Post by lesserthangideon on Feb 15, 2006 19:59:21 GMT -5
I wrote an article explaining what Attacktix is and why people should play it. I intend to submit it for publication to a web-based video game periodical (they have a column about table top/card gaming as well). I have to keep it very close to 500 words (I am slightly over at 518). Please let me know if there is stuff that I need to add or take out to better convey what Attacktix is. Thanks!
For the past few years now the latest rage in tabletop gaming has been collectible miniatures. Games like Heroclix have combined the collecting addictiveness of collectible card games with the strategy of traditional miniatures. This summer a new entry into the collectible miniatures game was made, but it has gone under most gamers radars because it can not be found in a comic or game store, but rather in the toy aisle at Wal-mart. Star Wars Attacktix was released in May of 2005 as part of the Revenge of the Sith toy blitz. By their own admission, Hasbro created the Attacktix game as a quick cash in, but found the product line’s success to bypass even their wildest expectations and they are now fully supporting it.
At first glance, it can be rather easy to dismiss Attacktix as to “kiddy”. The dice and measuring tapes of traditional miniature games are gone. Instead they have been replaced by the Attacktix motto of “last one standing wins.” The attacktix figures actually fire missiles from their guns and their lightsabers really swing. While, this further increase the toy feeling, there is something undeniably cool about using Han Solo to shoot down Boba Fett, or use Darth Maul to knock Mace Windu on his bum. This highlights the greatest appeal of Attacktix. The whole idea of the game is to knock all of the other team’s figures over. There are no complicated rules to remember, no line of sight details to quibble over, or unlucky die rolls. Attacktix is a simple, fun, and fast game. The average time of a match is between five and ten minutes. Not only does this allow for more games to be played in a set time, but it creates that “just one more game” atmosphere.
Despite having fairly simple rules, the Attacktix system is a lot deeper than it looks. Each figure has an Attacktix class (trooper, warrior, etc) and each figure also has a Star Wars class (Jedi, Sith, Empire, etc). All figures have special abilities that will affect other figures depending on their classes. For example one figure may have the special ability, “free move and attack for one of your troopers.” These special abilities come into play when a figure is knocked over. The more expensive the figure is to play, the better the ability it possesses. The rules suggest using hundred point armies, and the most expensive figures cost forty points, while the cheapest are ten points. Keeping all of this in mind, it is possible to make multiple different army combinations whose special abilities all support each other.
Attacktix has another advantage over other collectible games in that it is much cheaper. Starter sets containing five figures cost $9.95 and boosters with three figures can be purchased for $6.95. There is no doubt that Attactix is a kid friendly game, but it is also a fund and exciting game for all ages. For gamers who get over the childish appearance, they will find a game that will remind them why they fell in love with Star Wars in the first place.
For the past few years now the latest rage in tabletop gaming has been collectible miniatures. Games like Heroclix have combined the collecting addictiveness of collectible card games with the strategy of traditional miniatures. This summer a new entry into the collectible miniatures game was made, but it has gone under most gamers radars because it can not be found in a comic or game store, but rather in the toy aisle at Wal-mart. Star Wars Attacktix was released in May of 2005 as part of the Revenge of the Sith toy blitz. By their own admission, Hasbro created the Attacktix game as a quick cash in, but found the product line’s success to bypass even their wildest expectations and they are now fully supporting it.
At first glance, it can be rather easy to dismiss Attacktix as to “kiddy”. The dice and measuring tapes of traditional miniature games are gone. Instead they have been replaced by the Attacktix motto of “last one standing wins.” The attacktix figures actually fire missiles from their guns and their lightsabers really swing. While, this further increase the toy feeling, there is something undeniably cool about using Han Solo to shoot down Boba Fett, or use Darth Maul to knock Mace Windu on his bum. This highlights the greatest appeal of Attacktix. The whole idea of the game is to knock all of the other team’s figures over. There are no complicated rules to remember, no line of sight details to quibble over, or unlucky die rolls. Attacktix is a simple, fun, and fast game. The average time of a match is between five and ten minutes. Not only does this allow for more games to be played in a set time, but it creates that “just one more game” atmosphere.
Despite having fairly simple rules, the Attacktix system is a lot deeper than it looks. Each figure has an Attacktix class (trooper, warrior, etc) and each figure also has a Star Wars class (Jedi, Sith, Empire, etc). All figures have special abilities that will affect other figures depending on their classes. For example one figure may have the special ability, “free move and attack for one of your troopers.” These special abilities come into play when a figure is knocked over. The more expensive the figure is to play, the better the ability it possesses. The rules suggest using hundred point armies, and the most expensive figures cost forty points, while the cheapest are ten points. Keeping all of this in mind, it is possible to make multiple different army combinations whose special abilities all support each other.
Attacktix has another advantage over other collectible games in that it is much cheaper. Starter sets containing five figures cost $9.95 and boosters with three figures can be purchased for $6.95. There is no doubt that Attactix is a kid friendly game, but it is also a fund and exciting game for all ages. For gamers who get over the childish appearance, they will find a game that will remind them why they fell in love with Star Wars in the first place.
