SpaceCorp discussion thread

Got my copy this past weekend (from GMT). Sorted and made a first pass through the solo rules. This is my first GMT game, so it's a bit daunting, but they have good player aids. Might try and get a play in this weekend, as my family is leaving me alone for a few days.

The video shows the beauty of the components and the cool design. I don't think that I've seen a better looking GMT game than this. Can't wait to get my hands on a copy.

jpat wrote: Fairly or not, the video guy sort of lost me when he said he was going to read along with and to us.

I think this is one of those cases where more people than usual are interested in a "wargame" (because GMT makes wargames), because of the theme, and perhaps feel as though they can't learn the rules. I actually do like playthroughs sometimes, when the game is opaque or rules heavy or the like and I want to get a sense of how the game's played in order to teach it or at least play it myself, but I have to admit that I've never really understood the desire to learn rules to complex games from video, but that's maybe because I just don't have the right mindset for it.

Edit: Looks like mine's coming Friday, though I won't be able to get to it until at least the next week.

Yes, based on the BGG questions, for better or worse GMT gave attracted a fair number of new customers with this one. Hence the whiny fuck who called GMT and Butterfield “pathetic” for not producing a video.

I'm trying to remember if Dominant Species blowing up was rocky for GMT too re: new audience and different expectations.

Dunno. That game was published on faith, as it hadn’t gotten quite enough orders initially. This game got over 2000, which for GMT is a lot.

You have to love the pliancy of the word "wargame" when it has come to be assigned to anything coming from this particular publisher, in spite of GMT's marketing that they're looking to broaden their subject matter. NASCAR wargame, space exploration wargame, evolution wargame . . .

We continue to dumb-down, and I don't mean that as a gamer thing, but a culture thing. We don't have the level of deep thinking skills that we did. Video presentation is inherently a softer medium.

But I don't see how rules can ever be presented in a video format, because you just gotta have the written word in order to understand the official contract you're working from. Video as an introduction sure, but it seems to me if you're not familiar with the written rule book you won't know where to look in the event of a question, and frankly, won't even know if you need to ask the question. Video can't provide that short of someone reading you the rules in it.

So you need to buckle down and read. GMT ain't Sierra Madre. You can open at page one and read and be relatively amused as you're being informed.

Plus the Jensens were involved, meaning there will be about zero ambiguity. (Admittedly, I did see there was one erratum posted before the game came out, which sullies their reputation immensely, but I suppose even Combat Commander: Europe had a version 1.1.)

Sagrilarus wrote:
We continue to dumb-down, and I don't mean that as a gamer thing, but a culture thing. We don't have the level of deep thinking skills that we did. Video presentation is inherently a softer medium.

So true.

Got mine today but no time to open it. Come over Sunday, Sag, and we'll give it a whirl

So I got home and took a look at the game. First thing I notice is that it must weigh 7 pounds or more. Clearly a heavy game.

Despite that, as I rummaged around inside the box I think they failed to pack the VHS tape with the rules explanation. Instead all I got were two "pamphlets" filled with words and pictures. I can't make heads or tails of it.

repoman wrote: Got mine today but no time to open it. Come over Sunday, Sag, and we'll give it a whirl

I'm about two years away from taking you up on this. Once the kids are gone I'll have a lot more leeway!

If you're ever stopping over near Annapolis be sure to ring me up. I'll buy you dinner and maybe a beer to go with it.

repoman wrote: So I got home and took a look at the game. First thing I notice is that it must weigh 7 pounds or more. Clearly a heavy game.

Despite that, as I rummaged around inside the box I think they failed to pack the VHS tape with the rules explanation. Instead all I got were two "pamphlets" filled with words and pictures. I can't make heads or tails of it.

Years ago Moments in History included an audio cassette with game overview in the box.

Let's start a rumor that one comes in the box. See if we can make it stick.

Sagrilarus wrote: Let's start a rumor that one comes in the box. See if we can make it stick.

“What’s a cassette tape?”

I meant a video, not a cassette tape. Tell people there was a disk in our copies, under the insert. Maybe on a disk like Days of Wonder used to do.




So here's how my first game is going to play out:

1. I'll pre-read the rules, fair enough.

2. I'll make it to game night for about the third time in nine months, because I've moved from one old house to another and had a million tasks to take care of on each. Haven't gotten out much recently.

3. I'll let everyone know via the group email ahead of time that I'm showing up, and that I'm bringing SpaceCorp, I will be playing it, and anybody who wants to can join me.

4. When I get there, Scythe will be set up on the table, and they'll inform me they've been waiting for me to show up so they can start. I've been assigned to play red, my usual color.

5. I will be a bit short with them, but reasonably polite. I'll explain that I'm setting up SpaceCorp at the far end of the table, that anyone who wants to join me can, but that no one needs to. I'll be fine on my own, and will not feel left out. I'll offer to heckle the Scythe players on occasion, so that we can have social fun.

6. I'll play multiplayer, playing two players simultaneously instead of solo-mode. This way when someone shows up half an hour later I'll have a going concern for them to step into.

7. At the end of the first play, finished or not, the other guy will talk about how interesting the game is and how more people should give it a shot, the same thing that happened with Arkham Horror, Imperial 2030, and Dune. The next time the game comes out people will reluctantly give it a shot, and find they enjoy it. My buddy Jeff will buy his own copy so he doesn't have to depend on me to bring mine.