Conquest of Pangea

HELLO DEAR READER!

Grab your wooden rafts and Ug boots, we're going back in time to the CONQUEST OF PANGEA!

CREATOR: Phil E. Orbanes, Immortal Eyes Games, Winning Moves Games.

2-4 players, Teen to Adult, Playing time 90 mins. * SMALL PIECES NO BABIES *

GAME BASICS: At the start of the game the world's continents are all joined in a massive conglomeration. You own a tribe of people and you start them out building their lil huts across this untouched landscape. TIME PASSES and slowly the once cozy neighborhood gets broken up one continent at a time! this puts a kink in your plans for world domination! undeterred you keep at it and strive to rule over your fellow ex-pangean brethren!

I first saw this game at Origins in 2006. ( I think it was 2006... I think that was my last trip to origins sadly... brain is foggy on the time )

There's lots of pieces and cards....which suckered me in as usual....

GAME DISSECTION: Sure you can have this island for some beads - snicker - we were leaving anyhow...toodles!!

ART: The cover art is a wild multi-element depiction of a world in chaos. Not my taste really but the INTERNAL art caught my eye. It was a clean. clearly designed game. the cards matched what they should, the continents were different but complimentary colors and nothing was too garish or hostile to the eye. the pieces were nicely crafted and the board was unique and well designed.

PRICE: 30-40$ Depending on where you shop and if you pick up the new expansion. I played it without the expansion for some time now, but from what I have been able to research the expansion moves the game along a lil better. Not bad for 5$.

REPLAY: The 90 minute game time prolly means you won't be pounding out several tourney's with this game, BUT its a good 90 mins of gaming goodness. Two games of this will prolly take less time than one Lord of the Rings movie, plus no one will complain if you talk and munch chips while you play the games. ( unless you do both at the same time! )

MECHANICS: The game is best with 4 people, though it can be played with as little as 2. that being said the patterns of change are randomized by the time cards that choose for you which continent breaks away from the pack and becomes isolated. While there are plenty of people who balk at ' too much randomness ' there's a growing number of people who don't like one player pretty much deciding for you what you can do and where. Balance is the key to a good game, and how you work the balance to your advantage becomes the source of fun.

This is a thoughtful game. Its not a loud HA HA NEENER NEENER NEENER game. There's no dice-rolling anticipation. Its more akin to the two master-samurai-swordsman... standing 50 feet apart, the suddenly rushing in and each delivering a stroke. Combat is handled through Power cards and Power points. In this respect its much like ancient battles, where you determined before the battle, if you had the numbers to beat the enemy, and if you did you made war.

FUN: Yeah but is it fun?? Don't be fooled by the calculating aspects of the game, undermining your opponents dominance in an area with cunning is often more satisfying that getting a lucky dice roll, especially if you are like me and the dice hate you....

"And when I say "hate" I mean HATE! Not strongly dislike, or despise, although these are also true! No! For I am, Mojo-jojo! I am EVIL! AND I HATE THE POWERPUFF GIRLS! ~ Mojo Jojo

THAT kind of dice hate. So I'm happy to draft some cards and play some points and stick it to my enemies through careful calculations.

GAMER PROFILE: Gilgamesh or Ekidu the Wildman?

CASUAL: You might be invited over to some one's house to play games some day.they might want to play this with you. Don't be intimidated if you don't usual play board games or are used to the old standbys. If you can make change or cook mac and cheese, you can play this game.

ACTIVE: Maybe the theme art isn't screaming BUY ME! Maybe you prefer a different genre of play or need dice to feel safe from the cunning warriors opposite you. Expand your gaming experience and get out of that RP rut! Unlike Settlers, this game lets you expand your empire by invading opposing lands.... an often complained about feature that many find most enjoyable in a game.

GAMER: Get the game and the expansion and have a load of gamer good fun! A good game to introduce casual gamers to after they've whetted their tongues on a game like Settlers of Catan. Conquest of Pangea will easily fit in with a GAMES OF WORLD DOMINATION night at your favorite gamer's home. If you have more than four people, bring another set and have them be an evil mirror universe...make them all wear goatees so you know who is evil. Even the girls. Equality NOW!

CREATOR: Here's a game that broke lose of an often stagnated gaming world. It has a multi-piece, movable board. This will most likely drive production costs up a bit but as its the second in their series, they seem to have planned ahead for that and made a similar to make game and sold that first. This would have the same effect that Lucas used when making the Star Wars movies. the profits from Star Wars went right back into the creation of Empire Strikes Back. Surprisingly, a lot of NEW game companies think ONE game is all they need to be rich and never work again. Its not true. One look at the gaming world shows you that even the BIGGINS need expansions and additions or new games all together. If you plan ahead of time, you won't be caught short at the conventions. After good gameplay and art...nothing sells a game more as rumors of expansions.

FOR THE LADIES: The world of gaming has long been dominated by men. So I am told. My grandmother taught me how to play poker, and my mother routinely beat my butt in Scotland Yard. My daughter trounces my mind and will to live in Risk: Godstorm. If you are new to games, jump in and play. If you are a ' pioneer' woman and have been gaming for ages.... try introducing your other female friends to the world of gaming. Life is short, don't play alone!

ABOUT ME: I'm a Gamer, Game Designer, and above all, a good guy who loves sharing games with people! if you have any questions, write me at redearth72@gmail.com

CATHEDRAL!

Hello Dear Reader! Get out your plumb line and level! Today we're taking a look at the classic game CATHEDRAL!



CREATOR: Robert Moore. Published by Brightway Products, Mattel, and Family Games.



PLAYERS: 2, ages 8 and up, playing time 20 minutes, smaller pieces so babies should avoid.



GAME BASICS : The idea... players take turns adding buildings to an enclosed city, trying to fit them snugly around the imposing Cathedral! Place your buildings right, and you can remove your opposing players buildings and garner more room for yourself!



I got this game as a birthday/Christmas present so many years ago now I forget how old I was.
(waves his cane at the readers and rings the bell on his walker) I have the version pictured above. It was plastic and made by the Mattel people. Family games has a nice wooden version out now, and even a ' world ' version which simulates famous world architecture. Its a fairly old game now, first created in the 60's but is still being published which shows the games staying power an appeal.



GAME DISSECTION: There's two seasons in Wisconsin....Winter, and Construction!



ART: Through its various incarnations, from the first to the most recent, the three dimensional look of this game has appealed in one way or another. Be it the highly detailed versions, or the simple blocky style, the art has never taken away from the fun of the game and has always served the game play soundly.



PRICE: 25$ - 35$ depending on the version and location you buy the game. The high quality wooden games look snazzy on the coffee table and give your living room an aire of sophistication that Candyland somehow lacks ( I know...I was just as shocked! ) As I said I got the Mattel plastic version as a gift back at least in the 80's, so if I get a new version...I suspect I'll enjoy plunking down the extra coin for the nice looking wooden versions. I'm a Gamer after all...



REPLAY: I used to play this on my porch with the neighbor kids before they hopped the bus to their swim practice. We'd play 2-3 games every half hour before their practices. Some people might take longer to play but its not likely.



MECHANICS: Its a land gathering, puzzle piece fitting, middle ages, tactile game. Its straightforward and there's no grand surprises.... as they say in the movie " And now we fight each other as God intended, Sportsmanlike...skill against skill alone! "



FUN: Its loads of fun! I still play it now about 20 years after getting my first set! The memories from playing against the neighbor kids still make me smile and its nice to have a game you can just PLAY without having to read a rulebook the size of New Hampshire! Its nice step up from Checkers and looks a lot nicer too!



GAMER PROFILE: Foreman or Day Laborer??



CASUAL: Most anyone should be able to grasp this game within 10 minutes. Its not tediously rule-ridden and frustrating. It will vex them if they consistently cannot beat you, which will only make for better grudge matches!



ACTIVE: Fun for two people waiting on more. keep it in your arsenal of games and teach it to casual gamers as a way to break them into the bigger gaming world!



GAMER: You might not bring this to game night. But you might proudly display it on your coffee table, or play for points and money and prestige with your most competitive friends. Its a classic, and any gamer should have a classic or 9 laying around the house and ready to play!



CREATOR: Here's an example of how games are inspired, the creator of Cathedral, Robert Moore, noticed how the buildings in his New Zealand city fit nice and snug around the Christchurch Cathedral.... and made a game that's lasted for 40 years. Simple can be a powerful ally. Never underestimate its longevity or appeal!



FOR THE LADIES: Its a nice straightforward no luck game that looks nice on the coffee table. Give it a go!!

ABOUT ME: I'm a Gamer, Game Designer, and above all, a good guy who loves sharing games with people! if you have any questions, write me at redearth72@gmail.com

BONUS EDITION ~ BETH TROTT!

Hello Dear Reader!

In this special BONUS edition of Red Earth Game Reviews, I am pleased to welcome the artist BETH TROTT!

In addition to a couple of prints and some excellent stickers, I have a couple of card games which proudly feature the fabulous stylings of Beth and I wanted to show you all a bit more about the woman behind the art!

REGR: Hi there Beth and thank you for sitting down with us today to discuss yourself !!

BETH: You’re very welcome! I always love talking with other gamers and fantasy art fans.

REGR: Excellent! Now why don't you tell the good readers a little bit about yourself, both professionally and otherwise!

BETH: Well, we’ll start with the professional side of things. Despite the fact that I studied Fine Art and Art History for four years at George Washington University, when I got out of school in 1999 I opened a game store in Maryland. See the connection? Yeah, it doesn’t make a ton of sense but it’s how things worked out. The game store did really well and after about two years things settled down enough that I could break out my paints for fun. I started painting a lot of fantasy material (this probably had a little something to do with being in a game store all day, everyday) and eventually had enough images to build a portfolio.

I approached Alderac Entertainment Group and ended up getting some work on the Legend of the Five Rings and Warlord CCGs. That’s kind of where it all started.

I got more jobs with other companies and things just kept growing. In 2004 I had to make a choice because I had so much illustration work coming in and I was still a small business owner. There are only so many hours in a day so I decided to sell my share of the store to my business partner and I became a full time freelance artist. It wasn’t a hard choice for me to make but having said that, owning and operating a game store was one of the coolest experiences I’ve had. The store is still run by my former business partner and his wife and it thrives to this day!

As for me personally… well it isn’t very interesting, frankly. I was born and raised in rural Maryland then I made my great escape to the big city when I went to school in Washington DC. In the end I think I’m a city girl, but now and then when I go to visit my parents I can appreciate the calm and quite of “the sticks”.

REGR: Impressive! But as much study wearies the body....you must have made time for fun too. What got you involved with board/card games, and what got you mixing art and games?

BETH: *laughs* It was the new dice bag smell. Who can resist that? Well, I was definitely an artist first. Growing up I always like to draw cartoons and fantasy creatures so the love of the genre was always in me. My formal study was more in Fine Art (figure drawing, color theory and the like), which I think has benefited me a lot in my illustrations. I guess I really started getting into gaming pretty hardcore when I was finishing up with college, so I moved rather naturally into an art career that was associated with gaming.

REGR: Are you a Mighty Master of Miniatures? Or an all-powerful genie of rpg's? What's your favorite genre of gaming?

BETH: I have no strategic mind for miniature games but I LOVE to paint those little suckers. But anyways, to your question, I’d say that I’ve been through many gamer stages. When I originally got into gaming it was largely role-playing and then I went through a hardcore CCG phase with the WWE card game.

REGR: WWE? The World Wrestling Entertainment collectible card game?

BETH: I’m not sure I should admit my undying love of the WWE card game but the system in the beginning was just fantastic. It was fast, it was fun and it had folding chairs!!!! I also had a highly addictive two year run on World of Warcraft (female tauren warrior *rawr*) but I have to admit those games are almost unsustainable. I really loved the visual aspect as well as the social interaction but you never realize how much time those games eat up until you stop playing them. I’d say over the past year I have settled comfortably into the life of a board gamer and non collectible card gamer. Now for me a good night of gaming involves a board game, a couple friends and a few hours to kill.

REGR: I first met you at a gaming convention in Columbus, Ohio called ORIGINS, was that your first convention as an artist or have you been trudging about for years?

BETH: I have been doing gaming conventions for a long while now. Originally I attended conventions as a retailer representing my game store, but after becoming a fantasy artist full time I’ve been participating in the art shows.

REGR: What's your favorite award? I know you've won several....

BETH: I think I’d have to say the award I am most proud of is my 2nd place in the Gen Con Art Show. There are so many talented artists in our industry who attend Gen Con and display their work in the show. I admire them for their skill as well as their professionalism and to receive ANY award in that crowd is something I’m extremely proud of.

REGR: Ok, for the game creators out there, what do YOU as the artist, find the most challenging when creating art for a game?

BETH: There are so many styles and looks already established in the gaming industry that for me the greatest challenge is coming up with something that really stands out and looks unique. When a product is so highly dependent on the art for it’s exposure and customers have shelf after shelf of product to scan, you need the art to “pop”. Part of me believes my medium already stands out next to most other art in my industry since so few fantasy illustrators paint with watercolor. Still, I always struggle to make the characters, creatures and settings very visually stimulating.

REGR: The games I have featuring your art, Mimic and En Garde!, Each has its own style and feel, and I know you make excellent water color prints, Is that your exclusive medium or do you branch out into others when the need/demand arises?

BETH: Watercolor is certainly my medium of choice although in both of those games you mentioned I used other mediums as well! In Mimic the cards themselves are all digitally rendered and in En Garde!, the cards are all pencil drawings (with a color filter to give the sepia effect). So right there, you see I have to be flexible. Still, when it comes to watercolor it’s the medium I have the most experience with and in a world of deadlines it’s the one I’m most efficient with as well.

REGR: For aspiring game artists and creators, what's your best piece of information you could impart to them? Are there any big DON'T's as well as DO's??

BETH: Well, even though I’m not sure I qualify for giving advice to game creators, or anyone for that matter, I will say that games like Mimic and En Garde! appealed to me because the system itself was solid. I think you have to have a good game before you can tackle the art.

For aspiring artists I’d say one of the most important parts of being a freelance artist in a publishing industry is professionalism. You have to be prepared to meet deadlines and manage your time, which is easier said then done, trust me.
Also for artists (and this can be a hard one to stomach) you must always be able to listen to and gain knowledge from constructive criticism. Sometimes it can sting when an Art Director, potential client, or another artist reviewing your work tells you want they think your weaknesses are and what you should work on. It’s so important to set the emotions aside and really listen to and evaluate critiques so you can continue to improve your work!

REGR: What's the single best way to contact you for professional matters and/or quotes on work?

BETH: I would suggest email above all else. Anyone interested in contacting me can reach me at

beth@bethtrott.com or via my website at www.bethtrott.com

REGR: Any plans for the future you'd like the good Readers to watch for?

BETH: Well, speaking of the website, it’s getting a much needed overhaul. The website is being completely revamped and should be going live within the next few weeks! Not only will it feature a ton of new images, but I’m also adding a gallery featuring some of my side projects, including more serious work and some independent concept work. I’m always trying to keep myself busy between deadlines so now I’ll finally get to show off some of those projects. I’d just ask that the viewers have patience with me as I’ve designed it myself and it’ll probably take some time to work out all the kinks.

REGR: Ok, I'll ask you my favorite standard question. You're stranded on a desert island and all the rum is gone.....what three games would help you keep a hold of your sanity til you can find some sea turtles?

BETH: The rum is gone?!? *long pause* I guess that rules out any drinking games. OK, let me think about this one.
I would take as my first choice, and I apologize if this sounds pretentious, but I’d take “Go”. I’m not any good at the game but I really love playing it. Also I’m pretty sure I could play the game every day for the rest of my life and never completely figure it out.

I’d bring a deck of cards. So many games in one little box, it’s almost cheating!
Can I swap out my third game for another person? Games are way more fun to play with another human being.

REGR: Sorry no other humans.... but we will allow a monkey named Jack! -laughs out loud-

Beth, On behalf of everyone involved with the Red Earth Game Reviews, I want to thank you for your time and energy and let you know how much we appreciate your kindness and professionalism! May good fortune favor you wherever you roam and know that you're held in high esteem by the people of Red Earth Gaming!

BETH: Thanks so much for speaking with me. I really appreciate your support and interest in my work! Hopefully I’ll keep cranking out fantasy art that keeps your readers interested.

REGR: I know more than a few people with my taste in fantasy art...and we could all use a Garden Gnome T shirt! ( trust me folks its an awesome print! )
Well everyone, that's it for this particular bonus episode of Red Earth Game Reviews! I hope you're all well and be sure to watch for upcoming interviews and reviews!

Handy links ~

www.bethtrott.com ~ Beth's website

http://www.originsgamefair.com/ ~ Origins Convention

http://www.slugfestgames.com/ ~ Slugfest Games

http://home.comcast.net/~kyteel/index.html ~ Funmaker Games LLC

ABOUT ME: I'm a Gamer, Game Designer, and above all, a good guy who loves sharing games with people! if you have any questions, write me at redearth72@gmail.com

HERO QUEST!

Hello Dear Reader!

Grab your quarterstaff, or your buck and a quarterstaff,because its HERO QUEST TIME!

GAME DESIGNER: Milton Bradley - Games Workshop

PLAYERS: 2-5, 60-90 mins, 10 + and LOTS OF SMALL PIECES! No babies allowed!

GAME BASICS: Hero Quest is a dungeon crawling, treasure hauling, monster brawling game of adventure. One per runs the monsters and sets up the various maps while the remaining players take on one of four roles as heroes sent to destroy the evil infesting the land! Gold, magic spells and potions, new weapons abound and aide the heroes, even as the monsters grow more ferocious and cunning and numerous! beware the many traps that lay about as well, find the secret doors and thwart evil's twisted plans and reign victorious!!

Battle is resolved with dice, movement is guided by the hero stat cards, and miniatures of heroes, monsters, and dungeonscape fill the board to delight tactile and visual players!

GAME DISSECTION: Me and You and a goblin named Boo...

ART: This game is from the late 80's and the art reflects as much. By that, I mean that it very much resembles a Big-Hair-Metal-Band road tour...AND THAT IS AWESOME! Its not dainty and Tolkien.... this is a game that fits more with a good night of Conan the Barbarian, 13th Warrior, and Highlander playing in the backround. Everything looks as it should, nothing looks out of place...the art both printed and 3D... does its job perfectly!

PRICE: Well now here's the thing.... its out of print. I know, I know.... that usually makes it harder to find and harder to obtain. Now hear my story.... I played this game first with some church friends years ago, then I was GIVEN a free copy of my own....then....a freak basement flooding left its boxes and other cardboard pieces decimated.... now, many years later, thanks to EBAY and some fancy bidding on my part...i have mine for about 40.00$ . With the remainders from the last water-logged copy.... my hordes of minions shall destroy the heroes once and for all MOO HAA HAA!...BUT I DIGRESS! You can search Ebay or other online sites, maybe even poll your local game stores to see what they have hidden away. Or check your basement... maybe you forgot you had this.

REPLAY: Heh... where do I begin! the game is designed so the board may be reused and reset as needed for each quest. the basic game comes with 14 such setups thereby giving you AT LEAST 14 good games to play. The back of the quest book has a copiable diagram that will let you make up your own quests and continue the story. there were also a few booster packs containing more pieces board elements and quest books as well! So even with a minimal investment in the first game... you have a virtually unlimited amount of replay here...as long as you have some imagination!

MECHANICS: Heroes have 1 action, from a choice of 6, to perform and a move each turn. So do the monsters. heroes then monsters, back and forth. Battle is handled with dice from Germany in my edition...roll skulls to hit, shields to defend. The mechanics are simple, smooth, and easy to enjoy. It sounds almost too simple to be fun, but its not! The board changes as play progresses, the heroes not knowing where the next doorway will take them or what is on the other side. All this without hundreds of dollars worth of manuals and supplements.... makes the game extremely playable.

FUN: I've played the first 14 adventures. I've played two sets of expansions. I've gotten my graph paper and created my own 10 quest adventure.... I've played with people my own age and my kids. Its still fun. for all of us, even after all this time. That being said.... its benign fun. No grand malicious powers behind it all. Its got as much dark menace as the Wizard of Oz or a Muppet villain... the emphasis on this game was getting past the monsters and getting the loot and having fun doing it! It succeeds.

GAMER PROFILE: You must choose... but choose wisely...

CASUAL: While My gramma might not ever play this....there's a whole generation of people out there that have been playing D&D, LARPing and attending renn faire's for years now and YOUR gramma might like to sit down and pound out a nice dungeon crawling adventure with you. If so, she'll find the rules and choices simple, but addictively fun!

ACTIVE: Tired of passing GO? Do you really want to choose between apples AGAIN? not wanting to plunk down another 100.00 to get a set of books you already spent money on less than 5 years ago? Well go get a copy of Hero Quest and some doritos and Mt Dew and have a high fantasy night of door bashing and orc stabbing!

GAMER: If you don't have it...GO GET IT! If you DO have it, host a night of Hero Quest, sport your OWN adventures, or even make adventures based off movies and stories you and your hard core friends know.... Hero Quest: The Princess Bride could be the start of a whole new fun nights at your place!

CREATOR: Its a big box company game that ACTUALLY does what it should. Don't copy it... not even for flattery, but take the time to get the balance as right as they did here. this game has been out of print for some time but still has a DEVOTED AND CULT LIKE FOLLOWING. Supplements by fans abound, and there's even a free computer game version you can download off the web ( I know..because I did ) This is what we want people, a devoted following that we can share our creations with.

FOR THE LADIES: I've actually played this game with more women than I have men. 75% of the women I have played with have been the Barbarian with the GIANT SWORD and have kicked in doors and hacked down goblins like they were chopping up veggies for a salad. Though the game doesn't sport and specifically female characters, a trip to the game store could easily afford you a nice miniature reflecting your gender. Housewives might be desperate on Wisteria Ln. .... but its because they have no adventure in their lives!

ABOUT ME: I'm a Gamer, Game Designer, and above all, a good guy who loves sharing games with people! if you have any questions, write me at redearth72@gmail.com

BONUS INTERVIEW POST! ~ Doug Cook

Hello Dear Reader!

In this special BONUS edition of Red Earth Game Reviews, I am pleased to welcome the game creator Doug Cook!

Doug Cook is the owner, creator, and commander-in-chief of Funmaker Games. His first published game, Mimic, came out on the market in 2006 and debuted at the Origins game convention in Columbus, Ohio. I took some time with Doug recently to discuss not only his game, but the process that brought Mimic to the world!

REGR: Hi there Doug and thank you for sitting down with us today to discuss, well YOURSELF!

DOUG: Thanks, I'm happy to share my time with you, and well, discuss myself ( laughter )

REGR: So, why don't you tell the good readers a little bit about yourself, both professionally and otherwise!

DOUG: Well I'm happily married and raising my son in Wisconsin, where we make the great games of Funmakers! I'm a teacher and decided in addition to educating minds, I wanted to make something enjoyable and intensely fun as well! That's how Mimic came to be!

REGR: How did you get into the whole board game scene? Were you a gamer first or have you always been creating games?

DOUG: I started playing game I got for Christmas, but was often disappointed that I could not get enough people to play with me. I started creating small gaming groups, and out of that I found myself often creating new rules for existing games, and that led me to create MY OWN creations from scratch!

REGR: I won't ask what your favorite game is, but what's your favorite genre? Are you a hard-core role player or do you like the tactile decimation of your opponents miniature collection?

DOUG: I prefer boardgames with a medieval theme and games that require depth of strategy over luck. I like to be the one making choices, not following a dictated set of game mechanics

REGR: So you prefer to be the one in control of your gaming destiny?

DOUG: Yes, control of my destiny, or play of the game, or options for the player are what make the game more playable over and over again. I enjoy that and shun games that don't allow for that.

REGR: Your game, Mimic, debuted at Origins in Columbus, Ohio in 2006, Tell the readers how you got the idea for Mimic, and what the basic steps to publication and Origins you took.

DOUG: Mimic was the most peculiar start of an idea that I ever had. It was born out of the need to memorize terms for human anatomy while at the University of Minnesota. Soon, it morphed into a game that was far more strategic and fun to play, which became a marketable product. I had designed other games, but Mimic showed the most promise for the first game out.

I learned a lot as I went along. There's a tremendous amount of things you have to do just to get a game published. Between copyrights and dealing with printers, and packagers, you basically become a general contractor which can be fun yet challenging. And, on occasion, frustrating too.

Networking became the single most important thing to do as a small company. Usually, you are not blessed with the funds that a BIG BOX company is and meeting and talking with your contacts is a lot of work, but without those contacts, you most likely will not succeed.

I found that Networking is more investment in my company than it is a socializing affair. These people represent not just my suppliers, but the consumers as well and without them and their input and eventual output, I would have nothing to sell OR I'd end up with a lot of unmovable product.

REGR: Obviously, you did research before deciding to produce Mimic, what was the BEST advice you found during your research, and conversely, the worst?

DOUG: I went to the 30th anniversary convention of Origins and at one of the seminars, a mysterious message was waiting for us on the white board... the seminar leaders pointed out that it was not far from the truth.

REGR: What did the white board say?

DOUG: It said “ DON'T DO IT! “

REGR: That was the BEST advice?

DOUG: Well the seminar leader followed it up with the fact that unless you are able and willing to immerse your life in the pursuit of your dream... you just won't succeed. Its an all or nothing proposition.

REGR: Well then, what was the worst advice or counsel?

DOUG: Was to take out paper ads in magazines and newspapers. As a small company you don't have the funds to keep up with the BIG BOX companies. As a small company, the internet, your networked contacts, and conventions are your biggest asset. I won't say that I wasted money, but there were other things that the funds could have been spent upon that would have been a bigger benefit to me starting out. Word of mouth, contacts, online reviews like this are some of the more far-reaching and inexpensive tools in your arsenal that can really push a little company into the spotlight faster. With the advent of podcasting, your ability to advertise makes you a potentially world wide known company.

REGR: Sounds like you had a lot to go through just to make a game. What was more difficult, Creating the game in the first place, or getting it produced?

DOUG: Oh easy, getting it produced. Dealing with printers, and manufacturers. I, as the customer, was hand-holding them every step of the way, and basically riding them constantly to make sure every minute detail was accounted for. If I didn't keep an eye on everything, a lot of stuff could have gotten out the door. Then I would have had some serious quality issues and basically, a worthless product. It would have been like selling rotten fruit...no one is going to buy it no matter how good the idea of fruit looked on the drawing board.

My suggestion for aspiring game creators, join groups like the Game Publishers Association, and listen to them for a full year before you do anything. They have resources and experience that span over 30 years in the game and publishing industries. Its an inexpensive investment that will save you money, and quell a lot of frustrations.

I still love making games, obviously, or you wouldn't have a copy of Mimic right now, so perseverance is key. Listen to people that have already done what you want to do. Never give up, and work smarter, not harder. Creative thinking doesn't just apply to making the game, but to the actual production as well. Thinking out side of the box, or even WAY out of the box, can work for you, and if it does, who cares what other people think.

REGR: Did you have any troubles finding an artist for your game? Or did you make all the great pictures yourself?

DOUG: Artists are all over conventions. The trick is to finding one that clicks with your personality and style of working. I prefer conventions because I can actually meet them face to face and can tell if we'll work well together or not. This person has to be able to work with you and get inside your head in order to really show what it is you want people to see. Game graphics are often essential to a clear gaming experience. In the end, you get what you pay for. Go too cheap and it will show. Some people think they deserve more money than their particular talents are worth. Check their portfolios, see what they can do. Then make your choice. Get references as you would for any other employee you'd hire, because that's what they are, someone working for you. Sign a contract and be specific with who gets the rights to the image, and never pay until you are 100% satisfied with the work.

REGR: So its more than just a little photoshop work and a copyright line?

DOUG: Its a lot of work, but its worth it. My artist, Beth Trott, is a classically trained, award-winning, artist as well as a gamer herself. I think she has a wonderful ability to work with your ideas and wants to make the project as close to your original ideas and visions. She's willing to offer suggestions based on her abilities and training, but will never override your desires and vision to insert her own. Beth is great to work with and I'd recommend her to anyone needing an artist. She works in water colors that enabled me to make changes to the artwork that another medium would have made difficult or impossible. My ideas changed a lot and her flexibility made her ideal for my game creation needs. She worked well for me and we worked well together, THAT is what you need and want when making anything.

REGR: What was your biggest surprise at the conventions?

DOUG: I guess I was surprised by my ability to actually sell Mimic. You have to have a ringmaster like persona and get people to come to your booth.

REGR: So a pretty smile is not enough?

DOUG: No, people will just walk on by. You have to get to the people and bring them in. Once I did that things flowed and it was a more rewarding experience. When I first started attending conventions I was very surprised by people with booths that didn't interact with the consumers at all, so when I started my own booth, I made sure that was not the case. If you have difficulty with sales and socializing, find someone who does not. Being a leader is knowing both your strengths and your weaknesses. In the immortal words of Clint Eastwood, “ A man's got to know his limitations. "

REGR: What's the single best way to contact you for professional matters regarding Mimic, or contact information for publishers and manufacturers? Do your ringmaster skills extend towards mentoring?

DOUG: My website is the single best way to reach me, regarding my games or for mentoring. Helping another person into the game industry helps everyone. I was a gamer first and another good company means more fun for me. The Game Publisher's Association is an excellent resource and I recommend them as well. Podcasters are a new great way to get the word out about a game. Tom Vassal on Dice Tower is well followed, and the exposure you'll get is well worth a copy of your game. Tom is usually at the Origins convention, so make sure you get to him and get his take on things.

REGR: Any plans for the future you'd like the good Readers to watch for?

DOUG: Yes, we're hoping to come out with the expansion for Mimic which will allow four players to play, a solitaire style, and team play. ( printers see above ) After that we have two new Sudoku based games due in 2009. WE are also working on a game based on sea-faring, with pirates, commodities trading, and high seas adventure!

REGR: Ok, you're stranded on a desert island and all the rum is gone.....what three games would help you keep a hold of your sanity til you can find some sea turtles?

DOUG: Anything I make.... that counts as one. Card Football by CSE, and Kung-Fu Fighting by Slugfest Games ( of course with my own personal zombie ninja rules! ) and because 3 is not enough... Battlestations by Gorilla Games, which is a cross between a role playing game and a board game!

REGR: Awesome choices all! Well Doug, On behalf of all of us at Red Earth Game Reviews, we wish you well with your upcoming games and conventions and heartily thank you for this great time!

DOUG: I appreciate this opportunity and look forward to future reviews of the upcoming Funmaker Games as they appear on the market! I hope to see you all at Origins this year too!

Well everyone, that's a look at the man behind the games at Funmakers! I hope you enjoyed the bonus post and rest assured there will be more in the near future as well!

Here are some links to some of the various sites mentioned in this interview!

http://home.comcast.net/~kyteel/index.html ~ Funmakers!

http://www.thegpa.org/ ~ Game Publisher's Association

http://www.originsgamefair.com/ ~ Origins Convention

http://www.bethtrott.com/ ~Beth Trott!

http://www.slugfestgames.com/ ~ Slugfest Games

http://www.gorillaboardgames.com/ ~ Gorilla Games

http://www.csegames.com/ ~ CSE GAMES

MIMIC

HELLO DEAR READER!

Put on your safari hats and grab your mosquito netting because we're going to play MIMIC - Safari Edition!

GAME DESIGNER: Doug Cook, Funmaker Games. Art By Beth Trott.

PLAYERS: 2 -3, 20-30 minutes, Ages 8+, Small pieces warning for the 3 and under crowd.

GAME BASICS: MIMIC - Safari Edition is a fast paced card-based strategy game. You place your cards in various patterns in order to rid yourself of score cubes. Be the first to rid yourself of score cubes and you win! Sound easy? Don't be fooled. The elegant play style belies the complexities that can challenge even ranked chess masters!

Exquisitely created artwork, ( Beth Trott ) highlighting animals of the African continent, are your path to victory! basing your plays off the Start cards, you forge continuous patterns of matching pairs. The game field is confined to a 7 x 7 size, and this causes you to 'bend' your patterns around corners and even other cards. Score cubes act as obstacles as the game progresses and like prime real estate..each open space becomes more valuable and potentially game-deciding! That's where the monkeys come in....

As if the ever changing game space was not challenging enough, now you have people able to alter how cards are played and how the board is filled! The game mascot, Affa, decorates your Power cards and helps you catch up if you are behind or to stifle the runaway gamer who's about to win! Use them wisely as you only get 5 per game!

GAME DISSECTION: Lions and Zebras and Monkeys...OH MY!

ART: Beth Trott's skills as an artist with a pulse on the gamer mind shines brightly again! watercolor art, once typically restricted to crafts and Victorian set movies, has found new power in Beth's hands. Mimic shines with her style and is an excellent addition to any bookshelf collection.

PRICE: 15.00$ This means you have change from the almighty Jackson! Now you can play a game with the kids and have a lovely portrait of Lincoln to adorn your wallet...which means there's a dollar menu somewhere calling your name...

REPLAY: Mimic is not a three hour game. Its a sit down and play a few games game. This makes it an ideal game for kids and impatient people. That being said its not a no-brainer game like Candyland. The fun of this game comes from the battle of wits that occurs when you try to outmatch your opponents! therefore... its highly replayable! Expect grudge matches from your defeated foes!

MECHANICS: Its a cardgame, its a strategy game, its a color/image matching game. It has cool lil cubes that mark your progress...this means that the typical gamer will be familiar with the inner workings of MIMIC but probably cannot site another game that combines them so smoothly. I played it once with a Viet Nam war vet and his friend. His comments on the game "This is a really elegant design." Then he and his friend each put down a 20$ bill to make it more interesting for them. after that I played with some children about ages 9 and 11. The 9 year old whipped her brother's but soundly. The mechanics are smooth.

FUN: LOTS! The ease of play with the depth of strategy means this is a game everyone can play and not feel bogged down by in a heavy set up or a limited play group. Its enjoyed equally by children and war vets of all ages.

GAMER PROFILE: Are you a man or a monkey?

CASUAL: This game is easily picked up by even strict non-gamers. Good to bring along to new places and to share with new friends.

ACTIVE: Buy it. Play it. Its a great game to bring to a restaurant when you just want to spend some time with friends and not leave right away because the food is gone.

GAMER: Gamers are notorious for increasing the standard mechanics of a game... while you will not need that... a good gamer could easily buy two copies of Mimic... and play on a giant 14 x14 grid.... this would also make you able to play with 6 people. More is always fun!

CREATOR: Excellent Art.... Elegant Design. Fun and Award winning. THESE are your goals as a game designer. MIMIC is an excellent example of how the art attracts customers first, then excellent gameplay makes them faithful buyers. Go to Origins and look for the Funmakers Booth... you'll see a GIANT banner of the cover art from a mile away.... and then watch as people work their way to see what its all about. Imitate this success.

FOR THE LADIES: You'll like this game. Its pretty and clever and fun. If you are a mom, you'll have a great game to engage the kids with instead of video games and TV shows that pander to a child's intellect...this will expand their decision making skills not hinder them. If your significant other is a big gamer... this will give you a chance to strut your stuff on an equal playing field. " Skill against skill alone " ~ Fezzik

ABOUT ME: I'm a Gamer, Game Designer, and above all, a good guy who loves sharing games with people! if you have any questions, write me at redearth72@gmail.com

EN GARDE!!

Hello Dear Reader!


I say...it would be ever so decent of you if you could pass the chardonnay and then of course... EN GARDE!!


GAME DESIGNERS: Another great card game put out by the Slugfest people! Geoff Bottone, Colleen Skadl, and Cliff Bohm. Art by the amazing Beth Trott! Art Direction by Cliff Bohm.


PLAYERS: 2- 6 people, ages 10+, there's some small glass jewels so keep the babies away!


GAME BASICS: Where Kung Fu fighting was full of slam-bang karate fighting, En Garde aptly embodies the suave, sophisticated, sword fighting of swashbuckling movies all over!


Each player gets a handy card and gem to keep track of your Poise, lose your Poise and well, most anything can kill ya! So keep your cool and learn to dodge! Each player is dealt cards that allow them to both attack and defend themselves in a smooth dueling style!

GAME DISSECTION: Inigo: You are using Bonetti's defense against me, uh?

Man In Black: I thought it fitting, considering the rocky terrain.

Inigo: Naturally, you must expect me to attack with Capo Ferro.

Man In Black: Naturally, but I find that Thibault cancels out Capo Ferro, don't you?

Inigo: Unless the enemy has studied his Agrippa, ... which I have!

ART: The art in this game is by the classically trained Beth Trott, who, on top of being a fabulous artist, is a gamer gal herself! In many games you either have a game in which the art was a secondary consideration, or a game which would look better in a museum than it does on your kitchen table....Beth's art finds that elusive middle ground where the art adds to the quality of both the aesthetics and the gameplay! Cliff's layouts make the game art flow smoothly from cover to rules pages and cards.

PRICE: 20.00$ ! Don't get me wrong, I have lots of games way over the 20$ dollar mark, but I'm always most pleased with the ones that rock my socks for only a Jackson! I got mine at the convention in Ohio and along with two other games still spent less than 50.00$ I own the games and can play them with lots of people. Conversely... my kids and I saw Iron Man and paid about the same for 2 hours of entertainment and candy. You can see why I favor board games above other forms of entertainment!

REPLAY: Not as fast as Kung Fu Fighting yet still you could polish off a couple-three games in about an hour. The 2-6 player style allows you to gather your friends or have a couple of couples over and join you and your spouse for some swashbucklery! ( Maybe play a POTC movie in the back round .. for ambiance... Why's the rum gone?)

MECHANICS: Smooth. I think that best describes how the games flow from the good Slugfest people. The rules make the steps of play clear and there's an intuitive nature to the design of the cards themselves. This is a great asset when teaching the game to new people!

FUN: If you don't find yourself quoting lines from the Princess Bride while you play.... you either have not seen the movie or the game-gremlins have eaten your soul.... roll a D20 for a new gamer soul! Or go buy the movie! FAST!, so you can get back to playing the game!!

GAMER PROFILE : HELLO! MY NAME IS INIGO MONTOYA!....

CASUAL: Put down the crossword puzzle, turn off the internet games, click off the gameshow on TV and interact with your people over a nice game of swashbuckling!....

"ITS CULTURE!!" ~ Mama and Papa

ACTIVE: Its pretty. Its sophisticated. Its a game about sword fighting. Its affordable and fits in your Backpack O' Games .... need I say more? Ok but only because I like to talk....

GAMER: A game for Talk Like a Pirate Day to be certain! In fact, you could play En Garde!, Battleship, and Seafarers of Catan and have a whole nautical theme night....I mean seriously...have you ever thought about pirating? You'd make a wonderful Dread Pirate Roberts...

CREATOR: Buy it. Study it. Pay attention to the art, not just the obvious stuff like the good half-dried blood color of the art...but the consistent facial features like how the blonde girl's nose is the same in each picture she's in.... the consistency of the art means you put some effort into the design of your game. Then read the rules and note the progression of information. Some games just blast away with a bunch of items listed and then take nigh unto a coon's age to actually explain the point of the game or how to win. The game rules for En Garde! fit neatly onto a single sheet of folded paper. That saves you cost and that increases profit.... both are important for a game creator!

FOR THE LADIES: Smart women are EVERYWHERE! Most of the bright-minded women I know have a great smile and love kicking butt in boardgames! BE A BUTT KICKER!! Moreover this is again another game created with the talents of women! SOLIDARITY BABY! Show Colleen and Beth they are not alone! Besides.... who doesn't like a Lady Pirate? I mean REALLY!

ABOUT ME: I'm a Gamer, Game Designer, and above all, a good guy who loves sharing games with people! if you have any questions, write me at redearth72@gmail.com

Tsuro

Hello Dear Reader!


Today we find ourselves venturing down the many winding paths of TSURO, The Game of the Path!

GAME DESIGNERS: Wiz Kids, Tom McMurchie Art by Shane Small Cathy Brigg

PLAYERS: 2-8 people, ages 8+, small pieces warning to keep the babies safe!

GAME BASICS: With an ornate board and cunningly simple yet interwoven designed tiles, topped off with nicely formed pawns Tsuro is an easy to see, fun to play tile-laying game. the Object is to create an ongoing path that leads you to safety and your opponents off the board!

This is a composite image of the various board elements. The dragon tile is added to the stack of path tiles and changes up the active player as it appears throughout the game.

The various pawns move along the paths and wind all over the firebird-board.

Sounds simple enough?....Deceptively so!

With each new tile, a new connection to an already larger path can be created and will possibly link you , or if you are wily, your opponents to certain doom!

GAME DISECTION: Paths to glory...paths to doom!

ART: Yes....there's A LOT of excellent art in this game. In addition to a beautiful board, box and pieces, the copy I purchased included a quasi-sumi ink drawing of a bamboo shoot. The feeling conveyed is that this is an ancient game, designed to reflect the path to higher knowledge. the art does its job very very well!

PRICE: 20.00$ or less! Another easy buy when you have some spare cabbage in your pocket! Its pretty and affordable and fun to play...think about the last thing you spent 20.00$ on....prolly won't last as long as this game....which brings us to..

REPLAY: 2-8 people.... not often you find a nice game that easily accommodates a large and small number of players, but Tsuro can. The ease of its game play allows for new gamers and younger gamers to easily join in a game without a steep learning curve to bog them down.

MECHANICS: Though the actual workings of the game are simple, the dynamics of the interlocking paths creates a subtle complexity that, even the sagest of players must take into account. For people who enjoy the tactile sensations that are afforded by board games, this game will satisfy most happily. The tiles, the pawns, and how they interact, fills that void that is often created by video games and other ethereal pursuits.

FUN: My daughter enjoys games that she can trump anyone older than herself in, and she has cackled madly in triumph numerous times with Tsuro. Its a good game for a miniature tournament, best out of five etc etc.

WHO ARE YOU? The Gamer Profile:

CASUAL: Push aside the doilies and books on Da Vinci, make room on the coffee table and play a couple of games. You'll be glad you did, especially if you enjoy mind exercise games and crossword puzzles, this is a nice way to take all that logic training and give it some outside-the-box ( all puns intended ) use!

ACTIVE: No dice, no luck, all brains and skill against skill alone. This will be a nice backpack game that let's you play games the way God intended ' sportsman like. '

GAMER: Use this game to prove to the nay-sayers in your life that boardgaming is dull and for geeks or nerds. Or, use it to level the playing field with your power-gamer friends! For the price its hard to beat!

CREATOR: Here's a game that is older than you might think. Originally created around 1979, but not published, it is reborn in 2006 and voila...gaming goodness. Make note of the artwork as well. It doesn't look like another colored-pencil quasi-historical portrait... it looks...exotic...and richly detailed... and that will get some people ( like me ) to buy it for that reason alone.

FOR THE LADIES: A lot of people jumped on the Feng Shui wagon, or decorated their home in neo-oriental styles... this game wil fit perfectly with many countries on the Asian mainland and Japanese islands. Its fun and thoughtful and if you prefer a non-violent game... this game will appeal to you.

ABOUT ME: I'm a Gamer, Game Designer, and above all, a good guy who loves sharing games with people! if you have any questions, write me at redearth72@gmail.com

CITADELS!

HELLO DEAR READER!

Today's review is on the city-building game CITADELS!

GAME DESIGNERS: BRUNO FAIDUTTI Published in America by Fantasy Flight/Silverline

PLAYERS: 2-7, ages 10+ , and about 20-60 mins of gametime. It has a few small pieces so keep the babies away!!

GAME BASICS: Citadels is a card game, whereby each player takes on a role as one of a series of influential city builders. You can build or use your special ability on your turn, collect your gold and prepare for the next round.

Sounds too simple??? Well there's more!

Each District has a color that will give bonuses to various Characters! The more bonuses you character can garner during the game, the more victory points you'll have at the end! The player with the most victory points wins!

Each player has a number as well. This designates the order each person plays in! One person acts as the King each round and calls out the numbers. The players, who choose their characters in secret, do not reveal themselves until their number is called!

In addition to special abilities of the Characters, and the various colors, some Districts actually have special attributes in and of themselves, they usually cost more, but are always worth it!

GAME DISSECTION: Behind the Citadel walls...

ART: The Art of Citadels reflects heavy fantasy overtones. Its expertly illustrated with a flair for the dramatic and darkness of the middle ages. There's no munchkin city here....THAT being said despite the illustration quality art, its not too busy and does not distract from the game as can be the case in some creations. ( Oddly enough it wasn't the art that suckered me in this time...I just like the name CITADELS )

PRICE: Once again we hit that perfect number...20.00$! Citadels USED to come in a book sized box and had cardboard money and no special piece to designate the KING. NOW, for the SAME yuppie food coupon you can A: Get the game B: WITH cool gold plastic coins C: get the special wooden King piece D: get an expansion included called " The Dark City" and E: Get it in a much smaller box with a nice protective finish to it! Who says stuff devalues over time! This game actually got better!

REPLAY: This is the kind of game that doesn't take all night and can be included with a bunch of other does-not-take-all-night set of games. Fits in a backpack for easy travel. Once, while having over indulged in our regular set of games, we played a whole set of new games and CITADELS was the one we replayed the most that night.

MECHANICS: I've played a lot of card games. I once watched my father try and teach us all how to play Sheepshead and then watched him play four hands simultaneously because we were young and didn't quite get it.... This game is easy. You have two things to do on your turn and each of those only have two choices...your most difficult choice...will be deciding which character to be! With the addition of the new wooden King token...clarity of gameplay has improved as well for those who are easily confused. You know who you are. This game comes with various ways to play for the size of your gaming party as well. A nice feature alot of games don't always consider to make rules for traditionally, thus a whole set of house rules won't need to be created!

FUN: While I don't see the game leading to grand CITADELS tournaments in your house, you should have one or two people who's game night is made when they win and become the King of the Game! ( Maybe even find a nice Burger King Crown for said winner... ) I like this game for its variety of turn order and under-dog friendly mechanics!

WHO ARE YOU? The Gamer Profile:

CASUAL: If you think a good game is UNO or GO FISH and you think this is a card game too so I should like it...... maybe not. The game has some complexities that do not make it a no-brainer. What's that? You've been reading the reviews though, and you're starting to think maybe you'd like to graduate to the next level?? Good choice!! Jump right in!

ACTIVE: If you like fantasy novels, are a middle ages history buff, or just like fairy tales, pick up Citadels, while definitely not the sugary coated world of fairies and Ozzian munchkins...its got a good flavor of the Dark Ages where people still wore cloaks, and carried daggers..and not just to make a fashion statement.

GAMER: With the new included expansion and pieces, this should be a part of your collection. Great for a big group of folks, or a couple good friends. Maybe not everyone showed up for D&D night... citadels should be able to fill the void quite nicely, maybe it will even inspire you to more RPG greatness!

CREATOR: Though its not what hooked me...study the art of this game! Maybe your game is simple, but don't let that stop you from making it BEAUTIFUL As well! CITADELS lists 5 Illustrators and 5 Graphic Designers.... maybe your budget doesn't support that...but now you have a goal! Also, the recent upgrade proves that though you might not be able to produce game EXACTLY the way you like the first run.... a good game brings success and with that can come a new ability to show off your professionalism and business savvy.... and your loyalty to the people that buy the game and afford you your success!

FOR THE LADIES! Read a lot of historical fiction? Are you the OTHER other Boleyn girl? Or maybe the Boudicca of Wabash? Maybe the Disney Villains were always your favorite...Tired of games that are all about war and dice rolling? Give your darker side a bit of free reign...be cunning!, Be calculating! Give Citadels a go!

ABOUT ME: I'm a Gamer, Game Designer, and above all, a good guy who loves sharing games with people! if you have any questions, write me at redearth72@gmail.com