HOT BOX - Antics! (What's in the Box?)

I finally got my hands on Antics recently! I was very excited to get it as I loved my first play of it at an EGG game day in December. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to play it again since then but I knew it was something I really wanted to have a copy of. I was lucky enough to get a nice gift card and used it to help get this game.

My son is really into bugs and, in fact, he had an ant farm a few months ago that he got for his birthday last year and loved it. When he saw this game on my table after it arrived he was very interested in it and wanted to play it right away. So, I knew I had to open it soon.

We still haven't played it yet but here are the pics of the box opening.

Antics! box front

I really love the natural look of the artwork in this game. Nice simple box but lots of interest with the ants running along carrying leaves and bugs they are gathering. I also like how the ants at the bottom are carrying signs with "The Lamont Brothers" and "Fragor Games"!

Speaking of The Lamont Brothers, I have also played (and now own as of recently) the excellent race game Snow Tails. They have also design a number of well regarded games with unique game play including Antler Island, Savannah Tails, and Shear Panic.

Antics box back

Signed up for Gamestorm! Signed up for a couple games! Ready to go NOW!

Well, I procrastinated too much this year. I finally got myself signed up for Gamestorm last week and booked my hotel room TODAY (the last day for the guaranteed convention daily rate). I could probably have booked a room in a local hotel for cheaper rather than directly in the Hilton where the convention is happening, but being in the same hotel is so much more convenient.

Ah well, it's only money, right?

UGH - I can't help thinking: "Gee, I could have bought X number of games for the price of the hotel!"

I seem to do that a lot - convert the cost of something I bought into 'game' value.

"Gee, instead of getting new shoes I could have bought a new game or two!" or "Gee, for the cost of those groceries, I could have bought 3 new games!", or "Gee, I just filled up my tank with gas - I could have bought at least 7 or 8 games at that price!"

Of course, sometimes you can't get around buying groceries or filling up the gas tank, so I guess I just have to decide NOT to get games instead. *sigh*

Anyhow, I digress. Gamestorm. Is it worth it to pay X dollars to attend? Well, first I must qualify that. For me, I have to travel from Eugene to Portland, OR/Vancouver, WA area and get a hotel room. So, the cost to enter the convention is very reasonable ($35 if you sign up by TODAY, or $45 after today). But, I also have to play for a hotel room for 3 days.

Hmmmm, let me see. I get to play games all day long for 4 straight days (March 24-27th this year). I get to play games with some of my good friends that I don't get to play games with much. I get to play games that I can't/don't/won't buy, or try out games checked out from the game library, or even see and/or play games I simply didn't know about. I get to participate in a no-ship math trade (there's some cost savings there - if I actually have something worth trading at least). I get to watch LARPers (not my thing to participate in, but interesting to watch, to a point). I get to eat for free in the hospitality room (well, a small donation is recommended)!

Yah, it's definitely worth it, if only to be able to play games non-stop for 4 days with no (or very little) life interruptions.

Ok, so what is my focus when I go this year?