Computer based boardgames have become my latest gaming fixation. I'm a huge fan of board games but rarely get to play them because I don't know anyone near me that plays. Computer versions that allow solo or online play are great for giving me my fix. Figured I'd tell you about two games I've played recently.
The first is
Ticket to Ride, a train themed game. I've been interested in the game for a while but never had a chance to play. Then last week they released Ticket to Ride Pocket for the iPhone which I bought straight away. Love it, want more.
The iPhone version does not have any online multiplayer, just solo, pass & play, and local bluetooth multi. However they do have an iPad version that plays online as well as PC, Mac, and Linux. From what it looks like they all operate off the same multiplayer servers so its cross platform play. PC version is $10 and comes with the original USA map. Additional maps and addons are available sich as the 1910 expansion that adds more tickets and game modes to the USA map, and the Europe and Sweden maps that add new gameplay such as stations and tunnels. Those are $5 each. So for everything on PC it'd be like $25. So far I just have the USA map.
If you visit the site you can play a Java version of the game in your browser. You get a turorial and 4 free games before you have to buy so you can check it out first.
Next up we have
Memoir '44, by the same people as TtR. This one is a WW2 wargame, but much more simple than the typical wargame. Hex map divided into three sections, you play a card that allows you to activate units (only 3 kinds of units) in the different sections, you move and battle, then its the other guys turn. You win by defeating your opponents units or capturing objectives. Its pretty fun.
You can download the standalone client from the site there, or you can get it on Steam. This one is a little different, money-wise. Client is free to download and there are two maps available to play for free. The rest requires "gold" to play. You buy gold in bunches and then each map costs 2-3 gold per game to play. Its like 12 cents per play. They give you 100 gold when you first start playing, plus the two free maps you can play forever so its worth checking out. Just a little dissapointing you can't pay one lump sum and just play for free from then on.
