Okay I need to expand on this more later, but since I'm at work I need to cut it a little short for now. It should be noted that I am a big supporter of what you guys were trying to accomplish as can be seen in my posts on the other thread about this subject. I am not bothered so much by the choice of winners, since it would be wrong of me to say that any opinion that does not agree with mine is completly wrong, however that is most of the time the case.
My Gripe for now is on the execution. It has been admitted by the podcasters that they have not played all these games, which is not a complete negative since it's probably hard to get everything played, however I was bothered that in what seems most cases they didn't play a lot of the games, which does cast some doubt on the final decisions.
Take the Metagamers for example, all in all they didn't play 3 or sometimes 4 of the 5 games, and was just for the category they were covering, who knows how much of the games they missed playing from the other categories.
I understand that this is first run and all, but remember first impressions are the most important, however overall impressions of what you guys are doing is positive with me.
Now my first winner gripe:
TTR 1910 for Gateway game- I see that the announcers tried to spin it as this means the whole TTR game, but this is not plausible since your award is for 2006 games and TTR is 2004 i believe. Also this is not really a game at all, heck Thurn and Taxis Power and Glory expansion was more of a game then 1910, and I think it made the game even more user friendly for The base game Thurn and Taxis, then anything 1910 does for TTR.
Well got to go, I will continue my critique at later time, however I want to reiterate that I think what you guys are tyring to accomplish is very admirable.
Thanks for the Podcasting, and the time you guys put into it for Us.
Now for my continuation, however not really gripes just my opinions of decisions, that all.
Innovative Concept= Space Dealer, I can't really argue with this one at all and probably if i had a vote would pick it as well, as long as were talking about innovative concept not the game itself. I am really looking forward to other publishers taking the Real Time idea and making games with this mechanic it's really neat and revolutionary. Imagine a Mediteranian Trading Game using this realtime mechanic wow... Tom will love it for sure.
New Publisher = Gift Trap, well I've only played Gift Trap and Mr. Jack, yet read the rules aplenty on Through the ages. I would have to vote for Through the Ages jsut based on the rule reading alone. I think it probably was determined that it would win for small publisher so the award went elsewhere.
Gateway Game = TTR 1910, well I've already commented on this so not much about it. However my vote would probably go to Thurn and Taxis, Qwirkle is a great game however too abstract to be a Gateway Game. Also as I noted earlier Power and Glory really makes Thurn and Taxis a great Gateway game. Yspahan just has too much ways to score and has scared away a few new gamers at our group.
Small Publisher = Through the ages, I can't argue with this and I haven't even played the game. I have played the others and If I had a vote and would only vote for the games I've played it would go to Qwirkle. I really think Qwirkle needs some recognition, it's a great 2-4 player abstract almost on par with ingenious. However like I said i can't argue with the result here.
Game of the Year = Battlelore, well i dont' know how close the votes were, but I pretty much predicted this before the results were known. Through the ages was handicapped because I was sure it had minimal exposure to play. My choice Arkadia I know isn't meaty enough to be a game of the year winner, I am glad that it didn't get last place, that designation was to the game I thought best deserved the 5th spot Yspahan which is not a bad game just not a Very good game. If I had to make a second guess as to what the winner would be it was certainly Pillars of the Earth which I recognize as a very good game, just one that I dont' think is better then Caylus or even other similar games. My one gripe about Battlelore is that it's incomplete and was designed and marketed for only one thing to make gobs of money $$$$.
Well I do hope that this is repeated next year. I think you guys are on the right track. However do consider finding a way to get the games to the table before vote time.
Last edited on 2007-08-25 16:04:48 CST (Total Number of Edits: 1)
Posted Tue Aug 21,2007 09:38 pm
