[iOS/MOBILE] Boardgame Adaptations Catch-all

Days of Wonder apparently is dropped their Kickstarter to overhaul the iOS app. However, they're going to re-do it with better goals (ie. Android/Steam port as the goal instead of stretch goals) in mind since there was a bit of confusion over what the project money was actually funding. However, it sounds like they're going ahead with the iOS update anyways since the drive was on target to meet its goals, but they were hoping to have enough money for the Android/Steam stretch goals. So I think that's for the best?

SommerMatt wrote:
Dysplastic wrote:

Stuff.

Yes, that is FLUXX. Enjoy.

Yup. FLUXX "strategy" is to try and hold on to keepers and goals that go together and then just dump them on the table in a single round.

It's fun if you like stupid randomness, like Calvinball.

shoptroll wrote:

Yup. FLUXX "strategy" is to try and hold on to keepers and goals that go together and then just dump them on the table in a single round.

Unless you have one of the many rules out that forces you to play multiple cards, or trade hands, etc etc.

shoptroll wrote:

It's fun if you like stupid randomness, like Calvinball.

At least Calvinball required creativity and involved physical activity. This is just stupid. Sorry, I can't get over how much I hate this game. I can't imagine why anyone would play it, even as a filler. There are so many better filler games out there. Ugh.

Dysplastic wrote:

There are so many better filler games out there.

True. I think my copy of Fluxx hasn't hit the table in a while, and I'm more likely to pick Chrononauts if I'm pulling something from the Looney Labs catalog. Although I still like the concept of Fluxx, at least the ever-changing rules of play part.

That said, Blank White Cards is probably a better filler game and more in the style of Calvinball if you're looking for something random and silly. Or We Didn't Playtest This At All, which solves the DRAAAAG issue Fluxx catches itself in more often than it should for the weight of the game.

I played Monty Python Fluxx (IIRC) with a bunch of Goodjers at PAX a couple years ago, and it was ridiculous fun. Maybe it could have been any game we were playing and we would have had as good a time, but I can't imagine there are many other games that would have compelled to talk like Emo Philips during my turns.

Dysplastic wrote:
shoptroll wrote:

Yup. FLUXX "strategy" is to try and hold on to keepers and goals that go together and then just dump them on the table in a single round.

Unless you have one of the many rules out that forces you to play multiple cards, or trade hands, etc etc.

shoptroll wrote:

It's fun if you like stupid randomness, like Calvinball.

At least Calvinball required creativity and involved physical activity. This is just stupid. Sorry, I can't get over how much I hate this game. I can't imagine why anyone would play it, even as a filler. There are so many better filler games out there. Ugh.

I don't know. It is what it is. My first experience with the game came this past summer (using the Monty Python Fluxx), and I had the same reaction you're having now. Since then, I've mellowed a bit on it. Yeah, it's random and fairly stupid, but it's also an easy game to play and follow... more of a game to play in social situations that don't require much thought, strategy or planning.

Gravey wrote:

I played Monty Python Fluxx (IIRC) with a bunch of Goodjers at PAX a couple years ago, and it was ridiculous fun. Maybe it could have been any game we were playing and we would have had as good a time, but I can't imagine there are many other games that would have compelled to talk like Emo Philips during my turns.

Maybe the themed Fluxx's are more fun, I dunno, but the iOS one is not only stupid but incredibly bland.

SommerMatt wrote:

Yeah, it's random and fairly stupid, but it's also an easy game to play and follow... more of a game to play in social situations that don't require much thought, strategy or planning.

I can think of 20 party games that are easy to play and follow that also don't require much thought, strategy or planning, but are also entertaining. I just don't see what's actually fun about Fluxx.

Sorry, I don't know why I can't let this go. We should probably just move on. Hey, Eclipse is coming out soon!

Dysplastic wrote:
Gravey wrote:

I played Monty Python Fluxx (IIRC) with a bunch of Goodjers at PAX a couple years ago, and it was ridiculous fun. Maybe it could have been any game we were playing and we would have had as good a time, but I can't imagine there are many other games that would have compelled to talk like Emo Philips during my turns.

Maybe the themed Fluxx's are more fun, I dunno, but the iOS one is not only stupid but incredibly bland.

How do you play it on iOS? Wait, don't bother answering that, that's probably the issue. My experience with Fluxx greatly benefited from face-to-face, and alcohol.

For me the best thing about Fluxx is that it, usually, doesn't last as long as Munchkin.

thejustinbot wrote:

For me the best thing about Fluxx is that it, usually, doesn't last as long as Munchkin.

Hmm, wonder if Munchkin would work on the iOS

Cragmyre wrote:
thejustinbot wrote:

For me the best thing about Fluxx is that it, usually, doesn't last as long as Munchkin.

Hmm, wonder if Munchkin would work on the iOS

It'd have to work at the tabletop level first. ::rimshot::

Really though, I am very excited for Eclipse to come out on iOS. Means I can play Eclipse without buying the pulp version and without having to deal with the one guy I know in the area who has it.

With all the board/card games out ( and coming ) - I'll have to get some more iTunes cards. I'm down to my last buck

thejustinbot wrote:
Cragmyre wrote:
thejustinbot wrote:

For me the best thing about Fluxx is that it, usually, doesn't last as long as Munchkin.

Hmm, wonder if Munchkin would work on the iOS

It'd have to work at the tabletop level first. ::rimshot::

Really though, I am very excited for Eclipse to come out on iOS. Means I can play Eclipse without buying the pulp version and without having to deal with the one guy I know in the area who has it.

I'm glad I'm not the only one excited for it to come out. It's coming together really nicely, based on the screenshots and videos.

thejustinbot wrote:

For me the best thing about Fluxx is that it, usually, doesn't last as long as Munchkin.

My house-rule is that if you have to shuffle the deck for Fluxx a second time, just end the game right there.

We played Zombie Fluxx recently, and the stuff they added certainly makes things harder. Half the cards in the deck are Creepers, in the form of Zombies. Only half the Keepers are weapons of some kind, which you can use to kill off Creepers. And most of the Goals require that you have no Creepers at all.

So for those in my Titan game, I'm sorry if I take a while to make a move or decision, I feel the game does a really crappy job of notifying when its your turn and I miss the banner if or when it might pop up. I basically have to check in from time to time.

Also, I just ran away from a fight where I had more units because I thought that I was the one with fewer units. Ugh.

So speaking of Eclipse for iOS...

Dysplastic wrote:

So for those in my Titan game, I'm sorry if I take a while to make a move or decision, I feel the game does a really crappy job of notifying when its your turn and I miss the banner if or when it might pop up. I basically have to check in from time to time.

Also, I just ran away from a fight where I had more units because I thought that I was the one with fewer units. Ugh.

I just have to keep checking because though I have it set for an icon and a message bar,only the message bar seems to show.

As for combat...I had you anyway

Boudreaux, Athros, and Cyrax, I have finally started our Tigris & Euphrates game! Let's get our ziggurats on! PM me or post here with questions.

Natus wrote:

Boudreaux, Athros, and Cyrax, I have finally started our Tigris & Euphrates game! Let's get our ziggurats on! PM me or post here with questions.

Thanks, Natus! What is game? A T&E video that goes into the strategy of the game, rather than systems would be nice. I figure I can learn the systems from the tutorial and our play time.

cyrax wrote:
Natus wrote:

Boudreaux, Athros, and Cyrax, I have finally started our Tigris & Euphrates game! Let's get our ziggurats on! PM me or post here with questions.

Thanks, Natus! What is game? A T&E video that goes into the strategy of the game, rather than systems would be nice. I figure I can learn the systems from the tutorial and our play time.

Your move, Cyrax. Apparently the others were just waiting to pounce.

I'll look at see what BGG has, or post something here a bit later.

Dysplastic wrote:
SommerMatt wrote:

Yeah, it's random and fairly stupid, but it's also an easy game to play and follow... more of a game to play in social situations that don't require much thought, strategy or planning.

I can think of 20 party games that are easy to play and follow that also don't require much thought, strategy or planning, but are also entertaining. I just don't see what's actually fun about Fluxx.

I don't know what's so fun about Fluxx either... but lots of people seem to.

I finally loaded up Carc on the iPad, and wow. I thought the iPhone implementation was nice. I think it's still the high bar for an iOS board game adaptation, in just about every aspect you could care to mention. Played with all the expansions too, and it was great.

On the opposite end of the spectrum: it's a good thing Kingdom Builder has a lite version. Not sure why it's called "AppStore copy" though, but then I'm not an iOS developer. So that gives you an idea of the quality: bad translations, amateur UI. Still interested in playing the cardboard version sometime.

Gravey wrote:

I finally loaded up Carc on the iPad, and wow. I thought the iPhone implementation was nice. I think it's still the high bar for an iOS board game adaptation, in just about every aspect you could care to mention. Played with all the expansions too, and it was great.

On the opposite end of the spectrum: it's a good thing Kingdom Builder has a lite version. Not sure why it's called "AppStore copy" though, but then I'm not an iOS developer. So that gives you an idea of the quality: bad translations, amateur UI. Still interested in playing the cardboard version sometime.

It's funny, I don't think the Kingdom Builder UI is that bad, and it's not as if it's a text heavy game. I mean, it's such a minimalist concept, there really aren't many opportunities for it to get in your way.

Finally had time to force myself to resd the rules for some of the games in my iOS stack on the plane yesterday.

First played a few games of Alien Frontiers. That's a fun game once you figure out what's what. The first two levels of AI are startlingly easy though, I'm looking forward to trying the next two levels on the flight back.

I also tried Le Havre. Can't say I cared for that one, though it might just be that the tutorial simply told you what to click, and not really why. I'll checkout the rules or some how to play videos online before I give up on it for good.

For the flight back: Puerto Rico, Small World, and possibly Tigris.

Teneman wrote:

Finally had time to force myself to resd the rules for some of the games in my iOS stack on the plane yesterday.

First played a few games of Alien Frontiers. That's a fun game once you figure out what's what. The first two levels of AI are startlingly easy though, I'm looking forward to trying the next two levels on the flight back.

I also tried Le Havre. Can't say I cared for that one, though it might just be that the tutorial simply told you what to click, and not really why. I'll checkout the rules or some how to play videos online before I give up on it for good.

For the flight back: Puerto Rico, Small World, and possibly Tigris.

I had the same feeling after the tutorial for Le Harve, but now that I've gotten a real-world play of Agricola, I'm starting to get a better understanding for the worker-placement/harvesting aspects of Le Harve. And a real-world play of Lords of Waterdeep cements the "buy buildings" aspect of Le Harve.

In both Le Harve and Agricola, to win you need to setup some kind of food engine. With the buildings in Le Harve, its also helpful if your engine ends up subsisting off other players using your buildings. When you no longer have to worry about food for the end-of-round harvest, you can start focusing on building up for VPs.

Natus wrote:
cyrax wrote:
Natus wrote:

Boudreaux, Athros, and Cyrax, I have finally started our Tigris & Euphrates game! Let's get our ziggurats on! PM me or post here with questions.

Thanks, Natus! What is game? A T&E video that goes into the strategy of the game, rather than systems would be nice. I figure I can learn the systems from the tutorial and our play time.

Your move, Cyrax. Apparently the others were just waiting to pounce.

I'll look at see what BGG has, or post something here a bit later.

How are things going Cyrax? Need some help?

athros wrote:
Natus wrote:
cyrax wrote:
Natus wrote:

Boudreaux, Athros, and Cyrax, I have finally started our Tigris & Euphrates game! Let's get our ziggurats on! PM me or post here with questions.

Thanks, Natus! What is game? A T&E video that goes into the strategy of the game, rather than systems would be nice. I figure I can learn the systems from the tutorial and our play time.

Your move, Cyrax. Apparently the others were just waiting to pounce.

I'll look at see what BGG has, or post something here a bit later.

How are things going Cyrax? Need some help?

Sorry, there wasn't a notification on the app! Things are fine though, think I'm grasping the game on a basic level.

cyrax wrote:

Sorry, there wasn't a notification on the app! Things are fine though, think I'm grasping the game on a basic level.

Yeah, I can't figure that out. Sometimes I get a notification, sometimes I don't. It's very inconsistent.

cyrax wrote:
athros wrote:
Natus wrote:
cyrax wrote:
Natus wrote:

Boudreaux, Athros, and Cyrax, I have finally started our Tigris & Euphrates game! Let's get our ziggurats on! PM me or post here with questions.

Thanks, Natus! What is game? A T&E video that goes into the strategy of the game, rather than systems would be nice. I figure I can learn the systems from the tutorial and our play time.

Your move, Cyrax. Apparently the others were just waiting to pounce.

I'll look at see what BGG has, or post something here a bit later.

How are things going Cyrax? Need some help?

Sorry, there wasn't a notification on the app! Things are fine though, think I'm grasping the game on a basic level.

It's ok Thats why I posted

cyrax wrote:
athros wrote:

How are things going Cyrax? Need some help?

Sorry, there wasn't a notification on the app! Things are fine though, think I'm grasping the game on a basic level.

Don't help Cyrax, he's doing just fine. If he plays T&E like he plays Ascension, we're all screwed.

I do really wish that when I take my turns, the game did a move-by-move playthrough of everyone else's turn, so I could keep track of what's going on. I'm finding it fairly difficult coming into each turn with everything changed, and I have to figure out what people are doing based on what I remember from the turn before. Is there a way to do this that I'm just missing?