I believe that children are the future- CASTLE PANIC REVIEW Hot

Thanks for doing the review, Barnes. I'd been looking at it simply because the theme seemed interesting to me, but the game itself looked kinda' stupid. I might have to poke around and find a cheap copy.

It's pretty reasonably priced, I think it's $35 retail so $27-$28 copies are sure to be out there.

Michael -- didn't realize you were an expectant father. Congratulations!

Nice review. Might have just made the Christmas present list for a couple of nephews.

Aha, Space Ghost wins! That was the hidden message. Due in January. Only the Atlanta folks here knew.

Congratulations! You dropped a hint a while back, but I thought, no way I, it must be something else. I remember a few years back you said that you had decided not to have kids, and thinking, such a shame, Michael would be such a great dad. So yay!

Well, thanks for that...I used to say I wasn't ever going to have kids, but time goes on and ideas change about some things. We've actually been putting it off for a while due to work obligations and living situations, but we're settled in now and it's the right time.

The best response so far was from my friend Peter- "have you told the dogs?"

That's great, Michael. Congratulations! It is funny how "ideas change about some things" as lives and marriages develop. I've got three kids (and two dogs, who are happy about it overall) and it's a great adventure ahead of you.

Jon

I don't get the appeal of the tower defense video game genre. All the ones I've played have been no challenge and really boring. I find no enjoyment in watching a bunch of turrets automatically kill creepers for minutes and minutes and minutes. Maybe I just have a short attention span.

Dan Baden an uppity up in CDC is convinced that the brith of young Barnes will trigger a world apocolypse and has begun stockpiling massive amounts of food and ammunition. I for one believe him and have already strung razorwire around the perimeter of the yard.

Steve"survivalist"Avery

Steve, that's pretty standard practice for an OTP suburbanite (little Atlanta in-joke there, folks).

I don't get the appeal of the tower defense video game genre.

If you have an iDevice, try GEODEFENSE or GEODEFENSE SWARM. They're probably the best I've seen. Yes, you buld stuff and wait. It's a mutation of RTS games where you build defensive towers. The gameplay is in the placement, deciding which towers to put where, and how to spend money on upgrades. It's a pretty passive style of gameplay, but it's perfect for mobile devices where you might be watching TV or something while you're playing. They can get pretty hectic though, and sometimes there's some fun tension if you're close to the end of a level and there's wave after wave on the way to smash you.

Congrats Michael to you and your wife, but I think Southerman called it a couple of weeks back.

Congrats, Barnes! The wife and I are having our first in March. Good times.

Dr_Mabuse: Why do you have to beat me at Titan and here; can't I get any respite? About time for another Twilight Struggle game, I reckon.

I've got an ipod Shuffle. Will that work?

congrats Michael. I wish you both a happy kid

Congrats, Michael! Listen to Uba's comments on games and kids--it is right on target. Or are we going to be hearing how Young Master Barnes has been playing ASL since he was 4, but he's a bit bored with that now at the age of 5! :)

Speaking for myself, ones attitudes towards games changes when you do have kids. Just like you can play a crappy games with friends but it is a fun time...magnify that when you have kids. Esp if they're playing by themselves.

Paul

From the sounds of it this game crosses the finish line with you as much because of the publisher's ability to execute. I think there are a lot of games out there that are reasonably clever and would be viable, but fail because they aren't presented in a package that is accessible to their target audience. You spent a fair chunk of column space speaking to the nature of how the game is presented which short of artwork is not usually on your list.

So I went to Fireside Game's web site to see what else they had to offer and what it looks like. Their total catalog -- one game. So you've spoken with these folks. Tell me, is this company about Castle Panic, or are they going to enter the market with other titles and make everyone else in the genre lift their game a bit?

I have three boys, ages 9, 6 and 6. I think this purchase is an "if" question but a "when" question. I'll likely ask for it as a Christmas gift to myself so that they don't loose the slot on their lists.

Sag.

That's absolutely right, Sag. I think they're putting together, at least with CASTLE PANIC, a package that makes good on all these empty promises other hobby games outfits have made about making accessible, marketable games that casual gamers and families can pick up and play. Take a look at the PDF of the rulebook- they did a lot of really smart things. All of the actual rules are about two pages. Read those, and go. Everything else, all the gamery details, are backended. It's similar to how the SETTLERS rules are presented with the hard & fast upfront, the details after. Even really easy ideas like how the boulder works are completely explained with several examples- but it never looks too complicated or off-putting.

I've only briefly had contact with Justin DeWitt, who I am assuming is the boss man over at Fireside Games. If you read through their content, they're specifically trying to do accessible and well-packaged games expressly to speak to modern consumers. There's a lot of language there I really like in terms of connecting adults and families with modern games as a hobby, and it's put across in a way that avoids a lot of the awkward game evangelism that we see going on in some sectors. It feels welcoming and inviting- it's nowhere near the creepy 45-year old man telling pre-teen kids what the "right" games to play are.

I hope they're doing more, I think they could have be a successful company if they go about this the right way. I actually _like_ that they're not going either the full AT route or the Eurogames route and instead positioning themselves as publishers and sellers of "modern" board games that speak to the qualities of classic board games. That's smart stuff that everybody can relate to other than the hardcore gamers who don't want to have anything to do with games not shown at Essen or published by FFG.

I'd be inclined to say, though, that Fireside Games _is_ CASTLE PANIC right now. So it could be very much a make or break title for them. I hope that it finds the right audience and is successful, but if they can't get out of the hobby ghetto that may not happen. The game needs to be sold where people outside of the hobby can get to it.

Thinking about it, the game could actually be rethemed and retooled a little to be a PLANTS VERSUS ZOMBIES board game and with that license, it'd likely do very well.

This is the kind of game that I could see doing really well in a chain store (Wal-Mart, Target, Toys R' Us, etc.). Avalon Hill still gets some stuff in TRU, but the only things in the WM or TGT worth looking at are usually the classics, or rethemed versions of them.

I really, really like the fact that it is the kind of game that is aimed squarely at families. I could see playing this with my nephews or future kids -- and, the really important thing --- is that the kids could pick it up and play it on their own without adult supervision/participation/interference.

What's really key to me too is that it's aimed at kids and families but it's not saddled with some kind of dopey, sunshine and rainbows theme and isn't about some crap like "sharing" or walking dogs. It's a fantasy theme, and even though it's old hat to us it's a great introduction to something more creative and imaginative. The game doesn't play dumb, and it doesn't have that odor of "family entertainment" that is so off-putting.

Crap, I gotta go...UPS just dropped off RAILWAYS OF THE WORLD and RAILWAYS OF ENGLAND...

For the record my last sentence in the post above was intended to read --

"I have three boys, ages 9, 6 and 6. I think for me this purchase isn't an "if" question but a "when" question. I'll likely ask for it as a Christmas gift to myself so that they don't lose the slot on their lists. "

Target would be a solid choice for this title, but I think Borders Books would be a great spot to land. I bet that's tough though. Given their strike price I think they need to boutique up just a shade and for a nationwide chain the book stores would be the best fit. And -- small company. Selling at that level means a good-sized print run, marketing, etc. These folks (or maybe "this guy") may not be in that kind of position. I'll buy a copy because I'm aware of it, but getting it a broader exposure may be a trick for someone counting the pennies.

I'm picturing the guy in his jeans and t-shirt answering the front door. The cub scout says, "would you like to buy some popcorn?" and he replies, "Sure! Would you like to buy Castle Panic?" and holds out a copy.

Sag.

Bloody oath - my prescience spotted that quicker than a woolly jubba cloak.

Congrats Mike, best thing that will happen to you.

http://fortressat.com/index.php? option=com_kunena&Itemid=712&func=view&catid=17&id=42893&limit=10&limitstart=10# 42930 :P

Oh wow! Congrats Michael. I never thought I'd become a parent either but it is great. I love my boy like nothing else in the world. I think you'll be a great dad.
Warm regards,
David

Yep, Tom spotted my heavy-handed hint a while back in the 360 thread. Here's your no-prize, buddy!

I'll buy a copy because I'm aware of it, but getting it a broader exposure may be a trick for someone counting the pennies.

The best thing that could happen in this regard is if the game gets in one of those "great board games for christmas" articles that show up in various syndicated news sources. Believe it or not, those move games like a motherfucker.

Example. The Barrister stupidly (at the time) ordered a whole case of Face 2 Face Games (heh, remember them?) BUYWORD. It sat. It gathered dust. 12 copies. Christmas of '05, it turned up in one of those articles. I had three, four people a day who had never been in a game store in their lives come in asking for it. I had them all on the clearance table for five bucks. Well, at least until I got wise to what was going on. Then, I couldn't reorder more because the distributor was out of stock, meaning that the scenario was likely played out in other stores.

So Fireside Games, if you're listening, do what you can to get in one of those.

Congradulations Michael! You've got some time before you need to start tracking down that first game. Though, it will go by before you know it.

Thanks for the review too! This just went to the top of my to-get list for Christmas.

Lou Lou Lou, it's the beginning of a great adventure... Congrats, Michael.

The Mrs. and I like Pandemic quite a lot, and she in particular likes that for its cooperative nature, but she just can't handle anything beyond that in terms of complexity or length... Lord of the Rings, even, seems too involved for her to want to play, not to mention Ghost Stories, Arkham Horror, etc. But maybe Castle Panic would be light enough to work for her, and presumably for our girls when they're a little older... How would you compare Caslte Panic to Pandemic in terms of strategic planning and interaction among the players/roles (for which I think Pandemic scores highly on both counts).

Congrats on your 2010 tax deduction! Warning most babies look like a toothless version Mark E. Smith when they're first born. They get cuter and louder after a couple of days.

Congrats on the baby. At least it is a boy so you have more hope with AT. While my 2 girls humour me with AT titles (and do enjoy them) their first choice is always a 'My Little Pony' or 'The Littlest Pet Shop' board game.

This does sound intriguing to me and looks to be right up my alley in terms of games I can play with the family. I wonder if and when it hits Oz what the price will be.

Oh and I hate you Barnes. I have now had Whitney Houston stuck in my head for hours.

Congrats on your baby news Michael. With two young ones myself, reviews for children's games like this are always welcome. :)

Yet another Padawan Gamer to the ranks! Congratulations, Michael!

Holy Shit! Congrats to you and your wife Mike! All the best!

I have two girls, the eldest is two and the youngest is a month and change, and I keep telling my wife how I seriously hope that they'll wanna play some games with the old fart. This is a gamethat might work...

Word to the wise; if you have any baby nephews or nieces practice changing a diaper or two NOW. The faster you are the better-- things tend to go sideways in very quickly if you take to long.

I have the stained shirts to prove it.

Somehow I always imagined you all a bit younger...but good to see so many "gamer Dads"! Congrats on joining the club MB!! I have 3 of them 7, 4 and 4 and it really is "all that".

I imagine Haba will be on your radar soon enough as well ;)

Nice to hear the good news, Michael. All the best to you and your family.

'grats Barnes. Good luck man.

My wife has just started talking about kids. At this point, the glaze of panic hasn't quite entirely worked itself out of my eyes, but at least I've started stockpiling HABA games found at thrift stores [christ but those things are expensive new...]

Congrats Barnes!

Someday when you're playing a hot game of candyland with Barnes jr. you'll have to tell him/her it's rated 3.5 on TOS.

;)

Grats Barnes. Becoming a dad is wonderful and life changing experience. Just keep lots of diaper wipes on hand and you'll be ok.

-Will

Congrats Michael! The first year can be a little rough (our boy is now a year and 2 months) but the thrill of having a kid and watching him grow and communicating with him every day is second to none! Not sure if you'll get TI3 on the table for a little while, tho...
:)

I gotta say that my eight months old daughter is disappointingly bad at board games - even simple ones like nexus ops.

But its a perfect excuse to buy games - Lots of kids games look awesome. Took a quick peek at castle panic in my flgs, but wrote it off. Maybe I shouldn't have.

A related game, maybe, is fluch der mumie. It's simple yet challenging and looks great since it's played with magnets on an upright, double sided board

Crikey Tommy - that was pretty quick between the last two :D.

My 10 year old lad has lost interest in boardgames over the last 3 years as he was slowly ensnared by the xbox, Wii, and now xb360 ... but I get my revenge by yelling at him and his team-mates as they run around in the rain and the cold smashing into other kids playing rugby - I'll grind him back into boardgames mwahahaha.

The trick is to time it so that both Moms deliver on the same day.

Congratulations Michael. I imagine Ozjesting will agree that having them one at a time is the way to go. I wish you and your wife success, just not twins-level success.

Sag.

Shucks y'all, thanks for the outpouring of support...I figure if I make a major life announcement in every Cracked LCD from here on out it will distract you all from my more radical ideas and they will insinuate themselves in your brain on a more subconscious level.

Yeah, I'll probably be reviewing Haba games all next year it looks like...those dang things are ungoldy expensive. Some of them are actually really neat, I love the one where you use the magnetic paddle to move the ghost through the mansion...and the four-player co-op one where you build a castle with blocks picked up with a conjoined rubber band assembly.

Apparently you and Mr. Nicholson are in agreement, as he gave this game a top-notch review as well. http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/456115 if you want to see the details.

Sag.