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Never mind what the adults think, we want to hear what the kids think! That was more or less how someone responded to a recent review that I posted where I interviewed my children about a game, an interview which proved quite popular with readers here on BGG. The exact comment from Bob Wilson was: "Publishers and designers should read this very carefully. Kids will tell you directly what they think, and what attracts them to a game, will attract adults, too. Adults might want a bit more complexity or more conflict in a game than kids, but about all the other aspects, kids can teach us a lot!"
I think Mr. Wilson is right. And that's why I am posting another interview, this time with with five children, ages 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 respectively. For the record, yes, they are siblings. And yes, they are all my children. And no, having five children is not crazy, it's a real blessing. Especially when you combine them with games! Which brings me to our feature game for today's interview: Incan Gold. We've had this game for about 18 months and have played it many times, as a family and with various visitors of all ages. Want to know what real children think about this game? I interviewed my four year old, six year old, eight year old, ten year old, and twelve year old to find out what they thought about the game.
Here is what they had to say, in their own words:
Q: How often have you played Incan Gold?
4yo: I think four times.
6yo: Four.
8yo: 10 times?
10yo: Way more than 10. Maybe 100?
12yo: We've had it for ages and I've lost track. Maybe 10?
Q: How long did the average game take?
4yo: One took four minutes I think. The next one took three minutes. I think the next one took five.
6yo: One minute.
8yo: Thirty minutes.
10yo: An hour.
12yo: Is this a trick question? 10-15 minutes?
Q: How easy is Incan Gold to learn and play?
4yo: Quite easy I think.
6yo: Easy.
8yo: Pretty easy.
10yo: Pretty cinch.
12yo: Very easy.
Q: How does the game work, and how do you win?
4yo: Whoever gets the most Incan gold, they win. If there's gold on the cards, then that's how you get it. If you go out, you get it.
6yo: You explore and you get treasure. Snakes and mummies and rocks and fire can come, and if there's two of them, you lose all your points.
8yo: You win by getting the most points, by collecting gems, by going further into the tunnel, and not getting scared and running away.
10yo: You have to collect gold, by going through tunnels.
12yo: Going in tunnels. You win by having the most treasure. There's bad guys, like if you get too many snakes or rockfalls, you die.
Q: What do you like most about the game?
4yo: The artifacts. Because they shine on them. Like they are kind of sparkly, just like my treasure chest.
6yo: I like exploring.
8yo: Getting the gems.
10yo: I don't like it.
12yo: Trying to stay in extra long when nobody else is in a tunnel, and getting a lot of treasure.
Q: What do you like least about the game?
4yo: About getting two spiders, or two mummies, or two fires.
6yo: When you lose your points.
8yo: Dying.
10yo: I don't like the whole thing. Collecting the gold and getting everything, I don't like it.
12yo: That you only have two choices: stay in or go out.
Q: What do you think about the exploring theme?
4yo: In and out? Out is the best one, because then you get the treasure in the tent.
8yo: It's pretty interesting.
12yo: Interesting.
Q: How well do the mechanics fit the theme?
8yo: Quite a bit, but not totally.
12yo: I think it fits fairly well, because you split the treasure up with people when you leave.
Q: How much of the game is luck?
4yo: What even does that mean daddy?
8yo: One quarter or so.
10yo: Lots, because if you keep on going, you get lucky if you get 17 gems.
12yo: 90%.
Q: Some people who give the game a low rating say the luck factor spoils the game for them. What do you think?
8yo: I don't think it ruins it. I think it makes it more fun.
10yo: Yes, because sometimes it's not fair.
12yo: Yeah, it does for me as well, there's pretty much no strategy.
Q: How much of the game is strategy? Do you think people can actually be good at this game?
4yo: Yes. When you go out you get gold. But when two people go out, you have to share. When one person goes out, then they get all of it.
6yo: Yes. Very good.
8yo: Yes.
10yo: No. Because it's based on luck, so you never know what is going to happen, and even for people who are very good at it, they might still lose.
12yo: Not really, because all you can really do is leave when there's lots of treasure, and stay if there's not much treasure.
Q: Do you have any favorite strategies to recommend?
6yo: Leaving when there's lots of points.
12yo: I like staying and collect lots of treasure. It's not really a good strategy, because usually if people leave, it's because it's getting a little dangerous.
Q: What is the highest score you've had?
4yo: Today I didn't count my gold. I think I got 10.
6yo: Today I had 31.
8yo: I don't know.
10yo: Higher than 20. Maybe 40 or 60.
12yo: 32. I think. I'm not sure about it.
Q: What do you think about the components?
4yo: I like the treasures and the artifacts. Those are my two favourites. Even the 17 one, because that's the most highest.
6yo: Cool pictures.
8yo: I think they are pretty neat, they are cool.
10yo: They could get better. You could make the jewels actually look like jewels. And for the artifacts you could have an actual artifact token.
12yo: Pretty good. The tent could be improved a bit, because it is kind of flimsy and breaks fairly easily.
Q: What are your favorite cards in the game?
4yo: Artifacts.
6yo: The ones that have 17.
8yo: The artifacts, because they look like real gems and they look like they're real gold. I think the artifacts are pretty interesting.
10yo: Artifacts, because they are cool, and add a bit extra to the game. And the 17, because it's the best one, and it's best if you get it by yourself.
12yo: I like the artwork of the treasure cards, and the bad stuff. The artifacts are good, but mediocre.
Q: Who would you recommend this game for?
4yo: Me. You.
6yo: My sister.
8yo: Both children and grown-ups.
10yo: Little kids.
12yo: I guess younger kids, because it is very simple. Adults might get sick of it easily.
Q: How old do you have to be to play Incan Gold? What age do you think it is suitable for?
4yo: Four, and six, and ten, and eight.
6yo: Six and up.
8yo: About six, and up.
10yo: Any age.
12yo: Age six, if they had a bit of help with the setup.
Q: What would your friends think of this game?
4yo: They would like to play it.
8yo: I think they would like it. A few of my friends anyway. Most of them like fun and good games.
10yo: They might like it. But they're weird, so some of them might like it.
12yo: So so.
Q: How many people should you play with to have most fun with this game
8yo: About five, four, or six.
10yo: Probably five.
12yo: Eight. Actually two, because then you can have fun collecting as much gold as you can when the other player leaves.
Q: If there is anything you could change about the game, to improve it or expand it, what would it be?
4yo: Different cards. Like zoo ones. If there was two lions, then one would go in the box. Or if there was two elephants, then one would go in the box. I would like penguins and elephants.
10yo: I'd make it more exciting and more for adults. And I'd add artifact tokens, like actual ones, and make the gems better.
12yo: Better treasures. More bad things, like a bigger variety. More options for what you can do, instead of keeping going or leaving.
Q: If you could add more Hazard cards, what would they be?
8yo: A hawk. Bats. Dwarves.
10yo: A trap door, like in a dungeon. Bombs, no, dynamite.
12yo: I don't think Incans would have dynamite. I would add a gas trap. And I would add a trip wire, then if you trip it, then spears fall from the roof.
Q: If you could add other special cards or treasure, what might improve the game or make it more fun?
8yo: A 25 gold card.
10yo: There would be one extra special card that gives you 20 gold, but when it flips up you don't get anything, and if you leave, you can only take ten. And more artifacts, and better ones.
12yo: I would do a card that would double or triple your point total, but only if you leave alone, just like with artifacts. And if the tunnel caves in, then it would get shuffled back in the top ten cards of the deck, so it is always in the top 10.
Q: What games do you like better than Incan Gold, and why?
4yo: The Flea Circus (Circus Flohcati), because you get sets and you win it, whoever gets the highest. Incan Gold and Flea Circus, those are my two favourite ones.
8yo: I don't know any better games.
10yo: I love Vikings, and Thebes, because they take longer, and there is more happening, and it's not as much luck and you can have more strategy.
12yo: Thebes is a good one, because it is a similar idea. I prefer Prophecy because it is more of an adventure game, there more decisions. With this there are only two decisions you can make, and there is not really much strategy to it. All you have to do is leave when there's lots.
Q: What rating out of 10 would you give this game?
4yo: What does that even mean?
6yo: 7.
8yo: 6. Nah, 7.
10yo: Probably 5 and a half.
12yo: 5.
Q: Would you like to play Incan Gold again today?
4yo: Like me with you, for real? No, a different game.
6yo: Yes, but not today.
8yo: No. It's okay, but I'd rather go play in the snow today.
10yo: No.
12yo: Not really.
Q: How quickly will you get sick of this game?
4yo: How many minutes would you get sick of it? I would say none.
6yo: Not for a long time.
8yo: Not very quickly.
10yo: Very quickly. I'm already sick of it. After the second game it was kind of boring. And there's tons of luck.
12yo: Fairly quickly. It seems almost too simple.
Q: What do you think would be a fair price to charge for Incan Gold? How much should it cost?
4yo: Ten hundred dollars
6yo: I don't know. $9.84
8yo: $10.73
10yo: $20
12yo: $20, because it's a fairly small game, and you can get a bit of fun out of it with the right group, and that's usually what games like that cost.
Q: Any last comments about Incan Gold that you want to share?
4yo: Whoever gets the most gold, they win. Are we gonna play the game I'm gonna say now?
10yo: They should make more tunnels.
12yo: It's a bit dull. There's not much strategy to it. I would have added more strategy.
Now to be fair to my children, we have quite a few games. So my older children are used to doing things like a draft of Magic: The Gathering, or playing things like Antike, Notre Dame and Vikings. In comparison, playing Incan Gold for the thirteenth time can start to become a bit dull. However, we have had great success using this game with non-gamers and people who are not really into games. So take some of the more critical comments above with a grain of salt! Is it the kind of game you can expect to play multiple times with the same kids? That's going to depend on how old the children are, and what kinds of games they are used to playing. If you play with a variety of different people, especially non-gamers, then this works very well, because it's a fairly short and light simultaneous-action game with good press-your-luck elements, it can handle up to 8 players, and is very easy to learn and fun to play. Don't expect to play it over and over with the same group of teenagers or adults, but for most other settings it is a great choice.
At least, that's what I think. But you aren't reading this review to know what I think anyway, right? You want to know what kids think, because there's more than enough opinions from adults here on BGG already! Well there you have it, that's what real children think about Incan Gold, take it for what it's worth. I'll leave you with a final picture of my four year old daughter with her favourite card in the game.
Acknowledgements: If you enjoyed this, do check out my interview with two of my children about Thebes, as well as a wonderful review of Tally Ho that inspired my own interviews and some of the questions.
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[size=8]The complete list of Ender's "What children really think about..." reviews: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/37597
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Flying Dutchman
Canada
Ontario
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Great review Ender! I particularly chuckled at the differences between the answers of your oldest and your youngest child. Knowing them as I do makes it all the more humourous. Well done!
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Robert Farthing
United States
Auburn
Illinois
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That was the best review ever. Kids have so much wisdom that companies should listen to. Thank your kids for sharing with us.
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Fight On!
United States
Green Bay
Wisconsin
Loki 2004-2011
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What if I want to know what fake children think about Incan Gold? Or unreal children?
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Big Kat
United States
Tualatin
Oregon
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I think I'd like penguins and elephants as well. But they'd have to be scary like the mummies.
Scary mummy penguins!
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John W
United States
Sacramento
California
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EndersGame wrote: Here is what they had to say, in their own words:
Q: How often have you played Incan Gold?
10yo: Way more than 10. Maybe 100?
Q: How long did the average game take?
10yo: An hour.
Q: What do you think about the components?
10yo: They could get better. You could make the jewels actually look like jewels. And for the artifacts you could have an actual artifact token.
Q: What would your friends think of this game?
10yo: They might like it. But they're weird, so some of them might like it.
Q: If there is anything you could change about the game, to improve it or expand it, what would it be?
4yo: Different cards. Like zoo ones. If there was two lions, then one would go in the box. Or if there was two elephants, then one would go in the box. I would like penguins and elephants.
10yo: I'd make it more exciting and more for adults. And I'd add artifact tokens, like actual ones, and make the gems better.
Q: If you could add more Hazard cards, what would they be?
10yo: A trap door, like in a dungeon. Bombs, no, dynamite.
Q: If you could add other special cards or treasure, what might improve the game or make it more fun?
10yo: There would be one extra special card that gives you 20 gold, but when it flips up you don't get anything, and if you leave, you can only take ten. And more artifacts, and better ones.
Q: What games do you like better than Incan Gold, and why?
10yo: I love Vikings, and Thebes, because they take longer, and there is more happening, and it's not as much luck and you can have more strategy.
Q: What rating out of 10 would you give this game?
10yo: Probably 5 and a half. One of the funniest reviews I've read in awhile!
It's hilarious reading their different reactions - it even shows the developmental stages of awareness in children.
(Other than the bombs & dynamite reference) The 10 year old sounds like a Euro fan - wanting quality of bits and strategy.
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Homo Ludens
Canada
St. Albert
Alberta
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TrojanDan wrote: What if I want to know what fake children think about Incan Gold? Or unreal children?
I've been waiting for this comment to come up! 
Was the sarcasm real or was it just my imagination? 
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Christopher
Belgium
De Panne
Bachten de Kupe
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Another nice review! Thanx for sharing your kids experiences with us!
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Kids are so refreshingly honest with their responses ;-)
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Andrew Goenner
United States
Superior
Wisconsin
Running 5 PbFs
And still sane...mostly
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Another great interview. Thanks a lot, Ender! I love reading these.
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Jeremy Marquis
United States
Plano
Texas
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Quote: Q: What do you think would be a fair price to charge for Incan Gold? How much should it cost?
4yo: Ten hundred dollars
Awesome.
I've got 4 little gamers myself, so this was helpful, thanks!
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M.J.E. Hendriks
Netherlands
Velp
Gelderland
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Would've been nice to know which are boys and which are girls too. No?
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Posted Tue Nov 25, 2008 8:58 pm
