FYI: The auction rule is actually in the old rulebook, listed as an "intense auction variant". Colosseum is one of my favourite games, but I couldn't find an afford copy of the old one. So I immediately went for the Kickstarter as soon as I saw it. Still plays great. Everyone should get a copy :)
In general I am a TMG fan. When I saw the art for their version of the game I knew I was not going to order it. The art for meeples were dreadful. Glad someone in our group has the old one.
I am so happy I just recently got a copy of the old version... not cheap, but after seeing the new one, I am sure it will keep or even appreciate its value... the old version is so much more charming...
Colosseum the one out-of-print game I thoroughly regret not having. However, I would rather miss it, remember it for what it was, and only get to play it ever so rarely, with friends that own it, than pick up that TMG version. Also, metal coins is great, so are roman numerals on them, but why - oh why - did they have to write the numerals with what looks like a modern font to me (not just the "1") .
Much, much prefer the Days of Wonder version art. Ancient Rome type metal coins can be a third party component upgrade purchase applied to any game carrying the ancient Rome theme. Even so, the Days of Wonder coin art is still great. Overall, if you already have the Days of Wonder edition of the game, I don't see any reason to purchase this new Tasty Minstrel version.
The center of the board isn't straight in TMG's game. That would drive me nuts. I'm sure it's by design, but it looks terrible. I'll have to either get the old one or wait for a third edition.
Nostalgia aside, TMG's version had a price tag of $20 at my local HPB, rendering most of the changes negligible, as far as I'm concerned. I sort of just grew tired of looking out for a reasonably priced copy of the DoW set. Is the art a bit cartoony? Yes. Are the mechanisms intact? Yes. Easy call for me.
Cool video Sam, nice to see how they compare. I'm happy with my copy of the TMG version. The coins are definitely awesome. I generally prefer the layout of the TMG board/tiles to the DoW versions Sam showed. The resource tiles are small, yes, but when I saw the old ones my first thought was about how much space they'd take up to keep them all laid out in front of me. Agree that the art direction leaves something to be desired, the pawns in particular look bad. They provided stickers to put over them in the KS copies, don't know if they'll be in retail but honestly they're not a huge improvement anyway. I did get a KS exclusive box sleeve that is much better than the box art itself, so that's a thing I guess. The game is fun though and without TMG I wouldn't have been able to get a copy without paying an arm and a leg. That's what is most important in my book.
Great comparison Sam, been eagerly waiting for this since I saw you with it at MeepleCon. I'm not opposed to the new artwork as it will fit in well with my other TMG games.
As far as I'm concerned, only the metal coins are what TMG did better but ruined it with a modern '1'. I'd much rather pay a higher price for the DOW version.
This is exactly why I have not backed the TMG version... Really, really sad, as this is a missed opportunity for bringing a classic boardgame back to the market! Especially a game from DoW who are famous for not reprinting their games...
Forget everything except that Vixentor dice tower in the background. I have the same one! Trade Matt some Heroscape boosters for one of his masterpieces.
Maybe its just me..but when your looking at the tickets....the fonts look to be the exact same. The DoW uses bigger text..and in bold..but they both look like the same Times New Roman Variant. TMG did have enough room that they could have used larger fonts though, which is a shame they didn't.
Oh God, it's almost ten years gap and it seems, that it's TMG's version was created in 2007. They did an awful job! What's wrong with those dice and small tokens? How is it possible, to remake large and bright game with thematicaly perfect artwork into the small, dark and cartoonish parody?
Man, the new version just came in at a few online retailers and I got to the point of getting my credit card out when I thought I should probably take a look at this comparison. Holy cow, that new version is ugly. It's so bad I'm just canceling the order I was ready to place for it.
It looks like their budget went completely into the coins, because that art direction is just awful. Days of Wonder has a wonderful aesthetic: classic/timeless, something between photorealism and a quality comic. Colosseum really needed to hire better artists for this. From the colour scheme, to the actual art itself, everything is a downgrade (with some things being drastic). This is almost embarrassing if we're being realistic, and a real deal-breaker for me. Another thing that comes to mind is the new arboretum reprint. The original green deck is far nicer, albeit, the 2nd version is ok... but This new colosseum edition.. just ouch.
The new version is downright abominable. I don't know, Sam, whether you don't want to offend "your guy" at TMG or anything, but their game is just absolutely ugly as anything. I understand people liking the 'meaty' weight of the metal coins in their hands, even though their design is both lacklustre and lacking any Roman appeal, but the nicely coloured and graphically sound designed cartboard coins in the original version are by no means a letdown. There should be no doubt in anyone's mind that if you go out today and get the "new" copy, you're actually gonna be taken and will have to content yourself with a bad ripoff of what this great game could have been.
I guess I just don't care much about artistic styling. I find beauty in functionality (unless it's math...pure math is beautiful). For me: DoW Pawns > TMG Pawns TMG Currency > DoW Currency TMG Board > DoW Board DoW Everything Else = TMG Everything Else
This has to be the ugliest reprint ever! So glad to have picked up the DoW Version a few years ago. It's my number one game but i think i would not enjoy it as much if i had to play the TMG version.
wow, I heard that TMG's version is not as good, but oh my is it just awful. it's not only that I don't want to buy their version - I don't even want to play such an ugly game 0o it's sad that they weren't able to get even close to Days Of Wonder, which does some of the best graphic design, but come on - with their example to make this... Thanks for saving me money, Sam :)
FYI: The auction rule is actually in the old rulebook, listed as an "intense auction variant".
Colosseum is one of my favourite games, but I couldn't find an afford copy of the old one. So I immediately went for the Kickstarter as soon as I saw it.
Still plays great. Everyone should get a copy :)
In general I am a TMG fan. When I saw the art for their version of the game I knew I was not going to order it. The art for meeples were dreadful. Glad someone in our group has the old one.
I am so happy I just recently got a copy of the old version... not cheap, but after seeing the new one, I am sure it will keep or even appreciate its value... the old version is so much more charming...
Thank you Sam. Days of Wonders always put much love into making their games and your comparison is a further proof of that.
I've been waiting to the new version of the game before I buy it and men... the old one is so much better! I'll go for the old one.
Colosseum the one out-of-print game I thoroughly regret not having. However, I would rather miss it, remember it for what it was, and only get to play it ever so rarely, with friends that own it, than pick up that TMG version.
Also, metal coins is great, so are roman numerals on them, but why - oh why - did they have to write the numerals with what looks like a modern font to me (not just the "1")
.
Much, much prefer the Days of Wonder version art. Ancient Rome type metal coins can be a third party component upgrade purchase applied to any game carrying the ancient Rome theme. Even so, the Days of Wonder coin art is still great. Overall, if you already have the Days of Wonder edition of the game, I don't see any reason to purchase this new Tasty Minstrel version.
Thanks for a great comparison video. This affirms my decision to keep my copy of the DoW version when the kickstarter first came out.
I'm so glad that I managed to grab the old days of wonder version in a trade.
It's like making Ben Hur visit Asterix. What were you thinking ,TMG?!
The center of the board isn't straight in TMG's game. That would drive me nuts. I'm sure it's by design, but it looks terrible. I'll have to either get the old one or wait for a third edition.
I'll probably go ahead and buy the reprint and switch it out for the DoW one if I ever find it. Great video, Sam!
A great step-back in terms of graphic design choices. Days of Wonder version still the best version, by far, of this game.
Nostalgia aside, TMG's version had a price tag of $20 at my local HPB, rendering most of the changes negligible, as far as I'm concerned. I sort of just grew tired of looking out for a reasonably priced copy of the DoW set. Is the art a bit cartoony? Yes. Are the mechanisms intact? Yes. Easy call for me.
Cool video Sam, nice to see how they compare. I'm happy with my copy of the TMG version. The coins are definitely awesome. I generally prefer the layout of the TMG board/tiles to the DoW versions Sam showed. The resource tiles are small, yes, but when I saw the old ones my first thought was about how much space they'd take up to keep them all laid out in front of me. Agree that the art direction leaves something to be desired, the pawns in particular look bad. They provided stickers to put over them in the KS copies, don't know if they'll be in retail but honestly they're not a huge improvement anyway. I did get a KS exclusive box sleeve that is much better than the box art itself, so that's a thing I guess. The game is fun though and without TMG I wouldn't have been able to get a copy without paying an arm and a leg. That's what is most important in my book.
Great comparison video and really liking the new game wall background and table surface. Well done!
Great comparison Sam, been eagerly waiting for this since I saw you with it at MeepleCon. I'm not opposed to the new artwork as it will fit in well with my other TMG games.
As far as I'm concerned, only the metal coins are what TMG did better but ruined it with a modern '1'. I'd much rather pay a higher price for the DOW version.
This is exactly why I have not backed the TMG version... Really, really sad, as this is a missed opportunity for bringing a classic boardgame back to the market! Especially a game from DoW who are famous for not reprinting their games...
hoping it gets released soon. release date changed from Q1 2017 to Q3 2017.
Forget everything except that Vixentor dice tower in the background.
I have the same one! Trade Matt some Heroscape boosters for one of his masterpieces.
Wow, the old version was vastly superior in every way except the coins. How do you screw up that badly?
Maybe its just me..but when your looking at the tickets....the fonts look to be the exact same. The DoW uses bigger text..and in bold..but they both look like the same Times New Roman Variant.
TMG did have enough room that they could have used larger fonts though, which is a shame they didn't.
Oh God, it's almost ten years gap and it seems, that it's TMG's version was created in 2007. They did an awful job! What's wrong with those dice and small tokens? How is it possible, to remake large and bright game with thematicaly perfect artwork into the small, dark and cartoonish parody?
Great review Sam! I haven't gotten to play either version of this, but I've heard you talk about it. Keep up the good work!
Man, the new version just came in at a few online retailers and I got to the point of getting my credit card out when I thought I should probably take a look at this comparison. Holy cow, that new version is ugly. It's so bad I'm just canceling the order I was ready to place for it.
It looks like their budget went completely into the coins, because that art direction is just awful.
Days of Wonder has a wonderful aesthetic: classic/timeless, something between photorealism and a quality comic.
Colosseum really needed to hire better artists for this. From the colour scheme, to the actual art itself, everything is a downgrade (with some things being drastic). This is almost embarrassing if we're being realistic, and a real deal-breaker for me.
Another thing that comes to mind is the new arboretum reprint. The original green deck is far nicer, albeit, the 2nd version is ok... but This new colosseum edition.. just ouch.
I've been wanted Colosseum for a long time now. But there is no way, I'm buying that FUGLY TMG version. How the hell do you drop the ball like that?!
I am sure both games are fine, but, Days of Wonders looks like the way to go
awesome game, cool review
A lady had this at our meetup but unfortunately I didn't make the cut to play it. I hope to try it soon.
The new version is downright abominable. I don't know, Sam, whether you don't want to offend "your guy" at TMG or anything, but their game is just absolutely ugly as anything. I understand people liking the 'meaty' weight of the metal coins in their hands, even though their design is both lacklustre and lacking any Roman appeal, but the nicely coloured and graphically sound designed cartboard coins in the original version are by no means a letdown.
There should be no doubt in anyone's mind that if you go out today and get the "new" copy, you're actually gonna be taken and will have to content yourself with a bad ripoff of what this great game could have been.
Pentagonal?
I guess I just don't care much about artistic styling. I find beauty in functionality (unless it's math...pure math is beautiful). For me:
DoW Pawns > TMG Pawns
TMG Currency > DoW Currency
TMG Board > DoW Board
DoW Everything Else = TMG Everything Else
This has to be the ugliest reprint ever! So glad to have picked up the DoW Version a few years ago. It's my number one game but i think i would not enjoy it as much if i had to play the TMG version.
I cant get out of my mind that super ugly meeple... it is like a 5 yr old used a sharpie to draw it... no excuse for such horrible art nowadays...
It would be better if a 5-year old could've drawn on it... unfortunately, it already has something printed on it.
TMG version is simply horrible
wow, I heard that TMG's version is not as good, but oh my is it just awful. it's not only that I don't want to buy their version - I don't even want to play such an ugly game 0o
it's sad that they weren't able to get even close to Days Of Wonder, which does some of the best graphic design, but come on - with their example to make this...
Thanks for saving me money, Sam :)
Oh wow, the TMG is just terrible in almost every aspect.