MINOTAURUS!

GREETINGS!! Several computer issues and many months later ( 12 to be exact ) it is time for a new Red Earth Game Review!

New to the shelves this year, 'Build it yourself' boardgames by Lego!

I have loved the people and products of Lego since I was a boy and now that I am an adult I find the appeal has not waned! When this new line of boardgames debuted I was very short on cash but now that the holidays approach I found this latest gem on sale for a mere 20.00$ and bought it instantly!

Without anymore ado, let's get to the review!!

CREATOR: LEGO! I scoured around the box and instructions for info on the actual game designer but for now it is some anonymous person or persons at the sacred hall of all things Lego!

PLAYERS: 2-4 players, ages 7+, 20-30 minutes of play time not counting construction.

GAME BASICS: In the Greek myth, the Minotaur was the illegitimate/punishment/love child of the Queen of Minos and a holy bull sent by the gods of Olympus. The Minotaur was fed delicious greek youths and thus catastrophe was averted. Yes, I know how it sounds. No, this is not what the Lego designers recreated.

In the Lego game Minotaurus, a maze is built with heroes in the corners and a menacing Minotaur within the center. Through the randomly generated numbers and colors of the Lego dice, you try to be the first player to get a number of your heroes to the center of the board. In your way and also prompted by the roll of the dice, the Minotaur can be sent your way to stop your heroes by the opposing player.

GAME DISSECTION: One piece at a time....

ART: Even the most stalwart curmudgeon has probably heard/seen a Lego advertisement or logo at the store. The style is distinctly Lego and is understandable by all. The style even serves double duty in that the instructions for construction are, as always, wordless. A picture by picture diagram system caters to the burgeoning engineer within all of us!

PRICE: As I said, I bought my copy for 20.00$, but it has been more from store to store as these 'evergreen' products usually produce a reliable profit and therefore many stores increase their asking price. Online prices I have seen average out at about 25.00$

REPLAY: If you know anything about Lego products, its that replay value is easily measured in hours, months, and years. Minotaurus is no exception and in the rulebook the players are even encouraged to change the rules for added gameplay, not to mention they include a small Lego wrench tool in the game to help you adjust the dice so as to automatically add value to the game. I built and played the game with my girlfriend and we played three times in a row. ( Me 1 GF 2 )

MECHANICS: The basic mechanics are followed by doing what the rolled dice tells you to do. However, where the Minotaur goes is up to the players, so to are movable wall pieces that can protect them from the Minotaur or block off your quick escape. The turns are short but full of player interaction. Add the possible mazes that might be created by the players and the varieties in every game will be endless. Lego even supports an online location to upload and post your new 'house rules' to share with the Lego gaming community.

FUN: If you have not guessed by now, I found the game to be extremely fun, for many reasons. The fun of Lego construction is stress reliving and uses parts of my brain my day-to-day routine does not clamor for often. The 'in-your-face' gameplay of the ever moving Minotaur and the 'underdog' advantage of moveable walls adds to the simple gaming joy!

GAMER PROFILE: "It takes many bricks to build a wall, each depends on another." ~ Fargo Cumberland

CASUAL: This is a game for casual play, pure and simple. Its quick to set up and once set up the whole kit and kaboodle can be put fully assembled back into the box ready for tomorrow. You can play this with children or with another adult to while away the afternoon for its on par with a good game of checkers. (without the annoying stalemates!) Moreover, you get to play with Lego Blocks!

ACTIVE: MINOTAURUS is the Lego game I bought and reviewed and its worth a place on the game shelf. There are many other 'build and game' sets out there that you could add as well. If you are an active Lego user, it might have already occured to you to build games with your bricks and blocks. Add this game to your collection and enjoy the double duty power!

GAMER: If you're smart you'll give MINOTAURUS a try, play the bricks out of it and post all your wild creations on the online site provided by Lego and improve everyone's level of enjoyment of games! Personally, I want to buy at least another set and build a mega-maze!

CREATOR: Most of us do not own a high-quality plastic brick making factory. I know I don't, but what I do have in common with this latest venture of Lego is this: Ingenuity. Taking what they had and adding to it a set of game rules Lego capitalized on the dual nature of people's most basic of ambitions "Building and Competing." They added the very popular 'rearrangable' feature for fresh gameplay and even encouraged people to share their own ideas on what a 'fun' game is for everyone.This is the very important lesson: Never lose touch with your greatest resource, The Players!

FOR THE LADIES: My girlfriend, a.k.a. 'Pinky' encouraged me to buy this game and much to my happiness actually read through the rules. In most circles I end up reading through new game rules for people and so I appreciated her hand at it this time. As stated before she beat me twice, quite ruthlessly manipulating the Minotaur and Walls to hedge me into certain doom. She had alot of fun building with me as well. It was a nice night in for the both of us.

ABOUT ME: I'm a gamer, game designer and an all around good guy that enjoys sharing games with people! If you have any questions or comments add one to the forum here! Thanks!

Clue: Harry Potter Edition

GREETINGS! As promised here's a review for November 2009!!

While at the department store a while ago, I found the HP edition of CLUE was on sale and thought I would try it out, especially since I never much cared for Clue but knew people who did/do.

- queue the ominous mystery music -

CREATOR: At the moment the box still says " Parker Brothers " Though a quick cursory look tells the shopper that Hasbro owns the whole thing! The original creator was a Brit named " Anthony Pratt", a clerk and part-time clown.

The game itself is for 3-5 players, which is an odd amount as its not very handy for 3 couples to play. But as its marketed as a game for children, perhaps they cannot be bothered. My personal belief is that a game is generally best if three couples can play it. The 30 minutes play time means you can get a game done and then have another or get some food to refuel the belly. Good choices both.

GAME BASICS: WHO? WHAT? WHERE? This much remains the same in the HP edition, with a few interesting changes. Wandering about, suggesting possible solutions, and using secret passages is familiar enough, but the various Potter touches add a new flavor!

Not only do you play against the other players, but against the game itself, for just as in the Harry Potter books themselves, you are battling the forces of Lord Voldemort and should you fail, ole snake-face wins!!

GAME DISSECTION: A lil polyjuice potion never killed anyone....

ART: In the movie, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkeban, there is a marvelous item known as the Marauder's Map! The very layout of Hogwarts is created using inked words on parchment and it looks intriguing and magicky as only HP can make it... this also sets the tone for the game board and pieces and they look stunning! The images on the cards are of the movie actors and the non-photo images mesh nicely! The game LOOKS cool, even before you play it!

PRICE: I got mine on sale for 21.00$ Only to find it again for 18.00$ as Christmas season rolled in. Yes, I was paying for a brand, but I LIKE Harry Potter so though it cost 11.00$ more than basic standard Clue, I was not deterred.

REPLAY: The night I bought it I played it three times. Lost twice and won once. The third match being the grudge match of course. My way of playing annoyed my team mate and we have to have a rematch soon lol especially now that she knows my tactics! For non-Clue fans, they might take to the HP version as its not as cut and dry and regular Clue, and of course, HP devotees will happily brave the Chamber of Secrets itself to play I am sure. Its Clue, its going to be replayed, so consider any investment well done.

MECHANICS: There is a House Die in the game representing the Four Houses of Hogwarts, ( cool points to those who can say them by heart ) When your House appears upon the die, you turn a part of the board and some doors become locked, while others open , and secret passages change as well. If the Dark Mark of Lord Voldemort appears, you and your opponants must battle with items and resources gatherted in the game!!! These resources take the form of cards representing, people, spells, and potent magical objects used to battle the menacing Dark Deck. Don't lose... for if your House loses all its points... evil shall triumph!! Though these new, 'fiddly-bits' might seem uneeded for the game, they added a new dimension which I relished, having grown bored with traditional Clue tactics decades ago as a boy.

FUN: Is hunting down clues to find a missing person and battling the forces of evil with little more than a wand and a Sorting-Hat fun??? You bet your pet rat it is!! Clue has its appeal in a never-the-same-game mystery, and coupled with the flavor of all-things Harry Potter, it is an excellent way to spend a Thursday night or a rainy afternoon.!

GAMER PROFILE: The Sorting Hat says you belong......


CASUAL: Maybe you remember Clue as a child, or maybe you just love Harry Potter. Either way, its a fun game that you can play with almost anyone and not commit a huge chunk of your life/time to in the prosess. Worth keeping in the closet for when your Sister brings her kids over for the day ad they get restless.

ACTIVE: You probably have the traditional Clue in your closet. Maybe the reason it stays there is because your gaming group needs some more kick in their pumpkin juice.... Harry Potter can help!! Give it a go and see what you can make happen!

GAMER: It might not be the Elemental Temple of the Were-weasals of DOOM, but its still a castle and there is still danger and magic and mayhem. Besides.... the Twilight fans only have Trivia games.... remind them what started all the fantasy goodness of late!

CREATOR: The original Clue was created by a clerking-clown. A little research shows that before the game was produced, it was revised and edited a few times. A quick walk through the game isle at the department store shows you that those revisions, built upon a good idea, have stood the test of time. Your game should have the same enduring power. I've seen lots of game that are basically just a simple idea that never got revised, honed, refined into something more. Take that extra month, get some friends, and have them run the game into the ground and make sure that your game not only works, but works well and maintains the holy of holiest ideals.... ITS FUN!!!


FOR THE LADIES: My girlfriend kinda giggled at me when I bought the game, she then kindly agreed to play the game with me that night. She kicked my bum twice and almost beat me a third time. Women are clever, women are decisive, and women can suss out a solution to a mystery on little more than a hunch. This is a nice way to show off your intelligence and have fun at the same time.

ABOUT ME: I'm a gamer, game designer, and above all a good guy that enjoys sharing games with people! If you have any questions, drop me a line here on the forum or at redearth72@gmail.com

UPDATE!!! 10-09

GREETINGS ALL!!

Following some major real-life issues, I am happy to say that the Red Earth Game Reviews will be returning again in November!

New games will be reviewed and possibly new features as well, so during these trying financial times, hopefully the REGR's will help you get the best value for your dollar and the maximum fun quotient to boot!!

HUZZAHS all around

Sincerely,

Red Earth Game Reviews

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