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So for a while now, I have been thinking about getting into video. I knew I could not compete with the skill and output of the great review work already being done by people such as Tom and Joel and Richard, so what could I offer?
I have often thought that BGG's game recommendation system was rather odd. Often, titles have little to nothing to do with the games that they are attached to. It always seemed very hit or miss to me, though it is, admittedly, a large and inclusive database of suggestions.
My thought was to offer games in sets of three. If you like this game, you may like these other two games. Useful, but still not really different. What would be the angle? That was when I decided to try to present sets of games. First, a game that people may enjoy with a certain theme, mechanic or characteristic. Next, I would show a game that would offer a similar experience but one that would be considered a "Step Back" in complexity. Something easier to digest, or teach or play, but with the same core ideas. Finally, the third game presented would be a "Step Up" in complexity. Something heavier for those who may be looking for a similar experience, but with more meat on the bones. This, to me, seemed a unique angle that could possibly offer something new.
So, here are the first two videos in the Next Steps series from The Long View. It is my hope that as time goes by, the series, if successful, will gradually build into a useful database comprised of videos made by myself and perhaps others that may want to contribute their ideas using this video format.
I sincerely welcome any feedback. Thanks for checking the videos out!
If you enjoy them, you can receive notice of new postings here on BGG in The Long View Guild, or by checking the web page at www.thelongviewpodcast.com, or through subscription to my fledgling YouTube channel.
The Duke, Hive and Voluspa
London, San Juan, Pax Porfiriana
The Long View
The Long View is a podcast that I created in response to the recent call for more critical, in depth analysis of games. Each episode of the podcast features guests who join me to discuss a specific game. The podcast is not intended to teach or explain the rules of the game. It is intended to provide a forum for discussion and analysis. This is a blog that I will use to announce the topic of upcoming Long View Podcast episodes. Rather than simply look to the audience to respond to episodes of this podcast, I am hoping to add a twist of something new by encouraging listeners and people interested in the game to be discussed to add their own questions, ideas and insights to the blog post so that they may, in a way, participate in the discussion that will take place when the episode is recorded. Comments and questions may well be used when I discuss the game during recording. It is my hope that by casting a wide net, The Long View will provide a valuable service to the board game community.
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Tue Jul 15, 2014 3:35 am
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Hello everyone! I wanted to take a moment to write a quick post for a bit of market research. I appreciate averyone's indulgence as this is not typically what I wold write about in this blog. That being said, here we go!
I have designed a game titled Black Diamonds. The game is an economic, risk management, pick up and deliver style game set in Northeastern Pennsylvania that deals with the history of anthracite coal mining, and the rise of labor unions here in the United States. The game has many mechanisms (I hope) that make it unique. Many have reported it feels like a Martin Wallace style game (which I take as a compliment) in that it is tied very specifically to a time and place. Here is the question:
A publisher I pitched the game to responded with the following:
The game looks great, looks like it has some of those sparks of genius and novelty, and plays great, but I can't sell it because no one outside of the United States will care about this theme. The European market will just not be interested. I countered with the fact that Wallace made me very interested in tin mining in Cornwall, so why not coal mining in Pennsylvania? He just honestly felt that the theme would hold little to no interest to a European audience. Now, I happen to be blessed with a large and diverse audience, and many of them are from outside the United States, so I thought I would enlist your considered opinions about this topic. Is the publisher right?
Thank you all for your comments and input!
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In the next week or so,
and I will be recording an episode about Uwe Rosenberg's game of Le Havre. This gem from 2008 is my personal favorite design from Mr. Rosenberg, and Joel and I will try to determine why this game works so well, and what has made it stand the test of time.
If you have any thoughts to share, or questions you would like Joel and I to consider, please post them as a response to this blog post, and we'll do our best to address your ideas, opinions, questions and comments. Thanks, as always, for your participation and for listening!
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Next week,
and I will be discussing the game, Fleet. If you have a question or comment that you would like us to address, please post it here.
For myself, I would like to take a closer look at the thematic aspects of this game, as well as the auction mechanic used in games with two players.
As always, thanks for sharing your thoughts, and thanks for listening!
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As a special episode for everyone, and in particular for , I will be taking a special look at designer Stefan Feld with special guest . Joel and I will take a broad and long look at the work of this acclaimed and suddenly prolific designer. It seems to be the year of Feld. What's all the fuss about? What makes him unique as a designer? What makes a Feld a Feld? All these topics and more will be open to discussion. Joel and I hope you will enjoy this special episode we have planned, and invite you, the listeners of The Long View, Feld fans and Feld critics alike, to take the opportunity to share your thoughts about this designer, and pose questions you would like us to try to answer. Thanks for listening, and thanks for your contributions to this upcoming episode!Martin GUnited Kingdom
Bristol
Don't fall in love with me yet, we've only recently met
Edit to add tags
Thu May 9, 2013 2:37 am
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After the last blog posting about an upcoming episode about Ra, and the fantastic comments and questions contributed there, I have decided to post another entry about an upcoming episode with about the Fantasy Flight reboot of this well regarded ccg as a lcg.T(trenttsd)United States
Huxley
Iowa
See this text? It's a gratuitous waste of GeekGold.
The game itself isn't important. Spending time intellectually jousting with likeminded folks is the real reason to game.
For myself, I am curious about what is different between the new and original versions, how this compares to the other Richard Garfield classic Magic the Gathering, and if this was the first asymmetrical ccg/game, and if it is this, rather than the theme, that makes it so unique and compelling.
Please post any questions you have for Trent or myself in this entry, and thanks for your contributions!
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On March 25th, I will be recording an episode of The Long View with about the Reiner Knizia classic auction game Ra: Strategy Among Hexagons.Martin GUnited Kingdom
Bristol
Don't fall in love with me yet, we've only recently met
If you have any points of discussion you would like brought up, or any questions you would like Martin and I to try to answer, please post them in this thread. Thanks for your participation and support!
If you are new to this thread and do not know about the podcast, please feel free to visit The Long View guild here on bgg to find out what we're all about. Thanks for your time!
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This blog post is intended to be a discussion thread for an upcoming episode of The Long View, a podcast designed to respond to the call for more in depth, critical analysis of games. Discussion threads may not be posted for each episode, but many will announced via a blog post such as this.
Urban Sprawl is a game that has garnered much attention. It was eagerly awaited as the successor to Chad Jensen's brilliant game Dominant Species by myself and, I believe, many others. Once released, the game engendered many mixed reviews and reactions. Some have called the game brilliant, and other have declared that it is too chaotic to be a good game. Joining me for this episode will bewho will share his unique insights and thoughts about this game.LanceUnited States
Moorhead
Minnesota
The coolest best thing I have ever done in my life is being a father
The Dread Pirate Caleb!! (age 2)
I invite anyone to post a question about this game that they would like answered by either Lance or myself, or any comments you may have about why you feel this game is, or is not, one that will stand the test of time.
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