This game, especially if just playing the original core set, is totally San Juan in space. I think it really becomes its own thing once you get to the expansions.
I've found an 'idiosyncrasy'.... I have a iPhone and iPad, and the game installed on each. I have the same online handle on each but different friend codes, so sadly no picking up a game on a separate device, and also asking people to add 2 friends to be able to play across devices Anyone else see the same? Anything I'm doing wrong?
interesting, i thought it was just more cards and some optional mechanics. but tell me, does the in-game manual and/or tutorial update/expand with each expansion? doesn't the first expansion offer a solo mode and the second some conquest feature? are the help systems updated to reflect this new stuff? thanks.
Since the game uses the scary-ass good Keldon AI, they don't currently bother with The Gathering Storm's Solo Mode. When looking up in-game help there are 3 tabs, 1 for core game and the 2 expansions. They cover the core rules in a fair amount of depth, but the other 2 tabs are really just quick reference sheets on the new mechanics introduced in each expansion. While it would have been nice if they provided even online links to full rules of game and expansion, they cover the basics well enough.
Re: "San Juan in space" To be fair, Race For The Galaxy was originally developed as a card-game version of Puerto Rico, and elements of that design were subsequently used in San Juan, while Tom Lehmann further developed his design into RFTG. Puerto Rico is the original, but San Juan was derived from RFTG and not vice-versa.
Oh, okay, I knew they were somehow connected, but admit I easily could have gotten the order they appeared wrong.
Bad Implementation In attempting to stay true to the random "order" of the discard pile, they made this game virtually unplayable beyond single player or possibly 2 people. Instead of being able to do each turn as an asynchronous collection of actions, every sub action is synchronous. Discarding, drawing, etc, must be done in order and you have to wait for every player to go. This causes a few hour long game to move to days to weeks. This is basically an implementation of a "play by mail" game, despite the advantages offered by mobile technology. For $15, I'd expect an intelligently designed app that takes advantage of the opportunities of the medium. Won't likely buy anything from this team again. They don't understand the implications of design choices.
This is an accurate port of the real life card game, so not designed from the get go to be an efficient "online experience". Maybe in the future they can make some alternative "streamlined for online play" mode where they change a few rules of the normally face to face card game, but I think the initial goal was to capture as accurately as possible the real game's flow of play.
Hmmm. I believe the real game is asynchronous with each sub-action. So the app works that way. Seeing others' sub-actions are important for strategic purposes. Otherwise you are missing out on information that can help you. If they made the app as you suggest this would truly be a solitaire game. Actually, the game does a good job of letting you take your sub-actions up to the point where another player must make a choice. For example, if your opponent cannot place a planet card, the app does not wait for them to determine that they cannot place a planet before allowing you to do so and to do the next sub-action. I think this is implemented very well.
Game just updated. Most important change is the ability to link up different devices so one profile sharable with many other devices. I find when you load online games on one device, the other linked ones are disconnected auto. Nice! I find the game list text on my iPad Mini 2 is now much bigger. This is good.
Surprised there isn't more traffic here. I'm late to the party but this is awesome. Possibly the best card game with async in years. App is super slick and the game is stellar.
Am I doing something wrong or is the online multiplayer somewhat inactive? Love the physical game, and this app is amazing!
