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The Best Board Game Turned PC Game ... Ever
Although I love computer games (obviously) a little secret of mine is that I might actually enjoy playing board games even more than video games. I have been an avid board gamer since my youth and with the explosion of German-style board gaming over the past decade I have been in board game nirvana. Rarely will a month go by without a new quality board game released in the States (definately check out BoardGameGeek to find out about these games).
And of all the games I have played over the years one of my absolute favorites is Ticket to Ride from American publisher Days of Wonder. Since its release this game has been a worldwide success and even won the Spiel Des Jahres Game of the Year in 2004 (which is like winning the Academy Award of Gaming). All it takes is one session with this game and you'll see why it's so popular. Real quick overview: Ticket to Ride is a cross-country train adventure in which players collect and play matching train cards to claim railway routes connecting cities throughout North America or Europe. The longer the train routes, the more points the players earn.
The challenge lies in that there are a limited number of routes. So let’s say that you're trying to build a route from New York to San Francisco, and someone else builds right in the middle of your train line. Now you’ll have to build halfway around the country in order to complete your route. Of course, you can do the same to your opponents.
Believe it or not, but my description is actually more complex than the actual game … it's just that simple to play. It's one of those games which is easy to learn, plays quickly, fun for all ages, but yet has surprising deep strategy. I have yet to find a man, woman, or child who doesn't love playing this game.
So when I heard that Days of Wonder was creating a computer version of this game I giddy with excitement. Just released, the computer version plays on both PC and Mac, allows for online play, features stunning beautiful graphics, and is horribly addictive. In fact, I might even say that the computer version plays better than the board game version! Since games often take only 20-40 minutes to complete rarely will you be content just playing a single game. You have heard of the Civilization "just one more turn" phenomenon. Ticket to Ride has heralded in the "just one more game" phenomenon.
I won't even bother going over the fantastic online community, the ability to play solo games, and the exclusive Swiss map included with the game. All I have to say is go get this game, now. You won't be disappointed.
Can you post an online review of the game? I looked for some on google and all I could find where reviews of the board game.
Posted by Sub at February 22, 2006 04:04 PMDivine Right was the best board game I remember playing when I was younger, could never find a copy recently though when an old mate brought up the idea of playing it again.
Although I did find this pc game version http://www.divinerightonline.com/foreword.html
Posted by swerv at February 22, 2006 04:59 PMI'm still in shock that MS didn't launch XBOX Live Arcade with Settlers of Catan. I mean, they have it on MSN Zone, how hard can it be to port? :)
Settlers of Catan (no relationship to "The Settlers" PC game) is a must-own for every boardgame fan, and a great intro to "German-games", even my non-geek women friends enjoy it:
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/13
Posted by Dylan Greene at February 22, 2006 07:51 PMI hope you get a commission, I just ordered the game based on your recommendation. :)
I so love railroad games, I was a big fan of Railway Rivals ( http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/460 ) from David Watts. In the early PC days I played Sid Meier's Railroad Tycoon, but found that the followers like Railroad Tycoon 3 were a disappointment. So I'm thankful for all recommendations of railroad PC games.
Posted by Tobold at February 23, 2006 11:00 AMI don't like Ticket to Ride that much. The material is gorgeous as always with Days of Wonder. But the game is simplistic and mostly luck driven.
I agree that it's a great initiation game, but you have to move on fast on more serious things like Puerto Rico, Caylus or Age of Steam. Those games have a nearly infinite lifelength, whereas Ticket to Ride becomes dull very fast.
I agree with Seboss. For me Ticket to Ride suffers from the same problem as most Days of Wonder games. Beautiful components, but a serious lack of depth in game play.
I've played TtR a dozen times or so, and that's enough for me. I just don't see room for developing a deep strategy for the game. The one thing I do like about it is that it's an excellent introducition to board games beyone Monopoly. It's simple and incredibly easy to teach, so I usually pull it out when playing with new board-gamers to get them hooked, before trying to show them other games that I find more interesting.
Posted by Bill at February 26, 2006 09:19 PMI agree with the two posters above me, Ticket to Ride is fun for a little while but not a lot of depth. I can't really understand a lot of the hype for this game. One the one hand it's a fun, easy, fast-paced game which is good but on the other, just not quite enough depth and perhaps a bit too much luck. Still, I think it's fun when they successfully translate a good boardgame into a PC game. I'd love to try an online game of Traders of Genoa sometime, with all the trading and bargaining, that seems like it'd be a lot of fun. The best boardgames that I've played include Settler and Seafarers (of course), Traders of Genoa, Puerto Rico, and Through the Desert.
Posted by Tony at February 27, 2006 01:02 AMJust like the "How Many Videogames Do You Own" story, I have a ridiculously large number of these, too. Lord of the Rings is my current favorite.
Posted by Robb at March 2, 2006 12:31 PMI Love Board games. One of my favorites is monopoly like games. I like to go around the board buying properties and adding houses or hotels. Another one of my favorites is Culdcept, and City Magnate wich just came out. Anyone know of a web site that lists all the monopoly like games like these I can take a look at for PC. I just want a game that's more interesting or with more twists. Thanx
Posted by Lena at December 12, 2006 04:36 PM