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I know right now many of you are thinking to yourselves, "There is no way this self-serving jackwagon can go an entire write up without mentioning..." Nope, nothing to see here! Moving along! I am just looking forward to bringing you the latest neat-o crowdfunding projects vying for your support dollar!
• Toy Vault via Game Salute via The Alliance needs Credits to fund Firefly: Out to the Black. (KS link) Firefly:OttB is described, in what I assume is a vernacular similar to that of the TV show's characters (and one that hates the letter "g"), as "...a bit different than a lot of games because, in this one, 3 to 5 of ya will be cooperatin’ with each other, tryin’ your best to survive the various entanglements the game throws at you." Okay. I never watched the show, but I saw and enjoyed the movie so this game holds some interest for me because of that, yet it is IMPOSSIBLE to read that blurb and not have the snarky, elitist, alpha gamer in me chortle at the idea of a co-op game being suggested as "different". I get it. It is hyperbole of sorts. No worries.
The game has more "g" hatin' in the character abilities: FIGHTIN', FLYIN', and THINKIN'. The card art is of the "screen capture" variety. All of this led to my snark-meter being so high while reading the project page that it was hard for me to objectively evaluate the game so it would be awesome if a backer or three could tell us what the game is all about. Is there anything new, different, or unique? Is it a fun implementation of a likable IP? Let us know below.
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Firefly: Out to the Black is a fun, immersive co-operative card game for three to five players working together to plot a course through hostile environments and unexpected turns-of-fate in a game system designed to thwart them. There are ninety-six cards and two sets of tokens representing honor and credits. Inside the decks, familiar scenes and subtle nods to the show are well-presented – something you browncoats are sure to appreciate!
Also, why does Toy Vault need Game Salute for the campaign? It is interesting to see established companies team up.(Update, August 8, 2013 by BGGN editor W. Eric Martin: In this Aug. 8 BGG thread, a user notes that he's received an email stating that the project is being discontinued, despite it still being active at the time that I'm editing this post. A Kickstarter user notes the following:
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Does anyone know what exactly we are funding? The expanding of the expansion packs? Or are the unlocked cards kickstarter exclusives?
This game is very exciting, but this campaign seems misleading. I thought this was to help fund production of Firefly: Out to the Black since that's how it is named and most obviously represented. But Firefly: Out to the Black and the bonus packs are already being offered for pre-order on the Toy Vault website and there's an article that says the base game was announced for an October release before this even started.
So consider Matt's write-up a note left in the record books for posterity. —WEM)This game is very exciting, but this campaign seems misleading. I thought this was to help fund production of Firefly: Out to the Black since that's how it is named and most obviously represented. But Firefly: Out to the Black and the bonus packs are already being offered for pre-order on the Toy Vault website and there's an article that says the base game was announced for an October release before this even started.
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Tessen is a 2p, 15min card game set in Feudal Japan. It is real time and short, both hot attributes right now. I generally do not pay much attention to two-player games as the lovely Mrs. Riddlen chooses not to indulge in the hobby very often, so when I play it is with larger groups, but this game did catch my eye. I like the art and the price point. On a side note, Chris Zinsli runs a very slick game design resource aggregating website.
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Tessen is a card game featuring simultaneous real-time play. Two players take animal cards from their decks and play them in up to five groups in front of them. Players may save sets of three or more, but beware! The opponent may use a warrior card to "attack" a space forcing the player to give up the attacked animal cards. The attacking player may then take the cards for his own. Also, warriors may be used to "defend" and nullify an opponent's warrior. Whomever has the most saved animal cards at the end of a round wins!
Cause ancient Japanese bears are WAY cooler than stupid wiener modern bears. /pic1734893.jpg)
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September's Eagles allows players to move their planes around the race course through card play. Each player has his own turn, but other players may play cards to interfere with them when it is not their turn by slowing down a plane as it moves on the board or causing the plane to crash! If you're too timid in playing your cards, other players will come after you. Play too aggressive and you may be left without airspeed, altitude or options.
Insert bad flying pun here./pic1740032.jpg)
The only problem was that I clicked away from the Templar page and the banner ad went away! Six to eight refreshes later, I gave up and went to search Kickstarter manually like a sucker. And failed. Turns out that "BALLOON" has TWO Ls, but eventually I found it! What I found is a light, family card game that looks fun. The art and graphic design is a bit sparse, but it gets the job done. (KS link)
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Water Balloon Washout is a fast-paced, light strategy card game that plays in about 15 minutes. In the game you control a group of kids in a water balloon fight. To win, you will throw water balloons, fire water cannons, dive behind cardboard boxes, and hide inside garbage cans. When things get really tough you can even call your friends. The object of Water Balloon Washout is to have the last kid standing in this fight.
Head's up!Quick Hits
• I intended to do a full write-up on Amg! Ice Cream! but there just was not enough data. The blobs are cute, but I cannot in any way recommend the game as it has been pointed out that the price point is awfully low. There is something about the odd name and art that draws me to it – not enough to back it mind you, but maybe it's for you. (KS link)
• Clever Mojo Games and Game Salute (AGAIN) have teamed up for two different projects: King's Forge (KS link) and Magnum Opus (KS link). One has cool art and a great cover illustration, and the other is Magnum Opus. What Magnum Opus does have is a unique take on deck-building apparently.
Going, Going, Gone!
A now closed (and funded) project that caught my attention for a couple of reasons both good and bad is Knight's Quest. (KS link) Gameplaywise it seems like, well, to be kind, gamer's UNO. Decide for yourself whether that's good or bad, but it's UNO with really, really good art. So I BGGed it (like googled but nerdier) and the page was completely empty. It should have been full of the cool art from the KS page. Nope. The other thing I noticed was the company name: Ken Whitman Games. I poke fun at company names from time to time in this space, so I understand not coming up with something more creative. That said, it does totally remind me of that Norm Macdonald bit about how the Fantastic Four got their names. Anyone else remember that?
There you go! An entire write-up and not one mention of Fleet: Arctic Bounty (KS link), and I didn't poke fun at W. Eric once! I am a changed man!
See you in a month and remember, if you have any questions, shoot me a Geekmail or post it in here. Complaints and/or rants can be directed at W. Eric. It was likely his fault anyway.
(Editor's note: Please don't post links to other Kickstarter projects in the comments section. Write to me via the email address in the header, and I'll consider them for inclusion in a future crowdfunding round-up. Thanks! —WEM)
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