STARCRAFT- Corey K. Interview
Take that, Ken B., I've scored my own interview with an international boardgaming celebrity designer. You got pwned, I'm in ur base killin ur dudes, and so forth. So here's a little email interview I did with Corey over at FFG regarding the STARCRAFT board game, which as we all know Frank already has and we don't. Of course I don't own a copy of SHEER PANIC so I guess that balances everything out in the end.
OMG Zerg Rush on over to Gameshark.com!
46 comments:
Good tie-in, and a necessary one for all parties involved. You heard it here first. I am getting more psyched about the boardgame and Starcraft 2 each day.
Interesting comment on it not being a skirmish game as much as a empire building game. I think I would be more apt to play an empire building game than a straight tactical one. But then again, my agreement on the style may play against it with you guys. ;)
OH NOES~!
Barnes, you fiend.
Funny story--Corey K. is the guy who traded me a copy of Twilight Imperium 3rd Edition. I was a BGG noob and had no idea who he was at the time. Still remains one of the best trades I ever made.
I have one thing to say about Starcraft: It's closer to the look/feel/gameplay of Starcraft than AOE: III, hands down.
There's a difference between modifying gameplay from the PC to better suit the material, and then there's taking a bunch of Euro mechanics and slapping a licensed title on the box.
Corey K. is the guy who traded me a copy of Twilight Imperium 3rd Edition.
And Christian didn't sack him on the spot?
It was a personal copy. Even had his own play aids in there. I doubt he got a "five finger discount".
Also it was a rare occasion were unpunched > punched...I didn't have to do all that work.
Punching (deshipping) multiple copies of TI3 in a row....something I've done to make Demo copies is SO not a good afternoon. Those ships are sharp.
(but not nearly as sharp as sticking hand in a bin of WoW plastic to fish out a specific piece. Murlocks = pain)
It was a personal copy. Even had his own play aids in there. I doubt he got a "five finger discount".
Yeah but he is still kind of saying his bosses work wasn't good enough to keep.
Dangerous move.
PUFF PIECE!
Oh come on Micheal! If you were getting the game for free I'd say you'd gone Tom Vasel on us with that love in of an interview. You asked ONE semi-tough question about what was tough about implementing Starcraft in board game form, and you let him duck it with "well we couldn't have 1,000s of resources tokens". Well, DUH.
All that ribbing aside, the interview was very well written. When they first posted the rules for this game, I read them and said "eh". Skeletor's review prompted me to go give them another reading, and WOW. I'm excited about this game. It seems like it will come through in the areas that TI3 didn't for me (playable 2 player, shorter playtime overall, and most importantly COMBAT decides who wins). I'll be picking this up as soon as it's available.
I have no pride, FFg send me free games and I will right you a Tom Vasal review complete with red text tag lines and no harsh comments.
:)
-M
Hey Dan- I didn't get the game for free! FFG sends me nothing. I'm not the favored child like Mr. Skeletor seems to be. Or Tom "Christ Jesus" Vasel, for that matter. I don't even have it yet!
I thought the questions were kind of tough but the answers were sort of "corporate. Which is understandable, since FFG is a big, professional company and those are the kind of answers you get from a big, professional company. I didn't want it to be too esoteric since the audience over there couldn't care less about 90% of the "issues" people on the Leading Board Game Site (and here, for that matter" generate. I also didn't want to go the "what do you think about these dicks who bitch and whine about every move FFG makes" route.
Mal- I'm sure FFG would love for you to right them an article.
It's ok Micheal. I know you didn't get it for free. That's why I said "IF you were getting it for free".
So anyways, how did Skeletor get on the give me free games list, and where do I go to sign up?
So anyways, how did Skeletor get on the give me free games list, and where do I go to sign up?
Frank isn't on any "free game" list nor did FFG give him a free copy of the game.
Mike Z
Mike Z you forgot the nudge nudge wink wink, but I get it now, that was pretty funny. Now, how do we achieve freebie status over there without having to "service" anyone.
Alright y'all...let FFG do what they do best...let them be the professionals that they are. Big companies have to be careful about wrong/bad information getting out there even if we're just joking around.
Now there's some other companies out there...
There was no "wink, wink, nudge, nudge". I was perfectly serious.
Well then I'll be asking our government to stop shipping snow down to you folks for free. I'm sure the fine citizens of Winterpeg could use the extra powder without supplying Minasoda.
I can't believe I just experienced the first episode of PC, censorship or whatever you want to call it here on this blog. You might want to ask Frank to change the note at the bottom of his review where he thanks Mike Z among others for the freebie...
Maybe this thread should be deleted.
Hilarious.
Argh, these two features have me really interested in buying this game now. I really thought I could skip this one, but it seems too fun to miss.
You might want to ask Frank to change the note at the bottom of his review where he thanks Mike Z among others for the freebie...
Why? It is factually true. Did it ever occur to you that a few people associated with FFG chipped in to buy a copy of SC at Gencon (at full retail price) and send it to Frank? It was a gift sent with no strings attached.
I was halfway through writing what was a somewhat harsh review of Tannhauser for the guy who requested it a couple of threads back 'till I came across the 2nd half of this article. Now I realise if I post it people simply are going to claim I wrote it so I don't appear as a shill or some shit so into the bin goes.
What a pack of fucking whiners.
I clearly stated that I did not pay for the game because things like that should be stated as they may influence the review, even if on a subconscious level. So I did state it. I also stated that I received it "not necessarily for review purposes." Sounded pretty straight forward and honest to me.
Yet still people aren't happy. Apparently what I should have done was not review the game all. Unlike others I don't exactly enjoy writing the things, but I thought I'd do it because people were interested in it, I was lucky enough to be an early player, and people were complaining this site was slowing down. What a fool I was.
Here is an idea for those of you who want 'free' games - next time Mike asks for volunteers for the play testing program SIGN UP. Of course technically you don't get free games their either because you actually have to put in a lot of work for the program, so I guess it's better to just sit back and whine like a child.
You know what, fuck it. You clowns can bitch about 'censorship' (WTF?) or 'favored child' or whatever other shit you inconsistent bastards want. There is no reasoning with you once you get some hair up your asses so I'm done.
(Darth Vader Voice) Nooooooooooo!
I'm thinking about buying Tannhauser this week, if it sucks I'd rather know beforehand and save the money for Starcraft! I thought it looked like it would be fun in a X-Com sort of way.
Wow, that's like an epiphany! There's an Ameritrash game just begging to be created. Little secret agents running around crashed space ships trying to kill different kinds of aliens and grabbing their technology. Hrm.
Bahh.
Come on Frank.
You shouldn't get your nuts in a bunch just 'cause some inconsequential, always pissing n' moaning, never contributing fucks go outta their way to accuse you of something that we all know you didn't do.
I mean seriously, does it really matter what they think? I don't log in to hear what they have to say-- I could give two shits about what they have to say, as a matter of fact. I log in so to read what you and the boys (you too Uba!) happen to be talking about.
I happen to value your contributions you prickly fuck, so man up and let the liitle man squeak.
Okay?
Billy Z.
Oh, and Frank? That review of Tannhauser would be much appreciated.
--Mike L.
Next week's Cracked LCD is a Tannhauser review as well. Would be cool to compare both viewpoints.
Oh, a teaser from Michael's review.
"There’s a part of me that feels like I’m being really hard on TANNHAUSER, criticizing it as much for what I think it should be versus what it is- yet I think the game’s setting has so much potential that I hope it develops more in the future. I do believe that the game as shipped is complete (unlike BATTLELORE, for instance) and provides plenty of fun and interest as it stands, but it’s kind of like watching a movie that you want to be better than it actually is."
it would be fun in a X-Com sort of way.
Wow, that's like an epiphany! There's an Ameritrash game just begging to be created. Little secret agents running around crashed space ships trying to kill different kinds of aliens and grabbing their technology. Hrm.
Some guys did a PnP version. Trust me, don't waste your time with it.
Free games...so what? I think it's awesome the FFG guys pitched in to hook Frank up, it really shows that they're a good bunch of folks. I ain't bitching about Frank being a "favored child"...I'm just trying to make somebody feel guilty...anybody...[puppy dog eyes]I mean, I still don't have the game yet[/puppy dog eyes]
Oh, about TANNHAUSER...I think it's OK. It's not great, but OK. It could be better in time with some add-ons. I do think it's pretty successful as a FPS board game though. Read about it thursday.
Heh, last week the Howard Huges-like Robert Martin and I were playing LAST NIGHT ON EARTH (another Gameshark review forthcoming)and I said of the game "It's just really easy to play but not that great". And Robert says, "I think that sums up the kinds of games I really like- easy to play and not that great".
Anyway, it's not like Frank ever made a big deal about "free" games. That was Weeks' thing. I say...more power to ya. That was a very cool thing for them to do.
"It's just really easy to play but not that great".
I kinda agree, but I know for a fact that once you start throwing in some extra scenarios (via the web), and an expansion --or two-- I think it could truly be a great game.
That coupled with the fact that it's the best Zombie game going. I also like the fact that it's pretty easy to write up your own scenario's or take the base game system and transpose it on a board of your own making.
I'm of the mind that this game could have easily seen production akin to an FFG big box design, but, seeing as how this is Jason Hill's and the boys at Flying Frog's first foray into the gaming arena, they took the safe route and thought of pleasing the most common denominator-- and who can blame them! It's as good a way as any of creating some buzz on the cheap
I'm telling you Barnes, this game has great potential and it won't cost you as much as Battlelore to get there.
Billy Z.
Save it Billy, save it...we'll talk about it more next week. I like LNoE well enough...but that CD is a complete embarassment to all involved...
I personally could give a shit about free stuff. Getting freebies is how the business world moves along.
I was running with a joke that had been going on in this and another thread, then Mike Z comes in to make some sort of announcement - I didn't think this was necessary but Michael also came in to cool down the "freebie" talk - obviously this had hit a nerve somewhere.
Once again free shit is how the world turns and who fucking cares - I found it a little funny how much effort was being thrown into this counter freebie bullshit. The fact that Mike Z had to completely explain how the free game went out the back door and show receipts to prove it was just hilarious.
I think it's great that Frank gets a free game for being an FFG nuthugger and I personally don't crap on people for getting "gifts".
I don't want to whip out the "get a sense of humor" thing but really was any of that bullshit called for? It is obvious that some topics are not up for joking with around here and one of them is the "alliance" with FFG it seems.
Perhaps the "joking" smiley needs to be turned on for Mike Z but I was getting annoyed at having to have each joke/jab responded to in a method that was only meant to refute the infamous "free game", when really that is what it was (but once again who cares?).
I don't care but some people obviously really do.
I think that some people are taking themselves way too seriously here in the great big world of niche boardgames. Just read who posted what on this section and it's easy to see who the "whiners" are.
Eh, Frank's just trying to move the conversation off that copy of Shear Panic...
Pat, go fuck yourself.
As Ken pointed out I was never on Week's bullshit "Free games for good reviews" bandwagon that others jumped on, so don't start that shit with me.
And if I did get it to do an early review (which I didn't) as long as I'm up front about it who cares? Are you going to bust Bill's ass for getting advanced copies of games at gameshark? I mean I assume he does, it's a bit hard to do an early review of something without one.
"Cool the freebie talk". You question my integrity and now your complaining that I defend myself? This who situation has not been discussed at all in private between Mike, Barnes, or any of the rest of the FAT crew and I. Everything is up here on this very thread (apart from a "thanks" I sent to mike.)
The simple fact of it is some people get together and do a lovely thing for me but you just have to be a douchebag and whip out the conspiracy theories and possibly get people into trouble. Or do you think it's fine that FFG employees get involved in accusations of shilling?
And for the love of fuck don't give me this "Get a sense of humor" bullshit. I can read internet sarcasm like you can read phone numbers off toilet cubical walls, and you weren't pressing the matter simply in an attempt to be a funny guy.
You got something to say to me, bring it on. But don't think you're going to get away with pulling the "Oh I don't really care / I was just joking card" after you question my character you wannabe nuthugger.
You really are an idiot. Time for your meds asshole.
You forgot the *nudge nudge wink wink* assclown.
Okay... I'll make this really brief.
Frank: If it's Pat that you were mad at I'm really fucking confused 'cause :
1) I thought you guys were cool
and
2) I though you got all pissy 'cause of some deleted comment of some ass accusing you of something. I didn't see the problem with Pat's comments.
Pat: sorry for calling you an "inconsequential, always pissing n' moaning, never contributing fuck."
*SIGH* I feel like I put my foot in it:I got two cool guys seriously pissed at each other, or at the very least more pissed at each other.
At least TRY to e-mail each other and squash this shit.
Seriously...this is just too fucking stupid too be that pissed at each other over...
Guys, guys, if you're going to keep it up; please take it over to the other leading board game site where it happens all the time. You could also go man to man in the game of your choice with a house rule involving beating the other person with a stick.
- Michael
By the way, thanks for the great review Frank! I'm looking forward to the next one. And thanks Michael for the interview.
They aren't actually fighting over the game. They are verbally joisting to defend Thaadd's honor.
Runner up gets Jeremy in a "Slave Leia" costume.
Wow, this is like when your drunk uncle calls your mom a "fucking cunt" at Thanksgiving dinner.
Oh, for the record I haven't paid for a game in 10 years.
OK..that copy of Toontown not withstanding...I have a daughter you know.
This community is no longer for me. Too unfriendly. I am leaving. I would like all my content deleted.
------
Ok, after a brief absence, I am back. I missed you nut huggers. Can you reconstitute my content?
Glad to have you back RK- at this point, it's just me and you as everyone else has been banned.
I would like to thank you for the efforts you have put in penning this website. I'm hoping to check out the same high-grade blog posts from you later on as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my very own site now ;)
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