I like the quarterly reporting idea! I can't keep up with the monthly updates, and I'm still finishing my 2003 report. Maybe quarterly is something I can handle.
As an experiment I split the list into games I played online, ones I played with kids, and all the rest. Only the first two groups are ready for posting now. I hope to have the larger list of "regular" games up later.
You'll find my average ratings are pretty high, lots of 7s & 8s. That's simply because I play lots of "old" games, ones I already know I like. In fact, I don't even set out to play new games anymore--it happens naturally at a rate I'm happy with.
Games with kids
Looking at these, I'm surprised that I haven't rated any of the games below higher than a 7. Not that a 7 is bad--it's good! But I guess I haven't found the game to play with my kids that rivals the experience of a strategic contest against adults. I suppose that's only natural, and I should be grading these games on a slightly different scale. The kid game scale, or something. I haven't done that, but you can be sure that those 7-rated games are definite keepers around here.
Cadoo (2) -- Okay, the Cranium games don’t get much respect by spielfrieks, and I haven’t played the main game myself yet. This one for kids, though, was a hit. Not just with the kids, I was able to respect the game design & physical production that made such a kids’ winner. Makes for good family time. Rating 7
Chicken Cha Cha Cha -- I played the original German version years ago, and tried the rethemed, mass-market American version Dragontales. My kids didn’t take to it, though. The attractive components of this one helped, but the truth is that they still just found it okay. I guess they’re not real enamored by memory games (in contrast to what you usually read about kids). Rating 5
Connect 4 (2) -- Talk about mass-market, eh? Well, you know, it’s been popular with my kids, and how can I fail to appreciate this one after I fawning over the wooden abstracts? Sure, this is a cheapo plastic game, but it’s a smart physical production that drives the gameplay. Rating 6
Emerald -- This proved to be about the limit of my daughter’s enjoyment for game mechanics (there are several at play here), but she liked it okay. My son certainly enjoyed the theme. So while it was a little iffy with them, I think it was a moderate success, one bound to improve with more tries. Rating 6
Flowerpower -- Every time I play this, I wonder why we don’t play it more. It wouldn’t have to be with kids, either. This is a fine 2-player tile placement game, with tactical opportunities for aggressive play that defy the flowery theme. But I happen to like the theme anyway, and it looks great. Rating 8
Gobblet (4) -- This is yet another in the connect-four-in-a-row category of abstracts, but as long as each one has their little wrinkle, it all works. It certainly works with kids who don’t have to learn any rules, just what the trick of the new game is. Here it’s the fact that the pieces can swallow each other, a little like those Russian nesting dolls. Nice looking wooden production, though I could do without the goofy title graphic. Rating 6
Hallo Dachs -- I’d heard such good things about this one (and Das Ritter von der Hasselnuss, sort of its sister game), but I don’t know if it’s going to be a winner with my kids. More memory (not much else here, in fact). Rating 4
Hick Hack in Gackelwack -- Blind bidding bothers some people, but I’ve always enjoyed the mechanic. I liked Razzia before, and this is nothing but an improvement, both in gameplay and family-inviting theme. Rating 7
Kapitan Wackelpudding -- My kids like this fun stacking game, but I think they like the title even more. It just causes giggles, even without any adult innuendo (thank goodness!). I’m just so-so on it myself, and I tend to like balancing games. Currently on blowout sale at Magnus Spiele, and soon our group will own a few more sets. Rating 5
Liftoff (2) -- This is the speed card game from Casasola-Merkle, designer of Verrater/Meuterer (yea!) and Attika (eh...). Feels like a James Ernest game, but better for the theme that isn’t primarily a joke. It’s terraforming and asteroid mining, which my science-fiction loving son took to right away. We played it as a non-speed game, taking turns so that he wasn’t bewildered, and I found it worked pretty well like that, too. Later we can graduate up to the speed game. Rating 7
Light Speed -- Okay, here’s the speed card game that is from James Ernest, although this time partnered with Tom Jolly. Once again, the "serious" science fiction theme is a plus. Good fun with everyone that's tried it. Rating 7
Pylos (4) -- This has been the biggest hit so far in my attractive wooden abstracts experiement. It's set up on a table in the living room, and looks nice. I taught my kids to play, and they later taught their grandmother to play! That's big-time success in my house. We are playing the easiest version of the rules, but I've experimented with the advanced rules on a computer version of the game and find it's got depth. Maybe even too much depth for my lightweight preferences, but I won't argue with success. Now I need to get some more of those Gigamic games (and need to try my copy of Quarto soon). Rating 7
Transformers Armada -- This was a Christmas present that didn't go over too well, despite Star Wars Epic Duels being a favorite. I guess I'd heard this one didn't have the pizzazz of the previous title, and that proved to be true. Plus, I just don't connect with any of the "characters." Guess I'm too old (turned 38 last weekend). Rating 5
X-Bugs (2) -- Another big hit! I'd been curious about this before, but not enough to shell out bucks for it. Then Boulder put it on one of their Saturday specials, and I got the whole 4-army set for ten bucks. My son loves it, and I like it, too! We've had one more big battle since I started this report, and I bet we'll play some more soon. I just wish there were more expansion sets to try. Rating 7
Online games
These games are a mix of realtime plays at Brettspielwelt, along with turn-based, play by web games at a growing number of sites. Joe Casadonte has now started (with some polite encouragement :-) a Yahoo discussion group (Spiel-by-Web) about play-by-web games. More are popping up all the time.
Cafe International (4) -- I've never even seen the real game, but thanks to BSW I now might want one. Or maybe the card game version, which I've heard is also good. Rating 7
Carcassonne (3) -- Haven't played ftf in a while, but I hope my kids might graduate up to this. Just got the Gamekeeper "gold box" compilation set. Rating 8
Durch die Wüste (11) -- Wow, I had no idea I racked up so many games already. Thank you, Ludagora! One play was ftf. It's no coincidence that I'm finally appreciating this modern classic as my interest in abstracts increases. Rating 8
Hare & Tortoise -- On the other hand, here's a modern classic I still can't enjoy. Rating 4
Medina -- Our game is still in progress, so I'm not sure yet. I prefer my abstracts to have some IMperfect information, or at least to be very simple in their rules (like DdW and the Gigamic titles). Rating 5 (tentative)
San Juan (3) -- Oddly enough, I was never a big fan of PR. This I like much better, with only a minor concern that there may not be as many viable strategic choices as it first appears. Put another way, you kind of have to play the cards you’re dealt, rather than go in with a strategic objective. Rating 7
Schrille Stille (2) -- Funny how a game so compelling in its physical presentation can be almost as delightful online. The BSW programmers did a fantastic job using animation & sound effects. Rating 7
Tichu (2) -- I introduced a friend to this insidious card game and created a monster! Now we need to play ftf on a game night. Rating 8
Top Race -- Although I have to re-learn the betting payout each time I play, I always enjoy this. I'm surprised this isn't more popular on BSW. Maybe people just don't know the older title? Rating 7
Vinci (3) -- Now this is available on Ludagora, but the original German site has the better game interface. Love it, love it, love it. Rating 10
Web of Power (3) – All on BSW, though the play-by-web version is supposed to be back up in a month or so. This is a great game for online play, but then I always love the middleweight boardgames. (Some would say lightweight.) In contrast to San Juan, here I think you can aim for a particular strategy (road network, lots of advisors or none, etc.). The cards don’t drive your strategy too much, though you still need to respond to opportunities and obstacles presented by your opponents. (Can’t wait for Hansa!) Rating 9