Octopus Overlords

This game reminds me of a kid's version of Robo Rally -- Robot Turtles.

It's a limited print run for a game which claims to teach basic programming skills to preschoolers. There are also supposed to be grownup level (8+) rules coming out. Looks cool, and something more entertaining than Candyland.

Hmm... Looks like I might have to pursue this for my little ones.

My middle daughters bedroom is my old room, we bought my parents house, and I have some old board games still in the closet. She is always asking to play them with me, or as she calls it my 'friends' that play in the basement.

Anyway, those games are things like Risk, Axis and Allies, and some other older board games that don't get out too often.

So this looks like something awesome for her to play.

Darn. I was hoping for actual robot turtles. I'd buy one of those.

Looks interesting, but I'm not sold that my daughter would actually play it.

Hmmmmm...

I'm fortunate in that my kids do play games like Kids of Carcassone, Chicken Cha Cha, Orchard and KinderBunnies. It doesn't always end well, but they try. It helps that my 6 year old is a people pleaser while the 4 year old can play more attenetion. We can usually only get in one game before they're ready for something else.

Zarathud wrote:I'm fortunate in that my kids do play games like Kids of Carcassone, Chicken Cha Cha, Orchard and KinderBunnies. It doesn't always end well, but they try. It helps that my 6 year old is a people pleaser while the 4 year old can play more attenetion. We can usually only get in one game before they're ready for something else.

Yeah, I have a 9 year old and a 6 year old, and a 4 year old. The 9 year old likes to people please, and the 6 year old likes to win. The 4 year old likes ponies.

So this might keep their attention if I could make it robot ponies instead of turtles.

It's so f'n CUTE!!!!



Almost as cute as this:

Would have bought that if it wasn't 2 players and geared for infinite expansions.

Just wait for the My Little Pony CCG in December, RMC.

Zarathud wrote:Just wait for the My Little Pony CCG in December, RMC.

Egads! Please say No!

Hi! I'm Dan Shapiro. You can follow me on Twitter, see my bio, or check out my blog.

the guy who is pitching this was CEO of a company i contracted for, a few years back.

I just played this for the first time last night with the 4-year-old (and again this morning, because he insisted). If you have a 4-year-old of your own (or a bit older), I highly recommend it -- it does a great job of introducing rules that are simple, but not boring, and gives players a real sense of accomplishment.

RMC wrote:

Zarathud wrote:Just wait for the My Little Pony CCG in December, RMC.

Egads! Please say No!

Didn't you just say yes to the My Little Pony CCG at Origins? Thought I'd remind you.



Anyway, I'm looking to break this one out again with the kids.

So... a board game implementation of the Logo programming language, which had 'robot turtles' in the 60s.

Zarathud wrote:

RMC wrote:

Zarathud wrote:Just wait for the My Little Pony CCG in December, RMC.

Egads! Please say No!

Didn't you just say yes to the My Little Pony CCG at Origins? Thought I'd remind you.



Anyway, I'm looking to break this one out again with the kids.

Ugh, you corrupted me and my kids. They love the cards, not so much playing by the rules of the game but they love playing with the cards. I have bought a bunch of booster packs for them to play with since Origins.

My friend got this game and the expansion, his wee one loves it.

Every time I read the name of the game I get two songs stuck in my head - Ro-Bot Roll Call! from MST3K, and Robot Ponies! It's very weird.

Ordered. Kiddo has always loved games and is just now starting to be able to follow the rules and last for more than 10 minutes.

Can you cancel? I have an extra copy...

Zarathud wrote:Can you cancel? I have an extra copy...

Already shipped. Drat! I could return but that might be more trouble than it's worth. Thanks for the offer though. If Tiks can manage the rules we'll have to get together to play.

Rule #1 She is the boss of the Turtles by choosing the cards. That's HER job.
Rule #2 You move the Turtles. That's YOUR job.

It's amazing how quickly she will adapt to the idea of bossing you around especially if you make the turtles moving funny. Make mom play (and make deliberate mistakes) and she'll laugh as she beats you to the goal, but get her to help you out afterwards.

Very clever way to incentivize kids. Before you know it, they'll be blocking your movements.