Board games come in all shapes and sizes, and run the gamut from frenetic, brief bursts of simple gameplay, like Escape! The Curse of the Temple, to day-long brain-burning grand strategy experiences, such as Twilight Imperium. Some games, however, manage the tricky feat of being both easy to learn and play, and deep in terms… Continue reading Game Review: Splendor
Tag: strategy
Game Review: Endless Space
I’m no stranger to grand strategy. I grew up learning the ropes in old Avalon Hill wargames, and made the transition easily to so called “4X” games – exploration, expansion, exploitation and extermination – on the PC. Master of Orion was perhaps my favorite of these games, mostly because it was set in space. It’s… Continue reading Game Review: Endless Space
Strategic Writing
Writing is an odd profession. Writing fiction, even moreso. Most other professions have to start at one place and end at another. Linear progression of a product, from conception to design to implementation and delivery, is the baseline for most items consumed by the public. And while you certainly never pitch an unfinished or unpolished… Continue reading Strategic Writing
The Speed of Strategy
First contact with the Protoss. Better think fast. Yesterday’s Extra Credits discussed depth & complexity in games. When discussing complexity, James asks the question “How many mental calculations per second are you asking of your player?” He then goes on to posit that turn-based strategy games are no more complex than first-person shooters, based on… Continue reading The Speed of Strategy
Game Review: XCOM Enemy Unknown
I may be accused of cheating on this one. Not because of my “save scumming”, mind you, as there is zero shame in doing that when it comes to XCOM Enemy Unknown. I’ll get to why in a bit, but suffice it to say the reason some may not relish the idea of me writing… Continue reading Game Review: XCOM Enemy Unknown
First Impressions: XCOM Enemy Unknown
The road that brought the alien defense series X-Com back to us has been a winding one. Rumors of an update or remake were never far away, and at one point, a game with that title appeared but was something more along the lines of BioShock, with first-person shooter gameplay and heavy influences from Fallout,… Continue reading First Impressions: XCOM Enemy Unknown
The Art of Thor: Introduction
The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand. I want to be a better player of StarCraft 2. The first step in achieving a goal is having that goal in mind, stated as simply as… Continue reading The Art of Thor: Introduction
Ghoulish Games III: X-Com UFO Defense
The first game I discussed for this holiday dealt with the experience on a personal level, free of monsters. The second focused on a particular monster. Now, let’s talk about an overall game that actually captures an atmosphere of dread. The situation in X-Com: UFO Defense is as follows: Aliens are attacking human cities. They… Continue reading Ghoulish Games III: X-Com UFO Defense
Four Ecks
Espionage and fabulous cloaks are the Darlok’s specialities. A lot of my friends and co-workers have been losing quite a bit of free time to Civilization V. Had I the free resources, I’d be very likely to join them. Civ 5 is the latest in a very long and storied tradition amongst computer games, one… Continue reading Four Ecks
Game Review: Brütal Legend
What isn’t awesome about this artwork? NOTHING THAT’S WHAT. I, like Yahtzee, love Tim Schafer. We’ve taken turns talking about how great he is. I grew up on games like Day of the Tentacle and I adored Full Throttle. Psychonauts quickly grew on me (after my fingers healed up) and when Tim finally returned with… Continue reading Game Review: Brütal Legend
