I thought the review was not that good compared to Scott's standards. I felt the whole rule explanations were all over the place sometimes losing any logical order. Maybe it's because I have too high expectations of Scott but I felt a bit disappointed this time.
Anyway, if I was to complain about one thing that could have been corrected easily, then it would be the description of the game currency. At the begining, Scott first introduces viewers to the Puerto Rico currency as "gold" and repeats that several times. Then at some point during the middle, he decides to stop using "gold" but use "dubloon" instead (without mentioning that it is supposingly the same thing). Then at the end he actually says "buck" one or two times. A person without Puerto Rico experience would get at least a bit confused during the first time he watched it.
Anyway, I love Scott's reviews and I don't mind if one every now and then is sub-par than the rest! Thanks for the reviews and keep'em coming Scott!
I felt the whole rule explanations were all over the place sometimes losing any logical order.
I tried a different structure this time in order to better lay the groundwork for the game. The way I typically present games would get to the goal of the game last, but with PR, when you teach it this way, people tend to get too focused on money and forget that the goal is VP.
So, I did what in educational theory is known as a scaffolding approach. I started the description from the end and worked backwards in order to build a scaffold.
Once I reached the beginning, I then went back forward through the game, but now the viewers had a scaffold upon which to hang those rules.
I have tried to teach this before in the traditional manner, and I learn that it doesn't work well unless it can be couched in the playing of the game. So, I tried something very different.
The problem with using a different teaching method is that people with one learning style aren't served as well. People who don't learn through mental frameworks/scaffolds would find it difficult.
I'm curious - Did you already know the game before watching the video?
I did more beta testing than usual on this one and sent it out to a number of people who didn't know the game, as I wanted to test out how this method worked with new people. I wonder if you already know the game, then you might expect to see the rules in a certain order. If you are new, then you get only the information I present about the game, so you wouldn't know that things are out of an expected order.
Quote:
Anyway, if I was to complain about one thing that could have been corrected easily, then it would be the description of the game currency.
Well, it's corrected easily only if it's not a habit. One of my bad habits in games is that I don't recognize the in-game currency, and tend to call everything "bucks" (just like I call any sort of miniature a "doll"). I try to catch myself, but as you see, I don't do a good job. This is a pretty common pattern in my videos; I slip on calling the game currency by the correct name.
scott! thanks for this review! i will now be able to teach my girlfriend how to play with out freaking out in the process.
i really dig the way you structured the whole deal. ive played maybe ten times, and read the instructions close to 20, and have had a heck of a time trying to get the ideas of the game across. but it is now going to be easier for me to relay the info of the game to others.
i will just follow the steps of the game the way you laid them out, then i will show them the video you made!
thanks for the great review Scott. I liked the way you organized this, considering how non-linear the gameplay is. For someone like me who is slightly familiar with the game, but with many questions, I feel much more well informed. I also feel confident enough to pick it up and give it a play.
One question, how well do you feel it plays 2-player. We love San Juan but would like to try a meatier version. Do the variants make it worthwhile?
That review was excellent! I am terrible at explaining games, especially to my girlfriend who has little experience with them. I have been trying to get her into Puerto Rico and with this latest episode I'll be able to sit her down and have it explained to her by the master. Thanks so much!
Corey
P.S. This is my second favorite episode, the first being your fantastic explanation of Die Macher. Without such a resource, my friends and I would have spent days reading through the rules and still not grasping it. You are truly as asset to gamers everywhere, thank you Scott.
I'm curious - Did you already know the game before watching the video?
I did more beta testing than usual on this one and sent it out to a number of people who didn't know the game, as I wanted to test out how this method worked with new people. I wonder if you already know the game, then you might expect to see the rules in a certain order. If you are new, then you get only the information I present about the game, so you wouldn't know that things are out of an expected order.
Hi Scott. To answer your question, yes I know the rules of the game eventhough my playing experience is really minimal. And I believe maybe you are right, sometimes when we know something we expect it to be presented in a specific set way. Maybe that's was the whole reason that I felt like that, because I know the rules superficially but have not experienced the game enough to have a good solid grasp of them.
Anyway, I hope you got something possitive out of my criticism as my intentions were good and noble! I love your reviews and that's why I have so high expectations of them!
One of the main reasons I haven't picked up Puerto Rico yet is that I'm the person in the family who has to read the rules and explain it to everyone. I was really dreading this one. As someone who has never played the game, I really appreciate this review; you did an excellent job, and I think the method you chose worked very well. Thank you!
Thanks for tackling this giant. One day after watching the video or playing the game enough times, the game will click and be awesome for me. Otherwise I have trouble understanding why it's #1.
Thanks for tackling this giant. One day after watching the video or playing the game enough times, the game will click and be awesome for me. Otherwise I have trouble understanding why it's #1.
Sonja,
did you try the software version where you can play with computer equivalents? The link to it flows somewhere over here...
My experience of PR is solely based on that (10 or so games till now), no live one yet. But I must say I like the game and understand it now after the tries. It clicks after a few plays.
Of course no strategy-building just yet, but who knows?
A person without Puerto Rico experience would get at least a bit confused during the first time he watched it.
Got to disagree with you here. I had never played Puerto Rico upon first watching this review, which prompted me to try the game. (I'd seen it played in earlier years at game nights but never actually paid attention to it or played it). When I sat down to play for the first time, I basically knew how to already thanks to Scott's explanation.
Scott: Keep up the good work! Your review is what got me to try and eventually buy the game. Now it's one of my favorites. Thanks.
Having not played PR (yet), I found watching your video (a couple of times) in addition to reading through the rules extremely helpful (at least in theory as I have yet to get my copy - it's in the mail).
Your videos are one of the most useful things I have found on BGG (Okay, there are alot of useful things on BGG... Universal Head game aids, both positive & negative reviews, Geeklists, etc., etc.). It is so nice to be able to see how a game is played and explained by someone who is able to explain it well. Unfortunately, far too often, rule explanations within our game group become bogged down by the trivial or by huge gaping holes from that massively important forgotten rule. Thank you so much for your efforts.
Posted Thu Feb 28, 2008 2:45 am
Yaaay!
I love your reviews and that's why I have so high expectations of them!
