I'm one of the fortunate people to have a semi- regular gaming group, focus on the semi part. Usually we play something once a week, but sometimes life happens and we can't meet up. It would be amazing to be able to have an app that can be used alongside the board game (as we have here) AND a standalone app game that we can all play together. Kind of like a play by post, but much more supported and encompassing.

That's something I'd easily pay for. It doesn't even have to be Cthulu mythos related. It could be Descent, or any licenses FFG has. Just a turn by turn play app that simulates some of these games or at least close to it.

I play board games for the "board" and the social interaction of people in a physical space, so I wouldn't be interested in a game that was purely online. However, about half my game group would probably go for that since they love online and video games.

On the flip side, why not just release an app that works with the original MoM content and not charge us $100 just to be able to use the app with the material we already have. I am still not seeing what needed to change to accommodate the app other than simplifying some aspects of the game. They had no problem getting the Descent app to work with the already released content without having to create a whole new 3rd edition.

From what I see, MoM2.0 compares to MoM1.0 as EH compares to AH. In essence, it's a different game.
Both in the case of AH and MoM1.0 (and Elder Sign, for that matter) they tried to introduce minor fixes with expansions. Those proved to not be enough. The flaws in these games were something more fundamental and a larger redesign was required to address those.
First, Mansions of Madness got Call of the Wild. While theoretically it's an expansion, it replaces a large portion of the original content. The CotW scenarios have gameplay that's completely different than previous ones.
The gates of Arkham for Elder Sign does the same - it disdains the original adventure and mythos cards.

In the meantime, the Eldritch Horror appeared. While it has some flaws on it's own it fixed basically everything players complained about in Arkham Horror. This couldn't be achieved without starting the design from scratch.
I think MoM2.0 does the same. While technically a great game, MoM still was very flawed. Any future expansion would need to require Call of the Wild to be accessible. As neither MoM nor CotW were cheap, it wouldn't be reasonable to address expansions only to those who own both boxes.
The most viable solution was a complete redesign, and this is what we are getting.

They had no problem getting the Descent app to work with the already released content without having to create a whole new 3rd edition.

Descent hadn't got any of MoM's major flaws.

I play board games for the "board" and the social interaction of people in a physical space, so I wouldn't be interested in a game that was purely online. However, about half my game group would probably go for that since they love online and video games.

I guess I'm luckier than I thought. My gaming group is super close, several of them being family to each other, and we're all on a mass text message and regularly communicate throughout the week. Game night is usually Saturdays (we're getting old). Sometimes it just can't happen and we have to skip a Saturday. But really that's not important here. The communication during the week is. It would be awesome to be on break at work and fire up the Mansions of Madness app and "take my turn" or see what other players in my group have done on their turns while waiting for my own.

That's what I meant by going full app. Not replacing board games in any way, just having an app that functions as a type of board game for the times we can't all be together in person.

Truth is FFG is knocking on a breakout idea here. Phone and tablet app media is a new artistic medium with incredible potential. While it's cool to have "add-ons" for their traditional board games (the Descent one is excellent) I'd like for them to just go straight app board game simulations with some of their licenses. That could be the next big thing.

Not replacing board games, just giving us a new way to get our fix until the next real game night.

The Witcher Adventure Game by CD Projekt RED app was in my opinion a great success. I know that the board game wasn't received well, but I've always liked it, and the app only led to me understanding the rules of the game better and thus enjoying the playthroughs more. I know it isn't a FFG app, but it was a FFG game, and I feel it is a great example of what CAN be done for an app-based game. It would be a fantastic addition to any game library to have something similar for the meatier Arkham games. It was great to sit at home watching a movie while waiting on friends to make their turn if they were out of town or unable to get together for a game night.

I also and a component fan, so I am glad that MoM wasn't merely revived as a digital media. Part of why it is a contender for my all time favorite game is the components. But the mechanics of the Story driven aspect pull it ahead of most others. So the exclusion of the keeper is a major hit for me, but as others have stated: the prospect of a shorter setup time allows for it incorporating into more game nights.

But I have to be honest.... Is this app really such a bad step for gaming? Think of the other games that FFG has revised in the past that merely get a re-skin. When MoM "died" out years ago, we ALL feared that 5 years down the line they'd say NEW EDITION and it would just be a "re-skin" of the game/mechanics. We'd all spend over $80 for a game that had simple mechanical changes and a few look differences. We'd complain that you could just play the new mechanic with the old game components and it was a big business move to revise the game and get us to pay for the same game again.

I for one, am all in! I've revised my day-1 GenCon plans to waste an entire morning sitting in the most ridiculous line ever just to get this game and play that night. I'm glad to see MoM revitalized, and feel that FFG will make great additions for this in the future.

My group toyed with the idea of playing totally online with a go pro in front of one person who supplies the board. Probably would be easy enough to complement the app.

I suspect there won't be a totally on-line version, since that would eliminate the need for players to buy the game, which is how FF makes the money. Then they'd have to charge alot for the app. If the negative posts already cropping up about lack of value in the box is any indication, then introducing a fee for the app to compensate for lower box sales would probably lead to chaos and anarchy.

I play board games for the "board" and the social interaction of people in a physical space, so I wouldn't be interested in a game that was purely online. However, about half my game group would probably go for that since they love online and video games.

I think you're missing the point of what I'm saying. I enjoy the social interaction as well with an actual board game. But sometimes you just can't get the group together. An app that facilitiates a sort of "play by post" style would be excellent for those times.

Yes, My bad.

I've wanted a Mansions of Madness app for AGES. Solo, co-op, whatever. Would be even cooler if we could submit and share our penned adventures. The board game itself really has way too many bits and moving parts to be a easy playthrough, but an app could handle all the chintzy bits so we could concentrate on the drama.

They don't need this particular version of the game to be app only. But if they don't come out with an app version eventually, they're shooting themselves in the foot advertising wise. If they sell the app version of the board game, they'll sell a ton more board games obviously. And the whole app market really hasn't been introduced to fantasy flight yet.

Co-op would be amazing too really. But people are out there jonesing for a decent Lovecraftian game in *ANY* form. And even pc has come up lacking. Mansions of Madness "the board game" playable app is a no-brainer. A huge missed opportunity.