Kickstarter Picks for the Week of June 16, 2014

What is this post all about? Well, it should pretty straightforward, but, if there's any confusion, this is where I'll be talking about a handful of Kickstarter projects each week, focusing on a few projects that recently launched and a few projects that are about to end. Will I be focusing only on projects in need of funding? No. I will simply be focusing on projects that interest me, regardless of whether they've only raised $5 or raised ten times that of their original goal. Anyway, I think it's about time I got to the actual projects, eh.

• Recently Launched

Sugar & Spice - A Cooking Game

• Ends Tue, Jul 15 2014 8:59 PM CDT.

Do you like cooking? Probably not--I do, but I have a feeling a lot of board gamers don't, but please don't hate me for assuming--but, even if you don't, Sugar & Spice may be worth checking out. First, and like another pick this week, the art of Sugar & Spice is fantastic, making it a game that will always be enjoyable to look at, but is it also enjoyable to play? Well, I don't know--which is the case with most Kickstarter games and why backing any game, ignoring the potential production issues, is risky--but I like the idea of creating different meals and the game looks like something the whole family can enjoy; though, if you're not into light games, I highly suspect you won't like Sugar & Spice because it looks like a very, very light game (and there's nothing wrong with that).

HARBOUR - Master markets in a fantasy port

• Ends Wed, Jul 16 2014 11:42 PM CDT.

Harbour is a simple, quick economics-based game about collecting and exchanging goods, shipping product, manipulating the market, and purchasing real estate. Now, I love meaty games, but sometimes I just want something a little more veggie-based--this metaphor is going nowhere--so I'm always looking for such simpler games to add to my collection, and Harbour may be one such game. The reason Harbour grabbed my attention was because, first and foremost, I like the art, but, more importantly, the style of game is right up my alley at the moment; I don't know why, but I've been on a bit of a economics-based game fix, really enjoying the act of collecting and trading goods and all that jazz. Anyway, if you have a taste for something on the smaller side--tis about quality, not quantity--Harbour is worth checking out.

CLASH! Dawn of Steam the Card Game

• Ends Wed, Jul 16 2014 10:24 AM CDT.

Clash! Dawn of Steam may be the newly-launched game I'm most interested in for this week because of its asymmetrical gameplay; both players have their own goals--one player is trying to destroy a city while the other player is trying to defend it--so, in a way, it's a bit of a solo game with multiplayer aspects, and that sounds like a game made with me in mind. I would love to give Clash! a go and, if you like the idea of asymmetrical gameplay like me, y'all should check out Clash! Dawn of Steam...and, to bring up one last point that will turn me into a broken record, the art is quite lovely in this little game as well--good art should never go unappreciated.

• Ending Soon

Evolution

• Ends Mon, Jun 16 2014 10:59 PM CDT.

Evolution is a dynamic card game that involves, you guess it, evolution! As stated last week (and made evident by the fact I always have a deck of playing cards in my left back pants pocket), I love card games, and a card game where you create your own species, evolving 'em as the game progresses, doing your best to survive and score the most points sounds awesome. Evolution is definitely worth checking out--even if you only go to check out the beautiful art on each card--and I wouldn't be surprised to see Evolution reach quite a few of their stretch goals.

Luchador! Mexican Wrestling Dice!

• Ends Wed, Jun 18 2014 12:00 PM CDT.

I love chucking dice, so any game allowing me to do so will immediately have my attention; throw a Lucha Libre theme into the mix and then it's a party. I haven't played Luchador!--that will change soon thanks to the nice people at Backspindle Games--but this campaign is for a fancier second edition, so there's a chance you've already played (and enjoyed) the game and, if that's the case, there is an option for just upgrading your first edition instead of being forced to buy another version all over again; though, if this is your first time hearing about Luchador!, y'all can pledge for the complete copy of the second edition--which includes a little wrestling ring!

Dungeon Dice: GUILDS

• Ends Thu, Jun 19 2014 10:00 PM CDT.

Remember how I was just talking about dice? Well, here's another game full of dice, only, instead of being set in a wrestling ring, this game, Dungeon Dice, is set in a, well, dungeon. This particular campaign is for a Dungeon Dice expansion entitled, Guilds, but, if y'all want to get into the game fresh (because this is your first time hearing about the game) y'all can pledge for both a copy of the base game and the expansion. Anyway, I love dice and Dungeon Dice has a few of 'em, so, if you also enjoy dice, check out Dungeon Dice: Guilds.

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Anyway, that's it and that's all for this week's edition of Kickstarter picks. If you have any thoughts about the projects mentioned or want to highlight a project not mentioned above, leave a comment below--I'm always interested in seeing what other's think about various projects and what projects interest others.