David Neumann

Spiel des Jahres nominees announced. Yawn.

May 23, 2017 David Neumann 18

Every year around this time, gamers try to predict which games will be nominated for the prestigious Spiel des Jahres award, signifying the best tabletop games of the previous year. From the early aughts, I’ve been one of those gamers, always wrong with my guesses and then trying to nab each nominated title as soon as possible because, they have to be good, right? This year is a bit different. This morning it dawned on me that I don’t give a shit anymore.

Pixel Tactics Online is basically Pixel Tactics, but online

May 22, 2017 David Neumann 5

PC, Mac, iOS, Android • I’ve never played Pixel Tactics from Level 99 Games due to the fact that the tabletop card-battler is two-player only. Two player games became an endangered species at my house the minute we decided to have more than one kid. Lucky for me, Level 99 is bringing the game to both laptops and mobile later this year, so I’ll be able to finally give it a go without ignoring one of my kids. Instead, I can now ignore them all.

Games Workshop bringing Mordheim to mobile

May 22, 2017 David Neumann 0

iOS, Android • When I first saw the news about Mordheim: Warband Skirmish this morning over at Pocket Gamer, I was excited. Other than Talisman, has Games Workshop done a mobile title not set in the Warhammer universe? Then I read the article and saw words like Skaven and realized my Warhammer ignorance was showing. Mordheim is set firmly within the Warhammer universe, just not the 40K one.

Nomad expanding Horus Heresy universe with 2 new warlords

May 19, 2017 David Neumann 0

iOS, Android, PC, Mac • While I don’t consider myself a huge Warhammer 40K fan (I like the ambience, but have no idea what the hell is going on), I do, much to everyone’s chagrin, enjoy Talisman. Thus, Talisman: Horus Heresy has a spot on my iPad and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Much like it’s fantasy-themed predecessor, Nomad Games is making sure T:HH stays fresh by routinely adding more content. Today we get two new warlords to add to your stable of armor clad goons.

Upcoming update to bring friendly quests and deck sharing to Hearthstone

May 17, 2017 David Neumann 1

iOS, Android, PC, Mac • It’s been awhile since I’ve been on the Hearthstone bandwagon. I know it’s got polish on top of its polish and that, as far as digital CCGs go, it’s still a pretty great game. Still, there’s something that drove me away. I think it was the bloat of expansion after expansion and the focus on esports that made me feel like casual play wasn’t really something Hearthstone did well anymore. I just don’t have enough time to research a game in order to play it well. Also, I have Race for the Galaxy now, thank you very much. Still, it’s a big money maker for Blizzard and, as such, they keep showing it love. In a few weeks it will be getting a major update that adds a couple of new features that might make it easier for old farts like me to get back into it.

Star Realms getting a makeover and new expansion, Colony Wars

May 15, 2017 David Neumann 10

iOS, Android, PC, Mac • Star Realms is one of those cardboard-to-digital ports that everyone seems to love. Even if deck-building isn’t your favorite mechanism, Star Realms just does everything so right that you feel the need to keep it installed on your iPad. Games can be played quickly, the entire game is remarkably cheap without any boosters to constantly buy, and it just feels like it was made for digital from the get-go. That said, it’s about to feel a lot different. The Star Realms you know and love is getting a complete makeover, and it’s coming on Wednesday.

Paradox announces new city-builder, Surviving Mars

May 12, 2017 David Neumann 0

PC, Mac, Linux • The current go-to city builder on my laptop is Paradox‘s Cities: Skylines. Looks like it’s getting some competition, and soon, from…Paradox? That’s right, Paradox is publishing another city builder in the near future, but set in the distant future, and I think both will coexist peacefully on my hard drive. It’s called Surviving Mars and it looks pretty freaking great.

Prison Architect breaking out worldwide before Summer

May 12, 2017 David Neumann 1

iPad, Android Tablet • Back in April we mentioned that the mobile version of Prison Architect from Introversion and Paradox had soft launched in the Netherlands. Since then it’s launched in a few other places–Sweden and Australia–but I don’t live in those places so who cares, right? Stately Play is nothing if not all about me. MEEEEEEEEEE! What we really want is the full worldwide launch so I can do my Warden Norton impression wherever, whenever I want. Today, Paradox let us know that it’s coming. Soon.

Next up for HexWar, the War of 1812

May 12, 2017 David Neumann 8

iPad, Android Tablet, PC, Mac, Linux • While you’re probably familiar with the fact that, last year, HexWar published a digital version of Academy Games‘ wonderful 1775: Rebellion, you might not be aware that 1775 isn’t the only game in the series. It’s actually only one of three games dealing with early American warfare with the others covering the French and Indian War of 1754 and the War of 1812. The games aren’t clones of each other, but they do share several similarities, so I had been wondering if HexWar would be porting the others to digital at some point down the line. We aren’t sure about 1754, but today they did confirm that 1812: The Invasion of Canada will be coming to in June.

Waiting for Narmer in Predynastic Egypt

May 11, 2017 David Neumann 0

iOS, Android, PC, Mac • I’ve mentioned my love of Ancient Egypt in the past, with some of my Favorite.Games.Ever being Pharaoh from Impressions and Children of the Nile from Tilted Mill (neither of which have been ported to Mac or mobile, sadly). I know I’m not alone, as Egyptian history continues to be a mainstay of movies, games, and books. While I’m happy that Tom Cruise is getting work, I’m not sure a CGI-filled action film is what I’m looking for. What I really want is the ability to live there, build and grow. There hasn’t been a good civ builder in Egypt since Children of the Nile, but Clarus Victoria is hoping to change that with their latest, Predynastic Egypt.