"It can be mean from time to time" is a very friendly description of Age of Steam. Age of Steam is also from like, 2002. In regards to the innovation comment, I feel like it did a lot 20 years ago that might not have been too common. At the very least it spawned a bunch of spin offs, which suggests some degree of innovation.
I came here to say this. The gaming landscape of 2002 vs 2022 is quite a bit different. The fact that Age of Steam is still around and being reprinted tells us a lot about its place in modern gaming history.
This is the first review vid I’ve seen of this game and have to say you’ve got this formula down. Very informative and enjoyable. Was hoping you’d address “4. A deep dive into the gameplay” but maybe that’s planned for the future?
Excellent approach to presenting games. You have convinced me to try «Age of Steam» but, I've bought «Steam Rails to Riches» in order to get my group (average age 68) ready for Steam. Thanks for this...
As for innovation, I find the auction to be extraordinary - there's even a bit of push-your-luck hidden in it and also the consequences of opportunity of the special actions chosen immediately afterward. I also like the simplicity of future cubes mechanism.
Lol y’all are forgetting it’s also being bundled with the volume 1 expansion that come with another 9 maps. And sure enough it’s 245 USD plus 22 expansion maps and the wooden trains. Haha so yeah though not cheap it’s a heck of deal!
Age of Steam is an incredible game system with all its maps. Such a tight, brutal but really satisfying game. The rush you get the turn when you are in the black is incredible and gets me all the time.
So the latest Kickstarter offers: Age of Steam Deluxe (3 boards/6 maps) plus all of the cubes, track, player disks, dice, etc. Expansion Volume 1 (4 boards/9 maps) which were previously available as add-ons and/or first Kickstarter bonuses Expansion Volume 2 (3 boards/7 maps) Expansion Volume 3 (3 boards/6 maps) from 6 designers Only one map in each of volume 2 and 3 is completely new and never before seen, but many/most of the other maps were only available in very limited runs and are long out of print.
wow! I was just browsing through eagle gryphon games website and looking at age of steam wondering what game it is. And then this video pops up. Nice timing
There's a solo map in the base box, a few others can be PnP'd from BGG; at least a couple of 7p maps (one that adds an extension to Rust Belt and another that 2-map expansion that when you have two copies can be combined); and maybe an 8p map.
Love the “right for you wrong for you” videos! You’ve been putting out some great content (especially lately). I’ve always been interested in this game, but I mainly play games with just my wife. I mostly found this game “isn’t really worth it” if only mostly playing 2 player. What are your thoughts about this as a mainly 2 player experience? It seems like a game that is “right for me”, except the question of 2 player count. Keep up the great content.
I really liked the analysis, but in this case I think you are missing the elephantine-like locomotive in the room. Right/Wrong is a great series; I like it a lot, and this video is no exception. But it’s too binary for AoS specifically. The number of AoS-adjacent games, including Steam, Railroad Tycoon, and Railways of the World, (and others?), all with almost the same system and all by the same designer - Martin Wallace, means you need to go more nuanced. These games have between a 75-85% overlap with the original AoS, depending on the game and recognizing that YMMV. So, it might be that any/all of these is right for some (although 1 might be more right), all of these are wrong, or somewhere in between - AoS is right/wrong, but another, say Steam might be wrong/right. I think in this video, you should have at least mentioned the others, or maybe added 3 minutes to compare AoS to the others. (This is AoS streamlined so more accessible, and that is a less punishing AoS, and so on.) Other than that, great work, as always!
@@agustinga1286 From all of the Quackalope videos I have seen, Jesse has integrity and sincerity. If it was a paid preview, he would have said so. And, he explicitly said opposite in his patreon update.
@@sethwinslow He received a free a copy to play and review. In that sense, he has been paid. If he gives a critical review, then he runs the risk of not receiving games in the future. For a channel focused on new, yet-to-be released games, that could be troublesome. I suspect that is why he tends to side with designers and publishers. I’ve always appreciated his sincerity but his transparency is leaves a bit to be desired.
@@briansaben5697 There have been a lot of discussions on this and other channels about the issue of credibility. Basically, they tend to review and report on games that they like - they will sometimes refuse to review/preview games. That's why reviews are on average positive. And, if you are so convinced that content creators are unreliable, either in general, or in particular, why are you watching? Surely you have better things to do with your time than listen/watch propaganda/paid advertising that you don't believe? (I don't have that luxury, since I work on national security issues, and I have to watch a fair Russian propaganda for my job. Believe me, if I wasn't paid to do it, I would not.) One other thing. This was not a KS preview. There was some of that, but it was a right/wrong for you video, and Jesse provided some good reasons for why AoS might be wrong for some people. FWIW, I sold my copy of AoS a decade ago, and I kept Railroad Tycoon. What he said about wrong for you in the video matches closely with my experience/opinion.
@@sethwinslow Not a waste of time for me at all. I enjoy learning about games but keep the reviews in context especially if the creator is unwilling to share how they received the game. Some creators are very up front with their viewers while others are not. Sorry if my comment offended you. That was not the intent.
This game is SOSOSOSO right for me. I absolutely love this game. So much. Getting just enough money to do what you want to do. Trying to get in everyone's head to figure out what they want and how to work around that. Seeing the patterns for the deliveries and planning out those routes and adapting as those routes become cut off....so good. There are other adaptations/similar games, but...this one just sings for me. For innovation. This was innovative when it came out. It's...20? Years old at this point. So it was the base for a lot of modern innovation... 18xx games are for sure board games...always have been. But I understand the sentiment of it being a bit of a different community in the past. And glad that all new 13 boards are only $94 (excluding base game)!!!
We were interested until we saw the price and saw most of the boards were not designed for 2 player. If you could pick and choose the maps so we could only get the ones that worked at two we would consider it.
Two players is honestly the least interesting player count for AoS. A lot of the tension in the game is the auction, and 2 player auctions aren't nearly as interesting as 3+ (and especially 4+) player auctions. It can be done though and I'll happily play it at 2, but I wouldn't want to only play it at 2.
I think it's right for me, but I've never played it. Had it in my collection for more than 2 years, but there was always another game that I wanted to play more or one that I thought would fit the group better. So in the end I decided to sell it.
Heh, I was not interested in the maps too much, but from the video I am guessing Sweden recycling is going to be in in.. so the offering might actually be interesting.. Unless that one is just on the table randomly. If this anywhere close to 5$ a map, 100% a sale. We'll see, I expect it to be quite a bit higher.
Irish Gauge and Chicago Express can be compared. Age of Steam is way harder to compare. They share the theme of trains but that is kind of very surface level. Some will certainly prefer one family of games over the other, but that is a tricky comparison.
I don't know, I think you guys would better serve your viewers if you have played Steam to compare it to. You guys are drooling over $250 all in, but you can get a copy of Steam for $30...it comes off like you're schilling for the company.
"It can be mean from time to time" is a very friendly description of Age of Steam.
Age of Steam is also from like, 2002. In regards to the innovation comment, I feel like it did a lot 20 years ago that might not have been too common. At the very least it spawned a bunch of spin offs, which suggests some degree of innovation.
I came here to say this. The gaming landscape of 2002 vs 2022 is quite a bit different. The fact that Age of Steam is still around and being reprinted tells us a lot about its place in modern gaming history.
This is the first review vid I’ve seen of this game and have to say you’ve got this formula down. Very informative and enjoyable. Was hoping you’d address “4. A deep dive into the gameplay” but maybe that’s planned for the future?
Excellent approach to presenting games. You have convinced me to try «Age of Steam» but, I've bought «Steam Rails to Riches» in order to get my group (average age 68) ready for Steam. Thanks for this...
As for innovation, I find the auction to be extraordinary - there's even a bit of push-your-luck hidden in it and also the consequences of opportunity of the special actions chosen immediately afterward. I also like the simplicity of future cubes mechanism.
Lol y’all are forgetting it’s also being bundled with the volume 1 expansion that come with another 9 maps. And sure enough it’s 245 USD plus 22 expansion maps and the wooden trains. Haha so yeah though not cheap it’s a heck of deal!
Age of Steam is an incredible game system with all its maps. Such a tight, brutal but really satisfying game. The rush you get the turn when you are in the black is incredible and gets me all the time.
So the latest Kickstarter offers:
Age of Steam Deluxe (3 boards/6 maps) plus all of the cubes, track, player disks, dice, etc.
Expansion Volume 1 (4 boards/9 maps) which were previously available as add-ons and/or first Kickstarter bonuses
Expansion Volume 2 (3 boards/7 maps)
Expansion Volume 3 (3 boards/6 maps) from 6 designers
Only one map in each of volume 2 and 3 is completely new and never before seen, but many/most of the other maps were only available in very limited runs and are long out of print.
wow! I was just browsing through eagle gryphon games website and looking at age of steam wondering what game it is. And then this video pops up. Nice timing
There's a solo map in the base box, a few others can be PnP'd from BGG; at least a couple of 7p maps (one that adds an extension to Rust Belt and another that 2-map expansion that when you have two copies can be combined); and maybe an 8p map.
I have been looking at this and the one you didn’t mention Railways of…. [world and others]. How does it differ?
Oh, Age of Steam is right for me! That is why I am always a bit sad when I miss an AOS night.
Love the “right for you wrong for you” videos! You’ve been putting out some great content (especially lately). I’ve always been interested in this game, but I mainly play games with just my wife. I mostly found this game “isn’t really worth it” if only mostly playing 2 player. What are your thoughts about this as a mainly 2 player experience? It seems like a game that is “right for me”, except the question of 2 player count. Keep up the great content.
I really liked the analysis, but in this case I think you are missing the elephantine-like locomotive in the room. Right/Wrong is a great series; I like it a lot, and this video is no exception. But it’s too binary for AoS specifically. The number of AoS-adjacent games, including Steam, Railroad Tycoon, and Railways of the World, (and others?), all with almost the same system and all by the same designer - Martin Wallace, means you need to go more nuanced. These games have between a 75-85% overlap with the original AoS, depending on the game and recognizing that YMMV. So, it might be that any/all of these is right for some (although 1 might be more right), all of these are wrong, or somewhere in between - AoS is right/wrong, but another, say Steam might be wrong/right. I think in this video, you should have at least mentioned the others, or maybe added 3 minutes to compare AoS to the others. (This is AoS streamlined so more accessible, and that is a less punishing AoS, and so on.) Other than that, great work, as always!
This video is about selling the kickstarter, thats what they paying him for… so ofc talking about other games which are not from EGG ain’t happening..
@@agustinga1286 From all of the Quackalope videos I have seen, Jesse has integrity and sincerity. If it was a paid preview, he would have said so. And, he explicitly said opposite in his patreon update.
@@sethwinslow He received a free a copy to play and review. In that sense, he has been paid. If he gives a critical review, then he runs the risk of not receiving games in the future. For a channel focused on new, yet-to-be released games, that could be troublesome. I suspect that is why he tends to side with designers and publishers. I’ve always appreciated his sincerity but his transparency is leaves a bit to be desired.
@@briansaben5697 There have been a lot of discussions on this and other channels about the issue of credibility. Basically, they tend to review and report on games that they like - they will sometimes refuse to review/preview games. That's why reviews are on average positive.
And, if you are so convinced that content creators are unreliable, either in general, or in particular, why are you watching? Surely you have better things to do with your time than listen/watch propaganda/paid advertising that you don't believe? (I don't have that luxury, since I work on national security issues, and I have to watch a fair Russian propaganda for my job. Believe me, if I wasn't paid to do it, I would not.)
One other thing. This was not a KS preview. There was some of that, but it was a right/wrong for you video, and Jesse provided some good reasons for why AoS might be wrong for some people. FWIW, I sold my copy of AoS a decade ago, and I kept Railroad Tycoon. What he said about wrong for you in the video matches closely with my experience/opinion.
@@sethwinslow Not a waste of time for me at all. I enjoy learning about games but keep the reviews in context especially if the creator is unwilling to share how they received the game. Some creators are very up front with their viewers while others are not. Sorry if my comment offended you. That was not the intent.
I like how I almost never said right for you or wrong for you lol. That cracks me up.
This game is SOSOSOSO right for me. I absolutely love this game. So much. Getting just enough money to do what you want to do. Trying to get in everyone's head to figure out what they want and how to work around that. Seeing the patterns for the deliveries and planning out those routes and adapting as those routes become cut off....so good.
There are other adaptations/similar games, but...this one just sings for me.
For innovation. This was innovative when it came out. It's...20? Years old at this point. So it was the base for a lot of modern innovation...
18xx games are for sure board games...always have been. But I understand the sentiment of it being a bit of a different community in the past.
And glad that all new 13 boards are only $94 (excluding base game)!!!
How does this game compare to Bus?
When is this Kickstarter for new maps happening?
Started today!!
We were interested until we saw the price and saw most of the boards were not designed for 2 player. If you could pick and choose the maps so we could only get the ones that worked at two we would consider it.
Base game - print to play maps :)
Two players is honestly the least interesting player count for AoS. A lot of the tension in the game is the auction, and 2 player auctions aren't nearly as interesting as 3+ (and especially 4+) player auctions. It can be done though and I'll happily play it at 2, but I wouldn't want to only play it at 2.
I think it's right for me, but I've never played it. Had it in my collection for more than 2 years, but there was always another game that I wanted to play more or one that I thought would fit the group better. So in the end I decided to sell it.
Heh, I was not interested in the maps too much, but from the video I am guessing Sweden recycling is going to be in in.. so the offering might actually be interesting..
Unless that one is just on the table randomly.
If this anywhere close to 5$ a map, 100% a sale. We'll see, I expect it to be quite a bit higher.
I think what I really need here is a comparison to similar games like Irish Gauge or Chicago Express to really make up my mind.
I think it is better than both those options.
Irish Gauge and Chicago Express can be compared. Age of Steam is way harder to compare. They share the theme of trains but that is kind of very surface level.
Some will certainly prefer one family of games over the other, but that is a tricky comparison.
This must be one of the 27 videos Shira edited like 🔥, can't wait to see all of them. I'm a bit of a editing connoisseur by now 🤪
We actually filmed this one Tuesday evening so it's on top of the other 27. She is a machine!
@@gowest7797 😳
🦆🥁👍
It is an originator, not an innovator.
Such a salesmen pitch for the Kickstarter… “we don’t know the price” and then they nail the actual price as if by chance… 😄👍 paid promotion alert!
I don't know, I think you guys would better serve your viewers if you have played Steam to compare it to. You guys are drooling over $250 all in, but you can get a copy of Steam for $30...it comes off like you're schilling for the company.