http://fortressat.com/ Wed, 22 May 2013 09:30:22 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc30899 @ bop517 I hope you enjoy it. This was probably my most played game this year. Just in case you missed it, there is a player aid attached to the bottom of the article above. It replaces the individual player VP track. ubarose Thu, 20 Jan 2011 09:29:04 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc30894 Great review! With your review and with Michael's review, the game and expansion is enroute to me, finally. I'm one who personally likes the way the game looks. I think sometimes games (I'm an eurogamer) can become over produced, artwork that distracts from the game, plastic figures that are awkward, etc. Also, the biggest plus for me, is the theme of the game. I love an off-beat theme and this is one theme that hasn't flooded the market. Again, thanks for the great exposure. It was this and Michael's reviewes (both well written) that sold this game to me. g bop517 Thu, 20 Jan 2011 09:03:57 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21973 I missed your article initially but found it by clicking on the banner ad and circling back to F:AT from a review link in the game! lol So the moral - banner ads work! This sounds like a really nifty game and I will be checking it out ASAP. Thanks for the nice review and to VPG for the banner ad! vandemonium Mon, 07 Jun 2010 08:15:33 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21752 Circus Train is like fusion cuisine. It combines Euro and Ameritrash traditions while not fitting specifically into either. It's like curry sushi or taco latkas. ubarose Fri, 28 May 2010 19:02:09 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21750 We define a Euro by its most important attribute; not the quantity or type of pieces, but the nature and quality of its gameplay. Looking over the above article, clearly this reviewer "gets it." The math in the game is straight-forward, deep, balanced, and the gameplay offers a lot of variation in strategic play for the win. It's lighter theme and approach, combined with an intricate, puzzle-like fitting of gameplay strategies, to us define is as way more then "beer and pretzels" (i.e., a game you can play with half your attention), but far lighter than a highly detail-oriented, realistic wargame. To us, it is, in fact, a "Euro" game. We love Euros here at VICTORY POINT GAMES and play a lot of them. Given our little company's production capabilities (http://victorypointgames.com/articleDetail.php?article_ID=29&page=1), the most defining attribute of a fine Euro game, that aspect of gameplay that sets it apart from other styles of games, is what we can strive to deliver -- and that is great Euro gameplay! We hope you check out some of our other Euro-style games, like THE GREAT DIVIDE (http://victorypointgames.com/details.php?prodId=78), and see if we've got the gameplay you're looking for. :) Thanks, Alan Emrich AlanEmrich Fri, 28 May 2010 17:39:59 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21669 One more thing. The Euro Game tag to this one is odd. I'm pretty sure that the proper Grognard term for any game with less than 300 chits and a 6 hour playing time is "Beer & Pretzels". Merchants of Venus was perpetually referred to by that back in the day, and the term was usually applied to anything that is discussed here as an AT Classic (except perhaps for Civ). I have heard AoR called Beer&Pretzels before, which is a bit silly. moofrank Thu, 27 May 2010 07:52:44 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21666 I think the general was referring to Mr. Barnes' opinions on pricepoint in the gaming industry rather than the price of Circus Train itself. I fail to see how commenting on the price of a game in a forum discussion dedicated to its review is tedious though. jay718 Thu, 27 May 2010 05:53:54 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21665 [quote]$28 or $50, it's getting really, really tiring. [/quote] I'm not sure what you are getting at. I mentioned the price in relation the DTP component quality, because I knew that at first glance the members of my game group would be put off by one, or the other, or the combination of the two. In fact, when I was setting up the game, one person commented, "You paid money for this?" I was reluctant to even tell them how much I paid, until I was pressed to confess the amount. For $50, the people I play with would have expected a box full of little clowns, and elephants. However, after playing the game, people felt that the use of chits, a small map and small cards, was a good design choice. This was due in large part to good, clear graphic design, balanced with appropriate thematic illustration. More elaborate bits, other than the few pawns and money tokens that I added, would have added a WOW factor, but would not have enhanced the gameplay, and may even have made the game more difficult to play. ubarose Thu, 27 May 2010 05:40:26 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21662 $28 or $50, it's getting really, really tiring. generalpf Wed, 26 May 2010 19:43:09 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21660 Dogmatix - be gentle ;) it's my first game mrjwelch Wed, 26 May 2010 18:19:03 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21657 Must've missed the mention of the novel the first time I read through this review. Great piece though, and I'll absolutely be picking this up thanks to reading about it here. jay718 Wed, 26 May 2010 12:30:45 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21656 Water for Elephants was the first thing I though of when I saw this, especially the bit about the redlighting. Great book. Ditto for memoirs of a sword swallower and pretty much everything else re/search has put out that I've seen. Another great one about circus life although not depression era, and certainly more surreal is Katherine Dunn's Geek Love. Bears many similaritys to the movie City of Lost Children. I just can't recommend this title enough. Easily one of my favorite books. Robertson Davies' Deptford Trilogy is certainly worth a read as well, but not as intense of a circus experience as the other two. Anyway, I'm definately going to be checking out Circus Train. Sounds like a blast, and VPG looks to be a company that I would gladly give my business. jay718 Wed, 26 May 2010 12:20:48 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21655 But I recanted! $28 for a game like this is a good price, and I totally support what they're doing, it's a great concept. Michael Barnes Wed, 26 May 2010 11:57:50 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21654 I saw the Victory Points logo and thought this might be the first review in a long time where Barnes doesn't pop in and whine about the price... guess I was wrong. Great review! generalpf Wed, 26 May 2010 11:41:43 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21650 Thank you Tom for stopping by. And thank you for the correction of the book title. I will change that in the original article. Thank you Frank for the book suggestion. It looks like I now have two books to add to my reading list. ubarose Wed, 26 May 2010 08:21:10 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21649 Thanks Uba for the very kind words about Circus Train. I'm very glad to hear you are enjoying the game. I wanted to add that the game was inspired by Sara Gruen's novel [i]Water for Elephants[/i] and they are currently working on a movie about the book. You can read about the film here: http://waterforelephantsfilm.com/ Thanks again! Tom Decker TheRook Wed, 26 May 2010 07:53:46 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21638 Edit...and damn...John's game just arrived today. Guess now I have to play it and review the bloody thing... Dogmatix Tue, 25 May 2010 19:30:29 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21637 Hey there Alan. When is Carl P.'s "VPG 'Deluxe'" shop going to be open for business? I'd rather just give him my money to have him do all the heavy lifting for Artscow that I had started doing with Crisis 2020 :) Cheers Justin Dogmatix Tue, 25 May 2010 19:26:27 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21635 Thanks Uba. I was curious about this. Sounds like EXACTLY my sort of game. And your reading assignment is Memoirs of a Sword Swallower. A 50's era diary of travelling with sideshows, that is just amazing. (After finding a copy of that, you probably also want to read everything else in the Re/Search catalog. ) moofrank Tue, 25 May 2010 18:12:37 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21634 I didn't realize that VPG was connected to The Art Institute of California. That explains a lot. My first reaction when I got Circus Train on the table was, "These guys could teach a class in graphic design for games." I guess you actually do. And, Michael, that armless and legless man was the thing under my bed when I was a kid, but I couldn't tell my parents because I wasn't supposed to have watched that movie. I used to make KingPut walk me to my room at night and go in first to check if it was safe. He was a good brother. ubarose Tue, 25 May 2010 17:18:35 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21633 [img]http://victorypointgames.com/cw3/assets/product_thumb/Levee_cover_Front(THUMB).jpg[/img] John has just had published his first game, VPG's LEVEE EN MASSE. It's a solitaire game on the Wars of the French Revolution. For more information about that game: http://victorypointgames.com/details.php?prodId=121 For John's story about visiting VPG for the first time: http://victorypointgames.com/articleDetail.php?article_ID=67&page=1 Good stuff! :) Alan Emrich AlanEmrich Tue, 25 May 2010 16:46:03 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21629 [quote]I heard about this site because someone reading this review said this is where they heard about our game. What a terrific review! [/quote] Reviews like Uba's are what I look for: genuine, objective and convey the sense of enthusiasm they have for the game. I'm definitely looking forward to playing my copy when it arrives. johnnyrobo Tue, 25 May 2010 16:13:49 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21628 What game do you have coming out Welch? metalface13 Tue, 25 May 2010 15:25:50 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21626 This is one of the great things about the Internet - the connections to people and websites one might never encounter. I'm a history teacher, gamer, and now first-time designer for Victory Point Games. This is a great review...I'm jealous as I wish I could get this kind of quality review for my new game :) I look forward to reading and exploring this site and getting a chance to 'virtually' meet new people. Alan is simply the greatest when it comes to gaming and helping people realize their dreams in the game business. VPG is really a labor of love for all those involved - gamers making great games for other gamers to enjoy or as the byline reads: where the gameplay's the thing! I was a fan of VPG games for more than a year before taking the plunge as a designer. There really isn't another company I'm aware of that allows untested designers to try their hand. Another part of VPG that syncs well with me is the educational side - I wanted my game to be fun first but the fact that I can use it in my classroom is a real bonus. Finally, - Michael I'd be happy with a Ferrari Testarossa in 3 years ;) mrjwelch Tue, 25 May 2010 15:05:22 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21625 Whoa whoa whoa...I didn't realize you guys were doing that either, I had heard the name VPG and seen a couple of titles but I didn't know about all this business...that's _awesome_. I've often lamented that there wasn't a business like VPG because I always thought it would be a good idea. There it is then, once again my brilliant idea- stolen. Just like THE MATRIX. Michael Barnes Tue, 25 May 2010 14:11:44 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21623 Well... [i]you guys[/i] are our game designers, too. We encourage any first-time designer who has a small-format game inside them to work with us to get it published. We'll show you the ropes. Best of all, our designers get to keep the rights to their games! Alan Emrich AlanEmrich Tue, 25 May 2010 13:45:29 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21622 Of course, then you'll have to try to [b]park[/b] a Countach. Good luck with that. Thanks for the links, Alan. I was vaguely aware of VPG, but didn't know that the origin was in your classroom designers. Now I'm more interested than I was before, as I'd like so see some more "outsider" designs take hold. The fresh material of Nemo's War or Circus Train is an excellent change of pace as well, I'm glad to see distinctive themes. Not Sure Tue, 25 May 2010 13:30:11 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21620 Yeah Alan, glad to have you with us...I think it must have been me that brought you over here. We cover all kinds of games here, and I think most of you guys' titles would have some appeal here to these folks. We like to let the spotlight shine on the smaller publishers, and most of our readership values exposure to some "off the beaten path" games. I'll tell you the same thing I tell all the other small publishers- I guarantee that F:AT coverage will put you in a Lamborghini Countach within three years.* *Not an actual guarantee Michael Barnes Tue, 25 May 2010 13:15:27 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21619 Welcome aboard Alan! You should definitely keep F:AT updated with what Victory Point Games is up to. I had never paid attention to VPG until I saw Loot and Scoot yesterday and Circus Train today. metalface13 Tue, 25 May 2010 13:09:22 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21618 Great review, I'd been thinking about this one at the same time as Nemo's War. Notahandle Tue, 25 May 2010 13:03:12 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21617 I heard about this site because someone reading this review said this is where they heard about our game. What a terrific review! FYI, not every game with under 300 components is a "Euro," as that would include almost every game we publish... but certainly there is a style of play and the types of decisions that are made during a game that makes it "Euro-ish," and by reading this review, it affirms that Circus Train is one of those games with that type and quality of gameplay decision making. If you like CIRCUS TRAIN, you're probably also going to like the designer's (Tom Decker) next release from us, FINAL FRONTIER, a space opera themed game that is very heavy on Euro-style gameplay. As for our prices, you're not the first to comment. We wrote about there here: http://victorypointgames.com/articleDetail.php?article_ID=84&page=1 And I'm not sure that GMT is likely to pick this game up from us. They're looking at wargames for the near and medium term, I believe. Thanks! Alan Emrich AlanEmrich Tue, 25 May 2010 12:59:18 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21616 Yeah, Nemo's War is definitely on my watch list now too. Gary Sax Tue, 25 May 2010 12:44:50 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21615 [quote]Circus Train includes thematic elements such as improving your show’s reputation by picking up alcohol for your talent and staff (legally, in Canada), the high costs of supplying big cats and elephants, and the ability to “red light” (firing by throwing off the train) disgruntled talent or talent that has simply become too expensive to maintain.[/quote] Where has this game been all my life? This was an awesome review -- thanks! johnnyrobo Tue, 25 May 2010 12:38:16 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21614 FREAKS is amazing, that scene with the armless, legless man crawling under the wagon with a knife in his teeth is one of the scariest things ever. I whole-heartedly recommend Tod Browning's other non-DRACULA movies if you liked that, particularly DEVIL DOLL, THE UNKNOWN, and THE UNHOLY THREE. NEMO'S WAR looks really cool, I like the theme a lot...but it's that whole solo board game thing, and that's a tough sell. I really like how their games look old timey, like old Avalon Hill games or something. I think their regular prices are way on the high side ($45+), but it seems like everythign is on sale. Michael Barnes Tue, 25 May 2010 12:36:04 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21613 [quote]"You know what the world needs? A board game with clowns and freak shows in it!" [/quote] I saw "Freaks" at a too young and very impressionable age. It forever colored my view of all things related to circuses and carnivals. So 1930's circus gets filed under horror themes in my head. ubarose Tue, 25 May 2010 12:22:16 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21612 Dang, another VP Game to add to the pile. Of the solo war game ones I recommend Zulus and Empires in America. Nemo's War is also fun. Loot and Scoot looks kinda simplistic...but then I thought that about this one too. iguanaDitty Tue, 25 May 2010 12:22:05 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21610 You know, I was just saying to myself, "You know what the world needs? A board game with clowns and freak shows in it!" All kidding, aside, this sound like a lot of fun. But speaking of Loot and Scoot, I just came across that last night and was wondering how it would compare to the DungeonQuest reprint (obviously not as high quality components, but same quality of fun?) metalface13 Tue, 25 May 2010 11:43:36 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21609 Great write up Uba. I've been a eyeing a few of the VP games lately ( Zulus on the Rampart, Forlorn Hope & Toe-to-Toe Nu'klr Combat with the Rooskies). It's great to see a different company's games reviewed here. Dr_Mabuse Tue, 25 May 2010 11:34:39 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21608 LOOT and SCOOT is listed as Euro Game #2. It must have less than 300 chits. ubarose Tue, 25 May 2010 11:31:29 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21607 I really enjoy your reviews, Uba. You always manage to find something completely under the radar and then make it interesting for the rest of us who are in the treehouse making machine-gun noises at each other. I'm going to investigate this some more, I think. Not Sure Tue, 25 May 2010 11:13:24 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21606 They have a couple of good-looking titles, their newest one in a dungeon crawl called LOOT AND SCOOT. I'm going to see if I can get them to send me some review copies, maybe I can do a multi-game feature on them. Michael Barnes Tue, 25 May 2010 11:12:16 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21605 This looks awesome!!! I *never* would have seen this. GMT games seems to be reprinted some VPG... maybe this could be one of them? Gary Sax Tue, 25 May 2010 11:05:01 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21604 Yeah, the expansion is another $15, and your really need it. The base game is only solo or two player. The expansion allows you to play up to 5 players, and adds the ability to steal performers from other players. The two player game is good, but really plays much differently than the multiplayer game. The rules are even different. Circus Train really shines with 4 or 5 players. There's more competition for stuff. With three players, there's enough stuff on the board that it is pretty much multiplayer solitaire. ubarose Tue, 25 May 2010 11:03:12 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21603 Ah, I stand corrected...it's $27.95 for the base game, you added an expansion in there. Michael Barnes Tue, 25 May 2010 10:51:19 +0100 http://fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1908#josc21601 This actually looks really interesting, I generally hate circus anything but old timey circus stuff is kind of neat. It's definitely an under-represented theme, and it looks like this game has plenty of it to go around. I thought this would be a $20-$30 game though, based on its pedigree and the components. Fifty bucks? Dang. Michael Barnes Tue, 25 May 2010 10:48:25 +0100