excuberance

Sweet! Toilet breaks will be had So, how well do you know the game/brettspielwelt? If you haven't: there is an online java-client on brettspielwelt.com. Dig around there and you will find a download client that is the same, only works better. Also: talking. skype? something else?

We talked about this in the boardgames thread, but since it has been mentioned multiple times on the cast, perhaps it could have sort of a wide appeal. On the German service "brettspielwelt" you can play the original Imperial, the game that predates Imperial 2030 (the game the casters have played) by two years. The difference between the games are small, the fact that it is played on pre-war europe changes the map-dynamics, but all core rules are the same. If you have played any Imperial-game before the online-client should be completely understandable, and if you have played some german-style boardgames you should be able to understand the concepts after half an hour of explanation. Beware though: This has the possibility to become an all-evening commitment, matches can reach for up to 5 hours. So, who's up for it?

Imperial is totally available on brettspielwelt, and I'm always up for that. Note that it is the original Imperial, not the sequel Imperial 2030 that the pod-people talks about. The difference is largely in balance, 2030 is more about expansion while regular imperial is more about conflict between nations, and it's on a map of Europe instead of the whole world. The game-mechanics are sort of unusual, and the interface, while fully functional, does a real bad job of explaining anything so if you haven't played one of the games you might be in for some trouble. But with half-an-hour spent learning it's not a big problem. It could be cool to get together 4-6 players for an online game of Imperial, but beware that we are talking about an entire-evening commitment here. I've played matches that went on for five hours. So, yes. I'm totally up for that.

I will write up a little story about the downfall of the space-reptiles-with-water-towers-for-heads, and share it with you when the game has come to a close so I wont affect the diplomatic position of certain players

This game is the best. Also: the worst. I'm feeling terrible. And great.

Oh no you are not : /your friend in the space-south

The little "M" icon your bottom right.

I'm pumped!

There is a difference between entertainment and art, and I definitely think there is room for games that offer more then escapism, not saying escapism is bad. If I understand you correctly you are saying that games is, and will always be, only good for pure escapism. Now that is a thought that scares me, but I sure think I get more out of my hobby then that. Also, artistic things need not be commercially sound. Revolution seldom is.

Yeah, I seriously couldn't have had better luck.

If you want to talk about great starting conditions: Notice three now AI-controlled neighbours, AND the ideal divide between me and the other players. This is great, but they are getting weary...

BTW, I looked at some of the settings, and thought i'd say that I would prefer an assymetrical mapover one of the perfectly fair ones. I will play, and enjoy, the game eitherway but I think asymmetrical starting positions give rise to much more interesting diplomacy and strategy then symmetrical ones. Not to forget, it's more realistic So to restate my position: mid-length game with asymmetrical map, please.

Continued interest, I have it. Also: My vote is for a mid length game, as the one that was proposed.

Long time listener, first time poster. Hook me up! I would love to play a game of neptunes pride with this seemingly great community.

I remember an interview with the creators of Portal, where they mentioned at a point there was a character called "the rat" or something similar that lived in the rusted up second part of the game. He was the writer of all the "go here" scribblings on the wall. I don't recall any more details, but that is a distinct example of more content that could have been there. I think the game could have stood to be a little longer, I thought a few parts of the game felt a little rushed. For example, the companion cube was really only used for one level, and didn't get the time it would have needed to stick with players. Also, the latter part of the game could have been really helped by introducing a character to put in even more stark contrast to the earlier part. The latter part got a little repetitive. That said, it sure was a great game , certainly one of the greatest single-player experiences I have ever had. Up there with CoD4 and Grim Fandango to namedrop a few other.