Off the Grid: Long-distance gaming

by Scott Jon Siegel { Dec 27th 2007 at 8:00AM }

Every other week Scott Jon Siegel contributes Off the Grid, a column about card games, board games, and everything else non-digital.

"Non-digital games are awesome" is the line I usually insist upon in this column. But even awesome analog games have their faults: namely, if you don't have anyone to play with, you can't really play.

So, as an end-of-year treat, let's look back at the last year+ of games reviewed, and find some ways to play those suckers against some internet folk:

Settlers of Catan
I still haven't gotten around to reviewing Settlers, but I did chat with Brian Reynolds about the Xbox Live Arcade version of the game, which is probably the best bet for consistent, high-volume net play.

For those who don't have an Xbox 360 (like, well, me), Aso Brain Games hosts an unofficial, Java-based version of the game called Xplorers. After a free registration, the site allows users to player ranked and un-ranked versions against other users and bots, and features a number of expansion and additions to the base rules, which can be toggled on or off. Don't let the low-fi look of the site dissuade you; Xplorers is a well-put-together Settlers clone, with a solid interface and a consistent number of users online at any time.

Carcassonne
As with Settlers of Catan, Carcassonne was blessed this year with its own multiplayer-friendly Xbox Live Arcade adaptation, handled by Sierra Online. Again, great news for 360 owners; irrelevant news for everyone else.

Luckily, Aso Brain Games comes to the rescue once more with a Carcassonne clone, cleverly titled Toulouse. Ranked and un-ranked matches apply here as well, and players are able to toggle on and off Carcassonne's two expansions. Though simplified, the game retains the charm of its predecessor, and the interface creates practically no hurdles for fans of the non-digital edition to leap into the realm of the online; the only rule not made readily apparent is right-clicking on your tile to rotate it, but I suppose you know now, don't you?

RoboRally
Alas, if only it were so easy with Richard Garfield's RoboRally. A short demo on the Wizards of the Coast site teases at the potential for a digital, multiplayer version, but the best attempts out there still leave much to be desired.

EyePlay Games offers Robo Runner, which appears to be largely based on RoboRally, although the game runs poorly on the site, and players must complete several "objective" missions before being allowed to play against other users.

The other option, Bots 'N' Scouts, plays in a downloadable Java applet (compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux), but is plagued with glitches and suffers from poor interface design. Since neither of these really satisfy our desire for true online RoboRally mayhem, we'll keep on wishing for an XBLA adaptation (pretty please, Microsoft?).

Kill Doctor Lucky
No, I never reviewed this classic Cheapass board game, although it's definitely one of my all-time favorite non-digital titles. Cheapass Games has a deal with GameTableOnline, who host the only official online version of the murderous board game about the luckiest man alive. Registration on the site comes with two weeks of free gaming, although further playing requires paid-up membership, which comes in monthly, quarterly, or yearly plans.

The Java applet in which all of GTO's offerings run is a bit sloppy, with a lot of security certificates to click off on before starting an actual game. The interface is a tad confusing, but it is relieving to have all the Doctor Lucky movement managing fall on the very capable hands of the computer. For those who are friend-less, GTO also offers bots for solo play, although Kill Doctor Lucky is never as much fun as when you're playing with buddies.

Ticket to Ride
One of our most recent reviews also happens to have one of the best online versions to offer, with Days of Wonder hosting the official Ticket to Ride web game. Using a special code printed on the instruction manual of the board game, purchasers can access the web version, which features a bustling community of human opponents, as well as bots for the shyer folk. Unlike other web versions, the interface is extremely clean, retaining the look and feel of the non-digital version, while keeping it playable and, most importantly, fun.

A disc-based version of the game is also available for PCs and Macs (also including online play), and both the web and disc-based versions feature several of the game's popular expansions and maps.

Fluxx
Love it or hate it, Fluxx (and its newborn Zombie brother) is here to stay. Looney Labs has arranged to bring to the internet masses through Volity, which offers an online, multiplayer version of the ever-changing card game. Players download the Mac-and-PC-compatible Gamut application, and are ready for solo or multiplayer Fluxx action. The online version keeps the loose and colorful style of the original, but sacrifices usability in its compact, oft-confusing interface. It's hard to keep track of other player's actions, and the game doesn't make it clear enough what actions the player is supposed to be performing at any time. We'll take the non-digital version over this any day. Sorry, Volity.

Treehouse
When we looked at Looney Labs' unique suite of Icehouse games, we were a bit confused as to how to play some of them. If Volity's version of Treehouse clears up one thing, it's that these games were meant to be played with the Icehouse pieces, and not with digital versions of them. Sorry, Volity. Again.

Give Me the Brain!
Sadly, there is no online version of this ever-so-excellent card game, although there is one for its more popular sequel, Lord of the Fries. GameTableOnline also hosts this fast-food-themed card game, which builds upon the brain-dead fun of James Ernest's original.

With a less hectic interface than Kill Doctor Lucky, Lord of the Fries makes the transition to digital a bit more gracefully.

Scrabble
Bonnie Ruberg of Heroine Sheik filled in a guest-spot for Off the Grid, and extolled the virtues of this classic word game. So, where on the internet can one find the best version of Scrabble? Why, on Facebook of course! If you haven't already caught the fever, Scrabulous is one of the hottest apps on the social networking site, and pulls the feat off quite gracefully with its casual, take-your-time approach to the title. Though I disagree with her opinion somewhat, Bonnie does a much better job describing how Scrabble becomes fabulous on Facebook.

That about wraps up our list of options for long-distance gaming. Hope your holidays are filled with friends, board games, and many presents that are also board games. Happy New Year, too.

Scott Jon Siegel is a fledgling game designer, a professional blogger, and a mediocre cook. His words and games can be found at numberless, and he'll see you all in 2008.

Tags: carcassonne, catan, fluxx, give-me-the-brain, icehouse, kill-doctor-lucky, off-the-grid, offthegrid, roborally, scrabble, settlers-of-catan, ticket-to-ride

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neon Jebus @ Dec 27th 2007 8:25AM

While a little off topic I did score Carcassonne: The Discovery for Christmas from my girlfriend and it was by far my favorite gift of the season. Just above finally getting Sequence.

I'm looking forward to getting Cineplexity from Out of the Box Games (Apples to Apples).

UNC Samurai @ Dec 27th 2007 9:43AM

It's good to see that board gaming isn't dead. As a veteran of the gaming and hobby industry, I've been hearing prophecies of doom for years. There's something about rolling dice or pushing pewter soldiers around on a map that you'll never get from video games.

Neon Jebus @ Dec 27th 2007 9:54AM

While I can't speak for the table top games like D&D, Magic, and other card based games of the sort, I can say that a lot of people I know are getting back into classic board games.

Imagine if... is still huge with a lot of my friends. Cranium, Trivial Pursuit...all still get a lot of attention by lots of people I know.

I'm also a fan of a very cheap game called In a Pickle. I also have Zombies! with several booster packs but have never been able to get a group of people together willing to play it. I fear the same battle over Carcassonne since it isn't the easiest game to just pick up and play.

zlionsfan @ Dec 27th 2007 10:14AM

I think that in a group where most people have both console and tabletop choices, the console games might serve as entries into the tabletop world. It might be easier to get someone into Carcassonne, for example, if they can walk through an online tutorial and easy game. (Other people prefer to learn as they go, and for those people, it might be worthwhile to sit down and play at the table.)

I don't see why tabletop games and console ports can't coexist. I like the option of playing Catan/Carcassonne/Talisman against friends across the country (or playing AI when no one else is around), but it's also nice to play the tabletop versions in someone's house. Each version can serve as a portal to the other type of game, in the right circumstances.

Erwos @ Dec 27th 2007 10:14AM

Not only are board games not dead, but they're enjoying a resurgence of popularity. I picked up Arkadia from a B&N earlier this month, and I don't think that was a common thing 10 years ago.

Erwos @ Dec 27th 2007 10:17AM

The only sad thing about the 360 version of Catan is the lack of local multiplayer. Yes, I know that hiding your resource cards is a good bit of the game and that doesn't work locally, but I'd definitely give that up just to play with my wife.

Carcassonne (which is a PITA to spell correctly) is fantastic, though.

StalkerB @ Dec 27th 2007 10:38AM

I just got Zombies!!! 6 and have all the other expansions, a couple of bags of zombies and the first one twice, so we can have epic games.
However, if somebody made an online version, preferrably for Live!, that would be awesome.
Anybody in the Fife, Scotland area up for a Zombies!!! fest tomorrow night is more than welcome :)

Animeman @ Dec 27th 2007 10:40AM

I actually have a board game that I hope someone here can recognize. It's a card and board game hybrid involving miniature Gundam figures. I got the game when I was 8 years old in Korea (I'm 26). The figures themselves are made of rubber like an eraser (only they don't erase anything), they're styled like SD gundams, very detailed, and even have detachable weapons. They even have a hole on the bottom so that they can be attached to the top of a pencil (again, like an eraser, only not). The board itself is double-sided. One side is a map of the solar system with panels for different planets and space stations. The other side is a large map of a battlefield. Each gundam figure has a corresponding card that has the name, HP, and special info for the gundam, and there's other cards that dictate special rules or actions. My friends and I don't know how to play. We make up the rules based on other games we played, and from tidbits online from similar games in asia. Even then, I'm searching for actual documentation online. I'm also trying to restore the board and cards since they're fading from old age. If anybody else has a similar kind of game, let me know. I'll try to post pictures at a later time.

madphilb @ Dec 27th 2007 12:33PM

Not to add to the hyjacking but is this what you where looking for? http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/27407

Animeman @ Dec 27th 2007 1:24PM

Holy Crap! I didn't think anybody would know what I was talking about. No, that's not the exact game, but it's similar. I know that it was more that $1. The set came with at least 50 figurines. Zakus, Gundams, and other figures associated with the series. The board was a large rectangle. The solar system side was arranged like a regular board game (pathways ie candyland, etc), the other side had square grids for the ground battle. I know it's made by the same company though, Jolly Games. Maybe some other people will have more luck finding it than me.