Episode 12 – Essen Spiel 2019 Aftermath

4 Replies to “Episode 12 – Essen Spiel 2019 Aftermath”

1. 

   RogerBW

   3 December 2019 at 9:46 am

   Reply

   I’m in a very similar position to Antoinette’s – at this point when I see something new I’m mostly saying “yeah, all right, but is it definitively better than that other game which I already have?”

   All right, I’ve still acquired 40 games and expansions this year according to BGG (though some of that was getting into Ashes and picking up all the bits for it), but that’s down from 97 last year. (Some of them are very small, like the Colt Express Bandits expansions.)

   I’ve played the first Sub Terra and I rather liked the feel of it – basically modern cavers getting unexpectedly into a bad situation. It sounds as though Sub Terra 2 is starting off with a more confrontational model where the players are going in expecting trouble. I’m not sure whether that’s a good or a bad thing, but it’s certainly a surprising change.

   Game demoing is one of the things I love about big conventions. I’m basically fairly introverted most of the time, but given a context like “I want to teach you this game” I’m happy to spend all day chatting with strangers. It helps that I’ve always had games to demo that I enjoy.

   I think Saturday was the busiest day for us (Indie Game Studios) at the back of hall 3, but except for Sunday I’d basically sit down, start demoing games, and apart from the odd bio break not get up until the end of my shift. (That was Aeon’s End: The New Age most of the time.)

   Food in Germany, even in NRW, can be great, but the Messe is a bit out from the centre of Essen and it can be pretty bad even if you don’t have food intolerances. There are cafés over on the Rüttenscheiderstraße, but not much to take away. I usually do bring some food, but I’m fortunate that I like instant noodles and other things that’ll last (and if I end up going out to supper they can go back in the cupboard when I get home).

   There used to be big bargains on Sunday – well, there used to be bigger bargains all fair – but these days even the American publishers are more likely to be shipping their unsold games on to the next European show rather than taking them back to the USA.

   I don’t do “big” social media, so I can’t comment directly on your videos on YouTube or via Twitter. Very glad to have helped make your Essen more pleasant!

   I’ll certainly be at the UK Games Expo…

   • 

     Oliver

     3 December 2019 at 10:00 am

     Reply

     Thank you for your comment, Roger. It’s great to hear your experiences at Essen.

     It seems a lot of people use boardgames as a way to overcome introversion or fears or worries. It’s a great common ground or focus to use. That’s one of the reasons why I love our hobby so much.

     I’m also glad to hear that Indie Game Studios was busy during the exhibition.

     I never played Sub Terra I, so I don’t know the difference, but I do love the Indiana Jones kind of theme of Sub Terra II – and it’s even better that my wife enjoys it so much as well.

     Don’t worry about not being on social media otherwise. It’s great to get comments on the website, or even an email. We just love hearing from others and find out about their thoughts and ideas.

     So maybe I’ll see you at UK Games Expo and Essen next year, and I’m also at AireCon.

     • 

       RogerBW

       3 December 2019 at 11:44 am

       Reply

       I’ll be at Airecon too – no particular plans but it would be good to get together some time. Whether I can get to Essen 2020 is a matter of (politics elided).

       • 

         Oliver

         3 December 2019 at 12:07 pm

         Reply

         Yes, that would be good. Let’s get in touch closer to the time, once I know what I’ll be doing and where I’ll be. I’m looking forward to it.