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Valerie Putman: Spielbox Magazine Freebies
This week the latest issue of Spielbox magazine showed up on my doorstep along with a new building tile for Cuba. (The building even bears the Spielbox logo!) For the cost of 2 white, 1 blue, and 2 red cubes, the building produces a rum when activated. While I’ve played and enjoyed Cuba, I didn’t love it enough to buy a copy. So, like many of the other expansions that have come my way, this one will get passed along to Dale or the CABS club copy of the game.
This certainly won’t be the first time that I’ve given away the Cracker Jack prize. Recently I’ve given away expansions for the Pillars of the Earth, Chateau Roquefort, and Mr. Jack. I do keep the expansions for games I own (or plan to own eventually). I kept the TransAmerica expansion, since it will work with my copy of TransEuropa. I also have Blue Moon City tiles, a Thurn und Taxis messenger, St. Petersburg cards, a Caylus Magnus card, and others. Unfortunately, most of them are shoved into a box with the best intentions to put them in the games they belong to one of these days. There they sit with many of the Origins, Gen Con, Dragon*Con, and Essen freebies that I’ve acquired over the years.
Ironically, the expansions are the main reason that I subscribe to Spielbox. Even though I don’t play with them often, I certainly like the expansions in theory. I like the idea of breathing new life into a loved game with a little variety. I definitely don’t get Spielbox for the articles. I enjoy the pictures and I can understand the numeric game ratings, but I don’t read German and many of the reviews are for games I’ve already played. Besides, I know that if I cancel my subscription, the next issue will have a Cracker Jack prize that I really want.
I’d rather be gaming,
Valerie Putman
Posted by Valerie Putman on Mar 9, 2008 at 01:00 AM in Columnists, Valerie Putman / 1088
Comments:
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I know your anguish, but from the other side of the fence. Right now, Spielbox provides must-have expansions just rarely enough that I haven’t given in and subscribed yet. I can muddle through the articles a little, but like you say, I’ve played many of the games they review - although not as many as you, I’m sure. For me, the articles that are not intended to be cutting edge information tend to be more worth deciphering. One thing that helps push me into buying an issue of Spielbox is when they have an interesting “full game” published in the issue, as well. For example, Alemannen-Skat was in the same issue as the Mr. Jack expansion, The Coach. Although it is played with a portion of a standard deck of cards, and you could very easily mock up the playfield that occupies the centerfold of the Spielbox, it’s interesting to get to explore a rare little game. A few of the games published in this manner saw later in-a-box publication. For example, Playroom republished Tabula Rasa as Knights of Charlemagne. For a summary of what games and expansions come with which issues of Spielbox, check out http://www.boardgamegeek.com/wiki/page/spielbox Posted by Nathan Morse on Mar 9, 2008 at 08:14 AM | #
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>I definitely don’t get Spielbox for the articles. I enjoy the pictures and I can understand the numeric game ratings, but I don’t read German maybe it´s time to start learning German after your tenure Valerie ;-) We Germans all learned English to read your articles ;-P Posted by Klaus Knechtskern on Mar 9, 2008 at 10:04 AM | #
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I find out about tenure on Tuesday!!!! Thanks for reminding me! I actually just looked at some Learn German podcasts on iTunes. Maybe that will be one of my projects this summer.
Posted by Valerie Putman on Mar 9, 2008 at 10:06 AM | #
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Keep us informed Valerie… Klaus Posted by Klaus Knechtskern on Mar 9, 2008 at 10:07 AM | #
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My situation is similar. I can pick my way through the articles, but it’s not relaxing. I did convince myself to get Chateau Roquefort for my mostly non-gaming daughter because of the freebie tiles. Of course, I am not sure where those tiles are now..... The game was decent for what it is, though. Posted by Scott Russell on Mar 9, 2008 at 07:07 PM | #
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Oooh, just don’t subscribe to “MyGermanClass.com” to learn German. They have been my bane since pretty much the start of my video podcast. (I run a science themed podcast entitled Dr. Carlson’s Science Theater. MyGermanClass.com has always been ranked far higher than my own in the k-12 Education category… I’ve now changed my main category to be Natural Sciences to see if that attracts any more subscribers...) Posted by Matt J. Carlson on Mar 9, 2008 at 09:11 PM | #
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