Category: Random Reviews

GameCon Canada - Cool Finds (Part 2)

7/7/2023

To follow-up with my last post where I felt my little game geek girl heart ignite, I share with you now the game that unexpectedly lit up my teacher heart!

Pimohtewin, the Métis educational board game by Michif Media. This was described to me as a Monopoly meets Cataan game, intended to be accessible to families, and to immerse them in the history of Métis culture during the period of the settlement of the Red River area.

I was immediately impressed by the passion and dedication to the theme of their game, wanting showcase authentic representations. Every component in this display was made by them, from the 3D printed log cabin box to the hand-made pewter molds for their (hefty!) playing pieces. Every inch - nay, millimeter, of this game has been poured over with love and it shows!

I'll be honest, a Monopoly/Cataan hybrid probably wouldn't make it to the table for a regular game night at my house, but as a teacher, my little heart exploded and I probably took up at least 50 minutes of their time imagining how to honour this game and bring it to life in the classroom, beyond the classroom, to get a whole school involved and sharing the fun and learning.

Again, I haven't done a full playtest of this game, and therefore I cannot speak to the completeness of the mechanics and game play, but it is one of those games that's just so damn beautiful, and the conversations that could (and should!) emerge from unpacking each component would be so worthwhile!

I love what this is, and what it represents. Monopoly/Cataan is a great gateway, and I can't wait to see how this could evolve for Michif Media. My game geek girl heart is exploding with all of the future possibilities of them (and other under-represented nations) taking this rich content into more intense gaming realms - could you imagine a My Father's Work flush with real history and lore?!?!?

I wish nothing but the best to this group of designers who clearly had a vision and compromised none of it. My game designer heart is in awe of their ambition and dedication, and my teacher heart overflows with imagining how many lives this could touch, not just to bring friends and families together around a game table, but to heal some ties and fill-in some blanks, and above all, inspire so many to see the Past, Present, and Future that is written in their own voice.

Having taught some students who have been disconnected from their culture, or were reluctant to share it, I can't wait to see this generation use something like this to springboard a whole life's worth of ambition; because this game is so much more than how it plays, how it looks, or even the bits of facts embedded into it; this game is a triumph, it is what pride and passion can build, and THAT means EVERYTHING!

For more information, please visit michifmedia.com and find out how you can support the up-coming Kickstarter for this unique resource!

1 Comment

GameCon Canada - Cool Finds (Part 1)

6/29/2023

1 Comment

This last weekend we set up at the first ever GameCon Canada inaugural event. Unsure of what to expect at a convention that would cater to both the video game audience and the table top gamers, it was an adventure for exhibiters and attendees alike!

I was pleasantly surprised at the flow and ease of this convention, the helpful staff, the friendly table neighbours, and the depth of the conversation had with everyone who stopped by our table, as well as the tables we were able to venture out to visit.

The whole family came, and we left with some great souvenirs, fun memories, and some new friends!

What I love most about being able to get out to the convention is the rekindling of inspiration. Being a room filled with creative, fun-loving people, re-visiting my own creative projects and remembering why I loved them in the first place, and meeting with people who make you want to make your next piece even better than the last (and RIGHT NOW!!!). As a full-time mom who came from full-time teaching, that spark can feel so lost under the weight of everything else that needs to get done TODAY, and while convention days are long and busy, they are also a chance to spend some time with that part of myself that I'm pleasantly surprised to find isn't lost at all.

So it might just be a little party sparkler right now, waiting to ignite into something greater, but for this post I'd like to raise my little sparkler to a couple of up-coming board games and their design teams for daring to pour their heart into something new.

Unscrewed by Mean Hyena Games

90's Cartoon Throwdown Mayhem (in a Box)

When I first walked by this booth, my eye immediately fell to the crude and absurd (but in a good way!) cartoon standees. The box only confirmed my impression, and designer Chris Cooke was more than happy to walk me through this up-and-coming game.

I'll be honest, this game does not speak to my personal aesthetic, however, I happen to have married a board game geek who enjoyed the 90's classics far more than I did (it helps that he's also a little bit older than I am and probably remembers it better than I do anyway).

I instantly saw images that made me think of Ren & Stimpy and Rocco's Modern Life, cartoons that hubs and I reminisced about recently as our sons discovered Spongebob Squarepants for the first time just a couple of weeks ago. Hubs remembers these shows with great fondness. I myself have vague recollections at best, and yet somehow have the Log Song firmly planted in my brain -- ironically enough hubs did not remember the Log Song at all!

It was of no shock to me when Chris Cooke mentioned those shows specifically as inspiration for his game design, that with a little Warner Bros Roadrunner and Wiley Coyote action of using anything and everything ACME has to offer for offing the guy next to you, which is exactly what this game is going to immerse you into. You aren't just a grotesque 90's cartoon reject, you are the BEST grotesque 90's cartoon reject, and By Golly, when there's only room on the time slot for one of y'all, well, thank goodness you're just a cartoon or this would RRREEEAAAALLLY hurt!

Each player begins on a small grid board. A variety of boards are available for playing with, each with it's own unique assortment of mayhem-inducing obstacles and strategic(ish) game-changers. I say strategic(ish) because the mayhem will most likely override any well-laid plans you've made. Pictured here are Oil Slicks to send your opponent shooting off, "X" of where the over-sized Anvils are going to drop (as soon as a target is in place, of course!), and some portals which could either save you or push you off to somewhere you do NOT want to be.

Each player is given a unique attack power, so not only are you "goin' huntin' fur wabbit" with your own strength, but are going to use the terrain to knock or squash every opponent in your way. Yes, this is Last Man Standing, but it's even more chaotic than that!

These frames descend between rounds to shrink the size of the playing board. If you've pushed an opponent to the outer edge of the board, they will automatically be killed as the new frame descends upon them! Now as you continue to play, you can push your opponents into the new ring of hazard, which will only grow into new rings of hazards as you continue to play new rounds. If you've survived this long, it's a bloody miracle (and yes, I mean BLOODY, as you can slip on the blood splatter of your fallen foes!). BUT IT GETS EVEN MORE CHAOTIC THAN THAT!!!

Each player pre-plans 3 turn movements. You get 2 Direction cards and 1 Improvise card which gives you a one-time action. You get to choose which of your 3 cards you are going to use over your 3 turns, but they have to be decided BEFORE the round begins, and every player places their choices FACEDOWN so you have NO IDEA where your character is going to be on the board and what they will be up against once other players have done their turn. You just have to cross your fingers and hope that the cards you picked will still work in your favour when your next turn comes around, though you have have inadvertently just thrown yourself into peril or certain death!

This is NOT the game to play if you are a Type A Strategist who has to win. Prepare to lose, and lose in the stupidest way imaginable. This is a game for people who want to laugh at themselves and make memories with friends who can embody the ridiculousness of the game in front of them.

Is this a game I would be drawn to if I were single and just playing with my current collection of girlfriends? No, probably not. But did I jump excitedly and run back to my hubs about this game because I know HE would love it? Absolutely! And I am adding this game to our "must-have" list because I can already picture it on our table, me cynically trying my darndest to pulverize my husband all of his friends, while probably sliding uncontrollably into a lava pit with no time to relish in my victories.

We have such fond memories of playing chaos games like Dragon & Flagon, where you stumble around sometimes one turn too late to punch someone who isn't there anymore, only to get hit by a flying chair you didn't see coming.

Quick rounds mean that player elimination doesn't make for dead space, it makes for a couple of minutes to watch your so-called friends meet their inevitable demise (VENDETTA! VENDETTA!) and then everyone has a good laugh before pouring another round and playing the next game.

I wasn't able to sit down and play a full game at this event, but Chris Cooke humored me into walking through as much of a game as he could while still needing to answer questions of other passers-by.

Unscrewed is a game for 3-5 players, plays for around 30 minutes (or less!) and is waiting anxiously to launch on Kickstarter! For more details (and probably far more accurate details) check out their official website: https://www.meanhyenagames.com/ or any of their socials for MeanHyenaGames. And while I cannot yet give a detailed review of gameplay, I'm confident enough to declare that this game is "BETTER THAN BAD, IT'S GOOD!"

1 Comment

My Look at "The Adventures of Tennessee James"

8/9/2021

0 Comments

I did a thing, in a car, because that's the only place I have privacy where I'd want to set up a camera...

So here is my preview/overview for Variable Outcomes' new Kickstarter: The Adventures of Tennessee James.

I didn't design this one, but I have been watching the game grow and change over the past year, so I do feel part of it as it's getting ready to enter the world all on its own.

For the record, I only caught my kids running around outside unsupervised twice in the filming of this video.

They had a father around somewhere, I think...

0 Comments

Tea Quest: Just Peachy (with Lemonade)

6/9/2019

0 Comments

The Tea Quest is a bit unnecessary now. I have converted well enough to have a constant stock of at least 4 different kinds of tea. Nonetheless, I went back to David's for a Cold 911 refill, and couldn't pass up a refreshing icy blend!

Thus I present to you: Just Peachy

I had mine as a Lemonade blend, and OMG was I a happy girl. Walked out with a nice tall icy glass for my enjoyment. I am on a lemonade kick right now anyway, so it's like someone tossed in a fuzzy peach for a sweet little peachy buzz. Didn't buy the tea itself, but I am tempted. Someone gift me an iced tea pitcher and I will have a very peachy summer!

For someone who doesn't like tea, I am finding a wide variety of very ME teas!

Verdict: THIS IS SUMMER!

0 Comments

Tea Quest: Organic Cinnamon Roobios Chai

12/30/2018

0 Comments

Most of this tea quest I have had the issue of finding most teas very washed-out in terms of flavour. This was not the case with the Cinnamon Roobios Chai. Strong cinnamon smell and equal in taste, but it mixed with another super sweetened flavour that threw a punch. This was a tea I couldn't finish because it was too much flavour.

Verdict: I will stick to putting cinnamon in my hot chocolate, not my tea.

0 Comments

Tea Quest: Sleigh Ride

12/21/2018

0 Comments

I can't believe it. It finally happened. I found my tea!

By total random-happenstance at a Christmas party, I picked up the secret gift-exchange box that contained this packet of tea, tried it, and, for the first time in my life, can finally say that I found a tea that is my warm hug on a cold day.

Once again, this is a tea that doesn't actually contain any real tea, which is probably why I like it. It's filled with fruit and nuts and cinnamon. It smells wonderful and tastes like happy.

Sleigh Ride

Verdict: I need to order the big tin, and they sure as hell better not discontinue this after the holidays!

0 Comments

Universal Yums: November Box

12/14/2018

0 Comments

This month we took a food tour around the Netherlands. I must admit that this is a country that I have not often considered menu-wise. I'm so ignorant that when the clue in the previous box mentioned "known for cheese" that was more trivia for me than a clue.

Let's explore the box:

Click through the pictures below for treat-by-treat commentary

The Ballot:

I'll be honest, there wasn't a leaping OMG snack for me in this box, but there were a few delightful novelties that I wouldn't say no to.

Our Netherlands care-package could include:
-Jan Hagel the "ugly" cookie
- Orange Pastills
-Paprika chips
-Milk toffee
-Cadillac wine gums

0 Comments

An Early Look At "Witchful Thinking"

10/14/2018

0 Comments

In the last newsletter I dedicated October to family. Part of that was giving my husband a shoutout space for his Kickstarter table-top game "Witchful Thinking". While it is his creative brain-child, I have been on this journey with him and have seen this game evolve from a very simple concept to a competitive eye-catching game that stays true to the initial inspiration: to make mental math fun.

While I believed in the game from the first prototype placed on my dining room table, I am astounded by the life that this game has been given thanks greatly to the fantastic art created by Jackson Gee. I am eagerly waiting for the latest prototype to arrive this up-coming week so that I can see these beautifully wicked card designs for myself.

In light of the new prototype on the horizon, I thought that I would revisit the very first version of this card game. So please join me as we look at the original game and compare it to what's in store for Kickstarter backers.

The Box

You have to give the original box some credit, for the Paint program, it's pretty darn nifty. At least it's better than anything I could have designed with those little pixels.

Of course, when you look at the teaser picture from Jackson Gee, there is no comparison. Nonetheless, the theme is clear from both. A witchy game for witchy witches.

The Cards - Ingredients

The cards from the original game were very straight-forward. As you can see, there is no artwork just a title and a number value. The Ingredient cards are purple, they are cards that range in value from +5 to -5, as well as Action cards that can change up how a player uses their turn. These Ingredient cards make up the hands of each player, and these are the cards that will be played into the "Cauldron" (a 4 card slot in the middle of your gaming area).

For reasons beyond my knowledge, the Ingredient cards in the Kickstarter have the Green backing... and yes, you will see below that the other deck now has the Purple backing. Why are they switched? I have no idea. Does it matter? Not in the least because your game is epically more awesome to even bother thinking about this MS Paint print-and-play version I have!

The Cards - Potions

The green cards in the early prototype represent the Potion Cards. One of these is played each game, determining the value that players are aiming to achieve. Upon reaching the exact value of the Potion Card, the player who played the final ingredient card to equal the potion value wins the Potion Card. After this, a new Potion Card may be selected for a new game. How many Potion Cards are played is up to the group of players. You can choose to play to a certain number of points (ie. First player to 3 points), or you can play a pre-selected number of Potions (ie. the first 10 Potion Cards), you could choose to play based on a set time (ie. The player with the most won Potion Cards within twenty minutes), or make an epic game of going through the entire Potion deck.

Once again, these cards appear very simplistically in this early draft. Your game will look much more impressive with the awesome illustrations.

And, once again, I don't know why the colours are reversed, but, once again, it doesn't really matter!

Game Setup

Even with the new elements introduced in the Kickstarter version of this game, setting up the game table is pretty straight-forward. Select a Potion for the group of players to play with, and then set room for four cards within reach of all players. The four cards will be the "Cauldron", or in other words, the "Cauldron" will be the four number sequence to create the formula for the Potion value.

Last I played, players put five Ingredient cards into their hand, and then the group determines a play order. First player plays a card from their hand and then may discard and re-draw their hand. Turn order continues until an Action card (or in the new game, an Ability) determines otherwise. Your rulebook will be much more comprehensive than this one:

Extras - Number Line

Even in its earliest conception, "Witchful Thinking" has always been about brining young children to the game table. Even those kids who are just learning about their take-aways need to be able to play independently without being pushed aside as a spectator on a "team". To help those youngsters (and, let's face it, some of us who are a little slow to the draw when it comes to numbers), Matthew included a number line that could be used as reference. Not only does this help to speed up the gameplay for everyone else, but it can help a player strategize on their own privately, especially in the Kickstarter edition where there will be an available number line for each player; even better is that it is cleverly designed as a Spellbook so novice witches don't have to feel self-conscious about practicing their craft!

Extras - Game Changers

I really don't know what to call these. I know that they are listed as "Addition and Subtraction Cards" but that isn't a funky title. These are new to the game concept, and, as far as my knowledge is, they are used to complicate the formula in the Cauldron. You can play one of these cards to adjust how your number sequence goes. Replace a number in the cauldron with one of these cards and suddenly you have a brand new formula. Minus-ing a negative number? Well, now you've got a positive! *Note, I have not played with this feature yet, so I might be corrected on this!*

Extras - Characters

Probably the most impressive part of this game is a feature that did not come about until at least 3 game designs later... Character cards. Because this game was always about learning the fundamentals first, the idea of adding extra challenging strategy lingered in the air for many years. The only way to ensure an inclusive game was to design it to be customizable for each group of players. Therefore the Characters cards, while entirely genius, are completely optional. Got a player who isn't a strong reader or who is still working on understanding the basic gameplay? Don't worry about the cards with added text! You can take out the Action cards. You can take out the negative numbers (but if doing so make sure you only play with Potions of value +4 and up!), and as for Characters, skip 'em, or at least skip the Abilities and just let your little witches choose the picture they like best! This game is meant to evolve with you as you get better at your math skills and need a more competitive edge. Really want to shake things up? Choose a different witch per game at random! Not only will you get a different game experience, but you will have to re-train your brain on how to strategize from game to game (remember that you will probably be playing multiple games during each sitting since each game uses only one Potion card.)

While Matthew is the brain behind the witch characters and their abilities, Jackson Gee gets all of the credit for making them so lively! Honestly, I would read the graphic novel about these wickedly wonderful witches (maybe I should convince my husband to let me write that!).

And if you need some extra incentive to look at becoming a backer on Kickstarter, I may or may not have had a hand in designing a very special, slightly secret exclusive character card... (the only hint I can give you is: it may not be a witch!).

There are 16 unique Characters in each standard game box, each being double-sided with 2 Ability choices to choose from. So if you haven't been won over by the game yet, honestly, these characters are worth it just in art!

How To Play

As I mentioned above, there are many ways to play this game. In my first cringe-worthy video, I will walk you through how to play the very basic early version of this game. The game materials may change, but the game itself is still the same!

0 Comments

GameCon Canada - Cool Finds (Part 2)

GameCon Canada - Cool Finds (Part 1)

Unscrewed by Mean Hyena Games

90's Cartoon Throwdown Mayhem (in a Box)

My Look at "The Adventures of Tennessee James"

Tea Quest: Just Peachy (with Lemonade)

Tea Quest: Organic Cinnamon Roobios Chai

Tea Quest: Sleigh Ride

Universal Yums: November Box

The Ballot:

An Early Look At "Witchful Thinking"

The Box

The Cards - Ingredients

The Cards - Potions

Game Setup

Extras - Number Line

Extras - Game Changers

Extras - Characters

How To Play

Author

Categories

Archives

Unscrewed by Mean Hyena Games ​90's Cartoon Throwdown Mayhem (in a Box)

The Ballot:

The Box

The Cards - Ingredients

The Cards - Potions

Game Setup

Extras - Number Line

Extras - Game Changers

​Extras - Characters

How To Play

Author

Categories

Archives

Unscrewed by Mean Hyena Games

90's Cartoon Throwdown Mayhem (in a Box)

Extras - Characters