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Wii is 'most expensive board game on Earth'
So says Sega A&R man Darren Williams in an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, who also described the console as "the kind of thing that families will play at Christmas, and probably won't play again throughout the remainder of the year."Before we all fetch the pitchforks and start constructing crude Darren Williams effigies, perhaps it would do some good to calmly consider whether the man has a point. In this blogger's personal experience, a small number of families do only use the Wii sporadically, and Williams clearly isn't referring to Wii Fanboy staff or readers.Whether these occasional players are such a bad thing is another debate entirely. One popular theory seems to be that newer gamers are less likely to invest in new Wii software, but we saw yesterday that the Wii's tie ratio is thoroughly healthy. What sayeth you?
Joystiq hands-on: Halo Interactive Strategy Game
Interactive level design to the max! The Halo Interactive Strategy Game is a crown of shame, aiming a Christmas-ruining SPNKr at happy children everywhere. Sure, I tempered my expectations of a board game based off a video game -- especially an "interactive" one. But after imposing it on my regular game night friends, the Halo board game's missed potential let me down. Building the map was fun. Playing capture-the-flag, deathmatch, or an objective-based contest wasn't.The game is full of weak and unclear rules and an optional DVD just distracts from the strategy. This could have been a chess-like adaptation of Halo, but it just ends up feeling sorry.%Gallery-35732%
Zombies!!! board game to eat video game brains
It's time to get the shotgun out of the cupboard, as Twilight Creations announced plans to bring its popular tile-based board game, Zombies!!!, to Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network as well as Steam in 2009. The company describes these as the 'initial' platforms for the project, and we fully expect Zombies!!! to scuffle onto others should the creeping undead take hold. Interestingly, the game is being handled by Wisconsin-based Big Rooster, the same Big Rooster that recently had another tabletop-to-video game translation, Talisman, canned by would be publisher Capcom. Here's hoping that Zombies!!! doesn't suffer a similar fate, or at the very least if it does it can drag itself up from the grave. [Thanks, J]
BlizzCon 2008: Bingo results
Bad news. We didn't hear about a WoW expansion, or anything solid about the next-gen MMO at the convention in Anaheim, so this year's BlizzCon bingo failed. There might be hope, if you're willing to fudge things -- in the Art panel, they did obliquely mention the next expansion, and quickly corrected themselves, so if you take that as an official announcement (and you saw someone playing the TCG or Board Game throughout the weekend, you could win with the free space). Or, if you saw Jim Lee while he was there (we didn't), and consider all the talking about Dance Studios to have actually seen the studios themselves (we don't) then maybe you hit five across that way.Otherwise, you're out of luck -- unfortunately, no one predicted that they'd cut Starcraft II up into three different games, and L80ETC didn't say anything about DLC for Guitar Hero. The good news, however, is that instead of giving out a prize to someone who presented us with a winning card at BlizzCon (no one did), we'll eventually over it to all of you readers. Stay tuned, and better luck with BlizzCon Bingo next time around.
World of Warcraft miniatures game hits shelves November 11th
A World of Warcraft miniatures game will be released on November 11th. It has been designed and will be published by Upper Deck, the company behind the WoW TCG. For those curious how the game works, there are a number of gameplay previews at the News section of the game's website.According to the FAQ, you can play with between one and five characters (each represented by a 40mm miniature) on each side of a battle (there are three sides -- Alliance, Horde, and Monster). Each character has an "action bar" which can be customized with abilities from WoW. Starter sets (priced at $24.99) will include basics like dice, rules, etc. as well as two Alliance and two Horde miniatures. Booster packs ($14.99) will include three random miniatures from one faction. The company plans to release expansions based on famous WoW raids in the future.This is perhaps most interesting in that Warcraft has taken the opposite approach of its initial inspiration, Warhammer, by starting with video games and later moving on to miniature-based board games![Via MMORPG] One of Azeroth's millions of citizens? Check out our ongoing coverage of the World of Warcraft, and be sure to touch base with our sister site WoW Insider for all your Lich King needs!
Wii Chess is WiiWare Chess in Japan
Next week, Wii Chess finally arrives somewhere outside of Europe, not that many people were holding their breath. The Japanese release as World Chess, however, is interesting for a couple of reasons: first, it'll cost only 1,000 yen. Second, that price will be payable in Wii Points, because World Chess is a WiiWare game in Japan. That means it's the first disc-to-WiiWare game. Eternity's Child is planned for a similar multiformat release across regions, but it has yet to be dated.Surprisingly, the Japanese WiiWare version and the retail European game will be compatible online. If you still have your copy of Wii Chess, hang on to it, because next week you'll have dozens of new players eager for a game.[Via Siliconera]
Abnormous new Dokapon Kingdom info
Atlus sent out a series of descriptions of some of the random events that occur in the "blank" yellow spaces on Dokapon Kingdom's game board. One of the advantages of a video game over a real board game is that rather than just, say, a "Chance" card, the random events in Dokapon Kingdom can be pretty complex, and otfen involve paying off various lowlifes and robo-lowlifes to mess with other players. Robo-agent, for example, will accept contracts to assassinate other players, in the guise of Robo-Sassin. Other players can make counteroffers, sending him right back. Random global events can occur at the start of each week of gameplay,which, as the name implies, affect everyone. Examples given include "Wabbit Explosion," in which the board is overrun with the "Wabbit" enemy, "Epidemic," which forces players to pay health care costs for the towns they own, and "Abnormous Disaster."In addition to having a really unusual name, the Abnormous Disaster affects every town on a continent, wiping away tax revenues. It's helpfully labeled "bad news" in the game, as if "abnormous" and "disaster" didn't convey the message.%Gallery-20121%
EVE Online: the board game?!
EVE Online's 'Walking in Stations' expansion isn't the only new way fans will be playing the sci-fi title this winter. CCP Games will also be releasing a 'big box' board game called "EVE: Conquests," suitable for two to four players, which will come with a large fold-out board and cards. However, this game won't come cheap; EVE: Conquests will be priced at a steep $75, putting the game -- and its presumably ornate playing pieces -- out of the reach of most casual players. Pop culture-focused site ICv2 got the scoop on this latest game offering and spoke briefly with CCP's Peter Thorarinsson:"It's got a Euro-style mechanic to it," Thorarinsson said. "It's very easy to learn, but has a very deep game play and a lot of strategy to it." Thorarinsson indicated that no knowledge of the Eve universe would be necessary to play the game, and that although Eve Online players would be a natural audience for it, some gamers would undoubtedly be introduced to the Eve universe for the first time by the board game. In addition to his work on EVE: Conquests, Thorarinsson has been involved with creating the card game "EVE: The Second Genesis." While we're fans of all types of games at Massively, the price that's quoted at ICv2 seems mighty high. For you EVE enthusiasts out there, would you spring for EVE: Conquests to play when you're offline, or is this price tag out of step with your expectations? [Via EVE Stratics]
PAX 2008: Count all the pretty pieces in the tabletop gaming gallery
One of the best things about PAX is that it's not just all about video games. There are legions of people who still enjoy doing it old school, and that includes board games, tabletoppers, and RPGs. We witnessed people playing everything from the massive, sprawling, plastic-fest of Twilight Imperium to the simple wordplay of Apples to Apples. Heck, even the final elimination round of the Omegathon was a Jenga showdown.Check out the gallery below that's filled with people who still love how a pair of dice feels in their hands. To those about to roll, we salute you.%Gallery-30902%
Profit from a bounty of Dokapon video
Several new Dokapon Kingdom videos have appeared on IGN, showing various aspects of gameplay, from combat to movement around the board to recruiting outside help in your quest to obtain money. The combat is standard RPG fare, with the menu items assigned to directions on the D-pad. For an RPG to be an appropriate party game, we would expect the combat to be simple and quick -- nobody wants to sit there and eat Funyuns while you're trying to calculate the number of AP needed to protect against poison and also get a hit in on the nearest flying enemy.As usual with the IGN player, you can find more videos -- of the adventurous ASS, whose player is definitely not juvenile in the least -- on the sidebar thing.
Dokapon Screendom
Atlus sent out a nice screen update of their board game-RPG hybrid Dokapon Kingdom, which can be described as "upbeat" and "cute" -- and now "beefy" as well, thanks to the screenshot above.For reasons entirely unrelated to impossible cartoon bodybuilding, we're eagerly awaiting the release of this game. Basically, Board Game Top Shop on the PlayStation is so awesome, and we see a potential successor in the wacky anime-ness and competitive money-grubbing found in Kingdom. The art used in Dokapon happens to be pretty great as well -- even in non-flexing screens. %Gallery-20121%
E308: Dokapon Kingdom trailer is a delight
Atlus sure knows how to make a trailer exciting -- you can forget needing that cup of coffee after watching this.While our interest was only mildly piqued before by the adorable-looking boardgame-meets-RPG known as Dokapon Kingdom, this video really managed to put the title on our radar, nearing the "Do Want" list. As for destroying friendships? That's fine by us. We never really liked those people we called "friends" anyway. Atlus also promises an enriching single-person experience, too, in case you've already burned those briges long ago without developer Sting's help.Dokapon Kingdom should be hitting American shores on October 14th, retailing at $40. %Gallery-20121%
Xbox Live Arcade in talks with unnamed board game IP partner
Scott Austin, Microsoft Director of Digitally Distributed Games, tells us that there are talks in progress with "a potential partner who has lots of board game IP." He says that XBLA's boardgames are considered evergreen content by Microsoft -- games like Catan and Carcassone sell well all the time -- and that Microsoft is definitely looking to include more traditional board games in the Arcade. They expect the same kind of evergreen popularity for their Xbox Live Primetime service, which will combine online gaming on XBL with a television-style format.We asked Austin if the potential partner in question was a maker of more complex board games -- a D&D-esque board game like BattleLore or Runebound would likely work very well on Xbox Live -- but he was not forthcoming. For all we know a deal is being struck with a more traditional board game maker like Parker Brothers. Either way, fans of board games on Xbox Live will definitely have more to look forward to.Update: The relationship between potential board game content and the Xbox Live Primetime service was clarified.
Dokapon treasure hunters may find real gold
Dokapon Kingdom is all about acquiring as much money as possible before the end of the game. Sting is cleverly extending Dokapon's pecuniary theme into the game's promotion by offering buyers money. Specifically, gold coins. The Dokatto Kinka! Present Campaign (Thudding Gold Coin Present Campaign) offers gold coins to people who respond to a survey on Sting's mobile phone site. Three Doka-fans who answer the survey between July 31 and September 30, will be awarded 100,000 yen ($953) worth of gold. We don't expect Atlus to hand out gold coins with the American version of Dokapon Kingdom, but maybe we can get a poster of some gold coins!
Ticket to Ride vs. Ticket to Ride vs. Ticket to Ride
Alan R. Moon's Ticket to Ride has only been out for four years, but it has picked up several prestigious board gaming awards, and is quickly becoming a popular "haul it out of the closet and get yer game on" addition to game night. Last week, the Xbox Live Arcade version was released, joining Catan, Carcassonne, and Lost Cities as games that have breached the digital divide. But how does it stack up against the freebie Java version, and the board game itself? Read on, ticket holders, and find out.%Gallery-26538%
The Halo universe expands into board games
Because Haloclix just didn't fill the tabletop Halo niche market, Genius Products, B1 Games and Microsoft have teamed up to create a new strategic Halo board game that's set to hit retailers this September. No joke!The Halo Interactive Strategy game will feature characters and themes from Halo, Halo 2 and Halo 3 using 3D collectible figures in tandem with a "modular board that can be re-configured" that allows players to strategically battle it out board game style. It'll also somehow incorporate a DVD ... somehow. Not much else is known about the game's features or pricing (sorry, no pictures either), but we do know that it'll support expansion packs of some sort. You can color us interested, but we'd really like to see what the board game actually looks like. Heck, if all else fails, just release and mini version of the Halo 3 diorama and we'd be happy campers.[Via HBO]
Rummikub: tile-based technology
The Germans like it, and that's the most important thing. Rummikub has been around for decades, and won the 1990 Spiel des Jahres award. That's enough for a sale right here! The classic tile-based number game is coming to the DS from Engine Software. Plenty of traditional table and board games have made it to the DS, so there should be room for just one more little title! Rummikub is vaguely scheduled for a Q4 2008 release date, but we're expecting screens and updated information to surface very shortly.In the meantime, you can probably pick up an original set and give it a try with friends in RL. This experience will feature a durable cardboard box to prevent scattering of pieces, a table surface made of genuine wood or water-resistant plastic, and real-time wireless conversation with up to three friends. You don't want to provide the snacks for more than that amount of people.[Via press release]
The Board Game of Haruhi Suzumiya
In case you haven't seen the ridiculously popular anime or read the Wikipedia page, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is about an impulsive high school girl who also happens to unwittingly possess the ability to control reality. Her friends in the "SOS Brigade" after-school club, who all have supernatural or extraterrestrial connections except for irritated Everyman Kyon, attempt to keep her from getting bored (and thus remaking the universe) while also hiding the true existence of aliens, psychics, and time travelers from Haruhi.We had to explain all that for the concept of the new DS Haruhi game from Sega to make any sense. It's a board game in which the SOS Brigade rushes to solve unexplainable incidents and destroy evidence of otherworldly activity before Haruhi shows up. At least, that's as much as we can figure out. Not that it matters -- sales of this game will occur based entirely on the strength of whatever preorder bonus Sega and Haruhi publisher Kodansha decide to throw in.
505 Games flicking Subbuteo our way
Any football soccer-loving Brit of a certain age will fondly recall Subbuteo, and it's presumably those consumers that 505 Games is targeting with a new DS version of the game. For the uninitiated, a quick history lesson: Subbuteo was a miniature soccer board game, played by taking turns to flick small figures on hemispherical bases at an oversized ball, the aim being to get the ball in your opponent's net. Games usually lasted until your dog chewed the little men, or until Dad came in drunk again and stepped on them.Anyway, it reached the height of its popularity in the '70s and '80s, before decent soccer videogames (hi, Sensible Soccer) showed up and caught the chil'n's attention. The original Subbuteo is still played today (there's even an annual world championship), but is far less well-known, which is probably why 505 Games is making a DS game about it. It's out this September (though probably only in Europe), and will feature fully customizable tournaments, traditional leagues, and even a full online multiplayer. Wooo!%Gallery-26300%[Via press release]
A delay for Dokapon
Dokapon Journey is just so cute that it couldn't even make its forthcoming release date. At least, that's our first guess. They might have just been low on insults. Whatever the reason, the Japanese release for both the DS title and the Wii's Dokapon Kingdom has been bumped to late next month. We would moan and complain about the possibility of the delay affecting the US release, but -- oh, that's right. There isn't one. Only the Wii game is scheduled for localization.Bitter? Us? Maybe. If you need us, we'll be scribbling "Buttface" on all Atlus materials until we get an announcement about the DS game. We won't even mind if it takes a while to get here. See? We're nice. %Gallery-20125%
