Not Your Mother's Monopoly
348946
Don't expect a game that is an enhancement of "regular" monopoly.  It's essentially a different game with a different rhythm and not as satisfying to play as the "old-school" Monopoly, according to my sources, ages 9-18, two boys and one girl. They like it "OK."  Except for the novelty of it, I don't think that my kids will play it for long. It won't become a family favorite the way that Monopoly, Life, and Uno are.  It also needs more buildings.  We've supplemented with Lego buildings.
586143
This is the first board game that I have found compelling and addictive since Settlers, but it is so much easier to learn and to play with a group of people of mixed experience. The historical setting is familiar, the graphic design of the tiles is attractive, the rules are very easy to understand, and a round of the game can be played in just an hour. But it will be an unusual group that puts it away after just one round!

When you first learn the rules, you think that the game is simple and that winning will be dependent on the tiles you draw. But the reality is very different. The strategic elements are subtle and take time to master, which make it more fun the more you play.
2884281
The story is about Steve, who one evening gets the family business from his father and instantly discovers that running a business is not easy. Many things in life are unclear and illogical and yet you must move forward and survive.  If this sounds familiar to you, then you should read this book; it will give you a snapshot into Complex Systems. The author successfully dissects complex relationships between people, customers and suppliers, father and son, him and her and all of that is in life's troubled waters. Its a story with sharp insights and piercing viewpoints, cracking many common thinking patterns and paradigms.  The one part I liked most was the notion that one should always look at things from the "other person's" perspective.  Is that a difficult thing to do? Of course it is, so how do you do it? Deflating Ego is one way. Another one: If you are a supplier and really want the business, try to surrender to your customer rather than fight him, or to put it better, surrender to the situation and realize that someone has something that you really want. Be clever and think long term, because customer/supplier relationships are unlike an electric switch that you can turn on and off.
Creativity is another example. Being creative is not easy, and for many almost impossible; but is it really so difficult?  Must one invent something new in order to be creative? Not necessarily, sometimes you only have to change your point of view: "May be sitting in dad's chair gave Steve a new look," that simple.  It is like a "Necker Cube", just change your viewpoint  if you can of course. One thing is for sure: With inflexible Ego, you will fail to do so.
The writing is beautiful in terms of flow and content. The author well exposes a wide and intricate network of ideas, and you get a straightforward understanding of who has what views, and how they differ between characters. It is an easy read, and the reader is not forced to go back and forth to remind himself of who is who. There are not too many characters introduced, just enough to make the necessary points.
The book calls for commentary reading to discover more layers, and is an excellent base for in-house workshops for all business entities.
128107
Monopoly is one of the most popular board games of all time and this book gives a history of the game from a legal perspective.  Although "The Monopolists" is non-fiction, much of the book reads like a novel, which is a testament to the fine writing of the author Mary Pilon.  Parker Brothers began marketing Monopoly in the 1930s under ownership rights which were eventually shown to be faulty.  This result came about because of the perseverance of one individual, an economics college professor, Ralph Anspach, who spent years battling Parker Brothers in litigation involving his board game "Anti-Monopoly" introduced in the early 1970s.

This book appears to be well researched and has a detailed list of its sources.  It contains considerable information on pre-cursors to Parker Brothers' version of the game and the individuals who developed those earlier versions.  I also found of interest the history of Parker Brothers and Milton Bradley discussed in the book.

I do not believe you need to be a Monopoly board game addict to enjoy reading this book, although it does give some information on the development of various features of the game.  The central theme of the book though is a David vs. Goliath style story about how one persistent individual eventually prevailed against a corporate giant.  Whether the benefits of prevailing were worth the cost is another issue, the answer to which is not so clear.
643785
This isn't the fantasy tale i was expecting.  it's set in a world much like our own with the "haves" and "have nots' and roughly uses the characters from Lewis Carrol's Wonderland, but don't expect the usual Alice!  This girl has been damaged and betrayed by friends and family.  She struggles to overcome the hideous things that have happened to her.
4444396
We are not big board game fans usually. We are trying to do it more for the kids (10 and 8) but most games are too kid oriented to hold an adults attention or too difficult for the kids to enjoy. This meets the whole family and not just by meeting in the middle. It is challenging enough if you want to apply a lot of strategy but it is simple enough in theory that it need not be difficult at all. What really impressed me is the quality of the game. So many of the games we have purchased have cheaply made boards, all the pieces in cellophane bag that can not be reused and thrown in the empty box, etc. This came with a huge board of great quality, thick game cards printed on a decent stock  rather than thin paper, nice pieces and I love the way the inside plastic organizer for the pieces has well thought out indentions that makes storing the pieces securely possible while also making it possible for you to get ahold of the pieces easily.
I have a feeling this is going to be a family favorite for awhile. I enjoyed it so much I spent money on the app so I could also play it on my phone solo but the whole family is always wanting to play that too.
1941048
I checked this audio cd out from my office's business book library and listened to it in the car. When my wife used my car, I saw her roll up and park in the driveway with the lights off. Turns out she was listening to the book in the car; she couldn't "put it down."

I am not a business book reader but needed something different than talk radio. The material here is presented in an engaging and entertaining fashion. You will certainly recognize you and your own co-workers in the characters presented. Even my kids thought this book was fun - they didn't mind when I pushed "play" in the car.

I'm not sure that there is a lot of take away for rank and file workers like me, as most of the material seems aimed at developing a strategic for companies where there is none. One of the dysfunction is the theory that conflict is good, that a good argument among peers may solve problems. I can't imagine arguing with my co-workers to get to what point?

Still, the reader of the CD does a good job of representing each character so that you look forward to hearing what they will do next.

The only criticism is that the newly hired manager is given credit for 'knowing' every thought or action her new charges will take in response to her tough love approach to management. It makes her solutions seem a bit formulaic.
1764588
As many have attested, this is an amazing game. If you've already mastered "Settlers of Catan" this is worth checking out. The rules are a bit complex, but only takes a few play-throughs to get the hang of. It has the worker placement of&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Settlers-of-Catan/dp/B000W7JWUA/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Settlers of Catan</a>&nbsp;combined with the "shipping" mechanics of&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Puerto-Rico/dp/B00008URUT/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Puerto Rico</a>. On top of that you have a decent city building element and bonuses in the way of "Royal Favors". Read the other reviews and check it out on BoardGameGeek, and you'll see what we're all raving about. If that isn't enough to convince you, there's even an iPad version now that is pretty faithful to the table top version, which can serve as an inexpensive introduction to this title.

Bottom Line: If you are a fan of strategic/euro-style games, and you don't already have this in your collection, buy it NOW and thank us later.
973533
I was a bit apprehensive about reading this book at first, as I'd read another of this author's works, "Dragon's Bait," awhile back and had been disappointed by it.  But the concept of this book intrigued me enough that I overcame my misgivings and opted to give it a shot.  While I'm not an avid gamer myself, a book about being fully immersed in a fantasy-themed video game thanks to powerful technology -- a mixing of genres, as it were -- appealed to me.  And in the end, I'm glad I gave it a chance -- it's a fun read, and will appeal to both young fantasy fans and video gamers who want to see a book that shows their interest without putting it down.

Just a note -- this book IS a sequel, a fact I was unaware of until I came to Amazon to leave a review.  But it's not necessary to read "User Unfriendly" to enjoy this book, and from what I can see, the only thing the two books share is the concept of a total-immersion fantasy game and don't even have characters in common.  You can read and enjoy "Heir Apparent" on its own merits, without having read "User Unfriendly" first.

Fourteen-year-old Giannine has received a gift certificate to a high-end arcade from her absentee father as a birthday gift, and she decides to cash it in on a session of the game "Heir Apparent," where she will play as a peasant's daughter who discovers she's secretly the daughter of the king... and heir to the throne of the kingdom in the wake of his death.  In order to rightfully claim her throne in the game, Giannine will have to use her wits to make alliances, uncover traitors, appease long-dead ghosts and saints, and face off against a barbarian army and a vicious dragon.  But a group of anti-fantasy protesters has broken into the arcade and damaged the equipment, trapping Giannine in the game... and the only way out of the game is to win it.  Can she win the crown -- and the game -- before time runs out?

While the fantasy kingdom in "Heir Apparent" is pretty cliche, the book itself is self-aware enough to lampshade and gently mock the cliches as they crop up.  I'm perfectly forgiving of this, as said fantasy kingdom is the product of a video game.  Likewise, I'm forgiving of many of the characters being somewhat flat, seeing as they're not actual people but bits of data in the game.  The game still manages to surprise Giannine -- and the reader -- as it goes, however, and shows that certain characters have unexpected hidden depths to them, and that they can easily become allies or enemies depending on how they're treated.

Giannine herself sees growth as her adventure progresses, starting out as a snarky and belligerent teen but slowly revealing a more caring side as the book goes.  I liked seeing her learn and progress with each gameplay, and though it took longer than I would have liked for her to learn that she's far more likely to gain others' cooperation if she treats them politely, in the end it was good to see her become a better person through the game.

The writing is somewhat pedestrian, but it does its job well.  I wouldn't have minded seeing more of the fantasy kingdom of the game, though I can also understand that doing so would have bogged down the story, which progresses at a steady pace and never lags.  In light of this, I can forgive sacrificing some description in order to keep the pace quick and steady.

Reminiscent of "Tron" and "Ready Player One," "Heir Apparent" is a fun read that should please both fantasy and sci-fi fans, and is a good read for kids and young teens who might not be ready for "Ready Player One."  It's a lot of fun, and I'd recommend it to kids 8 and up.
591187
I bought the book on a whim (given that it's free, and why not?), and ended up devouring it. I was very pleasantly surprised.

This isn't a book for people who like instant gratification. The story unfolds gradually; each piece of the puzzle is deliberate. The characters are complex and have their own motivations. A lot of locations are backdrops you may never see again, but what occurs there is relevant later.

The Entire (or the "All") is an artificial construction, carefully shaped by its alien lords. It is pressed up against our universe, so close that they are able to peer in upon Earth, which they call the Rose. One man of Earth has visited the Entire, though few believed his tale, and fights desperately to return. The story picks up when he's granted his wish, and the consequences unfold from there.

Kenyon's vision is far reaching. Her pacing is steady, but if you can enjoy a good story for the sake of the story itself, you may very well find yourself reaching for the second book as soon as you finish this one.
2777130
Catan offers bartering and interaction, in addition to strategy and chance. Even when it is not your turn, you are still involved in the action. I can see this game being played by our family for a long time. Both teenagers enjoy it and so do the parents. It does take a little over an hour to play. That means it takes a bit of a commitment to start, but the result is quality time together.

The play might be too complicated for younger children to enjoy. I would estimate children under 10 or 12 would need guidance to make good decisions and stay competitive at least for the first several games.
344974
PROS: Truly a rare find for those who enjoy open-ended games.  The production value and concepts are really nice, the base game is fun and engaging, and the replay-ability is clearly there. This was a KS game, and the company provided templates and info about their process to the point that you can make DIY expansion bits.

CONS: It's pretty clear the base rules were not fully play tested, and lack in a few places.  That said, there is an on line forum with several rule variations and fan based expansions.  But if you have a "true rule lawyer", that doesn't like to play with house rules, the base is a little too luck based IMHO.
3912876
This game has a lot of strategy involved.  The rules may seem complicated at first, but they will quickly become second nature, so don't worry!  It is a fun combination of Monopoly, Settlers of Catan, and Risk.
2528782
The era of conspicuous consumption is long gone for most of us. A combination of the great recession, concerns over waste, an explosion of new technologies, and a generation raised on sharing brought on its demise. Instead of owning things, more and more people (especially Digital Natives) are choosing to get the benefit of things without actually buying them. Its a concept called collaborative consumption, and its not exactly a modern idea. Renting, bartering, trading, and sharing have been around for as long as people and societies have interacted. So what's new?

Shareology does a fantastic job bringing this new era of interacting into context.  With great examples and storytelling the future becomes much more relevant as sharing becomes more than a fad but a way of life.  Worth the read (and a re-read I'm sure!).
3989344
I've played this game at least a dozen times, mostly with the basic set of cards. Once the game is laid out before you, you go into farming-mode, and set to out-deck your farm against your neighbors. A lot of thought is involved in this, as with many games that are on the long end of time commitment, so buyer beware--casual decision making will leave you begging for points.

I play this game with two separate groups--one of my age, and one with family years younger than me. With my peers, I've yet to win once (but came close once!), and usually selfishly blame it on poor hand composition. With family, I have mostly the experience advantage and being just having the knack of seeing/planning farther ahead than them (but note I do not say I always win!).

The beauty of the game is how malleable it is towards the players, having three different decks for different levels of play. These decks I mention are cards that can give persistent or immediate bonuses to help the player along in cultivating his farm (play mat). There's also the option of not playing with cards at all (though probably no where near as engaging as it's designed for first-timers). Even the play area can be altered to allow for more or less forgiveness.

I would not immediately go out and buy this, though. The hefty  retail price tag alone should give you pause and think: "Do I have the willing audience to get together and sit down for two plus hours on one game?" If you can assuredly say yes, then this will be a solid investment.
2236547
The premise of the story is that an innkeeper is trying to get some value out of the folks that have dodged their tabs to her for over a season.

This book is good, but it is not what I expected.  That might be my own fault.  I just saw that a new Mouse Guard book by Petersen was coming out, and I did not pore over the description to find the details that might have revealed ...  David Petersen only does the first and last sets of panels in the books.  The remainder of the book is done by other artists who have produced Mouse Guard items.

So, each of the "stories" in the book is one of the products by the other authors.

The quality varies significantly.  While all are fine, only two rise to the professional level that Petersen has set.

I don't want to spoil this for those of you who will read the book, but the story of the mouse versus the cat with the most powerful weapon is my favorite.  You'll see.  It is quite clever and much in line with the style and feel of past Mouse Guard books.

It is worth the price, but just realize what you are getting.

In service,

Rich
1695157
If you are like me -- if you are someone who really does not get into computer games much because they rarely engage you beyond the first couple of hours -- Myst is a very pleasant surprise. Like many people, I am disgusted by the grotesque or mind-numbing nature of most of the games you see for computers and in arcades. Myst is a game that I think is attractive to readers and gamers who like more contemplative entertainment, and (this is just a guess) it probably attracts those of us who enjoy playing games like chess or Scrabble on a computer. This game takes more patience, it requires you to really use your reasoning abilities, even to get out a pad and pencil to sketch courses of action. It is not about instant gratification (blowing away your enemy) but rather, it is about entering a sort of fantasy world and trying to figure out why things look and act the way they do, then acting on your hypotheses. Each time you do uncover one of the answers (and I don't want to give any of them away here) you are rewarded by gaining access to a whole new realm of mysteries that is more complex than the previous one. Along the way, the music and the images border on the edge of mystery, and sometimes even horror. But it is an implied horror, something you sense rather than something thrown at you, and the game never crosses the line into tastelessness. It's one of the very few games I have ever tried where, hours after I shut down the computer, I got an insight into how to go about a particular strategy, and then I wanted to get back into it and see if my idea worked. How often do video games cause that reaction in players?
Once you have "won" the game, there is nothing new to experience. However, it will take you a good while to get there. If you compare this to other entertainments, for example, going out to movies, you realize that the hours you'll spend on the game, even if it does have an "ending," are well worth the price. Even after "winning," it is interesting once in a while to go back into the game just to take a look at the images again.