Games Overboard

For our first review of an online game, I’d like to go over one I’ve been signed up with since it began its Beta testing period. The game, as the title most obviously states, is Diplomacy, and it is based off the board game of the same title (yeah, original, I know.)

The Diplomacy Board Game was originally created by Allan B. Calhamer in 1954 and released publically in 1959. The play feels like a combination of both chess and Parker Brother’s Risk, with a map based on Europe circa WWI or some time around then.

Game play of the online game follows the same rules and goals as those set out by the original. There are, however, some additional options that the online game allows for that the board game does not refer to in its rule book. These alterations to the gameplay are available only if you are a Premium member, but in my opinion, they’re worth it.

Overall I really enjoy playing Diplomacy both in person and online. I usually have a few games going and when one ends I start looking for another. My favorite part of the online version is the ability to find games that work around your life. The options for the games allow you to choose the time frame you want to use when playing the game, and even allow you to suspend play on certain holidays, weekends, etc. For those of us who can’t use the Internet at work or are only able to log in at certain times this is a great option to have.

The online game allows for you to send messages to your opponents and make (and break) alliances with any or all the other players in the games you’re playing. The “Shoutbox” option allows you to publish something to the group both naming your country or anonymously (to protect yourself when you say something rude or just stupid, as we all have done.)

Turns are emailed to you when they’ve finished and a new phase has begun, and this is where I have one small issue right now. I would really like to have a notification when someone from a game I’m playing messages me within the game. I realize that this might put a load on the mail server, but there have been times when I missed an important message until after the move was complete and the phase was over.

One of the better aspects of Play Diplomacy is the publication of the moves that were made at any point in history over the game. All moves for all players are pubished, so you can see if the alliance Russia has with Turkey was almost broken when they foolishly attempted to move into Rumania.

Overall, the games you play will be as fun and exciting as if you were in the same room as the people you were playing with. I personally like it a little more, as I can keep some deals secret and don’t have to worry about Brian realizing that I just pulled Olivia into the kitchen to attempt to sway her next moves to help me.

I would recommend you sign up at Playdiplomacy.com and start playing as a basic user. When you feel that you’re ready for a little bit of a different game, go for the Premium package, it adds a lot and lets you choose some options that really make it a different game. However if you’re still not into this whole Internet thing (in which case how are you reading this?) then go and buy the game, grab 6 of your friends and have fun.

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