Trashdome: Corey Konieczka vs Kevin Wilson

I don't really like Arkham Horror. Probably at least the Hasbro/AH version of Cosmic Encounter is about as good as the FFG version, and the same is true in regards to the original GW version of Fury of Dracula. I have not played any of Kevin's other designs.

I did however receive countless hours of enjoyment out of BSG, Starcraft and Death Angel. Arkham Horror pleases many people, but my VOTE goes to: COREY. He also sports a beard that would make any Amish fella proud.

These fellas are two giants in the industry, no doubt. I see Kevin as more of a developer than a designer--his development kicks major ass. That's how you end up with good (great?) games (FoD, AH, CE) taken to great (or greater) games. Who's got the DUNE re-design/dev? Corey or Kevin?

Corey is expanding design space like a champion. STARCRAFT, WARRIOR KNIGHTS, REINS OF POWER (wistful sigh...).

They both can end up with some bloat on the games, but isn't that what we're after sometimes? Toughest 'dome yet. I'll go with Kevin, just for making ARKHAM the franchise it is today. No offense to Launias, but this is Kevin's game now.

Vote: Us. (Ok, Kevin Wilson).

At first this seemed tougher question than it turned out to be. I tried to think of all the games these two had, what I like, what's Ok and what I don't much care for, blah blah blah. But all the time in the back of my head one thought kept on repeating itself: Kevin did Arkham.

Vote: Kevin Wilson

I think we're taking for granted just how hard it is to make a good redesign (or forgetting how easy it is to fuck up a redesign.) 3rd edition of Cosmic, anyone? Game design is so derivative as it is, if we take the "it's just a redesign" line of thought to its logical conclusion than just about any game that isn't genre redefining should be great. How many AWFUL DoaM games are there? I mean, Nexus Ops exists and yet just about every next iteration of A&A blows.

And also this:

mikko_r wrote:

Kevin did Arkham.

I love Corey, and Runewars is one of my all time favorites, but still, gotta say:

Vote: Kevin Wilson

Jackwraith wrote:

Their one semi-mutual project, in my experience, is Starcraft. I was part of the FFG testing groups that worked on Kevin's original design. It was... not fun. Then Corey took over and banged out a version that many people rave about.

This is really interesting. Too bad you never got to try the final version!

Again, I haven't played it because I'm on that "why would I want to play a video game as a board game" thing.

Because they're both good games? I also thought it was a strange concept at first but I figured it would be a neat game to try on a tabletop. Some things overlap but the experiences are completely different. If you get an opportunity to try SC:TBG you might consider it. It would be cool to hear what got changed from Kevin's design. I had no idea he worked on the project.

Doom Dice vs Runewars Cards.

Vote: Kevin Wilson.

While like most I love Wilson's redesigns, his original designs have left me a bit lukewarm. Descent being too slow/lengthy for it's own good, with that Rainbow six spawning ruining an otherwise great design and Android being more of a great idea than an actual great game. Civilisation made me conclude this is crossing the border of what works on a pc and what works in boardgame form. I would rather play the pc version in all honesty.

The Corey stuff I have experience with has impressed me however without any noteworthy exceptions. MEQ has some great cardplay mechanics (and I generaly prefer dice) and BSG is despite it's repetitive nature always an intense immersive experience with 5-6. I also like Runewars for getting so many neat mechanics together to form a coherent whole. And undoubtly he had his part in upgrading the fantastic TI3 into a brilliant one by adding "Shattered empires", the expansion that should have come with the base game.

So my vote goes to Corey.

Corey attempts innovation and succeeds most of the time. Kevin attempts innovation and fails most of the time.

vote: Corey K.

I must go with Kevin Wilson due to his contributions to the Silver Line games and the Doom dice alone are one of the most innovative things EVER in the Ameritrash genre.

As to the Silver line games or "Non Life stealing games" as I like to call them.

Magdar while considered universally bad has a certain charm to it that only a true game lover would design. My favorite however is Arena Maximus a great chariot racing game in a fantasy setting.

Vote: Kevin Wilson

I hated Cosmic Encounter and have heard enough bad things about Descent, whereas I like a lot about MEQ and have gotten a LOT of play out of BSG and its expansions.

Vote: CK

I like the way this one is going: interesting stuff on what re-designs tell you about a designer and whether they 'count'.

Also good to see people having different ideas about which games are best

Anybody have an idea what these guys would do to a historical theme, rather than fantasy/sc-fi/horror?


Keep it up!

Hex Sinister wrote:

Because they're both good games? I also thought it was a strange concept at first but I figured it would be a neat game to try on a tabletop. Some things overlap but the experiences are completely different. If you get an opportunity to try SC:TBG you might consider it. It would be cool to hear what got changed from Kevin's design. I had no idea he worked on the project.

Yeah, my mentioning that reluctance was kind of meant to be a "why I didn't do this". I've been interested in at least giving it a try. Unfortunately, I'm the prime purchaser for my group and I just don't have the $ to spend on a "maybe" right now.

Of course, reading over this thread I realize that I forgot about Descent, which I and my group have gotten a ton of mileage out of, which would lead me toward changing my vote. The Doom dice (and then Descent dice) are a solid point. Ugh.

Vote: Kevin Wilson.

I've spent more time playing Doom and Descent than all other Corey K. games combined.

Cory K designed Runewars.

Vote: Kevin Wilson