Oh how ecstatic and speaking in tongues I would be if Arkham Horror was translated into a computer game. Sound affects, psychotic voices, chanting, no shuffling or setup. Play on servers or LAN.
Though since i play with expansions the basic board would be too easy. It should come with at least a board expansion option and then add more for us to buy.
SO what do you say oh great and holy Fantasy Flight Games?!
The computer game happens in my mind already... dont need it... i like how AH gets me away from the computer.
The board game itself? No thank you. If I was interested in playing a computer game rather than a board game, I'd never have bought Arkham Horror.
Computer games based on the Mythos, though? Hell, yes!
lol it'd be a tough one to do so I wouldn't hold my breath... nintendo has the intel prop patent on what basically it comes down to sanity loss actually doing something in a video game
you can look it up, they got that back in the game cube when they published eternal darkness... which was a great game loosely based on the mythos
you can look at the patent at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/PTO/srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=6935954.PN.&OS=PN/6935954&RS=PN/6935954
you can read up a bit more on the game if you're not interested in running out to get it (and/or a gamecube/wii) here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Darkness:_Sanity's_Requiem
oh and I'm with doctordr on this one, it's a nice hobby to get me away from the computer... plus it's like running a pen and paper rpg, but without having to frontload the work on making a character, learning a complex system and forcing one person to sit back and not play so they can run a game (usually me 
)
that being said it'd be handy so that I can play with some friends down in LA from time to time from here in the bay area
I agree with the others. I bought AH because I liked the idea of the game, I like boardgames and it's something different to all the pc games I already play!
If you really want a game based on the mythos, then you could do a lot worse than playing Call Of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth. A true to form Lovecraft adventure that lets the player loose in Innsmouth. Sanity plays a decent part, if you freak out from the horrors of the mythos, your character will begin to go insane, the screen go blurry and if you don't remove yourself from the threat, eventually, you'll shoot yourself. Overall, the game is excellent, if a little dated now in terms of gaphics. Still the best CoC video game available, I'd say. Check the website:
http://www.callofcthulhu.com/home.html
I fully understand the automating and space-saving benefits of computer game. However the fact that like a book, so much of what is imagined stays in my head and I script in my head (playing solo, oh okay sometimes say it outloud) what is seen/happens etc., this is part of what I like.
I spend enough time in front of computer screen at work as well that the tactile experience of the board game is also welcome.
Just my tastes.
Rob
AsylumSeeker said:
I agree with the others. I bought AH because I liked the idea of the game, I like boardgames and it's something different to all the pc games I already play!
If you really want a game based on the mythos, then you could do a lot worse than playing Call Of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth. A true to form Lovecraft adventure that lets the player loose in Innsmouth. Sanity plays a decent part, if you freak out from the horrors of the mythos, your character will begin to go insane, the screen go blurry and if you don't remove yourself from the threat, eventually, you'll shoot yourself. Overall, the game is excellent, if a little dated now in terms of gaphics. Still the best CoC video game available, I'd say. Check the website:
http://www.callofcthulhu.com/home.html
Dark Corners of the Earth started great, but degenerated into a stupid action game with a million try something - you die - load game - try something different - you die - load game - repeat ad nauseaum parts. Despite the strong storyline, the actual gameplay became so boring that once I finally finished the game I sold it away immediately.
That said, I generally dislike all modern first person shooters; the original DOOM is still the greatest game in that genre for me.
-Villain
Hell yeah, I still like the original doom. And you can play it on your iPod!!! (if you run rockbox...)
No way, I am very glad I keep distance from the computer games. I still play Warhammer Online from time to time but that's all. Boardgames or nothing for me!
Yeah, I also say meh to a computer version of AH. Don't get me wrong I love my PS3 and play lots of video games, but AH is a welcome break from the video games. I get to use my brain and my imagination, and how much fun would AH be if there weren't any questions about this situation or that card? lol
Villain said:
AsylumSeeker said:
I agree with the others. I bought AH because I liked the idea of the game, I like boardgames and it's something different to all the pc games I already play!
If you really want a game based on the mythos, then you could do a lot worse than playing Call Of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth. A true to form Lovecraft adventure that lets the player loose in Innsmouth. Sanity plays a decent part, if you freak out from the horrors of the mythos, your character will begin to go insane, the screen go blurry and if you don't remove yourself from the threat, eventually, you'll shoot yourself. Overall, the game is excellent, if a little dated now in terms of gaphics. Still the best CoC video game available, I'd say. Check the website:
http://www.callofcthulhu.com/home.html
Dark Corners of the Earth started great, but degenerated into a stupid action game with a million try something - you die - load game - try something different - you die - load game - repeat ad nauseaum parts. Despite the strong storyline, the actual gameplay became so boring that once I finally finished the game I sold it away immediately.
That said, I generally dislike all modern first person shooters; the original DOOM is still the greatest game in that genre for me.
-Villain
Yes, the gameplay did degenerate, I agree. As a matter of interest, over the last six months or so I'm currently playing Bioshock 2, DeadSpace, Dragon Age: Origins and The Witcher. All different, all excellent. There is a gap in the pc game market for a heavy role playing game, preferably done in the first person, based on H.P. Lovecrafts mythos. Done right, it could do well, but may not attract many hardcore boardgamers. Having said that, I wouldn't want a straight conversion of AH. Like what's already been said, the tactile experience and overall feeling of actually 'playing a game' is what pulls me away from pc gaming for a change. Plus, of course, the social aspect is great fun.
AsylumSeeker said:
Done right, it could do well, but may not attract many hardcore boardgamers. Having said that, I wouldn't want a straight conversion of AH. Like what's already been said, the tactile experience and overall feeling of actually 'playing a game' is what pulls me away from pc gaming for a change. Plus, of course, the social aspect is great fun.
I for one would definitely buy a computer game similar to the this board game especially if it had the ability to modify!!
Though the setup time and upkeep can be a pain (shuffling 315097 decks!), I rather enjoy the tactile experience. Having the whole board(s) spread before you can't really be captured on a medium such as a television, where you do not employ peripheral vision.
Tibs said:
Though the setup time and upkeep can be a pain (shuffling 315097 decks!), I rather enjoy the tactile experience. Having the whole board(s) spread before you can't really be captured on a medium such as a television, where you do not employ peripheral vision.
Same. That being said, I'd buy the game ;'D
The small indie RPG outfit Iron Tower Studios has a Lovecraft RPG in development. There's probably no telling when/if it's going to be published, but you might want to keep tabs on it.
I agree that I prefer it as a boardgame. However, I have the next summer off and need something to do during that time. I have a subpar amount of computer programming experience, but I could probably start hacking away at it... but would that be illegal?
I mean, I suppose if I kept it to myself and didn't try to sell it, it'd just be a fun project, but if I started distributing it, the trouble would begin. All a moot point, i suppose, because I'm really not that good of a programmer, but does anyone have the answer for this?
Oh, and apologies for the double post, but there is chtulhu returns, a low tech mmorpg you can download for free online. It is really buggy (still in beta) and the graphics are questionable (kind of a cute, maple story thing) and it runs choppy on my computer, but one or more of you fellas might enjoy it.
Graksnor said:
I agree that I prefer it as a boardgame. However, I have the next summer off and need something to do during that time. I have a subpar amount of computer programming experience, but I could probably start hacking away at it... but would that be illegal?
I mean, I suppose if I kept it to myself and didn't try to sell it, it'd just be a fun project, but if I started distributing it, the trouble would begin. All a moot point, i suppose, because I'm really not that good of a programmer, but does anyone have the answer for this?
If I remember correctly, FFG has sent someone a cease and desist notice over something like this. But that was a long time ago and it's not something I followed (so I may not remember correctly).
Regardless, I doubt very much that you'll be allowed to do it since it would hurt their sales.
I very much doubt FFG would produce a computer version of any of their boardgames. Cost versus return probably wouldn't be too good. There is the piracy issue, which is not really too much of a problem for a big computer franchise but would kill a game with a much smaller audience. It would cut into their boardgame sales, especially if it was mod-able. There are probably plenty of other reasons. What would be nice though would be a utility program which took care of the bookkeeping, decks, etc. Of course you have the same problem again with piracy. I believe there were one of two fan creations that were told to desist (buried somewhere in these forums or on BGG) and I think there was rumour of something official along the lines of a bookkeeping utility, but I wouldn't hold your breath... unless you are into exotic sexual practices! 
That said, there is always Vassal (Google it). There might be a AH module for that, or you could always dive in and create one for your own personal use.
Hmm, I pretty much just repeated what Avi said (in a far more concise way). 
There are quite a few mythos inspired (directly and indirectly) computer games spanning a decade or more. Text adventures and interactive fiction; the original Alone in the Dark series (which started the survival horror genre); a series of point and click adventures of which Prisoner in the Ice was the last; the potentially brilliant (before it became cross platform and dumbed down and then rushed out due to publisher pressure and financial problems) Dark Corners of the Earth (which was to be followed by at least two more Lovecraft games), and there are no doubt more that I can't recall....hmm, there is/was a couple of indie Mythos mmo's, one text based MUD style, the other I can't recall.
Hm... well I definitely won't try it then. Thanks!
Graksnor said:
Hm... well I definitely won't try it then. Thanks!
::Sigh::
There is this is the Fan Creations forum:
http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_foros_discusion.asp?efid=113&efcid=1&efidt=278151
Graksnor said:
I agree that I prefer it as a boardgame. However, I have the next summer off and need something to do during that time. I have a subpar amount of computer programming experience, but I could probably start hacking away at it... but would that be illegal?
I mean, I suppose if I kept it to myself and didn't try to sell it, it'd just be a fun project, but if I started distributing it, the trouble would begin. All a moot point, i suppose, because I'm really not that good of a programmer, but does anyone have the answer for this?
It all seems a bit dked up but from goobering around on the net i get the impression that at least some of Lovecraft's work is public domain now...
http://www.copyright.cornell.edu/resources/publicdomain.cfm
... everything is legal until someone tells you to stop anyway...
That is, if you were making something based on the Mythos and not specifically A.H. the board game.
Barring some of the questionable copyright renewal claims, all of Lovecraft's work is considered public domain. That's why DagonBytes has been up forever, and the countless collections you see available.