Games for the World, World Cup Game, Players comments, amazing game

COMMENTS ON THE WORLD CUP GAME

June 2010

Some of the great comments about The World Cup game are here.

.... One to say how much I enjoy your game. I really don't like football, but I enjoy playing the game. My partner enjoys it too, and getting him to play any games is normally a struggle! One of the main reasons I bought the game was to take into school, and play with my class, something which I've done numerous times over the past couple of weeks, and they love it! - Simon Jewels, UK

"I'd like to pass on my thanks and say "wow!" - I recently ordered 'The World Cup Game' (and both expansion sets) and played it for the first time yesterday with my football loving father.What an amazing game ! The tactics involved in deciding how and where to play each card / tile are really thought provoking - my father commented that it was like playing the football equivalent of chess. And the dice modifiers add a nice twist - Nigeria almost got through the first round instead of Argentina (we were playing 2002) because the dice came up with 2 yellows !! Anyway - just wanted to say well done for coming up with such a cracking game - cheers !" - Rich Dodgin, Edinburgh

First of all, thank you very much for The World Cup Game. Since I obtained a copy about a year ago, it has become a regularly-played game at one of our monthly game days in Los Angeles. Its fun and fluid gameplay is a very attractive feature that draws in players who would otherwise not be interested in a football game. I've noticed that several others have also since purchased the game; I saw no less than 3 additional copies among my friends' collections at our last convention, in September. A testiment to the game's popularity and quality. J.L.Robert, Los Angeles, USA

"Simple rules, lots of decisions, tons of fun! Superb soccer game." - Sascha Eppelein, Vienna, Austria

"Nice... really nice. Takes some time, but it's worth it! The gameplay is different depending on the number of players. In this game the theme is not glued on top." - Tommi Vainio, Finland

"I usually don't rate games I don't own but watched this one at Essen 06 and think it's one of the best multi-player World Cup games out there even topping ADG's World Cup Tournament by a notch. This one focuses on specific WC's rather than a generic overlay of team quality. The teams are rated on how they stood in that specific cup match. Excellent quality as well but a bit pricey. Expansions are planned for other cup years." - Walt Mulder, USA

“Absolutely brilliant game this for all ages and football addicts whether they be gamers or not. The way you can oust the favoured teams through card play should you not have drawn one of the top teams is nice and creates some great World Cup moments. Plenty of excitement and even the World Cup Penalty shoot outs. My favourite game played at the Cast are Dice played with Shaun (The Designer)” – Mark Lockett, Stoke-on-Trent, UK
It was about an hour or so before I recruited enough players to try The World Cup Game at 'The Cast are Dice' games weekend held in August in Stoke-on-Trent. Once I had enough players, the noise and excitement as goals were being scored and sometimes disallowed for Foul or Offside, made the rest of the room take notice. Mark religiously recorded the game and has regularly played the game since. (Shaun)

“A very well presented game with good quality pieces. Gameplay is excellent, rules take 10 minutes to learn with lots of tactical options. Highly recommended to anyone even slightly interested in the World Cup and soccer in general. This really deserves attention from the gaming community.” – Paul White, Nuneaton, UK
Paul was one of the first people to buy the game - despite living quite close to me I have, to this day, never met him! (Shaun)

This game is just a whole load of fun. The Uruguay tournament is a disappointingly short (although perfect for three or four players who don't have long), but the Japan/Korea tournament is excellent.
The sight of a whole bunch of people hunched over the board, the collective groans and cheers as the goals go in .... just a load of fun. And non-football fans seem to like it too, once they're past the "barrier"” – Nick Fisk, Stoke-on-Trent, UK
Nick is the owner of Shire Games in Stoke-on-Trent as well as the organizer of the 'Cast are Dice' convention. (Shaun)

“My preliminary assessment. Quality of components is very high. Gameplay is hectic, and where it does not pretend to be a soccer simulation, it should not be judged as one. It is, instead, a "campaign-style" game, and as such, it succeeds remarkably well. Easy to learn, easy to understand, tense to play - and I'm not much of a soccer fan.” – Darrell Hanning, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
The World Cup Game may not, on the face of it, be a popular game for North America. 'Soccer' is not a major sport when you consider the popularity of American Football, Ice Hockey or Basketball. However, comments such as Darrell's above, have been steadily flowing into my Inbox. (Shaun)

“Let me start off by saying that soccer (I'm a Yank!) bores me to tears. However, I love board games. And your game The World Cup Game is truly first rate. You definitely have scored a GOAL!!!! with this one. When will your '34, '38, '06 expansion set be ready? (By the way, I purchased this game through Boulder Games.) Once again, congratulations on your outstanding game. You have every right to be very proud of your effort.” – Chuck Williams, USA
Another excellent endorsement from someone who doesn't like football. (Shaun)

“After one incomplete game I can say that I was positively surprised by this. Probably the biggest suprise of Essen '06 for me.
You don't have to know anything about soccer to play or win.
Mechanics are simple and feel realistic. Game play is exciting and offers several tactical choices. Components are of good/excellent quality.” – Sami Saarela, Espoo, Finland

“This game's a lot of fun. As there are much football fans at the old continent, this is a game with very much interaction. Most fun exists when you start playing tiles on other teams. At last this isn't a tactical game, but who cares when you had an enjoyable evening with tons of fun.”
– Koen Verstraete, Ruddervoorde, Belgium

...and praise too from Europe. Essen 07 is the biggest Games Fair in the world, held in Essen, Germany every October. (Shaun)


Shaun Derrick at Essen '06	The World Cup Game components spread

"Games for the World had a high profile, and were selling their World Cup Game. A bit late, and perhaps a licence short, but we forgive it everything because this is that welcome rarity, an experience based sports game. It is also a very good one, and has clearly been well designed and tested.”…. “The game has everything you might expect. Shock wins, dull draws, sledging, penalty shoot-outs and a sense of participation so strong that the cheers and groans could be heard throughout the hotel.” – Mike Siggins (part of his Essen 2006 blog on funagain blog )

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