The Circus Was Hacked!

Ladies and Gentlemen, it's both a sad and humorous day here at the Circus.

This site was hacked, and I'm not even mad about it. Apparently, the only thing affected was that the "Language and Metaphor Policy" link on the left was redirected.....

....TO THIS PAGE:
http://www.clorox.com/products/clorox-2-stain-remover-and-color-booster-liquid/

Oh. My. God.


Well Played, random internet hacker. Well played.

Superfly Circus On Facebook

Hey there, Circus fans, I have neglected to mention that while this page is primarily for reviews and commentaries, the Facebook page is more active with little tidbits of information and photos of works in progress, miniatures, game night photos, and other stuff. Things that don't really merit a blog posting but are of interest to the gaming and miniatures community.

The last couple posts there are on my struggles with Scotia Grendel and their inability to cast anything in resin with any degree of quality...

For those who are interested, check us out at:
Superfly Circus On Facebook

Pete's Personal Philosophy On Game Ratings

One of my former (or current, maybe) readers had an issue with some statements I made regarding ratings at the Circus: http://gamerchris.com/2012/07/05/impartiality-in-writing-reviews.aspx

Anyhow, he noted that it's ridiculous that I should think a game that we rated a 7.5 is not shit hot. He said, in short, that if we were to give a 7.5 on a game, people should think it's pretty good. Well, yeah, it's pretty good, in the same sort of way that a Whopper is pretty good. It's just good enough to make you wish you were eating a better fucking burger. Me, I'd rather have a fat, juicy Carl's Jr. Double Western Bacon Cheeseburger. The kind of burger that can only be described as a mouthgasm, that leaves you satisfied all day. I mean, I eat one of them, I don't even want a burger for a couple of weeks, because it's just that awesome. And if I could have one of them or the Whopper, I'm going with Carl 100 times out of 100.

But, let's get back to the Circus for a second, because you see, first and foremost, I don't actually release my personal ratings, because they're irrelevant to the Circus. The final Circus rating is, in essence, the average of all the scores taken over the three review plays that are required before I write a review. So, for a five player game, played with 5 each time, that would be the average of those 15 unique scores, minus the single highest and lowest vote. So, really, I don't score shit myself, except the three votes that I always get, since I have to play it three times...after all, in almost all cases the game is mine.

Now this is how I, personally, characterize scores, in the frame of the ubiquitous "1-10" scale:

0-5: Don't play this. Don't look at this. For fuck's sake, DO NOT BUY THIS.This should be sent to a recycler and made into a cereal box, since cereal boxes are often entertaining, and sometimes, if you're lucky, come with something that someone will want to play with. If I bought it, it's probably because it was on clearance somewhere and I wanted the bits for a real game. Or, perhaps I was just fucking stupid.

5-6.75: Something went very, very wrong. It might be kind of fun or maybe has some merit, but there's a significant problem or problems with this. Maybe it's kind of fun but fugly, maybe it's fun only due to one facet or another, but in either case, it somehow fails to make the cut.

6.75-8: This had potential, but either failed in a substantial way, or had lots of little small issues that added up. Or maybe it's a niche game that serves a sole purpose and does it pretty well. It's definitely fun for some people. If I have this, it's because it's got a really bad ass theme that allows me to look past the flaws or maybe it just appealed to me for a unique reason.

8-9: This is an undoubtedly fun game. It's got some problems, but they're generally minor. In short, this is a game you should definitely seek out to play, because it's likely that all of the Circus really enjoyed a lot about this game. It's very possible that I own this, used to own this and replaced it with a game that does the same thing, but better.

9-10: This is the real cream of the crop. There is almost no reason not to own this game, unless you have some predisposition to not liking the setting or theme, or you simply don't like the style of game (ie. Euro V. Ameritrash) or some such thing. And really, if you don't like this game, there's probably some serious deficiency with you. I definitely own this game, or owned it and played it in excess of 20 times and can't get anyone to play with anymore. Short version: This is an epic game and you're a fun murdering sucker-ass if you don't have it, or want to have it.

THE SHORT VERSION:

My analogy is this: If you walk into the local whorehouse and there's ten women there, all eager to serve you, you're not going to even bother with any woman that doesn't rate at least a seven or eight. I mean, why the fuck would you even waste your time with anything less? To see if their personality will somehow make you overlook the fact that she's got an eye with a half-inch thick cataract on it or has a thick, black goatee on her face? You get one shot to take this chick in the back room, and there's no refunds, so are you going to grab the fugly ones or the ones who sound like Fran Drescher?

No, you're going to look at the eights through the dimes. And really, if they're all about the same price, why the hell are you not going to just shoot for the dimes? Sure, that "seven" girl with the stellar body could possibly be able to tie a cherry stem with her tongue, but you know for SURE that the dime can. I mean, that's her job, and that's why she's the dime. So, unless the seven does something for you so different than the other girls can, like perhaps Ms. Seven is black, and you really dig black chicks, well, you can overlook the pock marks that populate her ass and thighs because she has that extra "thing" that turns you on.

But me, I'm shooting for the dimes pretty much every time. Why settle for less than the total package? If you think I'm an idiot for rating something a seven and then saying that I'd probably never buy it, well, I guess I just have higher standards than you. That doesn't make me snooty or an elitist, it means that I have a limited amount of space and I'm really not trying to spend a shitload of my hard-earned money on a bunch of games that will never again see a table. I generally buy only the best in a genre or the game that best uses a certain mechanic, and if a better one comes along, well, the previous top dog is relegated to the trade pile. I mean, I'm NOT a collector, unless you owe me money, in which case I'll most certainly make house calls. I'm a player; a gamer. I want to play games, not just own them and read the rules on the shitter, or wax poetic on the elegance of the design. And I'm not saying it's wrong to do that if that's your thing...if you want to have a room with 500 games in it that never get played, hey, whatever floats your boat. It's just not my thing.

So, that's how I, personally, rate things, if you believe that it's important to know. Each person who plays a game with me, whether they know it's for review purposes or not, is asked the famous question that I always ask, "So, what'd ya think, scale of 1-10?" I have zero influence on how they vote, and therefore I can't control if someone believes a 7 to be a stunningly good game with some minor niggles that kept it from greatness. But, remember that none of my regulars know anything about BGG, anything about the "game culture", or have ever read a game review. Only one of all of them, my master-at-arms, has any interest in games above playing them, and I took him to GenCon just before he started cancer treatment. So, the ratings that we generate are all relative to the other games that we've played, since they have no experience whatsoever outside of the games that we've played together.

That's the whole shebang, and I'm glad we had this little talk.

July 4, 2012 - Independence Day

First, I'd like to thank every person who has ever served this country, be it a  mail carrier, soldier, sailor, policeman, teacher and senator (well, maybe not senators) as all of you have played a part in making the United States a beacon of hope for the world; one of the few places left on the planet where you do not need worry about being tortured by a dictator for dissenting,  not worry about being left to die on the street due to a lack of resources, and a place where, by and large, your children will be safe and have an unrivalled opportunity to become anything that they aspire to be.

And in the spirit of being truly independent, a servant of the public, and a champion of the consumer, Superfly Circus has changed its policies on requesting review copies from publishers.

We will no longer be requesting free copies of review games from publishers, because I have come to believe that the line between the publishers and the unpaid, unlicensed, untrained horde of amateur bloggers and pseudo-journalists has become far too thin. While the Circus has never been influenced by a publisher, and we have safeguards set up so that it is impossible for us to be influenced, it is on principle alone that I have made the decision to end the practice of seeking review copies. This may cut down on the number of my negative reviews because I'll be spending my own money on games for the most part, but that's the price I have to pay.

I have come to believe that with the consolidation of Board Game News and Board Game Geek, there is no substantial outside, neutral source of board game information on the scale and scope that Board Game Geek encompasses. They are the CNN, Fox News, BBC, SKY News, PBS, and MSNBC of board gaming. Unfortunately, they have become so powerful and so intertwined with the publishers that they serve and that serve them, that they are no longer what can be considered a neutral, free, information outlet.

With the board game marketing and review system set up so that people are being compensated to write reviews, either with "GeekGold" or with a constant stream of free product, invitations to publisher luncheons, and being given access to previews, I can no longer tolerate or be a party to the pay-for-play system.

It is my opinion that is that a culture of anti-dissent has been propagated in the gaming community, and can be evidenced by several factors:

• There is a wide imbalance of positive and negative reviews, even on middling-rated and lower-rated games
• Most reviews that are positive are overwhelmingly positive
• Negative reviews are almost universally met with disdain and ridicule
• Positive reviews are given more acclaim and search position based upon "thumbs" at BGG, which is a popularity gauge, not a gauge of the value of the content
• Negative reviews are "tipped" less with "GeekGold" on BGG

As I have stated in recent articles, and all across the internet, this imbalance and culture of anti-dissent creates the illusion that almost all products, irrespective of their actual merit, are good purchase choices for virtually everyone. In many cases, products are being reviewed and advertised by third parties before an actual product exists in its final form, such as Kickstarter "previews".  These practices are manipulative and allow mediocrity to flourish while not holding publishers accountable for creating mediocre products. I think that we, as a culture, can do better, and this is why I am unilaterally taking this stand.

My hope is that other review sites will stand with me to attempt to widen the line in the sand between publishers and independent review sites by refusing to ask for review copies. I am fully expectant that this will not happen, though, which I will take to confirm that the agenda of most reviewers, although not all, is solely to gain popularity and get free product. Not act as a champion and protector of the consumer, and not to actually inform, but rather to act as the advertising and marketing arm of publishers. If review copies didn't result in positive reviews and, ultimately, more sales, publishers would not do it.

I'm sure the argument will be made that if there are no review copies being sent, then the information flow will grind to a halt. My response is, "What's the rush?" Why is it imperative that every game be reviewed by the same twenty "reviewers" before ever being released to the public? Is selling the public on a product not the job of the sales team at the publishers rather than the job of a swarm of independent pseudo-journalists?

I cannot remember the last time I've seen a negative or, really, even a "not glowing" preview of a board game product. How often do we see a negative review of a just-released game? If the answer is "never", or "rarely",  then one can only surmise that the deck is stacked mightily against the consumer, and in reality, the truth.

Isn't the whole concept of a free, and independent, press to investigate and report the truth to the public?

The Stated Policy Of The Superfly Circus On Language And Metaphor

After much soul-searching and deep meditation, I am inclined to specify the policy of the Superfly Circus as it relates to the use of language and metaphor in our blog postings. I hope this clears things up for those that might take offense to some of the things written here.

This Is How We Dooooo It

Someone referred to "my ratings" a few days ago, and it kind of hit a note with me that I haven't explained very well how this whole "Circus" thing works.

It's not just me. Not remotely.

I'm just the guy who writes the bad jokes and foul language. The Circus is actually a group of people, and there are guidelines on how I review the games that appear here. With little exception, the rules are adhered to strictly, and the games we review are reviewed in a manner that allows us to have little room for error. Well, at least that's how we see it.

SUPERFLY CIRCUS RATING METHODOLOGY 101: The 10 Commandments

1. Each game reviewed must be played a minimum of three times.
2. Each game must be, if possible and appropriate, played by at least 3 unique people.
3. No game can be rated solely based upon the minimum number of players advertised.
4. Scores are based on a 1-5 "star" scale, with fractional accountability to 0.25
5. Scores are an average of all games played and all scores received
6. The game's rating is based on actual plays, and if we get the rules wrong, write better rules next time.
7. Reviews are representative of my views, but will likely contain feelings from all the Circus Players who played the game. 
8. If we receive a sample copy of a game, we're reviewing it without exception. You may not like the outcome, so beware. 
9. The Superfly Circus' mission is to be, first and foremost, a CHAMPION OF THE CONSUMER. If it is reviewed on this site, it was likely purchased with the fruits of my labor, traded for, or otherwise acquired through means that do not involve someone from a publisher sending a copy. Occasionally we will get unsolicited games, and the fact that this was a free game is NEVER disclosed to the participants in testing until after the review has been written. Short version: No "payola" here.
10. I will not be requesting review copies in almost all cases unless my readers, specifically, request me to review a game that I don't know anything about, do not have a compelling desire to buy, or otherwise have little interest in. The exception will be if the company is a small-run company that I feel should get recognition in the market. If a company sends me a product unannounced (as Wizards of the Coast does regularly) I will review it, obviously.

These bylaws allow our ratings to be given based not on one guy (who is arguably a complete douchebag), but on a vast array of ratings, which minimizes the "one guy manipulates the market" or one guy's opinion alone. The entire purpose of this site is to inform, delight, and most importantly, entertain you, not fuel the hype machine that the board game industry has become.

THE GOLDEN RULE: Thou Shalt Not Be Bribed
At least 75% of all review copies received must be given away, donated to charity, or otherwise disposed of  for free, and the site is forbidden, forever, from advertising or being profitable in any way, shape or form. There is literally be no way for any vendor or publisher to have any way of influencing the opinions of the writer or members of the Circus.


What all of this does is allow the Superfly Circus to give well-rounded scores based upon one thing alone: FUN and QUALITY.  As we make no money, get no benefit, and get no "compensation", we are completely unbiased, and we do our thing as a wholly philanthropic venture. It takes a lot of time and energy to do this, and we do this for one purpose alone, which is to be an honest assessor of games so that our readers can be informed and entertained while knowing that no "infomercialism" goes on.

So, now you know how it works. It ain't just me, it's many people. I'm just the one who does the typing and pissing off of the masses. I play the games, but my votes are essentially just that - votes based on plays among a swarm of votes.

Live long, and prosper.

The Circus Cast (regulars):
Mickey
Shawn
Bailey
Clayton
Melissa
Han
"Danger" Dave

The Circus Roadies (not so regulars):
David "Professor Black" H.
Jason "Sam Adams" V.
Eric "Big Country" W.
Jason "The Teach" W.
Mark "The King Of Heroscape" P
Mike "Lonewolf" J.
Rob "What the hell is up with that hyena laugh" L.
Jessica "Bigfoot" G.
Chris "ConaChris" M.
Tim "GreyElephant" N.
Carmen "Attacktix Queen" N.
Sandy "Sandini" P.

The Circus Has Come To Town

Welcome to my little slice of the information superhighway! The Superfly Circus is a site dedicated to tabletop gaming, life, and fun. I inject humor into everything I do, even when inappropriate, and I am not exactly "politically correct" since I don't really subscribe to the media-driven fascism that propogates people not being allowed to say what they think.

To start out, I travel extensively with my career, and by that I mean my actual career, not my budding writing career. This provides me an exceptional opportunity to meet with diverse people, enjoy the richness of a multitude of different cultures, and to game with a huge variety of people. I play tabletop games at least 2 nights a week, and thus in order to either brag about these game or try to save you some time and pain by telling you what abominations they are, this site will give you the straight skinny on what I think about a given game.

I often reprint my articles around the web at sites such as http://www.boardgamegeek.com/, and I have a deal with Eye of the Vortex, http://www.eyeofthevortexonline.com/ where they reprint my articles and credit me as a staff writer.  Check out EoV, it's actually a very nice little e-zine with a small but thriving forum.

Enjoy, and thanks for reading!

Index of Articles

Board Game Reviews:

0 - 1 Games That Support Pro-Choice Arguments

Scooby Doo Gold Rush (0.5)
Toe-To-Toe Nukl'r Combat With The Rooskies (0.5)
Munchkin (1.0)

1 - 2.75 Damned Near Total Failboats, But Might Have Slight Redeeming Values

Crossroads at Darklion Pass (1.5)
Halo Interactive Strategy Board Game (1.5)
Nitro Dice (1.5)
Square Shooters (1.5)
Star Wars Miniatures: Starship Battles (1.5)
Stratego Revised Ed. (Fire and Ice) (1.5)
MayDay Games Crokinole Board (2.0)
Quarriors! (2.0)
Sorry Sliders (2.0)
Star Wars: Assault on the Death Star (2.25)
Tikal (2.25)
Adventurer: The Card Game (2.5)
Dread Pirate - Bookshelf Edition (2.5)
Star Trek Heroclix: Tactics (2.5)


2.75 - 4 The Sea Of Mediocrity, Although Some Are Pretty Fun. 

Cartouche (3.0)
D-Day Dice (3.0)
Krackades Mini (3.0)
Lord of the Rings: The Duel (3.0)
Lost Cities (3.0)
The Agency (3.0)
Witch Of Salem (3.0)
Bellwether (3.25)
Dungeon Command (Lolth/Cormyr Packs, System) (3.25)
Zoneplex (3.25)
Banditos (3.5)
Psiduel (3.5)
Smallworld (3.5)
Olympos (3.675)
A Touch Of Evil (3.75)
Castle Panic (3.75)
Conquest of the Fallen Lands (3.75)
Drakon (FFG, 4th Edition) (3.75)
Forbidden Island (3.75)
Gunship: First Strike! (3.75)
Kill Doctor Lucky (Paizo) (3.75)
Monsters Menace America (3.75)
Myth: Pantheons (3.75)
Ninja: Legend of the Scorpion Clan (3.75)
Say Anything (3.75)
Spy Gear: Spy Trackdown (3.75)
Top Secret Spies / Heimleich and Co.  (3.75)
Who's Got Game? (3.75) *Not rated using standard methods. See article for details
Zombie Survival (3.875)

4 - 4.5 Games That Every Person Should Play At Least Once Or Twice

Camelot Legends (4.0)
Caveman (4.0)
Chaostle (4.0)
Dungeon Command - Curse Of Undeath Faction Pack (4.0)
Earth Reborn (4.0)
Ghost Stories (4.0)
Heroscape D&D Wave 3 (4.0)
Irondale (4.0) 
Revolver (4.0)
Through The Desert (4.0)
Tooth And Nail: Factions (4.0)
Dungeon! (2012 Edition) (4.125)
X-Bugs/Micro Mutants Evolution (4.0/4.25)
A Call To Arms: Star Fleet (4.25)
Alien Frontiers (4.25)
Battleball (4.25)
Bisikle (4.25)
Circus Train (4.25)
Citadels (4.25)
Dungeon Command - Blood of Gruumsh Faction Pack (4.25)
Firefly: The Board Game (4.25 with P&BH Expansion, 3.0 without)
Galaxy's Edge (4.25)
Gettalife! (4.25)
Ikusa (4.25)
Memoir '44 (4.25)
Prophecy (Z-Man) (4.25)
Red November (4.25)
Risk: Legacy (4.25)
Stone Age (4.25)
Zooloretto (4.25)
Dungeon Run (4.375)
Flash Point: Fire Rescue (4.375)
Lords of Waterdeep (4.375)
Panic Station (4.375)
Star Trek: Expeditions (4.375)
World Conquerors (4.375)

4.5 - 5 The Most Fun You Can Have Whilst Boardgaming

Ascending Empires (4.5)
Bhazum (4.5)
Conquest of Nerath (4.5)
Cyclades (4.5)
Castle Ravenloft (4.5)
Dungeon Twister (4.5)
Incursion (4.5)
King Of Tokyo (4.5)
Lords of Waterdeep: Scoundrels of Skullport (4.5)
Mission Command: Sea (4.5)
Politiko: Fall of Caesar (4.5)
Rush N' Crush (Alderac) (4.5)
Settlers of Catan (4.5)
Star Trek: Attack Wing (4.5)
Summoner Wars - Starter Sets (4.5)
Summoner Wars Factions - Fallen Kingdom And Vanguard (Not Rated)
The Resistance (4.5)
Trick Or Treat (4.5)
Five Fingered Severance (4.625)
A Lone Banner (4.75)
Battleship Galaxies (4.75)
City Of Remnants (4.75)
Defenders Of The Realm (4.75)
Duel of Ages II (4.75)
El Grande (4.75)
Last Night On Earth (4.75)
Legend of Drizzt (4.75)
Merchants and Marauders (4.75)
Omen: Reign of War (4.75)
Pandemic (4.75)
Race For The Galaxy (4.75)
Rampage (4.75)
Strange Aeons (4.75)
The Adventurers - Temple of Chac (4.75)
Epic Duels (4.875)
Twilight Imperium 2nd Edition (4.875)
Wrath of Ashardalon (4.875)
Survive! Escape From Atlantis (Stronghold) (4.9)
Cosmic Encounter (FFG Edition) (5.0)
Space Hulk (Games Workshop, 3rd Edition) (5.0)
X-Wing Miniatures Game (5.0)


iOS App Reviews:

Battle Fleet for iPad (3.75)
Sid Meier's Ace Patrol (4.75)

Miniature Gaming 101
How To Remove Frost From Spray Sealed Models
Mega Miniatures
Pegasus Hobbies Terrain
Post-Apocalyptic Mobile Garden Project 
Strange Aeons Miniatures Game (Review) (4.75)
Wreck Age RPG/Miniatures Game (Review) (4.0)

Previews and Kickstarter Pre-Funding Previews:
Shuriken - Kickstarter Preview
Thrash-Car Kickstarter Preview

RPG Series:

Dungeons Of Dread Compilation


Convention Reports:

GenCon 2010 Post-Con Report
Origins Game Fair 2011 Wrapup
GenCon 2011 Special Edition Magazine
GenCon 2013 Special Edition Magazine

Freebies And Deals From The Circus:

Score Some Free Stuff From The Eye Of The Vortex (5/2010)
Incursion Sale From Grindhouse (9/2010)
Minis Painting For Charity (11/2010)
Feb 15 Drunken Freebie Announcement (1/2011)
Feb 15th Teaser - The Wind Machine (2/2011)
Feb 15th Teaser 2 - The Taternator Revealed (2/2011)
Feb 15th Contest Winners Revealed! (VIDEO) (2/2011)
Second Quarterly Giveaway Announcement (5/2011)
2nd Quarterly Giveaway Winners Announced (5/2011)
Want Some Free Games? (3/2012)
Want Some Free Games? Pt. II (3/2012)
2-Year Anniversary Giveaway! (3/2012)
It's All Over, Folks!! Giveaway Winners (3/2012)

Gaming Editorials:

10 Rules For Game Night
2010 Boardgame Review - Why 2010 Didn't Suck
A Blast From The Past: Attacktix
Board Games: Commodity Trading Vs. Hobby Vs. Addiction
Consumerism, Criticism, And The Bernays Effect On The Board Game Industry
Elements That Transform Good Designs Into Great Games
Heroscape Tournaments
I Just Can't Understand Why Consumption Is Superior To Enjoyment With Gamers
MayDay Games "Rest of the Story" Investigative Report
News: Dungeons And Dragons - Celebrities Playing Live (1/2012)
Painted Ravenlofties
Sick Of The Same
The Bane Of Peer Marketing As It Relates To The Hobby Board Game Industry
Wizards Of The Coast Rant
"Why Do We Always Want More?" Or, "The Cart Before The Horse" - A Purchasing Habit Analysis

Home-Grown Games, Scenarios, Player Aids:

Epic Engagements Teaser
Epic Engagements Print-And-Play Release
Ravenloft "Hunt For The Fiend" Campaign Teaser
Ravenloft "Hunt For The Fiend" Scenario Release
Star Trek Heroclix: Tactics - Player Aid and Starmap
Star Trek Heroclix: Tactics - Full Set Of Ship Cards With Dials
Strange Aeons Campaign - The Watchers In The Woods

Inside The Circus: Policies And Review Methods


July 4th, 2012 - Independence Day
Superfly Circus on Facebook
Superfly Circus Policy On Language And Metaphor (Video)
Superfly Circus Review And Ratings Criteria
TNT's Personal Philosophy On Game Ratings



Interviews: "Conversation With A Gaming Innovator" Series:

John Clowdus, Owner - Small Box Games
Colby Dauch, Owner - Plaid Hat Games
David Ausloos, Freelance Artist and Designer
David Muta, Owner - BoardGameExchange.com
Eric J. Carter - Freelance Artist
Chad Hoverter - Freelance Sculptor

Press Releases And News:

Press Release: WotC releasing throwback AD&D modules!
Todd Brietenstein Passes 3/24/2013

Rants, Raves, Tributes, And Social Commentary:

I'm Baaack! Reviews To Resume Announcement (2/2012)
Christianity: Enough With All The Denominations Already!
Don't Buy Green Bananas - In Memory Of My Father
Happy New Year 2012
Health Care Reform Rant
I Hate Stupid People Rant
Jury Duty Rant
Las Vegas - City Of The Damned
Memorial Day 2010 Tribute
Nordictrack Cautionary Tale And Rant
Proof Of Time Travel
Superfly Circus: Taking A Stand Against Hate
Solution: Welfare Reform And Energy Security For America
Thanks To Those Who Serve Us All
The Perfect Job: Congressional Rant
The Sad Case Of American Mass-Market Beers
TSA Screening Rant - Thanksgiving