A SHILLING FOR YOUR THOUGHTS

“A penny for your thoughts” is a phrase that may be familiar to you. You might have heard it, you might have said it. Basically, it’s a friendly way of asking what someone is thinking, what’s on their mind. In Olde England, that penny might have been exchanged for a different currency value – a shilling. Unfortunately, such a benign saying has taken a more sinister meaning as it pertains to Kickstarter.

We often assume – and by that I mean that I always assume – that the thoughts expressed by reviewers in evaluating a game are always honest and sincere. I should know better and so should you!

On one of the Facebook groups I frequent, there was a lively discussion about some reviewers charging $400 FEES for their reviews, the concern being that these folks were raising their prices to as much as $600! One well known reviewer (who shall be nameless) has freely admitted charging for “preview reviews” and sometimes having to struggle to find something good to say to justify payments received. I may be naive but I find this appalling. 

Gamers Alliance Report is the longest running English language game review publication in the world! We started publishing back in 1986 and throughout all these years, no one has ever seen ads in our pages (it has been our policy from the start to NOT accept paid advertising in our pages) and we have NEVER asked for a fee or charged for a review. (We do accept review copies of games but these are accepted with no strings attached. On some occasions – and I could tell you stories – we’ve had to resist pressure applied to us by game companies and others, overtly and covertly, to “modify” or quash reviews according to their notions.) It is our stance that any time there is some relationship to a game being reviewed and the contributor reviewing it, that relationship is clearly identified. Transparency is important so you know when you read the opinions and analysis in our pages, the thoughts shared are honest and not paid for. 

A knowledgeable gamer needs to be able to know and TRUST his/her source. This disturbing trend of purchasing positive reviews is a trend gamers need to be aware of and guard against. A “penny for your thoughts” is one thing. A review bought and paid for is something else. Instead of a penny for your thoughts, you’re getting a shilling by a reviewer paid to promote. Unless that reviewer states that connection, that review is misleading, dishonest and totally unacceptable. The alternative? Gamers Alliance and GA Report! Whether you agree with our opinions or not, you can rest assured that NONE of them are bought for pennies, pounds, dollars or  “shillings”! 

In this issue of GA Report, you will receive more of the honest insightful reviews and analysis of games worthy of your attention as we run riot in a bunny kingdom, venture to the Planet of the Apes and cross the Atlantic! Kevin Whitmore goes on a quest,  Chris Wray feels majestic and Chris Kovac gets “Hungary”. Andrea “Liga” Ligabue starts a project, Eric Brosius rides the rails, Frank Hamrick gets abstracted while Greg Schloesser find things brewing! And royalty is recognized as Joe Huber calls on the Emperor and Pevans visits the palace of the mad king! And, of course, much more!

Until next time, Good Gaming!

Herb Levy, President

Have feedback? We’d love to hear from you.

Other Winter 2018 GA Report Articles

18CZ

Reviewed by Eric Brosius 18CZ (Fox in the Box, 2 to 6 players, ages 12 and up, 250 minutes; about 78€) Lonny Orgler’s 18CZ is a new member of the so-called “18XX” branch of the ...
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AZUL

Reviewed by Frank Hamrick AZUL (Plan B Games/Next Move, 2 to 4 players, ages 8 and up, 30-45 minutes; $39.99) Azul is a "small footprint game" designed by Michael Kiesling with a surprisingly "simple-to-subtle" play ...
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BUNNY KINGDOM

Reviewed by Herb Levy BUNNY KINGDOM (Iello, 2 to 4 players, ages 14 and up, 45 minutes; $49.99) Richard Garfield has carved out an enviable reputation for game design. From Magic, the Gathering to RoboRally, ...
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CURSED COURT

Reviewed by Herb Levy CURSED COURT (Atlas Games, 2 to 6 players, ages 14 and up, 30-45 minutes; $49.95) It's good to be king! But what about those nobles lower down in the food chain? ...
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DAYS OF IRE: BUDAPEST 1956

Reviewed by Chris Kovac DAYS OF IRE: BUDAPEST 1956 (Cloud Island Games/Mr. B Games, 1 to 4 players, ages 10 and up, 60-90 minutes; $64.95) Days of Ire: Budapest 1956 is a semi abstract simulation ...
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EDITORIAL – WINTER 2018 – VOL 2 NO. 65

A SHILLING FOR YOUR THOUGHTS "A penny for your thoughts" is a phrase that may be familiar to you. You might have heard it, you might have said it. Basically, it's a friendly way of ...
Read More

EMPEROR’S CHOICE

Reviewed by Joe Huber EMPEROR'S CHOICE (Okazu Brand, 3 to 5 players, ages 12 and up, 120 minutes, about $60) I’ve always been a bit amused by the notion of an “automatic buy” designer; while there ...
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GAIA PROJECT

Reviewed by Andrea "Liga" Ligabue GAIA PROJECT (Z-Man Games, 2 to 5 players, ages 12 and up, 60-150 minutes; $99.99) For centuries, your civilization has yearned to take to the stars and explore unknown worlds ...
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HEAVEN & ALE

Reviewed by Greg J. Schloesser HEAVEN & ALE (eggertspiele, 2 to 4 players, ages 12 and up, 90-120 minutes; $69.99) Monks brewing ale, a theme that is sure to craft beer lovers everywhere to salivate ...
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MAJESTY: FOR THE REALM

Reviewed by Chris Wray MAJESTY: FOR THE REALM (Z-Man Games, 2 to 4 players, ages 7 and up, 30-45 minutes; $39.99) One of the hottest games of Essen 2017 was Majesty: For the Realm.  Designed ...
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PALACE OF MAD KING LUDWIG

Reviewed by Pevans THE PALACE OF MAD KING LUDWIG (Bezier Games, 2 to 4 players, ages 13 and up, 75 minutes; $59.95) As the title gives away, this is a thematic sequel to designer Ted ...
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PLANET OF THE APES

Reviewed by Herb Levy PLANET OF THE APES (IDW, 1 to 4 players, ages 14 and up, 60-90 minutes; $59.99) In today's world, science fiction has a tremendous impact in entertainment but science fiction has ...
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QUEST FOR EL DORADO, THE

Reviewed by Kevin Whitmore THE QUEST FOR EL DORADO (Ravensburger, 2 to 4 players, ages 10 and up, 30-60 minutes; $32.99) The Quest for El Dorado, is a new release from Ravensburger (2017), and well-loved ...
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RAJAS OF THE GANGES

Reviewed by Herb Levy RAJAS OF THE GANGES (RnR Games/HUCH!, 2 to 4 players, ages 12 and up, 60 minutes; $49.99) Games will often whisk us to exotic locales. In this new design from Inka ...
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TRANSATLANTIC

Reviewed by Herb Levy TRANSATLANTIC (Rio Grande Games, 2 to 4 players, ages 13 and up, 60-90 minutes; $64.95) The Industrial Revolution started shrinking the world. With industry came power, power to drive engines and ...
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TRENCH

Reviewed by Herb Levy TRENCH (Outer Limits Games, 2 players, ages 10 and up, 45-60 minutes; $50) World War I was a war of tremendous destruction. Opposing armies faced each other, emerging from the cover ...
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YUMMY WORLD: PARTY AT PICNIC PALACE

Reviewed by Herb Levy YUMMY WORLD: PARTY AT PICNIC PALACE (WizKids, 2 to 4 players, ages 8 and up, 20-30 minutes; $14.99) People who like to read have favorite authors so, when a new book ...
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