Two games in particular that I enjoy are Carcasonne and Settlers of Catan. Since I don't have many people to play with, I naturally try to find an on-line version of the games I like to play. However, now I'm wondering if this is a good idea. With Carcasonne, for example, I have played hundreds of games on ASO Brain recently, and I think my desire to play the game is a little bit less now. It would probably take me years of play on a physical board to get to this point. Does the quick-fix, play 8 games in two hours approach to gaming diminish our enthusiasm for the real game? Often times, when playing against an ultra-fast PC or computer player, you can play enough games to start to see patterns that you may not have seen in the real thing for years (50 plays, for example), or because the people are less predictable. Plus, IMO, most games are more interesting with live people, and therefore you might get sick of a game after playing it online, but really, you are not playing with interesting opponents. I think I might avoid games against the CPU for now on to prevent this from happening. And believe me, this will be nearly IMPOSSIBLE for me to do, but it might be necessary...

Anyone else share my feelings on this?

Michael

Though I do play settlers and Carcassonne on my Xbox 360, it doesn't prevent me from playing other games face to face. The way I see it, it frees up my game nights to play other games instead of playing settlers and Carc for the xx-teenth time.

Depends i think, passing the time with online counterparts is likely a common practice around these parts. For me i had played a lot online settlers and while this game in particuliar i'm pretty much over, i think that in person gaming means different things to different people. For me, the social aspect of getting together to play some games typically trumps the actual games we end up playing. I would imagine that a direct answer to your question would be 'somewhat', i would imagine 100's of computer played games would likely decrease the desire to play the same game in persono... But with the thousand of boardgames available, i think you'll have plenty of other options if you feel the need to 'just one more game' of your favorite pc version...

It might just be a simple matter of variety. I know if I play the same game too much in a short period of time, I lose my desire to play a bit. Doesn't mean I wouldn't want to play ever again, but unless it's a game that really offers the ability to try different strategies, it might lose out. I know my desire to play Acquire is almost nil, but I used to play it frequently when I first got into gaming. I have been playing Imperial online quite a bit, but I think that game has enough going on to keep it interesting. It might just be a case of too much of a good thing.

P.S. Carlos, I challenge your avatar to a duel.

I haven't played anything "online" but I bought Empires in Arms as soon as it was released for the PC and it's outstanding. Getting 6 together for a full epic campaign of this game is a nightmare because the 6 have to get together regularly, for many sittings. With the PC version I can play whenever I want and my friends and I now have a PBEM game going in the background while we explore ever greater numbers of Euro's on game night.

For some games it's a definite YES. Games which are relatively simple, which you can play multiple games in a hour, or several games in a night, definitely suffer from burnout. When you play so many games online, not only does your enthusiasm for that game diminish in general, but some friends have also complained that they dislike the slooooooowness of playing face to face. This particular complaint has come up with TTR in the past.

Additionally you can find that your skills rapidly outpace those of your game group. Didn't happen to me, but did in a game group before I joined--one of the players started playing Puerto Rico online constantly, and rapidly he had hundreds of games under his belt whereas the rest of the group only played in-group, and was still in the newbie less-than-10 games played category. That ruined it for everyone for quite some time.

Other types of games--play by email games, wargames via VASSAL,etc.--are inherently so complex and take so long to play, often several days to months, that it does not cause burnout or excessive skill game. For those games it's merely another chance to play some of these big games. Mabiweb.com and Spielbyweb.com are both pbem sites, and most games take about a week or so to complete--chances are even if you play a lot, you'll only be adding 20 to 50 plays of any game through those outlets.

Indeed. I downloaded the computer version of Yspahan from West Park Gamers and have played countless games against its AI. It is no longer a useful gateway game for me to play ---- I trounce the newbies.

There are some fantastic games made to be experienced in all their glory on the PC, such as Medieval Total War II, Civ 4, Europa Universalis III, and Oblivion. If I am going to be sitting at a computer, I'll play them. I just never get the itch to play a boardgame online (not counting certain play by email games and werewolf).

I downloaded this too. I don't have the game, but playing it on the computer has made me want it. I like that you can learn the rules and try the game this way, to decide if you like it. I play "casual" when introducing people to a new game anyway, so the fact that I am more experienced because of it doesn't seem to be a problem.

I have a few computer versions of my games. I don't play online ever, just against the AI. I have Tigris & Euphrates (Dartmoor), El Grande (Koch Media), Carcassonne (Koch Media), Samurai (Klear), Tikal (Dartmoor), Ticket to Ride (Days of Wonder) and Settlers of Catan(MSN). Of all these, perhaps only Samurai has made me tired of playing, but that's fine. There are lots of other games to play. Also, with several of these, I can't find human opponents to play face-to-face with anyway.

@mjacobsca, quick Q, which Settlers implemntation do you use?

Overall, I don't feel playing Settlers/Seafarers online ruins the real thing. Problem with my case is it's VERY DAMN difficult to find a 3rd person for Settlers/Seafarers. A friend for the 2nd Catan player refuses to play any 2p variant of it, so it was a great thing she introduced me to Sea3d. I've logged almost 500 games of Settlers, Seafarers, their 5/6 player extensions, and various variants (like jungles and volcanoes). I got great fill of a game that I still enjoy. I'm playing less now, but only b/c I'm busy and nothing to do with losing interest. When I'm not busy, I play other board games IRL as I recently joined several board game groups.

Furthermore, online, u meet ppl instantly, and can get a game going in as little a few minutes. No transporation time required there

On the minus side, it has made me more reluctant to call up buddies for a game, and spend more face to face time. However, in the past, they were understandably busy, so the same result often occurs

It has spoiled me on some accounts too. For example, playing a 6 player game on the Greater Catan VI scenario from Seafarers of Catan is supposed to take 3 about hours according to the instructions. When u play onine, the comp does alot of stuff for u, like setting up the monstrous board, determing who goes first, shuffling the cards, handing out the cards, counting/converting the cards towards purchases, and calculating Longest Road. This cuts the game time down to about an hour and a half, half of the IRL session!

As for online play quality, I'd guess many do not own the actual board games, but some of them definately excellent players that I enjoy playing again and again. Their mannerism and the thrill of the game, even if i lost makes it all the more worthwhile.

Finally, one thign that Sea3d has are ladder games that influence ratings. Ppl SHOULD be in it strictly for fun, but this system does get ppl very competitive and ensures players aren't jsut goofingaround.

In some cases yes. I played Pillars of the Earth of BSW, and after so many plays, it became less and less interesting. I like testing out the boardgame via computer, and if I like it I'll buy it to play face to face.

I went to BSW to play Puerto Rico. I ended up playing Settlers more, and then I hit upon Tichu. I haven't stopped playing Tichu and the interface is great for the game.

So it depends on the game. Computerized version greatly reduce the set up time. It speed up gameplay nicely. So I can sacrifice quality play for some fast play. When I play face to face, I try much harder.

While playing boardgames on the computer can be great, I always enjoy more playing face to face. A boardgame just works on its own, without the need of a computer AI that does the "hard work" for you. This "magic" is lost when playing on the computer, and it makes most games seem simpler than they are.

I do play online (mostly pbem) and enjoy it. I play games that my gf doesn't really enjoy (mostly abstracts), but whenever I have the chance of playing one of those games face to face with someone that also likes them, I'm reminded of how much more enjoyable face to face gaming is...

As Sky Knight said, real computer games work much better as computer games, and I rather play one of those if I can't find a real opponent... (although RealmSpeak would have to be an exception )

-Jorge

This I agree with as well. If you're going to be playing a computer game, you might as well play a game actually designed to be played on the computer - they tend to fit the format better. Board games are nice for the social experience (among other things) and really work better in-person IMO. Computer games can more easily handle complicated rules and upkeep for different types of games, so you have more options if you embrace both worlds =)

As far as the original question goes, I think playing board games excessively online WOULD tend to make me like them less in-person, or at least the specific game. The one game of Settlers I played online, whole not terrible, was a lot less interesting than in-person play.

Two ways of looking at this for me (different sides of the same coin).

Online games causing "burnout" or decreased interest in the physical version may show that there is something tactile and enjoyable about the real, physical components that is not replaced in the online form. The online form just feels cheap, and cheapens the game experience as a whole leaving a bad taste even when you first play, or go back to, the physical game).

Perhaps the view less charitable to the boardgames is that the online component, once you wipe away a lot of the mindless record keeping, fiddling with pieces, and other junk that consumes most of the real gameplay time, shows you just how shallow the real, underlying games themselves are. I wonder if many older adults would have similar thoughts regarding computer solitaire - wondering why they spent countless hours in a game that really amounts to pretty random card flipping, when they see that using a computer that takes care of all of the shuffling, etc., that it was really the shuffling, etc. that was the core, with very little actual game.

Hm... I think it depends on the game. I just bought Carc Hunters and Gatherers because I've become so addicted to playing it online, I want to play it in person, too!

But I so love playing In the Shadow of the Emperor online, I'm not sure if I'll enjoy it as much in person anymore. I like that when I play on line I can savor my turn thinking of all the options and possibilities more than I would in person.

I do think online play would more often ruin in-person play of smaller games - like you'd choose different small games to play in person - but then, I'm not really into playing smaller games in person unless a time-killer is required to remix two tables of gamers, you know?

The funny thing is, i never liked Settlers face to face. I blamed the dice, i blamed the fact my opponents played more than me, i blamed the fact they never traded with me, and i never understood the nuances.

I then got it free on xbox live (Evil MS employee you see), and tried it against the AI players, i now finally realise how great it is. Ok, i end up leading in every game, and the AI wont trade with me either, but a win a good deal of the games by 1 or 2 points with many different strategies.

Now i want to buy the game for real, and play against my friends, and my gf who has watched me play wants me to get it too.

None of this would have happened without the xbox version.

Interestingly, i already owned Carc and liked it before getting it on xbox, but i hardly play that, it is so much lighter and doesn't have all the add-ons and house rules i play.

Didn't notice the quote tag got cut off. I do get confused too easily sometimes

Anyways, if you're playing more online, u don't necessarily burn yourself out. The comp automates alot of the stuff for you. If it's the sheer number of games, then you oughtta cut back every now and then. That's b/c you have a never ending supply of opponents, doesn't mean you need to take 'em all on that night

Lots of great responses.

Since I work in this space (online board games) I'm always interested in seeing discussions like this. Personally I've found that online play has opened me up to games that I've otherwise been hesitant to play. Especially when I can test the waters with an AI opponent and then move on to live play.

One recent experience for me is our version of Axis & Allies that we're creating for Gleemax. I've never been a fan of the game but during testing last night I found myself really getting into it as our team was doing a lot of planning in team-chat as the game was progressing (which negates some of my problems with the "down-time" during the game). The game is also a lot faster. There's no set up to worry about, no moving of physical pieces etc. Does this "ruin" the board game for me? No, actually it's made me rethink my opinion of the game and got me thinking about playing a game that I've never really want to play in the past.

Oh, and the fact that I've now played hours and hours of Robo Rally online (again, for Gleemax and not yet live) has done nothing to diminish my enthusiasm for that game.

On game burnout...I think the only thing the electronic version allows you to do is play more games in less time than it would take to play the physical version. After about 3 games of Carcassone on the 360, I'm pretty done. I think I'd feel the same were I playing with actual, rather than virtual, tiles. It's not that I get bored...I just want variety, and too much of anything and my interest starts to wane.

With friends few and farther away, and kids taking up most or all of my time, electronic games are often the only kind I have time for now. Games I can save my progress on, getting a few minutes in here and there, or games that only take 1/3 of the time it would otherwise take to play because the AI moves faster than a human opponent would. Without them, I'd be getting no game fix at all, and I can't go the 5-8 years it's going to take for my kids to get old enough to play the games I really want to play.

Computer versions of boardgames are the reason I play the real thing!

I think every board game should be made into a computer game and accessed via the company website. I believe this would be a wonderful way to advertise the product and provide the consumer with a chance to test out the game before they buy it.

So, do they ruin the real thing? I think not.

The only reason I bought San Juan is because I got to play in on my computer and really enjoyed it.

The PC is a great way to learn a game. Learning from a rule book is always a challenge.

For me, Catan on Xbox Live got me back into board games. I always wanted to play Catan, but don't really have a group to play with. It's just me and the girlfriend. So when I got Xbox I downloaded Catan and just loved it. I've logged hundreds of games on it. I play it way more than any of the $60 games I own for the system.

There are some negatives. When playing real people, too many of them cheat by quitting when they are headed for a loss. You can somewhat mitigate this by not playing with anybody that comes in your lobby and has a ridiculous win-loss record. The quitters are easy to spot this way.

Also, the AI which is quite good on the hardest level seems to resort to cheating sometimes. Or maybe not so much cheating, but they seem to know when you have Victory Points in development cards. For example, if you've got 6 victory points, and two are from development cards..and the next highest person has just 4 they'll totally gang up on you with the robber. And just in general, they seem to hit you with the robber when all players are relatively equal a little too often. They can also tend to be stingy with you on trades.

In the end though, on the hard difficulty they put up a stiff challenge and don't make obviously dumb mistakes. I play the AI a lot when I don't feel like hopping online for a match.

I also downloaded Carcassone when it was offered as a free download and we enjoy playing that on Xbox too. That's one that I think me and my gf may not have enjoyed were it not on Xbox. The tedium of totaling up the scores at the end might have put us off. On the Xbox, it does it for you.

So in this case, a computer/video game version of a board game didn't ruin the real thing for me...it got me into it. I've since got the Catan Card Game to play with the GF, and will soon be getting more games that we can play face to face...Memoir 44, Lost Cities, and some others. And I certainly wish that they would release more games of this type on Xbox Live. I've heard rumors of versions of Puerto Rico and Alhambra coming to Live. But that was a while ago and I'm not sure if that's still going to happen.

Computer aided boardgaming, such as BSW, is great for me. I can't get out and play the real thing as often as I'd like. So I have a backup plan.

Of course, it's got a limited selection and sometimes, you just don't feel like playing anything offered.

I don't think it ruins it, but I think it's better to play in person than online, and better to play online than not at all.

I tried Pickomino on BSW and I'll certainly have word with my group. Evidently, they've been playing it such that you keep rolling until u can roll no more and then collect whatever tile u can. On BSW, once u get the minimum to obtain/steal a tile, you now have 2 choices..... Play it safe and collect a lower valued tile, or keep rolling and risk losing a tile but u may get lucky and roll enough to collect a higher value tile.

Also, if you get nothing for the turn, u turn in a tile if u have one AND a tile on the grill gets flipped. The group plays it such that EITHER a tile on the grill gets flipped OR a tile gets turned in whereas on BSW, it's BOTH or NOTHING. New rules learned. Dunno how to broach the topic that they've been playing it wrong all along

I've also tried to play Bohnanza. I really did, but the interface just wasn't as intuitive as I thought it would be... despite help from other players. I'll stick with IRL games for this one. This one really did ruin the real thing