![Picture](/uploads/5/9/6/1/59618371/117691395.jpg?248)
In Computer Simulation and Gaming-Design Class, we studied various types of games and how different games work as far as mechanics, dynamics, and aesthetics. We started with the basics, which means we spent class time taking "copious notes" of both a card game, Cthulhu Gloom and a board game, Small Worlds.
Cthulhu Gloom is a card game where you try to kill off your "family" when they have the most damage. Cards that you may have in your hand are either health cards, which you can use to heal your opponents' families, untimely death cards to kill off your family members after gathering as many negative health points as you can, and negative health cards, to cast on your own family members.
My notes for the game:
The instructions were hard to understand, it reminded me of playing Euchre, where you kind of have to do a practise round of the game in order to have a better understanding of it. There were a lot of symbols on the cards that had to be looked up throughout the game, there isn't any quick reward, and the recommended playing age is 13+. The game took over an hour to complete, normally when I am playing a card game I want it to be short and sweet, so I considered that to be a downside. Over all, once the game got going it started to look more fun and I think the players can also make the time spent playing the game more fun as well.
Small World is a board game where you try to conquer the most lands. Immediately when you are setting up, not only do you have to choose between two different boards, but there is also an extremely large booklet to go through of instructions because the game is actually that complicated. On top of that, there are a lot of small pieces to keep track of. The game is time-consuming and the instructions have to be read over and over again. The race you choose to start with along with their ability is something you have to be aware of at all times. What makes this game even more complicated is that eventually you will want to send a race into decline and get a new one during the game, so the rules and the abilities all change when you do this. This game had too many pieces and too many things to worry about throughout so I didn't find it enjoyable. Over all, I found the game to be too complicated, which sucked all the fun out of it.
Cthulhu Gloom is a card game where you try to kill off your "family" when they have the most damage. Cards that you may have in your hand are either health cards, which you can use to heal your opponents' families, untimely death cards to kill off your family members after gathering as many negative health points as you can, and negative health cards, to cast on your own family members.
My notes for the game:
The instructions were hard to understand, it reminded me of playing Euchre, where you kind of have to do a practise round of the game in order to have a better understanding of it. There were a lot of symbols on the cards that had to be looked up throughout the game, there isn't any quick reward, and the recommended playing age is 13+. The game took over an hour to complete, normally when I am playing a card game I want it to be short and sweet, so I considered that to be a downside. Over all, once the game got going it started to look more fun and I think the players can also make the time spent playing the game more fun as well.
Small World is a board game where you try to conquer the most lands. Immediately when you are setting up, not only do you have to choose between two different boards, but there is also an extremely large booklet to go through of instructions because the game is actually that complicated. On top of that, there are a lot of small pieces to keep track of. The game is time-consuming and the instructions have to be read over and over again. The race you choose to start with along with their ability is something you have to be aware of at all times. What makes this game even more complicated is that eventually you will want to send a race into decline and get a new one during the game, so the rules and the abilities all change when you do this. This game had too many pieces and too many things to worry about throughout so I didn't find it enjoyable. Over all, I found the game to be too complicated, which sucked all the fun out of it.