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So this happened…

06 Friday Apr 2018

Posted by Jaime in Board Games

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Board Games, Kickstarter, Upcoming Releases

 

When I was in elementary school my best friend had all of the cool board games – you know, the games your own mom refused to buy you because of all of the parts and pieces that would inevitably get sucked up by and break the vacuum.  We’re talking games like Hungry Hungry Hippos (all those marbles), Mouse Trap, and, of course – the mother of all 3-D board gaming monstrosities – FIREBALL ISLAND.  This meant that while I got to play Fireball Island it was always on the whim of my best friend.  My best friend who lorded that game over me as only an eleven year old can.  Sadly, I never did have my own copy of the game.

As an adult, I started my hunt for Fireball Island.  I even went as far as to contact the original manufacturers of the game to see if they could give me any insight as to how to procure a copy.  Sadly, these efforts yielded zero results.  I mean, I even would have settled for resale, that is, if I was willing to pay an exorbitant price for an incomplete, musty, mildew-stained basement copy of the game.  But what price tag was I really willing to put on mere nostalgia?  Instead the (tiny) adulting gene within me won out and I decided to wait.

Well, my dear friends, that wait is finally over!  Now on Kickstarter you too can snag your very own copy of Fireball Island complete with explorers, treasure, and countless deaths by fiery boulders of doom.  Come on, you know you want it!  And you had better believe that I have already reserved mine.

The Best Thing: May Edition

16 Tuesday Jun 2015

Posted by Jaime in The Best Thing

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Tags

Board Games, Books, Movies, Video Games

Please forgive me, I’m a little late with this month’s Best Thing Post!

The Best Thing I Read:

Lock In

Lock In by John Scalzi

After a virus dubbed Haden’s Syndrome sweeps the globe, 1% of the world’s population suffers from lock-in, a condition which renders its victims mentally awake but completely unable to move.  Within the survivors of Haden’s syndrome are a handful of individuals who become intergrators – people who are able to open their minds to a person suffering lock-in, allowing them the use of their body.  At its core, Lock In is a detective novel, however, the futuristic twist makes it a refreshing read.

The Best Thing I Played (video game):

Bloodborne by From Software

I feel kind of like a fraud saying that this is the best thing I played for the month of May.  It’s true that I have played Bloodborne.  It is also true that I have yet to make it to the first boss.  Even still, Bloodborne contains such a rich, fully imagined world that it is difficult not to be completely drawn to it.

The Best Thing I Played (tabletop):

red dragon

Red Dragon Inn

Winner by default, but still a fun game to play with the right group of people.

The Best Thing I Watched:

mad max

Mad Max: Fury Road

Crazy fun and Charlize Theron is such a badass.  Mad Max: Fury Road is equal parts WTF and OMG making it hard not to enjoy this action flick.

theory of everything

The Theory of Everything

I tried to stick to only one movie for my Best of May post, but The Theory of Everything was such a moving movie and Eddie Redmayne completely blew me away – I simply had to include it.

The Best Thing: April Edition

05 Tuesday May 2015

Posted by Jaime in The Best Thing

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Board Games, Books, Movies, Video Games

The Best Thing I Read:

World War Z

World War Z by Max Brooks
Told via interviews with survivors of World War Z, Max Brooks’ second book covering the Zombie apocalypse is a very successful retelling of a fictitious war.  Overall, I really enjoyed this book.  In my opinion, the book does suffer slightly in that many of the interviewees speak in a similar voice.  With contributors such as Simon Pegg, Martin Scorsese and Nathan Fillion, this is one instance where I think that the audio book version might be more successful.

Honorable Mention: The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
I technically gave this a higher rating than World War Z, but I tend to be more lenient with YA Fiction reviews.  Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ The Naturals is the first installment in a series in which gifted teenagers use their skills (profiling, statistics, lying, reading emotions) to solve cold cases.  It’s a little corny, but a fun read.

The Best Thing I Played (video game):

story of seasons

Story of Seasons by Marvelous
Technically this game wins by default.  I didn’t get a chance to play much during the month of April – I was still trying to finish up Assassin’s Creed II and I didn’t give Bloodborne enough attention for it to qualify for my Best Thing list.  Don’t misread the disclaimer, though.  I find Story of Seasons to be quite delightful!

The Best Thing I Played (tabletop):

Sheriff of nottingham

Sheriff of Nottingham
If you haven’t had a chance to play Sheriff of Nottingham, I would highly recommend doing so.  This game is fun to play and is such a successful mix of both strategy and bluffing.  The rules are simple:  players must smuggle goods through inspection and earn points.  The catch is that you can only declare legal goods and you can only declare one type of good per round (apples, cheese, chickens, etc.).  Since you want to try to get as many goods through as possible per round, this poses a problem.  What I enjoy most about Sheriff of Nottingham is that there are several different strategies you can employ.  For example, you can attempt to score big by sneaking through as many illegal goods as possible.  Contraband items are worth big points, but they are a risk.  If you are caught trying to smuggle illegal goods through, your items will be confiscated and you will have to pay a penalty.  On the other hand, if you are falsely accused of any wrongdoing, then the player acting as the sheriff for the round must pay up.  Apparently, I must always appear as if I’m up to no good.  Last time I played, I was completely honest throughout and won the game due to the number false accusations I received.

The Best Thing I Watched:

Big Hero 6
I missed out on seeing Big Hero 6 at the theater.  I finally got around to watching it in April and it was everything that I hoped it would be.  This movie is so funny and endearing and Baymax is just downright adorable.

New Release: Dominion Adventures

23 Thursday Apr 2015

Posted by Jaime in Board Games

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Board Games, Expansions, New Releases

Dominion

The ninth expansion for Dominion was released yesterday.  I haven’t played in awhile, but this kind of makes me want to dust off my copy and engage in a cutthroat game of deckbuilding.

The new expansion adds 400 cards to the game and introduces three unique card types: Events, Traveller, and Reserve.

Anyone up for a game?

Gallery

Squee With Delight Over This New Takenoko Expansion!

23 Thursday Apr 2015

Posted by Jaime in Board Games

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Board Games, Expansions, Upcoming

Originally posted on Gameosity:
Recently Antoine Bauza, designer of Takenoko, tweeted that the new expansion, Takenoko Chibis, would be released…

Kickstarters I’m Digging

13 Monday Apr 2015

Posted by Jaime in Kickstarter

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Tags

Board Games, Detroit, Kickstarter, Lists, Point and Click, Video Games

I realize that I’ve been posting about Kickstarter alot lately.  I can’t help it, there are just a ton of cool, shiny things on there right now.  For the record, I have not backed all of the following projects (because I missed out on the Kickstarter for the machine that allows you to print your own money).  I did, however, want to share them with you.  Click on the links for more info!

Train Heist (Ends 4/14/15) – A Co-op train robbery board game.  Need I say more?

Salem (Ends 4/24/15) – Reminds me of the werewolf party game, except with witches.  This game comes packaged in a faux book case, which is definitely awesome.

Best Treehouse Ever (Ends 4/18/15) – It’s a game about building the swankiest tree house.  Plus I have to give my love to all the Kickstarters from Michigan, where I live.

A Chaotic Life (Ends 4/23/15) – Any game where I can destroy somebody’s hopes and dreams is an instant sell for me.  It’s why I play The Sims.

The Evolution Game (Ends 5/24/15) – Beautiful.  Quite possibly the most beautiful artwork I’ve ever seen in a board game.  Cool concept, too!

The Incredible Science Machine (Ends 4/20/15) – Another local Kickstarter.  Detroit, Michigan baby!  They’re trying to create one of the largest domino chain reactions in history.  Sweet!

Posthuman (Ends 4/25/15) – Post apocalyptic survival board game goodness.

Pixel Glory – Pets Expansion (Ends 4/24/15) – 8-bit card game craziness!

Ira (Ends 5/2/15) – Another Detroit Kickstarter.  It’s described as a “surreal point-and click adventure through a mysterious solar system”.  Double win!

Order of the Throne and Roehm to Ruin (Ends 5/3/15) – Point-and-Clickity

Mixtape Massacre (5/8/15) – A board game where you play as a horror movie archetype and try to take out as many people as possible.  Did I mention that it also takes place in the 1980’s?

Hard Day’s Knight (End 5/14/15) – Questing card/dice game oozing with pop culture references.

Tomo Cold Brew Bike (Ends 4/19/15) – Funding a bike cart that will serve cold brew coffee on tap to the Detroit area.

Red Flags (Ends 4/26/15) – Part game akin to Cards Against Humanity.  In this game, however, you select attributes for potential romantic matches for other players.  Worst date wins!

Surviving:  One Month In (Ends 4/27/15) – Another zombie outbreak board game.  I’m loving the retro look too.

Ill Literary (Ends 5/2/15) – Fill-in-the-Blank card game where you finish partial quotes from great literary thinkers with the not so stellar words of egomaniacal, self-absorbed jackwagons

Bill Shakespeare is Dead (Ends 5/9/15) – Another fill-it-in, this one’s with an Elizabethan era twist.

JunKing (Ends 5/9/15) – Family friendly card game about collecting junk.

Cuisine a la Card (Ends 5/10/15) – Deck-building cook off game

The Titans of Gaming Series (Ends 5/30/15) – Back this Kickstarter and you get 9 games created by “titans” of the board game industry for only $16 apiece over a 3 year span of time.

The Best Thing: March Edition

09 Thursday Apr 2015

Posted by Jaime in The Best Thing

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Tags

Board Games, Books, Comics, Video Games, Xbox 360

I’ve decided to add a new monthly feature to Oh Joy(stick)!  Without further adieu, here’s a roundup of all of my favorite things from the month of March.

Best Thing I Read:

Fables

Fables, Vol. 1 by Bill Willingham – I spent most of last month reacquainting myself with various graphic novels and comic books.  Fables was, above and beyond, my favorite.  Honorable Mention:  Chew, Vol. 1 by John Layman.

Best Thing I Played (video game):

ACII

Assassin’s Creed II by Ubisoft – I’m glad I purchased Assassin’s Creed II before I played much of the first Assassin’s Creed.  Last month, I finally dusted off my copy of Assassin’s Creed and beat it.  I was , quite possibly, the most tedious games I have ever played.  I moved ahead with Assassin’s Creed II based on the reassurance from a friend that the two games are like night and day.  I’m so glad I did!

Best Thing I Played (tabletop):

DoW1

Dead of Winter by Plaid Hat Games – One of my favorite new additions to my board game collection.  This game is fun and suspenseful.  Furthermore, I love the added element that the Crossroad cards add to the game.

Kickstarted – Part Three

26 Thursday Mar 2015

Posted by Jaime in Kickstarter

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Board Games, Kickstarter, Video Games

The final installment of Kickstarters (for now).

1.  Above and Below (Backed/Funded)

This game is described as being a storytelling/town-building mash up.  I’m in!

2.  Burgle Bros. (Backed/Will Be Funded on 4/4/15)

Describes as Co-operative Heist Board Game.  Sounds perfect!

3.  Play Me: Alice in Wonderdice (Backed/Will Be Funded on 3/29/15)

If it was anything besides Alice in Wonderland, I probably would have skipped it.  But here we are so…

4.  Hero Hourly (Backed/Funding Pending)

What if being a super hero was just another minimum wage job?

5.  Detective Di:  The Silk Rose Murders (Backed/Funding Pending)

I don’t usually back video games.  Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE video games – video game Kickstarters, however, just strike me as being riskier than other Kickstarters.  Detective Di is a point-and-click adventure game where you are called upon to investigate a series of murders in China during the Tang Dynasty.  Point-and-Click Adventure Games are my ultimate weakness.  I couldn’t resist.

6.  U-Dice (Backed/Funding Pending)

U-Dice

I need this in my life!

Kickstarted – Part Two

25 Wednesday Mar 2015

Posted by Jaime in Kickstarter

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Board Games, Kickstarter

Round Two – FIGHT! The second installment in my Kickstarter madness. There will be more to follow, I promise.

1. Floating Market (Backed/Funded)

Another board game Kickstarter for a local developer.  Game looks solid and I can’t wait to play it!

2. Parfum (Backed/Funded)

Ooo la la.  So pretty.

3. Seven7s (Backed/Funded)

Seven7s looks like a great pick up and play game.  I love the theme of it too.

4. Ghostbusters: The Board Game (Backed/Funded)

Yeaaaah.  I was going to wait on this one but I just couldn’t pass up those Kickstarter exclusives.

5. Project Dreamscape (Backed/Funded)

Whimsical is the best description for Project Dreamscape.  I love the art and the gameplay mechanics are truly unique.

6. Blood Rage (Backed/Funded)

What can I say?  I’m a sucker for games with awesome components.

Kickstarted – Part One

24 Tuesday Mar 2015

Posted by Jaime in Kickstarter

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Board Games, Kickstarter

There’s some cool stuff going down on Kickstarter right now, especially, if you’re into tabletop games!  Kickstarter is always a risk, however, I’ve had nothing but good experiences with it in the past.  Following is a list of the projects I’ve either backed or have my eye on.  Make sure to check them out if you get the chance.  I realize that most of these campaigns have ended, however, many of the items are still able to be preordered.

Lost Woods (Backed/Funded)


An adventure game that looks like it’s easy to learn and a blast to play.

Trickerion – Legends of Illusion (Backed/Funded)


A Eurogame that centers around magic and becoming the “Master of Illusion”. Looks completely unique and I’m really excited for this one.

Pretense – A Game Night Social Metagame (Backed/Funded)

I am Looking forward to busting this one out at my next game night.

Swinging Jivecat Voodoo Lounge (Backed/Funded)

Gotta love that style!

Exploding Kittens (Backed/Funded)

How could I resist?  Have you seen the adorable artwork?!

Aether Magic (Backed/Cancelled)

Happy Mitten Games is a local and independent board game publisher.  I was disappointed that Aether Magic was not successfully funded but hopefully they’ll give it another go.

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