrote:

I think the only iOS board game adaptation I have that hasn't been mentioned yet is Dominant Species. $5 for the app vs $90 or whatever for the cardboard was a no-brainer.

Naturally, I haven't played it yet.

SommerMatt wrote:

Another one that came out this week:

Battle of the Bulge
By Shenandoah Studio

ERROR. Battle of the Bulge is an original game for the iPad, it was never originally a board game.

Fair enough. Still, in the spirit of "board gaming" apps, I will allow it

Both SAN JUAN and PUERTO RICO are on sale for $2.99 each. Huge discount; not likely to be repeated any time soon.

San Juan

★★★★★ The exciting card game based on the award-winning strategy game Puerto Rico is now available for iPad and iPhone ★★★★★

The exciting card game based on the award-winning board game Puerto Rico is finally available for your iDevice. Experience the Spanish colonisation once again with San Juan.

Puerto Rico is at its prime. But can the same be said of this beautiful island’s capital city? Take on the role of the governor, builder, producer, trader or councilor and bring the city wealth and prestige. Are you smart enough to build the most profitable production facilities? Can you outdo your competitors with the most important buildings? Each building, whether a palace, poorhouse, smithy or silver smelter have their advantages. Who will finally win the battle for supremacy in San Juan?

Features:

► Digital adaptation of the card game based on Puerto Rico.
► Designed by Andreas Seyfarth.
► Stand-alone game, can be played without having played Puerto Rico.
► Interactive tutorial to make San Juan easier to play.
► Full Retina support on iPhone and iPad.
► Play with up to three other players or computer opponents on one iDevice, or play online with players from all over the world via Game Center.
► Discover new tactics and ways to become the ruler of San Juan!
► No need to assemble: simply start the game to enter the colonial world! And best of all: no need to put away the game once you have finished playing.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/san-...

IMAGE(http://a39.phobos.apple.com/us/r1000/068/Purple/v4/81/2a/f3/812af30f-2e73-a4f1-4bcb-6a662d38705b/mzl.mpyftkeb.480x480-75.jpg)

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has finally gone mobile! Experience one of the world’s most popular board games in stunning HD and with fast, crisp game play.

Travel back in time to the days of colonial Spain and become one of Puerto Rico’s island governors. Prospect for gold, plant crops, and build up your economy in an epic quest for island domination. Players will have to take on the roles of mayors, settlers, traders, captains, and craftsmen to beat out their opponents.

Features include:
► Beautiful HD graphics include new building designs and animated, in-game cut scenes.
► Compete against up to four other players, and mix and match between the computer, your friends (pass and play and local connectivity), or other players online through the Game Center.
► Specially designed tutorial and in-game Help feature for those new to the game (or anyone who might want a brief brush-up on the rules).
► Automatic resource distribution: no more fumbling with tiny board pieces.
► No set up of the game required! Press “Play” and get started. And best of all, no tidying up after a match.

So dust off your conquistador hat, pull out your doubloons, and join the over 250,000 fans who have already fallen in love with Puerto Rico.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/puer...

IMAGE(http://a1707.phobos.apple.com/us/r1000/095/Purple/v4/e6/6f/49/e66f491b-2c68-bac9-3337-d219de51f2f4/mzl.fqvvqqpm.480x480-75.jpg)

Having gotten rid of my physical copy of puerto Rico, I wouldn't mind having the electronic version. But man, those graphics are really iffy.

Held off on Forbidden Island, though the wife liked the idea of playing it on the iPad, so purchase is imminent.

Purchased both Puerto Rico and San Juan, couldn't pass up a sale of that magnitude. Now to learn them.

Got some plays in of the Penny Arcade game. Very fun! I like the Ascension like mechanic, and love the ability to interact more directly with the opponent via PvP cards.

Chaz wrote:

Having gotten rid of my physical copy of puerto Rico, I wouldn't mind having the electronic version. But man, those graphics are really iffy.

The graphics are really not that bad. I've played a bunch of it and don't notice it anymore.

Teneman wrote:

Purchased both Puerto Rico and San Juan, couldn't pass up a sale of that magnitude. Now to learn them.

Got some plays in of the Penny Arcade game. Very fun! I like the Ascension like mechanic, and love the ability to interact more directly with the opponent via PvP cards.

San Juan is super easy. Puerto Rico is more complex, but it's a classic, and builds on the mechanics of SJ. I'd learn San Juan first to get a grip on the whole role selection element and the produce/sell cycle, then move on to PR.

Also played the Penny Arcade game. It's ok. Frankly, it seems a lot like a Dominion clone to me, except with two currencies instead of one like in Ascension. The fundamental mechanics are almost straight up Dominion, with a lot of similar card effects (PAX Plague = Cuse, etc) The good news, its way better themed than Dominion, which is nice, and there still isn't a good Dominion option for iOS, so this serves nicely as a replacement.

Might have to grab San Juan. Love Race for the Galaxy and maybe that'll be a nice mobile game until RGG gets their digital game strategy figured out.

Love this thread! So going to pick up San Juan and Puerto Rico.

Seems that my iPad is becoming the nexus for all things Tabletop with me keeping all my P&P RPGs PDFs on it and now, slowly building up my collection of boardgames that I never played, have lost all the pieces for, or simply have no space to keep.

Things I noticed not listed:
-Scotland Yard (Loved this as a kid)

Things I didn't know were out and must now get:
- Zombie Dice
- Bang! (Number two in jokes similar to Catan, "I Bang! Kim")

Things I wish would come out for mobile devices:
- Chez Geek series of card games from Steve Jackson Games
- Netrunner

I'd love to see Cheap-Ass Games take some of their properties to mobile - I think SJ Games owns many of them, but they're still around and kicking, as they've got a couple of kickstarters in the works.

Speaking of SJ games, an ipad version of Ogre would be so awesome!

Boardgamegeek's iOS blog posted this "best of 2012" list.

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/blogpos...

Hey, what's the groupthink on the digital version of Cyclades? Is it as bad as the iTunes store makes it out to be?

The problem is that there is no AI and no Online Multiplayer. So it's a pass-and-play only game, which is automatically a bad thing for online implementations.

Don't get me wrong, pass and play is great in certain contexts. When I travelled to Ukraine this summer to visit some friends, it was really convenient to be able to play pass-and-play games on the iPad (Imperial and Puerto Rico, for example) instead of having to lug boxes around.

However, those opportunities are honestly not that common. Usually when I'm playing board games, I'm either playing them with people locally where I'd prefer to play a physical game, or I'm playing them with people who are far away where we have to play online. Pass-and-play isn't helpful for either of those contexts.

Frankly, the only reason I can see to get a board game that is pass-and-play only is either A) If you're travelling and want to play the game in person with people and can't bring the box; or B) You are interested in the game and want to try it out with some local friends, but don't want to shell out the full amount for the boxed version, so you buy the cheaper iOs version instead.

AI and Online Multiplayer make these games much more versatile - they pretty much need one of the two, IMO. I did buy Cadwallon, which is Pass & Play only, but it was only 1$ and I figure I'll play it at least once with some friends during a trip, which will make the price worthwhile.

Just a reminder -- the AppStore will be CLOSING from December 21st through the 28th. If you're looking to jump on any of these deals or pick up any games to get you through the holidays, DON'T DELAY!

SommerMatt wrote:

Just a reminder -- the AppStore will be CLOSING from December 21st through the 28th. If you're looking to jump on any of these deals or pick up any games to get you through the holidays, DON'T DELAY!

Darn, my funds aren't there and I can't replenish until after Christmas, guess I'll miss out on them this year.

I'm pretty sure the store isn't closing, just the ability for developers to upload/change/submit anything.

Edit: Here we go. Yeah, according to this it's more of an App Store Freeze than a closure.

Teneman wrote:

I'm pretty sure the store isn't closing, just the ability for developers to upload/change/submit anything.

Edit: Here we go. Yeah, according to this it's more of an App Store Freeze than a closure.

D'oh. Yeah, you're correct. I knew that from previous years, I think, but it somehow got jumbled in my brain.

There's no way Apple would keep people from buying apps over Christmas, right when people are opening those shiny new iThings with gift cards to spend.

Dysplastic wrote:

Also played the Penny Arcade game. It's ok. Frankly, it seems a lot like a Dominion clone to me, except with two currencies instead of one like in Ascension. The fundamental mechanics are almost straight up Dominion, with a lot of similar card effects (PAX Plague = Cuse, etc) The good news, its way better themed than Dominion, which is nice, and there still isn't a good Dominion option for iOS, so this serves nicely as a replacement.

I always saw Ascension as having two currencies, just one is flavored as "power" or "fight".

Agreed on theme, but I prefer PA over Ascension and Dominion on my iPad.

My one biggest dislike of PA is that Green cards (bought with tokens) don't generate VPs (except Green Boss Loot cards). My handful of plays in the last day have always seen me maximizing my power to buy up Red cards which have VP values attached.

McIrishJihad wrote:
Dysplastic wrote:

Also played the Penny Arcade game. It's ok. Frankly, it seems a lot like a Dominion clone to me, except with two currencies instead of one like in Ascension. The fundamental mechanics are almost straight up Dominion, with a lot of similar card effects (PAX Plague = Cuse, etc) The good news, its way better themed than Dominion, which is nice, and there still isn't a good Dominion option for iOS, so this serves nicely as a replacement.

I always saw Ascension as having two currencies, just one is flavored as "power" or "fight".

Agreed on theme, but I prefer PA over Ascension and Dominion on my iPad.

My one biggest dislike of PA is that Green cards (bought with tokens) don't generate VPs (except Green Boss Loot cards). My handful of plays in the last day have always seen me maximizing my power to buy up Red cards which have VP values attached.

Same here. I played through once with an attempt to focus on tokens over power. Towards the end I had to switch and rush to buy lots of red cards just to get my VP up.

I've only played a few games of the Penn Arcade app so far, and it is definitely more of a Dominion clone than an Ascension clone. I definitely find the theming more appealing than Dominion (which isn't hard, as Dominion has almost no theming to speak of), although that may fade away as I get more used to it.

I also agree with the concern about red being superior to green because of the victory point value, but haven't played enough yet to feel like I can say for certain that is the case. If anyone wants to try out some multiplayer, feel free to send an invite my way (GC id is in sig).

McIrishJihad wrote:
Dysplastic wrote:

Also played the Penny Arcade game. It's ok. Frankly, it seems a lot like a Dominion clone to me, except with two currencies instead of one like in Ascension. The fundamental mechanics are almost straight up Dominion, with a lot of similar card effects (PAX Plague = Cuse, etc) The good news, its way better themed than Dominion, which is nice, and there still isn't a good Dominion option for iOS, so this serves nicely as a replacement.

I always saw Ascension as having two currencies, just one is flavored as "power" or "fight".

Agreed on theme, but I prefer PA over Ascension and Dominion on my iPad.

My one biggest dislike of PA is that Green cards (bought with tokens) don't generate VPs (except Green Boss Loot cards). My handful of plays in the last day have always seen me maximizing my power to buy up Red cards which have VP values attached.

The green boss loot cards are worth 7, while the red ones are worth 5. I think that tries to bring in some balance. Of course, as with other deck builders, you should adjust your strategy based on what cards are available.