On my iPad: Hey That's My Fish!

One of my favorite things about the iPad is the possibility of making the portable boardgame experience.  Now I don't think I'll ever want to play an tablet boardgame over a physical tabletop boardgame, but for gaming on the quick (or while traveling), you can't beat the convenience of the iPad.

"Hey, that's my Fish!" is one of those quick-and-simple games that's physical implementation takes almost as much time to set up as it does to play, so its iPad-ization is a welcome addition to my digital games library.

"HTMF" is a simple, abstract game where players control penguins attempting to amass more fish than their opponents.  The game is set up in hex-spaces, each containing a number of fish.  Players move from hex to hex collecting fish which and eliminating spaces for penguins to travel.  Should a penguin be left with no options for movement, it is removed from the game.  Once all penguins have been eliminated, the player with the most fish wins.

Super simple rules, but enough light strategy to make it a little more than the kids game it appears to be.

"HTMF" on iPad looks great and Fantasty Flight Games has developed a title that is bright and cartoonish, appealing to both kids and the casual gamer.  Pass-and-play multiplayer for up to 4 players really goes a far way in eliminating the need for the physical board game, since a game of "HTMF" can be played as a appetizer or transition game during a game night while another game is being set up.  Plus, its easy to knock out a single-player game while having a quick cup of coffee.

My only objection is the steep $5 price tag.  I find it insane that I live in a world where one can legitimately gripe that $5 is too expensive for a video game, but that's what a free-market economy gets you and I'm a Capitalist, so here it goes: though an enjoyable title, "HTMF" is really overpriced for what it is.  When much more involved games with better online implementations like the classic "Ticket to Ride" and the phenomenal, recently released "Ascension: Chronicles of the Godslayer" are offered at the $5-$6 price-point, "Hey, that's my Fish" just doesn't feel like that great of a deal.

If this was $2, "HTMF" would be a must-buy (and what is $3, right? Crazy. I know, but this is the cost-value analysis of apps); at it's current $5 it's still  worthwhile, but it's harder to recommend in the face of some of those other meatier titles that are available.  Still, $5 is a pittance for a quality transition game to keep the good times rolling while you set up your next tabletop game during the night.

review code provided by Fantasy Flight Games

The Rocketeer Flies Again!

First of all: it's been 20 years since Disney's "The Rocketeer" flew onto the screens which simultaneously makes me feel old and demands that they do something with the classic property. (Still one of the best superhero movies ever made.) Though the clip that follows was done by an independent animator, it proves 1) The Rocketeer is still awesome; 2) "Rocketeer" + "Star Wars: Clone Wars" = greatest hour of animated TV ever; and 3) Disney needs to hire this guy right now and greenlight his vision. Enjoy every moment of what follows:


The Rocketeer 20th anniversary from John Banana on Vimeo.

(via Topless Robot)

Game Closet Reviews: Confusion: Espionage & Decpetion in the Cold War

Stronghold Games continues to be the Lazarus Pit of the board gaming world - resurrecting classic, long out-of-print games for a whole new audience, and giving them the dazzling makeovers these games deserve.  Initially publishing Robert Abbott's deduction title, "Code 777," Stronghold went on to satisfy many childhood dreams by republishing and improving "Survive: Escape from Atlantis."  Both titles offered much-improved components over the original; the production quality and customer service for this "Little Publisher that Could" on the whole is evidence of their passion and commitment to preserving the legacy of these gone-but-not-forgotten titles.

The latest in the "Castle Line" of games (a term which probably has been defined by Stronghold, but I must have missed its explanation) is another Robert Abbott abstract deduction game which Stronghold wisely added a theme to in order to make it more attractive and, I suspect, gave Stronghold the opportunity to produce another beautifully packaged title.  Abbott's "Confusion" is now republished as "Confusion: Espionage and Deception in the Cold War."

Temper those expectations right now, comrades; though "Confusion" has a spy theme, the theme is really only surface deep - at its core the game is still an abstract-deduction title.  The Cold War theme is top-notch window dressing, and there's nothing wrong with that in my opinion.  Will the theme bring new fans to the game? I sure hope so because it's definitely worth playing.

"Confusion: etc, etc." is best thought of as incorporating elements of Chess, Stratego, Soccer, and a hint of Checkers.  And there you go - you should now totally understand how to play this game...

Another day in the life of Fatherhood

Today, instead of pulling out a pair of running socks from my gym bag I pulled out a pair of toddler underpants.

Guess I won't be running today, after all!

Equation for a Focused & Happy Toddler

Cheerios + Bowls + A Pair of Tweezers

Way to go, Lady Rad! Anyone else with incredibly simple, yet awesome activities for the young'in's during the hot summer months when you're a S@HM?

What my dad's waited his whole life to hear

Grandma and Grandpa Rad came from Florida to visit this week and we all had a great, though exhausting, time playing with Mu and Q.  It's so fun to see how the kids react when my parents make their bi-annual (that's twice a year, not every other year - I hate you English) visit: it's non-stop playing, book reading, and overall zaniness for 5 straight days.  Needless to say, by the time they leave everyone (grandparents included) is sad but a also a little relieved.

Yesterday was Father's Day, and having both my father and my kids there was a great way to celebrate the day - especially when my dad and I went out for ice cream by ourselves while the kids napped; two days before, Mu and I took Grandpa Rad to Norm's for a straight-razor shave.  During the visit We talked life, we talked past, and he gave sage advice about family/work balances.  We were men being men who loved their families.

Now my dad is a huge golf nut; I can't stress enough that I am not, and despite playing a round with my dad on occasion, it's not my game.  Nevertheless, the US Open was this weekend.  After we got back from ice cream, the kids were up and my dad settled in to watch the 18th hole of the last round of the tournament.  Mu climbed up next to him, looked at the TV, popped his thumb in his mouth, and studied.  After a few moments of silence, he looked at my dad and uttered the words Grandpa Rad longed to hear:

"Papa, tell me of Golf, please."

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

Guest Blogging: Sprig Toys

I was asked to be part of Sprig Toy's Summer Guest Blogger series.  They wanted a post talking about eco-friendly activities for families, and so I happily obliged, while still espousing the virtues of a single-income-stay-at-home-mom lifestyle.  Enjoy the read and let me know what you think!

Pop Culture Collision

You can't beat conversations with a toddler.  From this morning:

Me: Hey buddy, who's that on your plate?
Mu: That's Woody.
Me: And who's that?
Mu: That's Woody's horse.
Me: And what's Woody's horse's name?
Mu: (emphatically) Luke Skywalker!

At least he didn't ask me to sing a "Han Solo" song again.  I have no idea how that tune goes.

Here's the thing: Mu hasn't seen either "Toy Story" or "Star Wars," yet.  He only knows of the characters because I tell him stories about those characters.  I think it'll blow his mind when he actually sees them on the screen.

Game Closet: Go Away Monster!

There are a lot of "experience it again for the first time" moments that I've had lately as the Mu is turning the corner and headed towards 3 years old.  In addition to him springing a Disney consciousness, and able to talk with me about Peter Pan, Mowgli, Beauty & the Beast, and (personal favorite) Aladdin, he's also able to tell me that he loves Chewbacca and Yoda - though he has no idea who they are or why.

Now board games have become a part of our regular play, and it all started with Gamewright's "Go Away Monster," quite possibly the best early, early-childhood game out there.  

The game is simple (as it should be): up to 4 players, each with their own board pick tiles out of a bag in order to decorate their room; if they draw a tile with a monster on it, they ceremoniously yell "Go Away Monster!" and throw it back in the box (or, if you are playing with a rowdy 2-year old, across the room, into the fireplace, out the window, etc.).  If players draw a tile for an object they already have, they are supposed to share it with another player who doesn't have that object.  The first person to complete their board is the winner.

Toddler Meets Xbox

I came home from work yesterday like any other day.  As I was helping Lady Rad pull dinner together by entertaining the Mu and Q, it was a good 20 minutes in the family room before I turned around and looked at our media rack - only to find the DVD tray of my Xbox open and askew.  Actually, "askew" might be a generous term.  Another term would be "looks like it was used as a chin-up bar."

The component that does almost as much heavy lifting in our home as our TV is now out of commission - which also means that DVD watching, game playing, and professional reviewing is down until I can get it repaired - hopefully without having to resort to purchasing a new box.

Here's the thing: the Xbox Slim is great, and normally the capacitive buttons I would welcome, except with a Toddler in the house... As Lady Rad reminds me "the flood waters of disaster continue to rise" but there's only so much higher I can place things before I am resigned to just living in the garage!