Man, do you know what I'd like to have for dinner? Barnestorming #4.

On the Table

This week in Cracked LCD I’m taking a look at Z-Man Games’ new Yggdrasil, a co-op “siege management” game that, strangely enough, I find makes for a better solo game than a multiplayer one. I’d almost go so far as to say that if you’re looking to play it alone it’s a recommendation, but with more players that recommendation starts to fade. It’s a neat, tight design but it’s missing some key elements that good co-op games need to stand out from the pack. There’s very little codependency and collusion, and the delegation of tasks is really shallow.But if you play it alone, those things don’t happen and what you’ve got is a pretty good solitaire that does, in fact, play sort of like a States of Siege game.

Barnestorming #40- man, the 1990s were a terrible decade. At least there were some good games.

 Talisman...in spaaaaaaaaace

Cue the Barnestorming #41 Overture

They took out Buddy. Barnestorming #41 still has it.

What number are we on?

Harold Camping has revised his end-of-the-world date. It's now Barnestorming #5.

 Hot fuzz!

 WARNING: PRETENTIOUS GAMES WRITING AHEAD

Do you ever wonder what John 3:14 actually says? It's Barnestorming #6.

A better Borg.

 Five years of total bullshit.

 Are games art, antiques, and collectibles? Why not!

A great game, just expect more "kaching" than "pew pew"

Sorry for the late edition- today was my daughter Scarlett's first birthday so I was occupied with festivities.

On the Table

As my review at NHS attests, Starship Merchants is surprisingly good. I think it's a great, supremely streamlined business game with more than a little 18xx influence. But it is designed to a fine point, and there is absolutely  no fat on this game whatsoever. I'm sure lots of Ameritrash dogmatists will be disappointed that you don't get to shoot a laser and blow stuff up, but this is a game about making money first and foremost and that's it's theme. The setting is space. I honestly didn't think this was going to be so good, and it's a pleasant surprise- one of my favorites of 2012 so far.

Game of Show at E3 2011 announced- Barnestorming #7.

Barnestorming? Barnestorming? BAAAAAAAAARRRRNNESSSSSSSSSSTORRRRRRRRRRMMMMMMMINNG!

Warning: Pretentious Twaddle

Rex is a Ghola.

 Half a game?

Found in a thrift store copy of Laser Attack- Barnestorming #8.