New Orleans, Louisiana
February 25 – 28 , 1999
I want to take the time to share with you all about the fantastic time I had at Gulf Games III.
Shay & I, with our two most cherished little buddies, Ariel & Zane, arrived in New Orleans on Saturday, Feb. 20th. We arrived in town ahead of schedule so that we could spend some quality time with the Schloesser family… Greg, Gail & Lindsay. We would finally get to visit our good friends at their home & see the sights of New Orleans together!
First we visited the park and saw, much to my disbelief…….NUTRIAS!!! I was almost certain they were of the same lore & legend as was Das Verschwinden!
That evening at Greg’s house we ate crawfish…..hundreds of them were just poured out on top of the table with everyone devouring as many of them as possible!!! What a sight!
Now if any of you have ever wondered that our Greg might be a little “Anal retentive” ……you guessed right! This night we witnessed a very tell tail sign of this inbred trait in him by watching Greg stack the crawfish heads in a perfect row, one upon another as he finished them off…head sucking and all!
The next day we all visited the French Quarter together. We had a great time, especially with Greg acting as tour guide!
Greg needed a couple of days to get all of his work either caught up or put off so that nothing would get in the way of Gulf Games III. So then we were on our own.
Shay & I then spent a couple days just touring & sight seeing with Ariel & Zane. We went to the Zoo, traveled on a River boat, went to a Museum or two….did & saw as much as we could in so short a time period.
We spent another intimate evening with Greg & Gail (well, as intimate as possible with three children in tow) at a very nice restaurant.
Finally, on Wednesday night, I participated in my very first Westbank Gamers session. Jonathan Degann & Jay Tummelson, who had arrived earlier were also in attendance along with Jay Outz, Lenny Leo & three other fellows who are regulars at Greg’s Wednesday night sessions.
Jay broke out his latest batch of Rio Grande games & other goodies and began setting the games up and teaching all of us how to play them.
The games Jay brought included: Evergreen, RA, BIG CITY, TIKAL, DIE HANDLER, Klunker, MONEY, CHINATOWN, CAPE HORN, LOST CITIES, UNION PACIFIC, TA YU, SIESTA, RICOCHET ROBOT, & MAMMA MIA. (did I forget something Jay?) ….oh yeah, Jay also handed out the Hans Im Gluck promo Konig & INTRIGANT PLAYER’S EDITION cards!!! Thank you sir!
We had a great evening of gaming. I finally got to meet Internet pals Jonathan & Jay for the first time, as well as Jay Outz.
Next up: Gulf Games III
As most of you already know, Greg, Ted & I got together, with families in tow about a year ago in Navarre Beach, Florida. We had a great time of course. Since that beginning Greg, Ted & I have become very close friends, maintaining our relationships via the Internet between our personal get togethers.
Immediately after our first vacation & gaming session together, where my wife Shay made quite an impression and a splash, (literally!) I believe it was Greg who officially dubbed our experience as Gulf Games I.
We had so much fun that we decided to meet again later the same year so Greg organized Gulf Games II in Panama City. This was a real hit as well!
This time we had extended invitations to include anyone from the list who was interested & could attend as well as invites to a few close friends who were also gaming enthusiasts. Gulf Games II saw the addition of Mark & Shari Jackson, Frank Branham & his wife Sandy, Tim & Vickie Watson, Peter, Kim & Timmy McCarthy, Lenny Leo & Eric Wood. Everyone remembers the wonderful batch of wacky games Frank turned us on to!
Gulf Games III was to be held in New Orleans with Mr. Greg hosting right in his own back yard, and with Jay Tummelson attending, fresh from Nuremberg there was no way that this was not going to be the best Gulf Games yet! That said……. Gulf Games III was a smash!
Jay brought out and taught us all of the fantastic games that he will be adding his Rio Grande label to, as well as a few others that were hits at Nuremberg. There was not a bad game in the batch! Only CAPE HORN received a few mediocre ratings from those who played it.
With the Mardi Gras just over, Greg & Gail had managed to acquire hundreds of beads & doubloons. Greg & Ted then utilized these goodies as tokens awarded to those who were clever or lucky enough (as in Greg’s case!!! …the Liar’s Dice showdown will haunt me for months!) to win them. Everyone was walking around wearing beaded necklaces so the whole Mardi Gras experience actually became an interwoven theme at Gulf Games III.
Great fun! We all left with prizes, beads & doubloons and we didn’t even have to plow over little old ladies & children (like Greg did!) to get them!
I agree with Greg & Lenny that it is hard to put into words all the emotions that we experience at these get togethers. And I also agree strongly with Greg’s bold words: “Surely, this is how the Creator intends for people to treat each other.”
Perhaps it is the fact that we already have a great fondness & joy in gaming in common that allows for us to open up and bond more freely & quicker than we would normally. Too bad this formula couldn’t find a place in the more tedious matters we face daily.
Anyway, Thursday morning Gulf Games III was officially underway!
Roll call: The Schloesser & Douds families.
Also attending: Jonathan Degann. Jonathan missed his calling to be an actor, I believe. Anyway, he was very convincing with several different accents that I heard him use…not like the rest of us who’s accents were so bad you couldn’t tell whether one was doing an Italian merchant or Count Dracula!
Jay Tummelson was a bit of a surprise! Jay had been described to me as a very laid back Jimmy Buffet type. I don’t think so. Although Jay could be misinterpreted as laid back because of his relaxed friendly demeanor, and flower shirts, he struck me as a very active individual with a sharp business mind. Just how laid back could a guy be that moves around the globe as much as this guy does? At any rate one thing about him we all know for sure: He’s a great guy! Thanks for being a huge part of Gulf Games III Jay!
I finally got to meet Jay Outz. Jay was a friendly guy who shares at least one thing in common with me: A great love for our favorite game, Robo Rally!.
The Gulf Games bachelor corps was back, Lenny Leo & Eric Wood…who are both favorites with my two little ones, Ariel & Zane!.
Mark Jackson brought Jimmie “Buster” Williamson & #38; Chip Triplett along with him this time, as his wonderful wife & great pal Shari wasn’t able to make it! We missed you Shari, and hope to see you in Destin! Speaking of Buster & Chip….what a pair of sharp, sincere fellows, and great gamers as well! Thanks for bringing them along Mark.
Another pleasant surprise was meeting Jason & Vonda Matthews! Both are very intelligent and witty….and you’re right, Greg: I never saw Vonda without a smile on her face!
Tim & Vickie Watson were back, and what a great job Tim did in creating the Gulf Games III tee-shirts for us! Thanks, Tim. Now, let me say this, that Tim’s better half Vickie is possibly the most self sacrificing, unselfish person I have ever met … honestly. Vickie, I hope you read this because I especially want you to know how much we appreciate you!
Also in attendance at Gulf Games III was my friend & fellow Seminole gaming comrade Jon Pessano. Jon always cracks me up when we game together because of his banter and wild unpredictable style. (the one thing you can predict is that Jon will turn on you first chance he gets!)
Talk about surprises: the Labranche family was just that! What a fun couple Mike & Shanna are! They brought their three children with them, Frans, J.P. and little Emma…..yes little Emma, the most frightening eight year old gamer I have ever met!
Last, and most certainly the least, our much maligned buddy Ted ‘Party Monster’ Cheatham. Every group of gamers should have at least one Ted Cheatham type in it…..and only one! I think that Ted & I could play ANY game together and it would be fun just because we seem to bring out the ” banter” in each other whenever we game together!
Ok, now that the Greg Schloesser type mush is out of the way, onto the games:
Cafe INTERNATIONAL : Played & won my first game out and initially thought that this was a good game. However, after giving this game a second go, a game which both Ted & #38; Eric played for the first time, I saw a very different game unfold! It was an ugly game where we spent 30+ minutes mired in a game with very few choices that were obvious & forced at that. Tiles wouldn’t play anywhere, and as a result we all began going backwards in scoring by sending every tile we got to the bar. (hic) Not a lot of choices, no control, pot-luck tile draw, crap shoot at the not- so-ok corral.
Rating: first play….7 after the second….4.
Mamma MIA! Mamma Mia, thaz a spicey, spacey pizza! This game was a real hoot! I almost wet myself watching & laughing at Ted, Greg & #38; Jonathan playing head to head, Italian accents and all. Ted’s a pizza’s kepta comin a back because he no make a decent a pizza…poor Ted, he make a piss poor pizzas, thats a for sure a!
Rating: 7.
EN GARDE: Greg taught me this nice little filler as we waited on my wife & chillies to change into proper attire for dinner. We got in two hands. The first hand saw Greg back my novice fencer up so far so often that I got creamed 5 to 1. However, I came back with a vengeance in the second game that saw Greg looking like a pin cushion by the time I was through with him! I don’t remember the score, ( 5 – 4, Ty!) just the joy of it.
Rating: 6
GUILLOTINE : After dinner Greg brought out GUILLOTINE, and Shay & Iplayed a three player hand with him. This game was a real surprise and one that is now on my have to get list. I think Shay won this one.
Rating: 6
Evergreen: This was a really neat game, a lighter strategy type like Showmanager is for me. I would use the timer if certain players caused the game to crawl along, otherwise, as Jay Outz surmised, it shouldn’t really be an issue once a group of players were familiar with the game. There simply isn’t that much to ponder really. Good light fun.
Rating: 7
Ra : I liked this game very much, but played it only once. I know that Greg’s rating dropped his second go at this game. Mark Jackson expressed a feeling that it wouldn’t hold up after repeated play as well. Hmmmm….I did not get this feeling at all. Like most Knizia games, there’s a lot of choices & decisions packed into this one. Ra is a “must acquire” for me, and I’ll take the Rio Grande version, thank you!
Rating: 7
Klunker : Many gamers felt that the artwork was weak, as did I. But this should not discourage anyone from owning or playing this game. This is one game that I felt so-so about my first try, but began to warm up to after repeated play.
Rating: 6
RicOCHET ROBOT : First, let me say this: This aint Robo RALLY! This game will definitely tax your brain. Each round is a mental logic puzzle which pits all of the contestants against each other in a challenge to be the player who solves the puzzle in the fewest moves. Although this game will not appeal to some, I was glad to see thatHans Im Gluck (and Jay ) added this to there offerings. It is very challenging and refreshingly different than anything else they(or anyone else) has done.
Rating : 7
Big CITY : Another great game! Great plastic playing bits & a game board that will never play the same twice. This game has many elements that you can also find in RaNSOM, DOWNTOWN & METROPOLIS. However, there is no trading or negotiating in Big CITY. As this was seen as a possible minus by Greg Schloesser, I am not so sure that it is. Also, I suppose that we will see many possible variants proposed that would allow for trading & negotiations to be added to the game. If so, my rating would probably be even higher. Even so, the game rates a solid 8 as is.
Rating: 8
Union PACIFIC: This was the game of the show for me! It is wonderfully done. The production is of the highest quality. The board is gorgeous as are the stock cards. The plastic train pieces are excellent. This is a great game! We played a four player game with Eric Wood beating me by 3 points (144 Million to 141 Million) to nail the victory.
Rating: 9
Money: Another nice quick filler card game from Herr Knizia. The money cards are beautiful. They are done in various denominations in several actual international currencies. Each player receives a worthless card to use in his bidding, a sort of “bluff” card. What is really humorous is that this card is a mimic of Monopoly money! However, these cards are virtually worthless as intended. Maybe they could count for a player towards a tiebreaker? Fast & fun.
Rating: 7
Titan; THE ARENA : I can’t believe that I finally got around to playing this game! I really liked it a lot. Now I will have to part with my copy of Campanile (yawn) which is essentially the same game as Titan. (take your Titan deck, paint all of the cards gray, replace the characters with bricks & viola…you’ve got Campanile!)
Rating: 8
SCHOKO & CO. : A major, MAJOR disappointment!!! Oh, how I have been looking forward to playing this game…for three reasons: #1. All the chatter about how great it is. #2. I tend to love business games #3. I cost me enough!
Why did it disappoint me so? Well lets see! I hire employees, I pay a secretary, I have a sales force, I budget & pay salaries, I bid on contracts, I win some contracts, I record numbers in a log book, then each month it all starts all over again………
“PLEASE SAW MY LEGS OFF!!!”
While you thought I was just describing the game play and essence of SCHOKO & CO. above, I was at the same time describing exactly what I actually do for a living day in and day out!!!! I’ll be &**%^* if I find it fun gaming to drag out a game that plays like my job description! YUCK! I don’t even want to think about employee hassles, lay off’s etc. when I’m trying to escape from all of that, which good gaming provides me!
For the love of Chocolate!
Rantings: 4
Liar’S DICE: I love Liar’s Dice….but I will have to suffer in agony for months after losing the Gulf Games showdown to my good buddy Greg, ” I’ve got your horseshoe right here” Schloesser..
Rating: 7.
VerrATER : I played just one game of Verrater and I really look forward to playing this again…soon. Note to self: Never open in a game of Verrater playing as the Rose party with Mark Jackson as the other Rose. The name of this Rose was a hose!
Rating: 7.
GallOPP ROYALE : I have owned, yet never played this game for years now, so I am glad that Mark broke this one out. Another game that feels like Showmanager or Evergreen to me….a light & interesting strategy game. The interaction with the right players adds to the fun as well.
Gallop poll: 7.
CAPE HORN: As I stated earlier, this is the one game of the whole lot that Jay is bringing over that I just didn’t care for. One thing, while almost all of the games Jay introduced us to were lavishly done, this one had a cheap and uninspired look and feel to it. For me, sure enough, it played that way too. Keep in mind that I saw others that really liked this game. I did not.
Rating: 5
Lost CITIES : Knizia does it again. This time with elegant simplicity. The game play choices in Lost Cities are way fewer here than typical Knizia style as this game requires a very subtle approach in strategy. The art on the cards is top notch! This two player card game is definitely a keeper.
Rating: 8
Igel ARGERN : I Gel, you Gel, we all Igel for Igel Argern. Ok, the game is cuter than my lame attempt to be. Roll the dice and that’s it…a cute game for kids.
Rating: 5
Take IT EASY: This game is: Francis Tresham does bingo! Quick & fun. Good for larger crowds & would appeal to non gamers.
Rating: 6
DSCHUNGELRENNEN : I played this kiddie jungle race game with Mark. It’s fun, and it’s cute. By the way, Mark forgot to tell you: Never move your Monkey & your Bear in tandem. Never!
Rating: 5.
Die HANDLER : Now this was an interesting game. I marched to an early lead that I maintained right on up to the end of round six! Great, right? Wrong! The game is played over eight rounds! At the end of the seventh round my aggressive style had me completely bankrupt and the game was over for me then and there! I got low on cash & could not win the bid for a wagon. When that happens your only hope is too pay the winner for a spot on his wagon. If he refuses you are flat out of luck! Could this be a problem with this game? Quite possibly! Also, please note that this game was taught by Jay who played it once and had no rules to go by. Because of this he also put aside a special powers/event type deck & a special character token. So we did not play with these either.
At any rate the game box, board art & components are first rate & my guess is that this game is going to be even better with the extra goodies included. If there is a wagon problem as noted earlier, I have confidence that a minor tweak or variant would smooth things out. I hate to give a fuzzy sounding review to a game that has the potential to be an excellent game.
Rating: 8
I did not get a chance to play Tikal or ChinaTOWN which I will buy in a heartbeat anyway based on the opinions of those who did. In fact, these two games received some of the highest praise of the lot! Tikal is absolutely gorgeous.
I also did not get a chance to play the two abstracts Ta Yu & Siesta. TA YU is really a two player game, and again, this is another absolutely gorgeous package! The board is beautiful & the playing tiles are like narrow dominoes. Siesta is all wood, board and all and is very attractive too.
That’s it for now! I hope I have been helpful.
One final note: It looks like a banner year for us gamers! This years crop of games is incredible, and best of all, Jay Tummelson has picked up at least 75% of the real winners. Great job Jay! I was lucky enough to obtain a few of these from Jay right there in New Orleans, and I eagerly look forward to getting my hands on the other Rio Grande games as he releases them!
Thanks to Greg & Ted for putting GG3 together. Thank you so much for attending Jay, and sharing all of the marvelous games you brought!
To all of you who attended, I wish you the very best and look forward to spending some quality time with each and every one of you as soon as possible!
God bless you all, I can’t wait till we do it again at Gulf Games 4 in Destin!