Did you end up getting this? I was also thinking about getting it when I saw it today.
I bought it and I like how it plays. Playdek puts out great ports IMO (they also did the Ascension app) and it makes playing the game quicker since there isn't the set up time. I haven't tried playing against anyone online yet. I am also considering getting the Small World app at some point. (BTW this is Jeremy)
Edit: As far as other mobile games I am playing; I started playing Book of Heroes (free, Ios) after hearing about it on a podcast. It's pretty fun so far. It follows a tried and true Facebook game model with energy, and a freemium currency to get the extra stuff faster. I also downloaded Puzzle Craft, and have found that game to be very addicting. It's a town builder with tile collection and resource gathering. The other two games that take most of my Ipad attention are Simpson's Tapped out and Jurassic Park Builder.
Yeah I got the PA game as they had it on sale. I also got the ascension game. I played through a game of the PA game and I enjoyed it. It's really simple so it's nice to show people how to play. I also sort of like the app versions of these games since they give prompts on certain mechanics and execute some actions automatically so people who are unfamiliar with how they play don't end up getting really screwed because they forgot their hero action or something like that.
I have both the Ascension app as well as PATG:GVE appr. I agree with Neocloud that Playdek does great, elegant ports. A++ for that.
As far as the games themselves, I'd say that PA's game is very much babies first deck builder. I still fire up the app and get a game in now and again but it's super simple.
Basic Dominion with no expansions is only slightly more complex in that you have to manage getting those extra actions and buys but the game also makes getting them fairly obvious in that set. PA, having no limitations on actions or buys, is easier to grasp for newbs but also invites combo'liciousness from Deck Building veterans.
Another criticism I have of the PA game is that if one person gets access to 2+ more loot cards than an opponent, it's fairly difficult to come back from that. I really dislike snowballs like that in games. This is only really minimized with Santa and some of his weaker loot cards.
I happen to live near Cryptozoic' offices and know from my Magic tournament running days. The guys who made the game know their card games so I feel like they deliberately lowball'd this for the sake of the market.
Ascension actually does offer small flexibility in terms of strategy and how to attack the board at any given time. I know Rym is super critical of it but I would defend it that it isn't as bad as Ra. It also has you managing 2 currencies like PA but since the board is dynamic you have to navigate that accordingly.
I'm a huge fan of Ascension as a light warmup type game.
I wouldn't buy a physical copy of the PA game because of limited playability (IMO) but Ascension is def worth a purchase as both app and physical implementation.
I own physical copies of both Ascension (all sets) and the Penny Arcade Game (both sets) as well as the iOS versions of the game. I can agree with the criticisms with both games. PA GvA is a pretty simple game, and can be abused by deck building vets, but at least the cards that cost power also provide victory points. Ascension has its flaws for sure, and there are variations out there that help minimize the flaws as well.
Ro and I picked up Legendary, the Marvel Comics deck building game a couple weeks ago, and it plays similar to the Penny Arcade game. At the last PAX, I played Cryptozoic's DC licensed deck builder, which plays very similar to the PA game as well as Ascension. Nothing quite compares to the quality of Dominion, but thanks to it, the deck building genre has been flooded with games, and I have been a sucker and bought most of them. We own all of Dominion, some of Thunderstone, some of Nightfall, the first Puzzle Strike, Legendary, all of Ascension, and Miskatonic school for girls.
TtR on iOS has the worst kind of multiplayer setup I have ever seen.
The Pocket edition is really fucking terrible. I don't know about the non-Pocket versions. One time I managed to confuse it and place two sets of tracks on my turn. WTF?
Agricola for iOS has been submitted to Apple, and it's by Playdek (who made Ascension) so I have faith that they can do a good job w/ implementation and online play.
Agricola for iOS has been submitted to Apple, and it's by Playdek (who made Ascension) so I have faith that they can do a good job w/ implementation and online play.
Ascension may be a crap game, but the iOS app is well done. Will Agricola run on iPhone like Ascension, or is this another iPad only deal?
Agricola for iOS has been submitted to Apple, and it's by Playdek (who made Ascension) so I have faith that they can do a good job w/ implementation and online play.
Ascension may be a crap game, but the iOS app is well done. Will Agricola run on iPhone like Ascension, or is this another iPad only deal?
Has anyone here tried the Penny Arcade: Gamers Vs. Evil game on iOS? I know it's a Dominion-style deck builder, but I wasn't sure if it's worth paying for. And if it's the kind of game that will ever get expansions on the platform.
The game itself is fun, and a pretty solid deck builder. Pladek, the publisher of the iOS version puts out solid games. I really like their Ascension app as well as the Nightfall app. Penny Arcade: GvE is a fun game, but it has a more social game play mechanic than most other deck building games, which is somewhat lost in digital format. The best way would be to play pass and play if possible with up to 3 other people for the social part of it. I haven't played online with it, but I am sure that portion is solid as well. I think the app is only $4 or $5 so, I think it is worth it.
Ascension's ok, but, in my experience, it has the problem where it becomes random for two equally skilled opponents. (More than two players is a mess.)
Yes, ascension has its flaws, but in my opinion, it's mostly because the cards are only one or two copies from the deck. That doesn't change the fact that Playdek puts out a solid ap for it. Nightfall is somewhat difficult to get the hang of, but the Playdek app for it serves well. I wish Rio Grande had tapped them for the Dominion app. It might have been put out by now.
In other related news, I have played the Eclipse app and it is pretty fun and captures game play well.
Comments
This iOS game is for all of you Grammar Nazis out there. It is so much fun to be a dick in this game.
That is, if he can remember his password.
I'm really loving the Alien Frontiers board game on iOS. While there currently is no online play, it doesn't matter right now.
I'm looking forward to the Small World 2 update/Kickstarter.
EDIT: AH DOUBLE FUCK the penny arcade game is equally priced.
Now I have to get it.
Edit: As far as other mobile games I am playing; I started playing Book of Heroes (free, Ios) after hearing about it on a podcast. It's pretty fun so far. It follows a tried and true Facebook game model with energy, and a freemium currency to get the extra stuff faster.
I also downloaded Puzzle Craft, and have found that game to be very addicting. It's a town builder with tile collection and resource gathering. The other two games that take most of my Ipad attention are Simpson's Tapped out and Jurassic Park Builder.
As far as the games themselves, I'd say that PA's game is very much babies first deck builder. I still fire up the app and get a game in now and again but it's super simple.
Basic Dominion with no expansions is only slightly more complex in that you have to manage getting those extra actions and buys but the game also makes getting them fairly obvious in that set. PA, having no limitations on actions or buys, is easier to grasp for newbs but also invites combo'liciousness from Deck Building veterans.
Another criticism I have of the PA game is that if one person gets access to 2+ more loot cards than an opponent, it's fairly difficult to come back from that. I really dislike snowballs like that in games. This is only really minimized with Santa and some of his weaker loot cards.
I happen to live near Cryptozoic' offices and know from my Magic tournament running days. The guys who made the game know their card games so I feel like they deliberately lowball'd this for the sake of the market.
Ascension actually does offer small flexibility in terms of strategy and how to attack the board at any given time. I know Rym is super critical of it but I would defend it that it isn't as bad as Ra. It also has you managing 2 currencies like PA but since the board is dynamic you have to navigate that accordingly.
I'm a huge fan of Ascension as a light warmup type game.
I wouldn't buy a physical copy of the PA game because of limited playability (IMO) but Ascension is def worth a purchase as both app and physical implementation.
Ro and I picked up Legendary, the Marvel Comics deck building game a couple weeks ago, and it plays similar to the Penny Arcade game. At the last PAX, I played Cryptozoic's DC licensed deck builder, which plays very similar to the PA game as well as Ascension. Nothing quite compares to the quality of Dominion, but thanks to it, the deck building genre has been flooded with games, and I have been a sucker and bought most of them. We own all of Dominion, some of Thunderstone, some of Nightfall, the first Puzzle Strike, Legendary, all of Ascension, and Miskatonic school for girls.
In other related news, I have played the Eclipse app and it is pretty fun and captures game play well.