blindsorrow
United States
Las Vegas
Nevada
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I'm looking for a bit of advice. I am faced with the opportunity to receive either the current (FFG) red box version of Ingenious or else the former blue box version. I am trying to decide which version to get.
I realize that some people had issues using the scoring blocks on the blue version, but I am accustomed to using scoring blocks in lots of other games without any fuss (including all the popular gateway titles like Carcassonne, Alhambra, Ticket to Ride, etc, etc), and little wooden blocks add a certain charm to games, for me. In addition, I suspect that the red version's cardboard score board will deteriorate pretty quickly around the peg holes as the plastic scoring pegs are repeatedly pushed into and pulled from the holes (just like the Magic Labyrinth's cardboard maze frame deteriorates from repeated use of the wooden walls). So, I'm leaning towards the blue version, unless I am incorrect in these assumptions.
However, the photos I've seen of the two versions seem to show that the tiles and/or tile racks are different. So, are the tiles and tile racks better in one version over the other (heavier, better paint job, thicker, etc)?
Are there any other considerations between the two versions?
Thanks for any help.
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Todd Redden
United States
Manchester
Connecticut
"Don't pray in my school, I won't think in your church."
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There probably aren't a lot of users who played both versions and have a basis for comparison. I've played the original blue box since it first came out and have had no problems with either the tile racks or the scoring cubes. As a game collector I always prefer original editions unless some major problem has been corrected, and then prefer the update expansion over a whole new game.
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James Woodall
United States
Houston
Texas
Look like a guy with a plan?
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I think you will enjoy the blue box more.
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ackmondual
United States
Virginia
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I have the blue box edition. Only thing with that is if the table gets knocked, so do the score markers. It's not a major hassle, but it's still a hassle none of the less.
I've never considered what you did with the pegs and pegboard for the red box one. Alas, you appear to know more than I do, and it also appears your mind was already made up anyways. However, I will add that for me, I'd go for the red box edition anyways, as for me, Ingenious was something that ended up being played a good deal, but not so much since it's competing with many other great games for both time and space in my bags.
Oh, and also forgot that if one's significantly cheaper than the other, then I too would just get the cheaper one.
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blindsorrow
United States
Las Vegas
Nevada
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Thanks for all the replies.
After very carefully comparing both the images of the two versions here on BGG, as well as the info and photos on the actual game boxes, I have made the following observations and conclusions:
1. The FFG blue box version includes tile racks with high backs while the FFG 2010 red box version has low-backed tile holders that I would describe as tracks. The blue box racks appear more substantial, but without seeing them in person I cannot determine whether they are more practical or stable. They do look better, so +1 for blue box. (Interestingly, the photo of the rack on the blue box-back appears to be double tiered, unlike the actual racks that come inside the game).
2. The tiles themselves are somewhat different between the two versions, based on the BGG photos. In the blue box version, there is a smooth circular recess on each tile-half upon which each colored symbol is painted/silk-screened on the tile. The rest of the tile face is textured. In the red box version, this circular area is either much less pronounced or else nonexistent. The blue box tiles look nicer to me, so +1 here for the blue box.
3. The colorful sets of wooden scoring blocks definitely look better than the plastic scoring pegs, which appear a bit cheap to me. From a practicality standpoint, I understand that the wooden blocks could get mixed up if knocked, unlike the pegs, but so can all the game tiles, if the gameboard gets knocked. For that matter, knocking a game board is a potentially serious issue vith virtually ANY board game, and using scoring pegs only solves half (or less than half) of the issue. If the red box board was also magnetic or molded to hold all the tiles in place (as it clearly should have been, just like Ingenious Travel or the Blokus series) I would definitely give a nod to the red box here, but that's just not the case. So, I ultimately have to give the point to the blue box's prettier wooden blocks.
4. The blue box back does not list the contents of the game, however, it is clear from multiple BGG photos that it includes a black cloth bag to hold the tiles. The red box DOES list the contents but does NOT list a cloth bag. The BGG 2010 FFG red box photos do not contradict this. So the blue box gives me a cloth bag and the red does not. Not a huge deal, but I'll still give a +1 to the blue box for this.
5. The comment about the collectability of the "original" version is hard to apply here because apparently Ingenious was released in 2004 and the FFG blue box in the same year, but the blue box I would be getting has a 2007 copyright date, meaning that it's not the "original" printing of the game. Perhaps there are two FFG blue box versions?
6. The prices for both versions are apparently currently the same.
All in all, while the differences are hardly earth-shattering, I will definitely be opting for the blue box over the red, based on the advice I received and my own observations, absent any other information that surfaces.
Thanks again.
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