Shrapnel Games Blog

So the big news today is Microsoft unveiling “Surface“, a touch tablet PC that looks like an arcade cocktail cabinet from the ’80s and only costs a measly $10K. Sure, it’s sorta kewl but I have to admit that I just don’t get the reaction I’m seeing from boardgamers.

From the folks at BoardGameGeek:

“Board games as software will be cheaper to develop and distribute- you can play over the internet using a common board- instant set up- saving a game- so the 6 hour game of Die Macher becomes two 3 hour blocks. The list goes on and on.” (Emphasis mine)

Am I missing something? Doesn’t a boardgame, once it reaches a digital screen, become a computer game?

Heck, why don’t publishers just do that now? Think of all the trees that could be saved if only every boardgame publisher just started putting out digital games instead of cardboard!

Even wargamers over at Consimworld were getting into the act, under a posting entitled “The Future of FTF Wargaming?” Strange that all I ever hear about is people bitching and moaning because they don’t play FtF wargames anymore because it’s too hard to find an opponent. But having a touchscreen computer in your living room will improve that, right? Oh wait, you’re going to play it online, which is obviously impossible to do right now. If only there was a way to play online boardgames…hold on a sec! Can’t you use Cyberboard or VASSAL? Damn, I forgot, you need to use a *gasp* mouse to play. Better wait for Surface so you can move your units by touch.

I’m not trying to come off as a cranky bastard here (really!), it’s just that this is one of those things that I file under “Ehh”. Color me unimpressed. When we start jacking into computers and moving things with our minds, then I’ll be impressed.

-Scott