Among the best things in life is playing printed games in person with family and close friends. When those are not convenient we like iOS Board Games.
News, reviews, previews, and opinions about board gaming on iPhones, iPads, iPods and even Android devices. (iPhone board games, iPad board games, iPod board games, Android board games)
• StoryLines Released • Rio Grande Announces Dominion and RFTG Coming • Fact or Crap Released • Disney App Mates Released • Apple Wants to Talk iPhone • Boardgaming-Online.com Improves Through the Ages Interface for iOS • Move It, Soldier Released • Loot 'N Scoot Info Update from Victory Point Games • Horse Fever Released
• StoryLines Released - September 24 BGG user mister lunch notified us this past week that a friend of his, who apparently goes by the developer name of Root-One, has released StoryLines. The app is an implementation of Eat Poop You Cat, but as mister lunch points out, without the gross name. Personally, I think the name "Eat Poop You Cat" inspires hilarity rather than disgust. And perhaps with less mess than the paper version, that's exactly what this app does.
For those who have never played, and admittedly I'm one (though I've sat right next to a game), the object is not really to win, but to come up with funny sentences, funnier pictures, and even more funny sentences. The first person writes a sentence. The next person draws it. A third person writes a sentence based on the drawing. A fourth person draws that sentence, and so on until every has participated. The result is a storyline of alternating sentences and pictures. Hilarity ensues as each sentence and picture is revealed at the end.
One very cool feature of StoryLines is that it is integrated with FaceBook. You can also play it onto FaceBook with just a web browser by visiting http://play.storylinesapp.com/ . So basically anybody with access to the Web can play. This feature counts as having asynchronous multiplayer in my book.
So if you don't have an iPad, you can still play...and for free. But if you do have an iPad, it's still free! Woo hoo! So go get it!
• Rio Grande Announces Dominion and RFTG Coming - September 25 We do not often hear much from the man himself, which would be Jay Tummelson, pretty much a godfather of euro-board gaming in the United States, and the man behind the phenomenally successful Rio Grand Games. In recent years, that success has really been amplified by two titles (and their numerous expansions) in particular: Race for the Galaxy and Dominion.
We've heard many rumors in the past year about Dominion and a little about Race for the Galaxy. Now, finally after what feels like a rather long time, we get to hear from the man himself.
In his latest news update from the Riograndgames.com site we got the news of digitalization of two of the most beloved games in BoardGameGeekdom:
Rio Grand Games wrote:
We have also licensed Dominion’s digital rights and we expect it will be available in various forms by the end of the year. Race for the Galaxy will also appear in digital form in early 2012.
That's what we get. Not many specifics, but of course we'll take it. We followed up with Jay on this announcement in hopes of something more specific such as specific platforms, developers, prices, and dates. But alas, we only learned that as RGG gets close to implementation, they will make the appropriate announcements.
So there you have it. Dominion, the grand daddy of deck building games, will be available in various forms THIS YEAR! And Race for the Galaxy in digital form in early 2012.
We know that both of these games are currently available in some digital guise now, but we are choosing to interpret this information as new(s), something different than what's come before. The speculation here on BGG and specifically in the comments to the September 26 Post in BGG News, is that these will be iOS implementations. We'll continue to follow it and hope to have more specific information as it unfolds.
• Fact or Crap Released - September 26 One of my favorite device hardware accessory makers, Griffin Technology has released an iOS app of Fact or Crap. I'm a little conflicted because in my mind Griffin is a quality company that makes quality products. Unfortunately, Fact or Crap's got a pretty low reputation for quality here on BGG. Still, that doesn't mean everybody hates it nor that the app implementation is bad. The fact that you can readily find the print version on the shelves of your local Wal-Mart or Target means somebody likes it. I have no doubt Griffin will make money on this.
So, if true/false trivia is your thing and you are interested in dropping a $1.99 (hey, it's cheaper than the print version!) on this department store classic for iOS Universal, you should check it out.
• Disney App Mates Released - September 27 Ok, it's not based on a board game. Skip to the next entry now if that bothers you.
Dale Yu first pointed this one out to us this week, but then we saw it everywhere. Disney has released the first in it's new AppMATes line of products for the iOS platform. The first release is Cars 2 AppMATes.
So why should you care? Well, because this app basically turns an iPad into a virtual play mat when combined with their AppMATes toys that work safely and seamlessly with iPads. We think that may have implications for other such activities that require using a physical objects (like playing pieces) on a horizontal surface. Are the lights and bells going off yet?
So with the AppMATes app, a player simply places an AppMATes toy on the iPad and the integrated sensors automatically detect each character (a car from Cars 2 in this case). Each on screen character reacts to the physical toys in unique ways. So you drive around, race, and collect hubcaps to acquire gadgets and upgrade your virtual car.
Let's not say anymore and just post this video of what we think may have implications or ideas for using physical pieces with a board game app. (Dr. K, we're looking at you!)
Note: The app itself is free, but apparently only currently works on iPad 2. It is playable without the AppMATes toy using what the app calls a "paper lighting" which allows you to use the main Lightning character car in a strange "paper" metaphor. Whatever...you don't need the toy to test out the app.
• Apple Wants to Talk iPhone - September 27 This week Apple started sending out invites to a press conference it will be holding on October 4. Check out the icons to the right for a not-so-subtle message.
The expectation is that Apple will introduce its iPhone 5. That's all well and good, but I think what all of us iOS board gamers really want to hear about is iOS 5 and specifically Game Center. We know that iOS 5 beta has been in developer's hands pretty much all Summer and should be packed with all kinds of goodies. We like what pcworld.com has to say about the iOS 5 release:
pcworld.com wrote:
If Apple sticks to previous OS release schedules, then iOS 5 should be available a few days ahead of the next iPhone, in order to avoid Apple’s servers melting down. Apple Insider reports Apple has blacked out employee vacations October 9 through to 12 too, which indicates the possible arrival date of iOS 5 to current iPhone 3GS and 4 owners, as well as iPad owners and the 2009 and 2010 models of iPod Touch.
• Boardgaming-Online.com Improves Through the Ages Interface for iOS - September 28 BGG user Yojimbo252 pointed out in a thread this week that Boardgaming Online has made improvements to their interface to better support iOS users playing its browser-based implementation of Vlaada Chvátil's Through the Ages: A Story of Civilization. So if you don't feel like waiting for Codito's release of TTA, you may be able to get your fix now. We expect, however, that neither will be a replacement for the other as a free web browser game and an iOS board game you get from the AppStore are two very different market propositions. We look forward to enjoying each in different ways.
• Move It, Soldier Released - September 28 We're glad to say that David Janik-Jones's app, Move It, Soldier! is finally available on the App Store for iPad. The app is a born-digital World War II-themed game where you assume the role of a British or American infantryman attempting to fight, move forward, reach the objective and survive in random battlefields in the Normandy countryside in the summer and fall of 1944. The game supports 2-4 players in pass n' play. It is priced at $1.99
Each time a game starts a random Normandy battlefield is created along with a deck of 13 order cards and perhaps a sprinkling of random event cards depending on the difficulty level selected. On a player's turn he draws cards and decides how to balance risk by either accepting more orders and rushing forward or taking less risk and moving more cautiously.
Players must weigh the card draw against the battlefield they occupy to determine whether it's best to move out quickly or push their luck and face the chance of being pinned down by enemy fire for a turn, or worse - taking hits that cause retreat.
David points out that there's much more to come for his app:
David Janik-Jones wrote:
Note ... this is a v1.0 release. There's a lot of changes planned for v1.1 that will enhance the game tremendously and promises to keep us posted:
- enemy wire, strongpoints, minefields, entrenchments and armour - new terrain types - a new preferences panel to allow greater user customization - and a whole re-write of the main game logic to make it faster, smoother and extendable to v1.2 (East Front and later theatres)
• Loot 'N Scoot Info Update from Victory Point Games - September 28 Quick! Which board game publisher is having the most fun implementing their games to iOS and other mobile platform versions? Well, if you judge by promotional videos and blog posts, I'd say Victory Point Games is. Back in July we told you about Victory Point Games ambitious plans and whole outlook shift to support iOS board game apps of their games.
Victory Point Games has since posted a number of updates (which I am sorry that we did not repeat here) such as:
July 17 - Where VPG discusses progress and talks about their game engine, Hephaestus, which will hopefully allow their devlopers a "toolset" to rapidly create and release iOS board games from VPG.
August 14 - Where VPG discusses the "teething" of releasing their first iOS app, their pricing model, their policy on expansions (none!), and more on the VPG App Store.
September 11 - Where VPG reaffirms its infrastructure investment in order to bear an agressive release schedule of mobile games once everything is up and running.
And now without further ado, we have their video showing us what Loot 'N Scoot is about:
If nothing else, this is one company to watch if only because they put out so much info to watch. We're certainly looking forward to Loot 'N Scoot and more on both iOS and Android.
• Horse Fever Released - September 30 Back in May we posted that Horse Fever by Cranio Creations would be coming soon. Well, it's finally here! It's for iPad and it's priced at $7.99.
The Italian publisher Cranio Creations' app is an implementation, by the Italian developer E-voluzione, of their corruption-horse racing themed game, Horse Fever set in the 1930s. We also reported in May that Cranio would release a second edition of its initial 2009 print release Horse Fever this Summer. We believe it's available in pre-order at some online retailers.
As for the app release, strangely there is no app description of the game in the App Store at launch. This will make it challenging for people to undertand anything about the app and we have yet to get our hands on it. So we post to tell you that its out and available. Any reactions you can add in the comments would be appreciated.
• LATE NOTE: As mentioned below, Imperial has been just released for iPad at the better-be-good launch price of $9.99!
• LATER NOTE: The Imperial app was apparently released by mistake and is not the version the developer intended to launch with. He says the app's current version is "broken", but that there will be an update shortly (two weeks in the worst case). You can read more on the developer's post.
Is it or isn't it. What is a boardgame in 2011, or 2015? I worry that the brains behind BGG really don't get where games are headed, and the BGG is finally facing the change it can't manage (which is how endeavors come to an end).
Looks like a copy of imperial just came out. Based on the review though not sure if it's quite there yet. And horse fever supposedly is only in Italian. Normally, I jump right in when it comes to iPad games, but I'm going to hold off till I read a few more reviews or an update.
1. Is the Imperial game named "Imperial" or does it have a different name?
2. I guess I was thinking "Move It Soldier" was going to have a solo option. I don't do much pass and play with my iPad because I'd rather just play a real game if I'm with a buddy.
Move it, Soldier! is broken. Once in the gameplay screen there is no way back to the man menu, and additionally it will lock up at game end in a two player game, and at random intervals in a 3 or 4 player game. The only solution is to kill the process. Not good.
Also, for $2 I'm disappointed (yes, I know expectation will lead to disappointment) there is no screen flip, naming of players, any sort of single or multiplayer, stat tracking or Game Center.
Seems like a rushed release at best, and overall a big let down and definitely not recommended.
Is it or isn't it. What is a boardgame in 2011, or 2015? I worry that the brains behind BGG really don't get where games are headed, and the BGG is finally facing the change it can't manage (which is how endeavors come to an end).
Sorry to make you worry. What I should have said is "Ok, it's not based on a board game."
Thank you for your rigorous catch of that slip. Though much of what we cover is based on or could be ported to a print board or card game, these are all video games, let us not forget that.
The developer of the Dominion app had posted in the forums a few months ago, but got ridiculed when he announced it was the original artwork and looks like he deleted his posts. I'm beta testing the app, so it's real and from the looks of it, should be released on time. Not sure I can say anything else, but I like it and plan to buy it.
Thank you for your rigorous catch of that slip. Though much of what we cover is based on or could be ported to a print board or card game, these are all video games, let us not forget that.
Actually, I'd argue that Disney AppMates is a boardgame, as what the app essentially does is play a game with physical pieces using the iPad 2 as the board.
1. Is the Imperial game named "Imperial" or does it have a different name?
Imperial. If it makes you feel better, though, I couldn't find it, searching for "Imperial" either. Weird.
Sometimes it takes them a couple of days for the new apps to be found using the search bar. It was the same when ghost stories came out, only way I could find it was browsing through the new releases.
Is it or isn't it. What is a boardgame in 2011, or 2015? I worry that the brains behind BGG really don't get where games are headed, and the BGG is finally facing the change it can't manage (which is how endeavors come to an end).
Sorry to make you worry.
I'm not worried. But anyone with a stake in BGG should be. We've seen this sort of thing before in the book, music, and video business: people who are incapable of seeing beyond the present even when all the signs are there. BGG can't really, seriously, claim to be about boardgames without addressing the blurring line between boardgames made from paper, and those that use other technologies, notably tablets, but also, over the next several years, projection. If it insists on sticking with the rigid outdated view that paper is a requirement, then it will find itself irrelevant, especially to a generation of gamers who have no trouble seeing that Carcassonne is Carcassonne, whether it's played with paper tiles or on an iPad. "Blindspot" indeed.
Man, with all these great games coming to iOS I think my time is coming. Once I've got Summoner Wars, Dominion, Tigris & Euphrates, Through the Ages, RFtG and Agricola, I think I'll just burn my house down and go live in the woods.
My name is Brad and I am one of the guys behind this blog.
I agree with you on many points, but I also see that most people here are responding by arguing semantics with you. I personally couldn't care less about what they are called, the simple fact is that more and more people are seeking board game experiences in digital forms (especially on tablets). They are being able to mimic the experience and provide exposure to wider audience.
I agree with you that the industry needs to get its act together (and see what happened to books, music, movies, and video games (like you mentioned). I actually wrote about it on this blog here: http://boardgamegeek.com/blogcategory/111. After speaking to dozens of US companies at Gen Con, I really feel like the industry is starting to get on top of things but they still have a long road to go.
I see that your current complaint is about BGG changing the way they catalog these types of games, and I agree, they should be somehow listed on the board games BGG page. Though I feel like this really is less important than the industry and companies getting their acts together, I will still try to offer my thoughts. 1. I agree BGG can make a change similar to what you suggest, no matter what you call these versions of the board game, they should be linked together, that does not hurt anyone ( I have no authority to make this change or promise it, but I do agree with you). 2. It is no secret that BGG is in the middle of a massive redesign, and so I think changes such as this are just outside of the current man power. Hopefully once the redesign is out of the way, we can see more of these features added. 3. BGG has taken steps to give these iOS versions their rightful place. For example, they have taken our blog (which we started independently) and made it an official part of BGG, right up their with board game news. They have been willing to help us in anyway to promote and discuss these games. I really think that shows that they are thinking in this direction, they just need time to make every change. 4. Now, it will take time to change the minds of the site user base at large, and that is really outside of the BGGs power. It is up to users like us to drive the discussion, and things like your thread help that. 5. If you want, it would be cool if you direct your comments at the industry, that is where some real change can be made. Many companies are on board but their are still others that are not thinking about iOS.
I hope this shows you that we are thinking this way, and we are constantly talking about the industry moving the digital direction.
1. Is the Imperial game named "Imperial" or does it have a different name?
Imperial. If it makes you feel better, though, I couldn't find it, searching for "Imperial" either. Weird.
I always check by release date and happened upon Imperial. Prior to that I had no idea it was even in development. Currently there is only one review and the reviewer gives it 1 star. I also wasn't 100% it was the Imperial board game, or simply an iPhone game called imperial. But the graphics looked an awful lot like the graphics from the board game.
Supposedly no instructions, and no AI yet, so it might be a try before buy, if that's even possible. Or a gamble purchase.
I hope this shows you that we are thinking this way, and we are constantly talking about the industry moving the digital direction.
Indeed it does, and eloquently!
thequietpunk wrote:
I agree BGG can make a change similar to what you suggest, no matter what you call these versions of the board game, they should be linked together, that does not hurt anyone ( I have no authority to make this change or promise it, but I do agree with you).
That's good to hear. And it's really all I'm suggesting. I forget sometimes that the vocal few who argue semantics or preach ex rectum about the implementation cost-benefit tradeoffs of database modifications are not representatives of BBG.
thequietpunk wrote:
It is no secret that BGG is in the middle of a massive redesign, and so I think changes such as this are just outside of the current man power. Hopefully once the redesign is out of the way, we can see more of these features added.
Absolutely. It's remarkable how many people seem to think I said "immediately" or "tomorrow" somewhere in my posts.
I am perfectly content with Keldon's RftG game. Yes, I do realize it is only on the PC, but I could care less since I don't own a iPhone (I have a iPod but don't game on it).
Now, if it came out for Android...that would be a different...
Man, with all these great games coming to iOS I think my time is coming. Once I've got Summoner Wars, Dominion, Tigris & Euphrates, Through the Ages, RFtG and Agricola, I think I'll just burn my house down and go live in the woods.
...where you'll be stuck with no internet access and therefore only poor imitations of humans via AI (and no means of ever updating the software even).
Man, with all these great games coming to iOS I think my time is coming. Once I've got Summoner Wars, Dominion, Tigris & Euphrates, Through the Ages, RFtG and Agricola, I think I'll just burn my house down and go live in the woods.
...where you'll be stuck with no internet access and therefore only poor imitations of humans via AI (and no means of ever updating the software even).
WiFi is becoming so ubiquitous that there are some squirrels right now that have evolved with 802.11b, trick is keeping them still though.
Man, with all these great games coming to iOS I think my time is coming. Once I've got Summoner Wars, Dominion, Tigris & Euphrates, Through the Ages, RFtG and Agricola, I think I'll just burn my house down and go live in the woods.
...where you'll be stuck with no internet access and therefore only poor imitations of humans via AI (and no means of ever updating the software even).
Uh. Hello? I was going to play them in hotseat mode with my best friend who happens to be a bear, okay? We've been playing board games since he showed up in my backyard rooting through my garbage in the late 90s and I taught him how to play Settlers of Catan. These days he's kind of a snoot, though. He's big into Eurogames and refuses to play deckbuilders. Whenever I mention anything by FFG he says "grrr blrrrg raaawr" which isn't cool at all. If you don't speak bear, just trust me, it's nasty and just a little racist.
Uh. Hello? I was going to play them in hotseat mode with my best friend who happens to be a bear, okay? We've been playing board games since he showed up in my backyard rooting through my garbage in the late 90s and I taught him how to play Settlers of Catan. These days he's kind of a snoot, though. He's big into Eurogames and refuses to play deckbuilders. Whenever I mention anything by FFG he says "grrr blrrrg raaawr" which isn't cool at all. If you don't speak bear, just trust me, it's nasty and just a little racist.
Well, now we know what the bear for "Puerto Rico" is.
WiFi is becoming so ubiquitous that there are some squirrels right now that have evolved with 802.11b, trick is keeping them still though.
Thanks for the laugh! This totally cracked my up at my desk and brightened my day a good bit. For the rest of today I will be imagining the wifi in my sketchy school network is actually coming from the squirrels in the trees outside.
It actually explains a good deal of my connection problems.
So am I correct that it is only speculation that RFTG and Dominion are going to be release for iOS?
Maybe you should change the name of this blog from "Mobile iOS News Bits" to "Digital News Bits." Seriously, you run the risk of misleading a lot of people because there is absolutely no reason to speculate--based on the thin shred of evidence you cite--that either of these games will be an iOS release.
What you ought to be doing instead of posting rumors as news is either dig deeper and get more sources, or refrain from reposting the pure speculation of internet commenters as news.
I would really really really love if both of these games came to iOS, but from what I can see there is no evidence for that.
So am I correct that it is only speculation that RFTG and Dominion are going to be release for iOS?
Maybe you should change the name of this blog from "Mobile iOS News Bits" to "Digital News Bits." Seriously, you run the risk of misleading a lot of people because there is absolutely no reason to speculate--based on the thin shred of evidence you cite--that either of these games will be an iOS release.
What you ought to be doing instead of posting rumors as news is either dig deeper and get more sources, or refrain from reposting the pure speculation of internet commenters as news.
I would really really really love if both of these games came to iOS, but from what I can see there is no evidence for that.
Seriously? We are a blog, not CNN. Blogs post rumors all the time. For example, tech blogs all over the web have been posting rumors about iphone 5 for months.
This is the news post in which Jay mentions the digital development. Again, as Gabe stated, we are hoping this means ios, but it is not guarantee. We are just making an educated guess based on our understanding of the industry.
So am I correct that it is only speculation that RFTG and Dominion are going to be release for iOS?
Maybe you should change the name of this blog from "Mobile iOS News Bits" to "Digital News Bits." Seriously, you run the risk of misleading a lot of people because there is absolutely no reason to speculate--based on the thin shred of evidence you cite--that either of these games will be an iOS release.
What you ought to be doing instead of posting rumors as news is either dig deeper and get more sources, or refrain from reposting the pure speculation of internet commenters as news.
I would really really really love if both of these games came to iOS, but from what I can see there is no evidence for that.
Seriously? We are a blog, not CNN. Blogs post rumors all the time. For example, tech blogs all over the web have been posting rumors about iphone 5 for months.
This is the news post in which Jay mentions the digital development. Again, as Gabe stated, we are hoping this means ios, but it is not guarantee. We are just making an educated guess based on our understanding of the industry.
Yes seriously. Absolutely srsly. If "seriously" is the best rejoinder you can come up with, then it is clear that your rumor-mongering is just a lame way to drum up traffic.
Also: iPhone 5 rumors are still based on far more credible evidence than some dude in a forum saying something to the effect of "RFTG for iOS would be awesome!" Also, there was NO RUMOR AT ALL UNTIL YOU MADE IT. Go back and read the comments again in the original thread. Go ahead, I'll wait...
[waiting]
...See? You CREATED the rumor.
Honestly, you do your blog no favors by posting spurious garbage like this. But it is good fiction.
Thread includes a link to the site for beta tester enrollment which displays screenshots of iPhone and iPad.
Also states that the game is ready for release, but that the developer wants to support multiplayer (maybe waited for iOS 5?).
Yes, things can change on development side, RGG side, and even Apple. But I think this is more than a baseless rumor.
That, if you read the thread, is NOT the official Dominion app. In fact, Donald X. even posted in the thread that the game under development was NOT ALLOWED to use Dominion's art assets.
Also, it hasn't been updated since June/July.
Just an fyi! I do not think this is the RGG-supported app.
Yes seriously. Absolutely srsly. If "seriously" is the best rejoinder you can come up with, then it is clear that your rumor-mongering is just a lame way to drum up traffic.
Also: iPhone 5 rumors are still based on far more credible evidence than some dude in a forum saying something to the effect of "RFTG for iOS would be awesome!" Also, there was NO RUMOR AT ALL UNTIL YOU MADE IT. Go back and read the comments again in the original thread. Go ahead, I'll wait...
[waiting]
...See? You CREATED the rumor.
Honestly, you do your blog no favors by posting spurious garbage like this. But it is good fiction.
Look. We're here to share what we learn about iOS board game apps with you all. Before BGG invited us to post it to the front page in the news section, we were chronicling the happenings of board game- and board game-like apps for iOS on our own as a regular blog on this site. Why? Because we love the platform and we love board games and we want to know anything and everything.
BGG didn't ask us to change a lot about what we do when we made the transition back in May. Which is great because we can just keep watching, and talking to people and freely posting what we see, hear, and think about releases, updates, developments and anything and everything related to this great topic.
Anybody regularly following this blog and the niche of the niche that we cover in it (let us keep this in perspective after all), will probably know that there has been much rumor mongering regarding Dominion in the forums over the past year or so about clones, official versions, different platforms and everything in between. We reported this latest bit because it was the first time in as long as anybody could remember when the man himself, Jay Tummelson, said anything at all about it in such a public way. That in itself was newsworthy for this blog.
We followed up with Jay, stating exactly who we were and what we covered. His answer was short, and while stopping short of naming any particular platform, he didn't go out of his way to disabuse us of any incorrect notions that we had about which platform it was, and really the ONLY platform for board game apps on mobile/tablet devices right now with any powerful traction in the market whatsoever. This, taken into account with all of the past hubbub in the forums about clones and official and unofficial iOS versions, made it seem quite obvious. Yet we still held back just a little.
And now for the record and to put this to rest, we've since been in contact with Jay yet again, this time promising we'd leave him alone about it (he's a busy man after all) if he gave us a simple answer. We asked him, "Are Dominion and Race For The Galaxy being implemented for iOS?"
And now for the record and to put this to rest, we've since been in contact with Jay yet again, this time promising we'd leave him alone about it (he's a busy man after all) if he gave us a simple answer. We asked him, "Are Dominion and Race For The Galaxy being implemented for iOS?"
His answer, "Yes!"
I would find it amusing if Tummelman had decided to take up the project because he'd seen this blog and realised there was a lot of interest in the iOS versions. Then, creating the rumour would be what made it true, and we could all point at Model Citizen and laugh.
Downloaded and played with Move It Soldier for about 5 minutes last night.
Wow, I would have felt my two bucks better spent on a cat toy.
Yea I hate to say it but I found this app to be pretty dissapointing. I knew it wouldnt be Up Front. I was expecting a pretty light experience. Unfortunatly it just ends up being tedious. Too bad because there was obviously a lot of time and effort put into the presentation, but the gamelpay just isn't there.
What you ought to be doing instead of posting rumors as news is either dig deeper and get more sources, or refrain from reposting the pure speculation of internet commenters as news.
And what you ought to be doing is relaxing.
Seriously, bro, what is your stake in this? What, exactly, is there to get all upset about? What's your agenda here?
An item about the official Rio Grande newsletter mentioning digital versions of two hugely popular games is absolutely news. There's no "rumor" to it.
And if you don't think "digital" includes "iOS," then you're just not paying attention. Maybe it means "iOS plus Android" or even "iOS and a PC game," but it for sure means "iOS at the very least." Christsakes, read a news story or something — maybe one of the ones talking about the billions of app downloads from the App Store. No one with one-eighth of a brain would waste any development time on a digital strategy that didn't include iOS.
I took the plunge and bought Horse Fever. I don't know the board game except from Scott Nicholson's video. Unfortunately, it turned out that wasn't enough.
The app is in english and italian. Some english phrases aren't correctly translated, but that is only a minor bug.
The player number is limited to 2-5 players. Strangely, there is a blank option below the "5", but when I select it, it just takes on the previous setting.
There is no AI, so you are limited to pass-and-play, or playing against yourself.
There is only a contextual help, which is not well suited for explaining the rules. So you are essentially forced to download and read the boardgame rulebook.
The interface, while functional, is not very intuitive. When applying a card to a horse, it seems that card selection works on the 2nd or 3rd try only.
That's it. I aborted my first game after the first race, since I had no idea what I was doing. I'll check the rulebook and try again later.
