Comments on: Catan Junior for ages six and up http://boingboing.net/2012/08/25/catan-junior-for-ages-six-and.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Tue, 21 May 2013 12:15:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/08/25/catan-junior-for-ages-six-and.html#comment-1519405 Antinous / Moderator Mon, 27 Aug 2012 21:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178136#comment-1519405 Shakespeare's <i>A Midsummer Night's Dream</i> - paranormal romance? Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream – paranormal romance?

]]> By: Deidzoeb http://boingboing.net/2012/08/25/catan-junior-for-ages-six-and.html#comment-1519224 Deidzoeb Mon, 27 Aug 2012 19:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178136#comment-1519224  This conversation reminds me of Margaret Atwood trying to avoid the stigma of being labelled an author of science fiction by trying to distinguish between that and "speculative fiction." When you read her extended definitions of the terms, it basically boils down to convincing sci-fi = "speculative fiction," and unconvincing or bad sci-fi = "science fiction." Why not just use the common term "science fiction", and qualify it by saying good science fiction, bad science fiction, unconvincing science fiction? Why strive to make one's personal opinion seem objectively true by massaging the definitions?  This conversation reminds me of Margaret Atwood trying to avoid the stigma of being labelled an author of science fiction by trying to distinguish between that and “speculative fiction.” When you read her extended definitions of the terms, it basically boils down to convincing sci-fi = “speculative fiction,” and unconvincing or bad sci-fi = “science fiction.”

Why not just use the common term “science fiction”, and qualify it by saying good science fiction, bad science fiction, unconvincing science fiction? Why strive to make one’s personal opinion seem objectively true by massaging the definitions?

]]> By: Kenneth Gleason http://boingboing.net/2012/08/25/catan-junior-for-ages-six-and.html#comment-1518948 Kenneth Gleason Mon, 27 Aug 2012 15:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178136#comment-1518948 dingdingding! I've heard of gamers who have their 6 year olds playing Power Grid and winning, no less. I'm sure Catan Junior is fine but my boy will be playing the real thing.  dingdingding! I’ve heard of gamers who have their 6 year olds playing Power Grid and winning, no less. I’m sure Catan Junior is fine but my boy will be playing the real thing. 

]]> By: Deidzoeb http://boingboing.net/2012/08/25/catan-junior-for-ages-six-and.html#comment-1518934 Deidzoeb Mon, 27 Aug 2012 12:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178136#comment-1518934 When I personally dislike something, especially when it's really obvious that it's not meant for me, I don't search for definitions that exclude it from its common categorization. When I personally dislike something, especially when it’s really obvious that it’s not meant for me, I don’t search for definitions that exclude it from its common categorization.

]]> By: Jon Winchester http://boingboing.net/2012/08/25/catan-junior-for-ages-six-and.html#comment-1518875 Jon Winchester Mon, 27 Aug 2012 04:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178136#comment-1518875 hey, the title says 6 and up, the link says 4 and up. which is it? we discovered the game thru boingboing when my daughter was 4, I can identify with the frustrations. facing the robber led to quite a few early-ending games and allegations of mean big brothers. but the game is just so dang fun, she kept coming back to it and now at 6 does ok. hey, the title says 6 and up, the link says 4 and up. which is it? we discovered the game thru boingboing when my daughter was 4, I can identify with the frustrations. facing the robber led to quite a few early-ending games and allegations of mean big brothers. but the game is just so dang fun, she kept coming back to it and now at 6 does ok.

]]> By: Matthew Miller http://boingboing.net/2012/08/25/catan-junior-for-ages-six-and.html#comment-1518849 Matthew Miller Mon, 27 Aug 2012 01:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178136#comment-1518849 Lack of choice is key to a number of definitions. Wikipedia has <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game#Definitions" rel="nofollow">a decent collection of possibilities</a> to look through. I'm willing to accept the broader definition, as long as we attach some descriptives like "mind-numbingly boring and pointless please please kill me now rather than ask me to play again, dear 3-year-old, even though I love you so games". Lack of choice is key to a number of definitions. Wikipedia has a decent collection of possibilities to look through. I’m willing to accept the broader definition, as long as we attach some descriptives like “mind-numbingly boring and pointless please please kill me now rather than ask me to play again, dear 3-year-old, even though I love you so games”.

]]> By: Matthew Miller http://boingboing.net/2012/08/25/catan-junior-for-ages-six-and.html#comment-1518847 Matthew Miller Mon, 27 Aug 2012 01:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178136#comment-1518847 It seems okay, but I wonder how large the window is where this game is a better choice than Just Playing Real Settlers of Catan. It seems okay, but I wonder how large the window is where this game is a better choice than Just Playing Real Settlers of Catan.

]]> By: Deidzoeb http://boingboing.net/2012/08/25/catan-junior-for-ages-six-and.html#comment-1518845 Deidzoeb Mon, 27 Aug 2012 01:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178136#comment-1518845 I have not heard a definition of "game" that excludes pre-determined outcomes or lack of choices by players. Poker and a lot of card games allow players to maximize their winnings or minimize their losses based on decisions, but whether a person wins or loses an honest hand can still depend on how the cards are shuffled and dealt. Craps gives you a choice of whether to bet or not, how much to bet, but it's won or lost by the outcome of the dice. (Again, assuming an honest game.) I have not heard a definition of “game” that excludes pre-determined outcomes or lack of choices by players. Poker and a lot of card games allow players to maximize their winnings or minimize their losses based on decisions, but whether a person wins or loses an honest hand can still depend on how the cards are shuffled and dealt. Craps gives you a choice of whether to bet or not, how much to bet, but it’s won or lost by the outcome of the dice. (Again, assuming an honest game.)

]]> By: snowden http://boingboing.net/2012/08/25/catan-junior-for-ages-six-and.html#comment-1518733 snowden Sun, 26 Aug 2012 15:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178136#comment-1518733 Oh hey! I was the artist for this game. I've been an avid BoingBoing reader for years, so it's really exciting to see it reviewed here. Neat! Oh hey! I was the artist for this game. I’ve been an avid BoingBoing reader for years, so it’s really exciting to see it reviewed here. Neat!

]]> By: Scott Reed http://boingboing.net/2012/08/25/catan-junior-for-ages-six-and.html#comment-1518711 Scott Reed Sun, 26 Aug 2012 14:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178136#comment-1518711  Candyland is not a game -- it's a programmed activity where the "winner" or first play figure to cross the finish line is already pre-determined when the deck is shuffled and play begins.  There are no decisions to make, and "players" merely wait to see which of the play figures will draw the sequence of cards that moves it across the finish line first.  Candyland is not a game — it’s a programmed activity where the “winner” or first play figure to cross the finish line is already pre-determined when the deck is shuffled and play begins.  There are no decisions to make, and “players” merely wait to see which of the play figures will draw the sequence of cards that moves it across the finish line first.

]]> By: Adri van Binsbergen http://boingboing.net/2012/08/25/catan-junior-for-ages-six-and.html#comment-1518419 Adri van Binsbergen Sat, 25 Aug 2012 20:04:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178136#comment-1518419 And Catan Junior _is_ fun to play for kids, while quite tolerable for a hardcore boardgaming parent. Speaking from experience here. And Catan Junior _is_ fun to play for kids, while quite tolerable for a hardcore boardgaming parent.

Speaking from experience here.

]]> By: Deidzoeb http://boingboing.net/2012/08/25/catan-junior-for-ages-six-and.html#comment-1518345 Deidzoeb Sat, 25 Aug 2012 18:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178136#comment-1518345 Re: Candyland, game design deity Greg Costikyan argues that it's not a failed or poorly designed game, but a well-designed game for very young players. This is the target demographic for whom it makes sense when Teletubbies show a 2 or 3 minutes clip, then say "Again! Again!" and show the same dang thing. Fails for big kids, success for tiny kids. http://playthisthing.com/candy-land Re: Candyland, game design deity Greg Costikyan argues that it’s not a failed or poorly designed game, but a well-designed game for very young players. This is the target demographic for whom it makes sense when Teletubbies show a 2 or 3 minutes clip, then say “Again! Again!” and show the same dang thing. Fails for big kids, success for tiny kids.
http://playthisthing.com/candy-land

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