Valley Games has unveiled their Pre-order program (see this Geeklist). I wish them luck, but it seems to me that ~1/2 of their games are .... odd. Is Big City really that highly desired? I sold my copy and haven't seen it played much since it came out (including at places like the Gathering, where many people presumably own it). Ditto Liberte. (My copy is for sale if you want it now!). Anno Domino looks like a slightly better Chronology.
Republic of Rome ... I like it (I had a copy but cashed it out a few years ago), but I wonder if it doesn't fall into there too. Really, the only game I feel will be a slam dunk is Titan (one of my Top 10 of all time). Still, the fact that they aren't committed until they've got enough orders to (presumably) cover their costs or almost makes this a low risk enterprise. [Except, of course, that they are committed to a few of the party games].
I did order Hannibal -- Rome vs. Carthage from them ... but all of the other good games were ones I've owned (and kept, so don't need; or sold, so I'm in no rush).
There are 6 AoS maps at Essen? Wow. (Preview 1, Preview 2). I'm reminded of a story I heard about the Dodge Ram pickup ... 80% of the focus groups disliked it, but the CEO enthusiastically went ahead with production, because 20% loved it. I guess AoS is like that too ... I never considered it a lifestyle game, but clearly it is for a small group (much like 18xx). Still, I'm good with what I've got.
I know I'm the only one here who cares (ok, Herr Doktor Michael does), but I'm pleased that the new Shadowfist expansion is kicking its way through the distribution chain. It's been a long time.
This session report reminded me of a poem gamers should know ("One Art" by Elizabeth Bishop). Its still under copyright, but if you remember the first line you can always google it. ("The art of losing isn't hard to master.") [OK, the poem isn't about losing in our sense, but I like it.]
On a random note -- Time may not exist. So feel free to ponder your next move a bit longer. [Seriously, I see that headline and I think ... "Oh good, scientists haven't come off as snooty and out of touch enough recently." The article isn't bad, but sheesh. If time doesn't exist something put on a hell of a disguise).
Finally, I'm amazed how different 2-player Notre Dame felt (as compared to 3-5). Whole different ballgame. (I just played a few times at BSW).
Then there is this new, big-box Knizia game hiding in there, Municipum. I'm surprised people aren't all over that, but so far it's one of the weakest draws. I mean, Liberte has more pre-orders. Come on, what's up with that? Liberte is intruiging but not a great game. I'm also surprised that Knizia would accept the whole 750 precondition, I'd think he'd want to know it would be printed, or he'd shop it elsewhere.
One other thing, I wonder how much they are getting hit by the weak US dollar. Their prices are a touch high, and I wonder how much the fall in the US dollar vs. the Canadian dollar hurt them.
I do agree that it seems like they might have done better with a more focussed inital offering, and broaden from there, instead of the slightly scattershot stuff they've got. But I wish them well also. I certainly hope to get a shiny, graphically-updated RoR.
Chris, I know you're all about the Reiner, but even though I'm also a big fan of his, I think most folks view his recent record as spotty when it comes to meaty titles. I used to tingle in anticipation of the latest Knizia. I still look forward to them, but the tingle is gone (can I say that on a family web site?). We are far removed from his halcyon '97-'00 days.
I will say that I absolutely adore Medici vs. Strozzi. Without question, the best thing he's done since Amun-Re. (I know that period includes your beloved Tower of Babel and Beowulf, but those two don't stack up to the others IMO.) I'm surprised that M vs. S isn't getting more raves, but it's a very intense, very unforgiving game, so I can see where it might not be for everyone. But if Municipium turns out to be good as that one, I'll be all over it.
Chris, I've never heard your opinion of Medici vs. Strozzi, since you had "retired" prior to its release. I don't know how much two-player gaming you do, but I wonder if you share my high opinion of it.
Re: Scientists (Larry) -- Do you seriously disbelieve that Time doesn't exist? Actually the fault is the headline writers, the scientists basically say "We don't understand it." And, of course, things get weird at the small scales. It's not comparable to Einstein ... he was stating something that people had no experience with. Everyone knows time, there's clearly something there, even if we don't know why.
I've been wanting to try MvS, but not willing to spring for it.
And I disagree that Einstein was working in unexplained areas. Newtonian physics was very well known, with constant, everyday applications (such as explaining the movement of the planets with extreme accuracy). It was one of the most respected and hallowed works of science ever devised and had worked flawlessly for over 200 years. To state that this theory was somehow faulty, even in narrow circumstances such as near the speed of light, took enormous scientific courage and faith in one's abilities.
Even the more esoteric aspects of Einstein's theory seemed extremely counter to the observations we all make every day. Light has a constant speed, even if the shining object is moving? That makes no sense and runs contrary to our daily observations. Mass and energy are equivalent? Any freshman college student of the day could have told you why that was an insane notion. And yet, they've all been shown to be true--at least, until the next modification comes along.
About the (non)-existence of time: this actually sounds like one of the more harmless things, compared to, say, the spontaneous creation and destruction of matter at small scales (quantum foam), or rolled up extra dimensions. Basically, what they're saying boils down to: we have this equation that describes reality, and time doesn't factor into it. Hence, we think time has no meaning. That's kind of how the warping of the space-time continuum through mass came to be as well (talk about daily observations...).