Settlers of Catan

I think game makers need to play and analyze more games.

On this path, I downloaded the iPhone version of Settlers of Catan so I could play lots of iterations without having to spend the 90+ minutes required to play in real-life (and gather 2-3 friends). If you are thinking of an iPhone game or a board game, this game is as fun as the reviews. http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/13/the-settlers-of-catan

A good technical summary of the game can be found here: http://www.skotos.net/articles/TTnT_107.shtml

Much of the game is decided in the setup phase. And I think someone that has played before has an unfair advantage over guests playing for the first or 10th time. I'm working on an app to help. But I'm still working on my 10 game plays to fully understand. Lots of strategy guides exist for this game. Go read some. And play!