Sebastian Blanco
Articles by Sebastian Blanco
Ticket To Ride iPad game is great, could be greater
The brand new iPad implementation of Ticket To Ride is close to perfect, but it needs a few more features before I can wholeheartedly recommend the game. As it stands, if you like Alan R. Moons' wonderful board game and enjoy playing online (or against AI opponents), then get thee to the App Store post haste and fork over your US$6.99. If you're looking for a way to enjoy the game with multiple people around the same iPad (as you can do with the other official app based on a Days of Wonder game, the great Small World), don't bother. I hope DoW manages to update this app soon with a same-device multiplayer option (either using open cards or using an iPhone/iPod touch "hand" method the way Scrabble does), because it's clear that there are many gamers out there who feel it needs to be implemented. I like what we have now in Ticket To Ride, but read on to see if this is a journey you'd like to go on. %Gallery-124648%
Autoblog's new app to help you obsess about the auto industry
Today, Autoblog finally released its iPhone app, bringing together three of the car site's main components (and a new debut) into a central location. The free app provides up-to-the-minute auto industry news from Autoblog, fuel-efficient car news from AutoblogGreen, tech-related vehicle news from Translogic and, for the first time on a mobile device, new car buying data through the "Aol. Best Deals" service. Try using it the next time you visit a dealership. As the editor-in-chief of AutoblogGreen (yes, I do more than just review board game apps on TUAW, and TUAW and Autoblog are both AOL properties), I can't objectively review this app. Instead, I'll run down the list of features and, since it's free, interested readers can check out the app themselves and share reviews in the comments below. The highlight here is, of course, having quick and easy access to Autoblog news in a dedicated app. Sure, the iPhone has long been able to access the regular and mobile versions of these sites, but the app formats them in an easy-to-read manner that also offers one-touch access to the sites' picture galleries and videos. Of course, like most good blogs, part of the experience is participating, and the app offers a really easy way to send in a tip. If you see something great while you're out and about, you can also send Autoblog a picture through the app. Another nifty feature? You can save blog posts to the app for offline reading, kind of like a built-in Instapaper. It's also possible to stream any of the Autoblog podcasts through the app, so if you don't want to fill up your iPhone with downloaded files, now you don't have to. There are some capabilities from the regular sites missing from the app: not all categories are represented in the "Topics" tab, for example. More important, you can't comment on posts (yet). Also, the app is formatted for the iPhone, and so it displays at 2x on the iPad. That means I wouldn't bother with this app on the iPad; instead I'll keep using Mobile Safari to get my auto industry news. Sounds good? Check out the free app yourself here.
App Review: Tikal offers jungle brilliance for 10 action points a turn
Every six months or so, Codito/Sage Board Games releases another excellent Euro-style board game for iOS. The first example was the excellent Medici, which was followed by Ra. Coming up next is Puerto Rico. Last week they brought us Tikal, a truly wonderful game that won the 1999 Spiel des Jahres award and still stands up to any of the releases coming out today (last year, it even got a sequel, which is just fascinating). While the game is amazing, the Tikal app feels like a 0.9 version, but the crashes and quirks should be worked out quickly if Sage's history tells us anything. Tikal the board game is about exploring the jungle around Tikal, the archaeological site, for ancient Mayan temples and treasures. It may be troubling if you think about it in terms of colonizer and indigenous peoples, but sometimes you need to just enjoy brilliant gameplay when you find it. Read on to see how it all works. %Gallery-122202%
Neuroshima Hex Puzzle for iOS reviewed, on sale this weekend
If you like the wargame/board game strategy of Neuroshima Hex, but want to quietly challenge your brain as you play, the new Neuroshima Hex Puzzle app should be right up your alley. Even better, the universal app is on sale for just US$0.99 this weekend (a 66 percent discount). The game is a close cousin to the original Neuroshima Hex iOS game (also on sale this weekend for $2.99 (40 percent off), and we recommend the puzzle version for people who have already gotten lots of enjoyment out of the multiplayer version and want to spend some time learning about how to play better and thinking about why they often lose. Keep reading for more details. %Gallery-121407%
App Review: Viking Lords is good fun, but could be "borrowing" too much
Sending miniature warriors –- cavalry, spearmen, archers, dwarves and giants –- into pretend battles has a long tradition, and there are already plenty of ways to do so on your iDevice. We looked at Ex Illis a while back, which used your iPhone as a scorekeeper for your physical miniatures, and there is no shortage of Risk and Stratego games in the App Store. Today we'll take a peek at a third: Viking Lords, a US$3.99 iPad app that is fun to play, but has a big potential problem. Viking Lords is an iteration of Richard Borg's popular BattleLore game system (also used in Memoir '44 and evolved from his Commands and Colors System), and this can be seen as a good and bad thing. It's kind of a good thing, because the original BattleLore tabletop board game is out of print and expensive right now. BattleLore was first published by Days of Wonder in 2006, but the rights now belong to Fantasy Flight, which will reprint the game in France. It's a bad thing because this app appears to be, pretty simply, theft of intellectual property. According to the developers, "We have had inspiration from various computer games as well as card and tabletop games. Attempt has been to try to combine the best from both worlds." Rumor has it that Borg is looking into legal action against Puffin Software, the app's developers. Since you cannot trademark game mechanics, any legal outcome is uncertain. Still, don't be surprised if this app suddenly disappears from the App Store. Perhaps it will return one day as a licensed version of either BattleLore or Memoir '44. We don't condone any sort of IP rip-offs, but I wanted to review this game for two reasons: A) it's an iOS "tabletop" board game, and that's kind of my thing, and B) I wanted to show the people who do have the rights to the game that there is an interest in porting this sort of thing over to digital devices. Plus, since Apple is still allowing the app to exist, we'll take a moment to review it. If a miniatures strategy game sounds interesting to you, read on and decide if you want to support Puffin or sit this one out and wait for an official port to hit your iPad.
App Review: Kamon is a great two-player strategy game, but a bit pricey
Kamon (US$1.99 for the iPhone version) and Kamon HD for the iPad (available separately for $2.99) should really be one universal app. There isn't enough meat here to justify the five dollar price tag for both versions -– not when the top-of-the-line board games like the Settlers of Catan cost $4.99. Two dollars for a universal version sounds about right in today's App Store economy/price structure, but I also want more and more board games to come to iOS, and developers need to make their money somehow. So, with that in mind, I can recommend Kamon to anyone looking to expand their app library of well-designed two-player strategy games. Kamon was created by renowned designer Bruno Cathala who was recently responsible for the particularly good game Cyclades. The elegant leather and wood version has been hard to find in the U.S., but now everyone has access to this simple (yet hard to master) game. Keep reading for more. %Gallery-117690%
App Reviews: Stratego vs. The General
Stratego is a classic board game. It's so common that you can probably find a decent copy at your local thrift store for the same price as one of the two iDevice versions available on the App Store. If you want a pocketable version instead, what will you get for your money? We've got a comparison review of both the official version of Stratego (iPhone/iPod touch only, available for US$1.99) and The General, a well-done clone (universal, also $1.99). There is a third Stratego-like option on the App Store, something called Marshal, but that uses a hex-based board and has a bunch of bad user reviews, so I let it slide for this review. Keep reading to see which of the two versions of Stratego is most worth your money.
App Review: Michael Schacht's Gold! is simply good
Michael Schacht's Gold! is the first card game we know of to be released simultaneously as an iDevice app and a physical product. The game is making its virgin appearance on the App Store as a US$2.99 universal app today and at the Nuremberg International Toy Fair, which starts today in Germany. This tiny bit of history doesn't make the game any better or worse than it would be otherwise, but it does show that some designers are willing to work with app developers to try and attract a digital audience before making sure their game is a hit on the tabletop. Perhaps the reason for the dual debut is that this isn't the first time a Schacht design has hit the App Store. The video-gamey port of Zooloretto is well-done, and there's also an unlicensed clone of Schacht's game Coloretto called Chameleon out there. What is Gold! all about? Donkeys, stealing cards and trying to get the most gold. Keep reading to see what I mean. %Gallery-115643%
App Review: Reiner Knizia's Battleline is numerically superior
The latest bit of digital entertainment based on a Reiner Knizia game to hit the App Store is your typical Knizia numberfest: a brilliant game design with a theme that could be anything. In this case, with Battleline, the theme happens to be ancient Greek military. In fact, the very first version of the card game was called Schotten-Totten, and it depicted elderly comic Scotsmen vying for nine stones; there was also a re-themed Narnia version (called the Prince Caspian The Shield of Courage Card Game) to coincide with one of the recent movies. If you're looking to play with physical cards, you have a choice of theme, but on an iDevice, you've got ancient Greek armies. Luckily, this is a perfectly fitting theme, and since you'll spend most of your time thinking about possible number combinations, you wouldn't care if the game involved nothing but Smurfs and Garfield. Keep reading to find out why the new iOS version of the 2000 game Battle Line (yes, there is a space in the tabletop version, but not in the app) is worth checking out, even if you aren't a math person. Hint: it's more about poker than anything else. %Gallery-114565%
App Review: Parcours.robo is like RoboRally... if you don't like RoboRally
Parcours.robo really, really wants to be RoboRally, the well-received 1994 board game from Magic: The Gathering designer Richard Garfield. Whether because the developer, Impara GmbH, didn't want to negotiate for the actual board game licensing rights or for another reason, the game plays a lot like RoboRally, but it's actually a sad little clone that also makes me really, really want it to be RoboRally. It's not a bad game, but Parcours.robo's biggest impact is that it makes me realize that what the App Store needs is an official RoboRally port, full of the board game's crazy "automated" movement; it could be amazingly animated on an iPad without losing any of the tension in the game's secret planning. Until that happens, though, read on to see what Parcours.robo has to offer us today. %Gallery-112033%
App Review: Reiner Knizia's Through The Desert proves that pastel camels have serious staying power
The latest big name board game to make an appearance on the iPad is Though The Desert. Serious board game fans have been anxiously waiting for this app ever since it was announced and I'm happy to say that this latest Reiner Knizia port to the digital realm is totally worth the wait. The app currently costs $5.99 and is available on the App Store. Even before the game was released, there was reason to believe it would be a solid experience. TribeFlame, the developer, released Keltis Oracle this past spring and it's been one of the board game apps that I turn to again and again, even with my iDevices getting fuller and fuller with outstanding gaming options. Read on to see why you will, in fact, want to take a pastel-colored camel caravan Through The Desert. %Gallery-111462%
App Review: Let's Catch The Lion! is cute, strategic fun
The new Let's Catch The Lion! board game app looks cute as all get out, and to be fair, it is designed as a kids' game. But this Shogi (Japanese Chess) variant is a worthwhile download from the App Store even for board gamers who don't have a child in the house. It's a solid two-player strategy game and should interest anyone who likes abstracts. Doubutsu Shogi (which is Japanese for Animal Chess) was designed by the professional Shogi player Maiko Fujita, who wanted to get more girls interested in playing the original game. She found a great balance between strategy and fun in a small package, and the translation to iDevices lost absolutely nothing. How could it, given the tabletop game's incredible simplicity? Read on to get the full story. %Gallery-108436%
Oski for iPad is the thoughtful person's word game, with a lot of twists
Oski is a word game for the slow thinker. Not for the dimwitted, that's not what I mean, but for the word game player who likes to think – a lot – about her options and to and really plan out the next move. With no randomness and no hidden information, this is a game that invites analysis paralysis. With only 16 moves in each game (8 per player) it's the player who makes the most of each move who will win. Let's get one thing out of the way right at the start: Oski can be played with a pen and paper. Also, the app is not anything close to the most polished program on the App Store. Still, it's a fun little game – especially when played against another person and not the iPad – and so I think it's worth the US$0.99 download (Version 1.4 reviewed here). Read on for my reasons why. %Gallery-108430%
App Review: Reiner Knizia's Ra
Reiner Knizia's classic Egyptian-themed auction and tile-collecting game Ra is not an easy one to figure out. When playing around a table, you need to collect the right tiles, look over to see what other people are collecting, keep an eye on the status of the sun/bid tiles and, in general, process a lot of changing information. If you enjoy this gameplay but don't like setting up the game or dealing with scorekeeping, the new universal Ra app is sure to please, especially at US$4.99 (it debuted at $6.99, but quickly came down). Ra for iOS was designed by Sage Board Games, the same people who brought us the excellent Medici and have a lot of wonderful board games in their "convert to app" sights. Because it's such a popular game in the Eurogame community, a lot of people have been waiting for Ra, and it kind of feels like this is an important app for the developers. If it's a success, then we expect more board game apps to come. If not, then what happens? We have no inside information on the company's finances or strategic plan, but it's probably not cheap to produce an app like this, and no one wants to lose money -- even if they're making things they love. Does Ra make the grade? We think so, but read on to see what its like to get a bit of desert auction sand in your iPad or iPhone. %Gallery-107267%
App Review: Neuroshima Hex is good, about to get a lot better *UPDATE
The new board game app that's based on the 2006 tabletop game Neuroshima Hex is a lot of things. For a cardboard hex-based game that's reproduced in your pocket, Neuroshima Hex is gorgeous. The artwork is wonderfully clear on a Retina Display, and the part-apocalyptic, part-1950s sci-fi style graphics are very fitting. The gameplay combines tricks from a miniatures-based war game with abstract strategy titles. The music and sound effects are also well done, adding to the tension and mood of the battles. Given that the tabletop version of the game runs about US$30, and the app sells for $2.99 [this review is for Version 1.01], there's very little reason to not check out this app if you're at all interested in the theme or board gaming on your iPhone. Need another reason? The developers say that a universal version of the app with a higher price tag ($4.99) will be coming soon. Want to know more? Read on for what you seek. %Gallery-106462%
App Review: Tantrix Strategy connects luck and strategy
The beautiful Tantrix Strategy game app [US$2.99] is an example of why it's sometimes good to wait for the second or third version of an iPad app before plunking down your money in the App Store. We're reviewing Version 1.1 here, and it improves on the original with an AI opponent (three levels). This is a huge boost, and it turns a so-so app into something all strategy gamers will want to at least look at. If you just want to dive in and check it out yourself right now, there is a free "lite" version of the app available here. For the rest of you, here's the scoop. The iPad-only Tantrix app is a tile-laying strategy game that includes a fair bit of luck. It should not be confused with Tantrix Match, a $1.99 solitaire puzzle game that uses the same pieces as Tantrix, or Connext, a $1.99 two-player game that looks similar but offers different gameplay. If you're already feeling a bit confused, that's OK. The tabletop version of Tantrix is also one set of colored tiles that can be used to play a variety of different games (think dominoes or a deck of cards). The Tantrix app offers us the basic strategy game in a refined, pretty package. Read on to see if you want to get all tantric yourself or with a friend (speaking of apps that aren't this game...) %Gallery-106309%
App Review: Pentago is a twisty strategy game with legs
The ideas behind the two-player abstract strategy game Pentago are about as old as any abstract strategy games we can think of. If Connect 4 is an evolution of tic-tac-toe, then Pentago is an evolution of Connect 4. There's also a bit of Reversi/Othello in the game, with enough of a twist (and I use the term advisedly) to make it different. The game designed by Tomas Flodén and was first released IRL in 2005 in Sweden and has received two Game of The Year awards (2005 in Sweden and 2006 in France) and was also named a Mensa Mind Games selection in 2006. In the App Store, its history is questionable. The currently available app, called simply Pentago [$1.99] was in the store for a while but then disappeared. That app did not have an AI, but a similar app from a different company, Pentago HD, offered the same gameplay and an AI opponent for a short while. It disappeared without a word and has not resurfaced. Now, Pentago is back, and you might want to snag it while you can even though this looks like an official port from Mindtwister, the company that makes the tabletop version. Don't know if you want to or not? Read on to find out. %Gallery-105806%
App Review: Kingsburg (née Kinsburg) rolls strategy and frustrating your opponents into one fun game
In September, a board game app based on the 2007 game Kingsburg took the gaming community by surprise. We often hear about upcoming board game ports way in advance of their release, but Kingsburg appeared so suddenly on the App Store [for US$4.99] that someone submitted it as Kinsburg, which made it kind of hard to search for in the early weeks of its release. The typo has now been fixed, so if the game sounds interesting to you after reading this review, you know it'll be easy to find. What is Kingsburg (subtitled "Serving the Crown") all about? It's a light, fun strategy game with plenty of luck and a good helping of "screw-your-neighbor" involved. You play an advisor to the king – or maybe a duke with his own duchy, something like that – and you spend five "years" gaining resources, erecting buildings, and preparing for invasions of evil armies with things like barbarians and zombies. It's fun once you know what you're doing. Continue reading for more. %Gallery-105334%
App Review: Battle Map lets you create huge worlds in small doses
The essence of a role playing game is, well, ... playing a role. Theoretically, you can play a tabletop RPG with not much more than your thoughts, a rule book or two, and some dice. In practice, though, an entire industry is engaged in releasing products to make imagining and inhabiting fantastical worlds a multimedia experience. Maps, adventures, miniatures, special dice, decks of item cards, and so much more are readily available. The latest entry is a full-featured iPad and iPhone app called Battle Map [US$29.99], which is now available on your iPad or iPhone as a Universal app. At 30 bucks, Battle Map is not cheap compared to most App Store offerings, but look at it against the similar Mac (or PC) program Dundjinni, which costs $39.99, or the PC-only map program called ProFantasy, which tops out at $605 for the whole shebang. Of course, these programs can do a lot more than Battle Map can, but they've also been around for many years. Perhaps in 2015, Battle Map will be as full-featured. In any case, other reviewers have called Battle Map "geek heaven" and a "must have," so read on to see if these words of praise apply to you. %Gallery-104489%
App Review: Wabash Cannonball rolls in with a near-perfect score
Simple graphics, deep gameplay. That's what the 2007 board game Wabash Cannonball promised and delivered. The Winsome train game, with a small print run of around 300 copies (we think), quickly sold out. The game was then licensed to Queen Games and re-released as Chicago Express. This version sold well enough that an expansion pack was released. Now, the game comes to the iOS market as an app called Wabash Cannonball [US$4.99]. It's got everything (almost) that the earlier, nearly identical games have, but it's all packed into a tiny screen – maybe a little too packed – along with a few digital friends to play against. Very different from your normal iPhone time-waster app, Wabash is a gamer's game, and it deserves attention. The name might refer to a fictional train, but there's a lot of real gameplay here. Read on for the full ride and to see if you'd like to hop aboard the Wabash Cannonball. %Gallery-104283%