Carcassonne XBox

[Wishmaster]

So, what do we all know about this?

http://arstechnica.com/journals/thumbs.ars/2007/06/25/carcassonne-coming-to-xbox-live

  ...and more to the point, for those of us without an XBox, are we going to get something on Playstation 2, old XBox or PC? Will they finally release the PC versions worldwide?

Anyone know of any sites selling the Big Box PC version or the Hunters and Gatherers PC version?

[mjharper]

I want it on Mac!

[Wishmaster]

I want it on Mac!

Please!! just don't get me started!!!! 

[Gantry]

Well, take a look on the story on the front page my friend! That earned you a few merit points, thank you!

Hmmm I'm wondering if any members here have Xbox Live, and if they'd like to be our Xbox Carc guy?

[Wishmaster]

Well, take a look on the story on the front page my friend! That earned you a few merit points, thank you!

Hmmm I'm wondering if any members here have Xbox Live, and if they'd like to be our Xbox Carc guy?

Woo-who!! Thanks for that... Just doing me duty, Sir!! 

[canada steve]

I have the Xbox360 and have Xbox Live fully paid up for a year so would be happy to take on the hoards and report back. If its anything like their online Catan then it should be pretty good.

Tomorrow night booked off for serious online gaming whilst tonite is reserved for proper tile placing meeple bashing. 

[Gantry]

Excellent!  What I'm wondering specifically is, might there be a need for an Xbox-version Carc FAQ/Resource that Carc Central might be able to fill?  Keep in mind oddities in rules etc vs the boxed game.

[canada steve]

From the Xbox live website. Clickthe link to check out the graphics http://www.xbox.com/en-GB/news-features/news/carcasssonne-makes-inroads-on-LIVE-260607.htm

Carcassonne makes inroads on LIVE
 

Carcassonne isn’t just a name pulled out of thin air to suit a classy board game; it’s actually a medieval town in southern France known for its strategic wherewithal. You’ll need lots of tactical tricks up your sleeve to emerge victorious in Carcassonne for Xbox LIVE Arcade. This award-winning game designed by Klaus-Jurgen is one of the top board games in Europe, only the unstoppable Settlers of Catan (also available on Xbox LIVE Arcade) is more popular. We thought you’d like to know Carcassonne is available now for 800 Microsoft Points, and here’s what to expect:

The core game system is literally built around a system of 72 tiles used to construct roads, walls, farms and fields. A single square tile is placed on the board at the start of the game and from here each player must develop the medieval countryside to their best advantage in order to earn the most points. Carcassonne is designed so that nobody is ever out of the game. Up to four players can compete on the same console but if you’ve friends on LIVE then up to five of you can take part. Another cool thing here is that the Xbox LIVE Vision camera can be used.

In addition to including a useful tutorial mode for beginners and skill-based matchmaking for ranked games across LIVE, this special Xbox LIVE Arcade edition of Carcassonne also features the ‘Rivers II’ expansion set comprising 12 new tiles.

So if you fancy some fun-filled strategy action with friends and family, Carcassonne and Catan will keep you busier and brainier than you’ve ever been before. Both of these great games are available from Xbox LIVE Arcade today.

[mjharper]

The link is broken…

Anyway: "72 tiles", "up to 5 of you" - is it only based on the basic game with no expansions?

And the essential questions: 1st or 3rd edition farmer scoring? And what about small cities? (if there are expansions, there'll be countless other questions )

[Edit: just read on BGG that it will include the River as well - so the question is whether it bans all u-turns, or only immediate ones]

[Gantry]

the link on the front page story will lead you there

yeah that's one oddly messed up link there steve hehe

[canada steve]

Strange that link was copied directly from the Xbox site.

Yep its the basic game withthe river thrown in as an extra.

I've played one online 5 player game and several single player versus the computer games. I whipped the computer everytime. came third on the 5 player.

The game is very swish in how it looks with 3d graphics of castle walls and cloisters rising up on completion and it plays very well. The rules allow for RGG and original scoring options which is good as it saves on the arguments I suppose. All the original 72 tiles and the basic river set are represented and there is a very good tutorial for anyone who isnt conversant with the game (cant believe that there is anyone out there who doesnt  ).

The game gives you a tile and outlines each option for where it could be placed. Once placed then you have the option to place the normal meeple as in the proper game. Scoring is a graphical and audio feast as fireworkd, cheering and buildings rise up or roads are paved and horses gallop along.

So far its a cracking game and very good if you havent got an adversory to play against for real nut for the purists out there it might not cut it to provide you with the stimulation expected from the game.

I for one will keep playing it and will report back more about it. I hope they bring in more variations.

[Wishmaster]

I was discussing it's XBox 360 release at work today. This may all be known to most, or not... The KOCH Media PC version(s) of the game were close to going Live worldwide (as opposed to just Germany), when Microsoft stept in promising big things.... Big things meant it ground to a complete halt as Microsoft put it to one side for around four years. Finally if you are are an XBox 360 owner it seems you get to play just the base game. Lets not forget, KOCH released the base game, Hunters and Gatherers, an expansion set and indeed the Big Box version all on PC. So the big question, are Microsoft going to update these games for PC... I've not seen anything that says so. It's strange, because an Arcade console does not seem to me to be the right place for these games (they've done Settlers of Catan as well) - Surely the PC is the obvious route?

[Gantry]

That would seem obvious, but MS makes more money in the xbox arena than they do in the pc world.  Same with other companies too, for example there is no more Call of Duty 3 on PC. I think it's all about attracting "exclusives" to your platform (xbox, playstn etc), but then again I don't know much about them because the last console i bought was a playstation 1, lol.

[mjharper]

What's the 'Big Box' version of the Koch Media game? I have the Collector's Box from 2004, and AFAIK that's the newest version available (2 years before the real Big Box). It includes the basic game, Inns… Traders…, King… and the River, as well as Hunters… but not Princess… or the Tower.

Btw, except for music, it runs fine on a Win2000 emulator on my Mac

[Wishmaster]

What's the 'Big Box' version of the Koch Media game? I have the Collector's Box from 2004, and AFAIK that's the newest version available (2 years before the real Big Box). It includes the basic game, Inns… Traders…, King… and the River, as well as Hunters… but not Princess… or the Tower.

Btw, except for music, it runs fine on a Win2000 emulator on my Mac

Sorry, my fault - That's the one I meant - OOps! Any idea where  can get one from?