CARCASSONNE coming to DS

How about that...now CARCASSSONNE is going to be a DS game.

I actually think it's a pretty good idea, I can see the game working pretty well as an on-the-go puzzler. Particularly if it has expansions included and WiFi.

http://kotaku.com/5310546/carcassonne-coming-to-a-ds-near-you

Hahahahah - "Story mode" aaahahahhaha

I had the Carcassonne PC game on my laptop for a while. It got old pretty quick, but then so did the real game. I think a lot of its appeal comes from its laid-back gameplay like doing a competitive jigsaw puzzle. But the DS being a portable system probably has a lot of other games that fill the same niche.

Heh...yeah, I wonder how that's going to go...

Guess the catapult isn't going to make it into the game.

They really should have done this as DSiware, all things considered.

I've often thought that the DS would be a great venue for games like this, since it can replicate a "point and click" interface pretty well. The key is if it can provide enough content, like all the expansions, and WiFi support. Just the base-game would be kind of a dud.

New expansion for Carc:

CARCASSONNE: THE STYLUS PEN

You just know you'll have to do something like blow into the mic to play a farmer or something.

That clinches it -- I need to get a DS.

There is/was also a Settlers game that was released in the EU but never made it to The States...I was thinking about importing it, but never pulled the trigger.

LvT

EDIT: So I forgot that I e-mailed the folks at settlers.com about a US release on Settlers DS and they did respond a while back - It is released in Germany, but no information on a US release but it does sound there are plans for a US release.

LordVonTush wrote:

... but it does sound there are plans for a US release.

Indeed, it is definitely behind schedule, but it will happen.

The Catan powers-that-be definitely want to be on the DS; it's a nice compliment to the Cities & Knights PC game (which is excellent, BTW). And, of course, it's another potential portal to get us English-speakers into the Catan Online World (which I've yet to try).

TheDukester wrote:

it's a nice compliment to the Cities & Knights PC game (which is excellent, BTW).

Yeah? How's the AI?

Bullwinkle wrote:

Yeah? How's the AI?

Not too bad, actually. I just finished the first campaign (20 scenarios) and there was only a handful of times when I thought, "Hey, AI, time to pull your head out." I got my 20 wins in about 45 total games, if that means anything. I am neither the best nor the worst Catan player around; I'd guess I'm slightly above average (from sheer repetition, if nothing else).

I'm encouraged that the AI seems solid in terms of trading to its advantage, not building silly settlements next to the desert for no reason, etc. In fact, I recently saw something I'd never before seen in a Catan AI (and I've played them all, believe me, including buying the older games from German eBay sellers):

I was in a situation where I could get the win, but only if I held onto the Longest Road award; otherwise, I would be toast. So I'm maybe four turns from winning when one of the AI players starts building roads in the middle of nowhere at an angle to my magnificent highway. So I think, "No way this AI is going to build a settlement to split my road." And ... sure enough ... wham!-bam!-settlement! right in the middle of all my hard work, relegating me to like third place in a four-player game.

Like I said, I've played them all, and I never remember a Catan bot doing the old split-the-road move to save its bacon at the last minute. I was impressed; I actually applauded.

I haven't seen a C&K PC game...where can I get it?

www.cms.playcatan.com/content/view/210/79/lang,en_US/

Download only for now. The trial is playable to 7 victory points; the full version is like Catan on steroids.

Good news for us Mac-heads, too: the OS X version was released yesterday. I've played on both platforms, and it works fine either way. Other than the menu bar and a couple of other Mac-esque things, it's impossible to even tell a difference.

Hmm. Looks like the game allows you to play basic Settlers and Seafarers, as well as C&K. I think I might have to pick this up. Thanks for mentioning this, Duke.