I played this....only a few times. Very beautiful game, and I wanted to like it...but just couldn't get into it. Very dry game.

I have no idea what this poor game is doing on any awards list, let alone this one. I think it shows that the jury is clueless.

Mike, the reason is probably, that everybody has a different opionin. Mine is: AR is the best on the list!
I sure dont hope T&T will win - its another connection game, with the same "feel" as Ticket to ride on it (IMHO).

I am pretty sure the game was nominated because it uses a wellknown mechanism in a new and interesting way, that the theme works well with the mechanism, and that the entire production is beautiful.

I am also pretty certain that the jury has no intention of letting it win. The nomination is simply meant as a pat on the shoulder to the publisher in the hope that others will be inspired to follow their trend.

I admit it's not the best game in the World by a long shot, but - having bought the multi-lingual version and found a couple of errors in the official English rules - make sure you try it the right way.

It's a decent enough track laying game. I think I prefer it to Metro, as you can plan ahead to get the right bits, rather than being stuck with what you draw.


N.

I know nothing about this one....I couldn't get myself to buy the cardgame. Is this similar? Different? Is it good enough to beat Thurn und Taxis?

I'd say there was a lot more luck in Roma (some games are over in 1 minute) and Mesopotamia (which is won by the action cards), both of which got a recommendation.

Feels like Balloon Cup on stereoids. Theme is very superficial. Illustrations on cards (unlike in Blue Moon Card game) do not have any relation to their function. I wished theme/illustration/mechanics were better integrated because the game itself is enjoyable.

The link is two step. Each of the eight colours in BMC is one of the eight BLue Moon peoples, and uses illustrations from the card game. (These are actually details of the original card game illustrations, concentrating on faces. Note that this means that the Mimix, whilst not more clothed, don't tend to show this.) The eight colours/peoples in BMC have functions linked to the eight peoples in the world of Blue Moon, which actually sometimes don't show up in the card game, except in the flavour text.

Specifically

Vulca, Terrah, Aqua have special relationship to the three dragons.

Hoax are about learning. Exactly how that relates to their BMC function is maybe a little less than entirely obvious.

Flit can fly. Increased mobility in BMC.

Mimix are in pairs, in both games.

Khind are in gangs. That's a little bit of a stretch in BMC, but it's there. Also the Khind naturally inhabit the alleys, not the buildings.

Pillar are about trade (it's there in the texts). Not perfect, but not bad.

(Personally I wish the Vulca cards were red and the Terrah cards green - the Aqua being blue works. But it's a minor nit.)

Should have won--------

What an original game! Great atmosphere and flavor. Many many choices and various stategies on what to do. The game feels like a card game, plus a strategy board game, plus a "themed" game all in one. Games are often very close. Excellent, excellent game. Very tense.

This game is the weakest link and does not at all deserve a nomination.

You're describing Cleopatra and the Society of Architects.

Where's Tic-Tac-Toe? Shouldn't it be on this list?

Mach 4? Never heard of it. Honestly.

i have one, but i didnt find english rules for JUST 4 FUN so i didnt play it yet. Anybody knows where can i find them?

Is this a good pirate game? I am looking for a good pirate game that I can enjoy with the family.

I see that "safe crackers" was probably a little vague, should have typed "safecrackers".

This is an entertaining filler, but not an immersive pirate experience. This is a rethemed version of Dorra's earlier title Die Safeknacker, in which thieves tried to break into safes, but had to share the spoils. This is basically the same, with pirates plundering, but sharing afterward. You basically use cards to stack wooden discs, which may or may not be pirate-y enough for you.

See: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/3349

Seeräuber = Pirate.
Literally "Lake Robber" (or "Sea Robber" possibly?).

Since your asking about pirate games - my recommendation has always been Pirate's Cove. Not a serious game (qiote a bit of luck), but I feel it really captures the theme in a light, enjoyable family game. Arrrrggggghhh!

Robert, consider Plunder. I think it would match your desires pretty well.

vote Thurn & Taxis

A good game, but not the one I think is best for SdJ. Perhaps I've just had my fill of optimized card drafting games, but that is essentially what this. Player interaction is subtle. I don't know why I'm less taken with this game than others, but I wonder how many of the folks who are supporting this have played any of the other nominated games.

I thought exactly the same after my first play at Baycon this year. That is exactly what put me off buying, however this doesn't put me off playing it at all.

This is the game that made realize that just because everyone else likes something doesn't that I will. This game did nothing for me after 4 or 5 plays.

Not a bad game but nothing new or original. Very much the same old euro abstract type game with a very thin theme.

I didn't know that "fantastical" was even a word. Another copout by the selection committee.

I have played this game and i would call it a "family game", Why not just put it in the top 5?

JP

A "filler" is a game you pull out to kill time between when everyone gets to the game night and when you start yourr first full game(s). I think games like The Great Delmuti, Quicksand, & For Sale are all "fillers" but they are also good games. I am in the same camp as the person who expects an award winning game to be 45 min - 1 hour of game play.

jp

I find it curious that people should argue that a great game should be excluded from winning an award for games because it lasts only 10, 20, 30 or 44 minutes. By the way, I'm not arguing that Just 4 Fun is a great game, I'm just arguing.

Yikes the SdJ jury rated this game as "especially complex", just like Caylus.

JP, you hit the nail on the head with your comments about not having a Days of Wonder game win again. Almost empirical evidence that the awards are a sham, with Shadows Over Camelot being acknowleged as a special award but not an SdJ contender. Saying Shadows is too heavy is a joke.

Anyways, I'd have given the SdJ to Caylus, as SdJ translates into "Game of the Year" not "Family Game of the Year" (with family being interpreted as "light fluff" by the jury), regardless of how the jury is trying to justify their recent selections as being "family friendly" on their website. And again, family does not have to mean light fluffy games.

I am actually happy they have come up with this "complex" award. Too many games (PR, Power Grid, etc) have been passed over in my opinion because they are "too complex".

My feeling is that the SDJ committee has finally listened to some of the whining of us gamers (or it just gives them more revenue to allow another game to have an SDJ award label on their box...)

Where has the belief that SdJ is family only come from? Previous winners have been heavy; like El Grande for example.

From the SdJ home page: http://www.spiel-des-jahres.com

Maybe the SdJ should have more categories than just "Family" and "Kinder". They should add an "Adult" category (i.e. 12+)

I too am shocked and disappointed with some of this year's choices.

From SDJ homepage "The jury includes in their selection all new publications in the area of family and grown up games from the production of the current and the previous calendar year."