Kickstarter Picks for the Week of April 14, 2014

What is this post all about? Well, it should pretty straightforward, but, if there's any confusion, this is where I'll be talking about a handful of Kickstarter projects each week, focusing on a few projects that launched during said week and a few that are about to end. Will I be focusing only on projects in need of funding? No. I will simply be focusing on projects that interest me, regardless of whether they've only raised $5 or raised ten times that of their original goal. Anyway, I think it's about time I got to the actual projects, eh. (P.S., this feature will be posted on Mondays starting next week and will likely always be board game heavy.)

• Recently Launched

Stratagem, an Abstract Strategy Board Game

Stratagem is, as the title says, an abstract strategy game and it looks like a game that both casual and hardcore gamers can enjoy; though, its perceived simplicity will definitely turn off those gamers who scoff at games that don't take an hour to setup and hours and hours to play--we all know at least one. Anyway, from what I've seen so far, Strategem looks like a good amount of accessible fun and I'm a big fan of the clean, simple design; also, Strategem was designed to be accessible for a handful of disabilities--color blindness, low vision, and short-term memory loss--and the team is open to helping the game be even more accessible and you can't not love that.

More Kickstarter picks can be seen with a little bit of clickage.

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PSP #167: Game Club #4, Part 3 - Binary Domain (+ Game of Thrones)

In today's episode, the third and final part of the Binary Domain Game Club, I talk about the final two chapters, leaving y'all with my feelings about the game, overall, and what will, most likely, be the next Game Club game. After that, I talk a bit about season 4 of Game of Thrones, going into spoilers; though, I give ample warning before saying a word. Anyway, if you want to be extra cool, you should seriously check out Frontburnr, register, and join our lovely little party. And, if you're feeling extra generous, donate a little money or subscribe to show your support for the site and show(s), it's not free to host the site, the show; to make and record videos, and everything in between. Cheers.

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Board Game Review: Coconuts | I'm cuckoo for Coconuts!

As I begin covering board games more and more, I thought it was about time I reviewed one because, well, that's why I'm here, right? And I could think of no better game to review first than Coconuts, a ridiculous Korean dexterity game full of monkeys, coconuts, and lots of flinging, published in the States by Mayday Games, a company I've grown quite fond of thanks to their abundance of card sleeves--I've got a bit of sleeving obsession. Anyway, I should probably stop monkeying around and get to the review.

The object of Coconuts is simple: you have a player board with three spaces for cups and want to be the first person to build a pyramid out of cups--three cups on the bottom, two in the middle, and one on top--and you do so by flinging rubbery coconuts into said cups in order to claim them as your own; that is essentially everything you need to know; though, of course, there are additional rules--there's a red line on each player board and you always have to be behind that when flinging coconuts; you can steal other player's cups by flinging a coconut into one of their cups; and, when you land a coconut into one of four red cups, you immediately get an extra turn--as well as magic cards--which let you, in most cases, inhibit another player by forcing them to hit a specific cup, shoot with their eyes closed, or other such handicaps. At face value, Coconuts looks like a dumb game that kids would enjoy and adults would grow tired of within minutes, but that is, somewhat surprisingly, not the case.

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PSP #166: Game Club #4, Part 2 - Binary Domain (+ Captain America: The Winter Soldier)

In today's episode, the second part of the Binary Domain Game Club, I talk about the third and forth chapters and, guess what, I'm still enjoying the game; though, it isn't without problems--which y'all can hear by listening to the show; I'd tell you know, but then why would you listen to the show? In addition to Binary Domain, I talk about Captain American: The Winter Soldier and season 4 of The Walking Dead, and I don't avoid spoilers, so avoid the second part of the show if you don't want to get spoiled. Anyway, if you want to be extra cool, you should seriously check out Frontburnr, register, and join our lovely little party. And, if you're feeling extra generous, donate a little money or subscribe to show your support for the site and show(s), it's not free to host the site, the show; to make and record videos, and everything in between. Cheers.

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PSP #165: Tabletop Tales - The Red Dragon Inn 2, Sentinels of the Multiverse, Last Night on Earth: The Zombie Game, and Where Art Thou, Romeo?

In this week's edition of Tabletop Tales, I return to Coup after a decent break--y'all can get a special edition of the upcoming expansion pack, Reformation, via Kickstarter right now--and then try a handful of new games [for me]--including The Red Dragon Inn 2, Sentinels of the Multiverse, Last Night on Earth: The Zombie Game,  and the incredibly awful and annoying "nanogame," Where Art Thou, Romeo?, which y'all could have picked up via Kickstarter for just a buck late last year. (Ok. Fine. Romeo isn't that bad, but it's not that good either...)

If you want some juicy, meaty thoughts about the games played, listen to the show; however, if you just want a quick bite of thoughts with a side of opinion, my favorite game of the night was Sentinels of the Multiverse--a cooperative card game where you (and up to four others) take on the role of super hero and try to save the day from whatever villain is currently wrecking havoc in one of various environments--we were battling an evil building inside of a building! I did enjoy all the games, but Sentinels stood out thanks to great mechanics and a whole lotta replayability. Anyway, if you want to be extra cool, you should seriously check out Frontburnr, register, and join our lovely little party. And, if you're feeling extra generous, donate a little money or subscribe to show your support for the site and show(s), it's not free to host the site, the show; to make and record videos, and everything in between. Thanks and have a lovely day (and a lovely weekend too).

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PSP #164: Game Club #4, Part 1 - Binary Domain

In today's episode, the first part of the Binary Domain Game Club, I talk about the first two chapters of the game, mentioning what I love--the set pieces, character interaction, and general vibe--what I don't love--the color palette and story--and what really annoyed me--losing trust with teammates after they ran in front of my firing gun. What I have to say is great and all, but, if you've been playing Binary Domain as well, leave your thoughts in the comment section below and play the third and fourth chapters by next Monday. Anyway, if you want to be extra cool, you should seriously check out Frontburnr, register, and join our lovely little party. And, if you're feeling extra generous, donate a little money or subscribe to show your support for the site and show(s), it's not free to host the site, the show; to make and record videos, and everything in between. Cheers.

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PSP #163: Board Game Friday with Coconuts, The Resistance, The Downfall of Pompeii, and a Bit of Banging

In today's weekly tabletop-themed episode, I talk about a few Kickstarter projects: Westerly: The Threeboot, Baseball Highlights 2045, and (ume) Waterproof USB Bracelet. After I kickstarting the show, I jump headfirst into Coconuts--a ridiculous and awesome dexterity game from Mayday Games--The Resistance--which I only know played despite playing tons and tons of Coup--return to The Downfall of Pompeii and, as seemingly always now, play a bit more BANG! Anyway, if you want to be extra cool, you should seriously check out Frontburnr, register, and join our lovely little party. And, if you're feeling extra generous, donate a little money or subscribe to show your support for the site and show(s), it's not free to host the site, the show; to make and record videos, and everything in between. Thanks and have a lovely day (and a lovely weekend too).

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PSP #162: Board Gaming Coconuts with More MGSV: Ground Zeroes and Dark Souls II

In today's episode, I talk about the dexterity board game, Coconuts--which is way more fun than I ever expected--and then talk about Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes and Dark Souls II a bit more because I have nothing better to talk about. Anyway, if you want to be extra cool, you should seriously check out Frontburnr, register, and join our lovely little party. And, if you're feeling extra generous, donate a little money or subscribe to show your support for the site and show(s), it's not free to host the site, the show; to make and record videos, and everything in between. Thanks and have a lovely day and a lovely week.

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PSP #161: MGSV: Ground Zeroes, Dark Souls II and Board Games

In today's episode, I talk about Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes--which I enjoy despite being little more than an overpriced demo--and some more Dark Souls II as I make my way to No Man's Wharf. After that, I talk about the next Game Club game--which is Binary Domain (listen to the show for details)--and a few Kickstart projects--Varney the Vampire: for Thrillbent.com (Digital & Print), Tiger Stripes, and POOP: The Game. Anyway, if you want to be extra cool, you should seriously check out Frontburnr, register, and join our lovely little party. And, if you're feeling extra generous, donate a little money or subscribe to show your support for the site and show(s), it's not free to host the site, the show; to make and record videos, and everything in between. Thanks and have a lovely day and a lovely week.

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PSP #160: Tabletop Friday with More Banging Than Any King of Tokyo Can Handle

In today's weekly tabletop-themed episode, I talk about some more BANG!--well, I talk about a lot of banging--and then battle it out to find out who the King of Tokyo is! (Hint: it wasn't me.) After that, I talk briefly about Coconuts--a brand new dexterity game from Mayday Games--but nowhere near as much as I will when I finally play a few games. Anyway, if you want to be extra cool, you should seriously check out Frontburnr, register, and join our lovely little party. And, if you're feeling extra generous, donate a little money or subscribe to show your support for the site and show(s), it's not free to host the site, the show; to make and record videos, and everything in between. You can also support the site by shopping at Amazon. Thanks and have a lovely day.

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