The Emperor’s New Clothes – Update
An update for those of who you feel strongly one way or the other about the Emperor’s New Clothes Kickstarter project.
So Jonathan Liu and I spoke via email and on Skype and we had some laughs, chatted a bit about the hobby, and I think could even call each other pals. We both think mistakes were made by both parties. I’m clearly not the target audience for his game, and I’ll admit that I probably should have contacted him before I posted my “review.”
The thing I love about this hobby is that there are so many games and so many kinds of games that everyone can find a favorite. Some folks love Agricola, while others find it incredibly dry and boring. Some folks love Monopoly, while most “veteran board gamers” would never consider playing it. I may not consider Emperor’s New Clothes to be a game, or at least what I would call a game, but I attacked this project without considering that for others, this might be a game for them.
The Emperor’s New Clothes is not going to be a game for me, but it might be a game for you. No game is perfect for everyone. When more information is shown about his project, I think some people will really go for it. I know that I’m not going to be one of them, but this hobby needs more support, especially from within.
I will ask that if you think that this project isn’t for you, please don’t attack Jonathan or Game Salute or let it change your opinion of them.
Edit: Here’s Jonathan’s update on Kickstarter showing his side of the story.
so…. any actual apology forthcoming for going off half-cocked and attacking the project?
In our Skype conversation, Jonathan and I both apologized to each other.
Very cool. “To each his own.”
Back to the gaming table!
Yep, I apologize for “going off” on the project. I’m going to sit back and watch and we’ll see.
This is an old story, but I thought I would provide an update as someone who bought the game.
ENC has become a staple for our family, in particular, and something we like to share with others. It is clear that some people have the same response you predicted in your initial post before your conversation with Jonathan, and they are usually people who also have aversion to a game like Fluxx (another game that separates people) that has plenty of rules but they change all the time. For others, it is an enjoyable experience that is the opposite of Root in terms of onboarding new players.
Playing this game is improv, which is particularly enjoyable for those who buy-in to yes-and thinking. It allows players to draw from the game mechanics and prior experiences they have had playing games to fit them together with whatever other people bring to the table. That includes consulting non-existent rules, playing powerful cards, rolling dice, and moving pieces on a board people can only see in their minds. While there is an initial temptation to take actions that improve your own position (I typically go the other way), what happens after a few turns shows the essence of good gaming: people wanting other people to enjoy the game, too, while still remaining competitive with each other. We have found it to be insightful as well as a critique that people are what makes a good game, not the rules.
It is also useful for prototyping, when used in a more formal way. I have some stickers and the rules for an actual game that came with it, but honestly I have never considered messing up my ENC to attempt to play it. Co-creating rules is so much more fun.