The Case of the Missing Board Game Android Apps

or "A Missed App-ortunity?"

The husband and I recently leapt into modern day by purchasing phones that actually connect to the Internet, text message, and whatnot. By the way, I'd like to give a shout-out to AT&T for holding us in a contract under which we actually paid more per month for our camera phones with constant dropped calls then we do now for contract-free droid phones and unlimited data through T-Mobile. Suck it, AT&T. Anyway, I have naturally gone app crazy and have been busy ninja-slicing digital fruit, rocketing birds at militarized pigs, and similar things. But what I have been desperately missing is some serious gameplay on these phones. Particularly with an upcoming vacation that is going to mean long wait-times at airports, I'd really love to play some real board gaming on my new awesome blinged-out droid. Maybe a little Ticket to Ride, Carcassonne, or some Alhambra?

But, hark, where are the apps for these board games?

It turns out that since I have an android phone, most board game makers would like to piss on me and my decidedly non-hipster technology. After much research, I have found that various acclaimed board game makers have only made apps in iOS format (read: for iPhone posers). Granted, there is a version of "Settlers" and Carcassonne, both of which appear to be not-necessarily officially licensed from the game makers. Both also share a common thread of having generally terrible reviews about their simplicity and general bugginess. And they cost $4.99 each. Ouch. I might just pay it though and risk them not loading right on my Samsung Admire because I want my board game crack that badly. It might be bad crack--overpriced and shady, but at least it's crack.

The possibly ill-conceived Carcassonne android app

So then I wondered, are the game makers all just really behind the times? The answer is no. They're not. Not exactly, anyway. A couple major names in the board gaming world have developed sophisticated and popular apps for iOS format, including Days of Wonder (Small World) and Ravensburger (Puerto Rico), but have completely ignored the android market. Why? After all, according to one source, in the last quarter of 2011, android sales accounted for 47% of the market share, where as iOS-formatted devices only accounted for 43%. And while I understand that Apple contracts, user demands, and general tech snobbery may have caused board game makers to develop iOS apps first, the perplexing trend is that once the iOS apps were developed, game makers seemed to have swished their hands together, chafing off the dust of a job well done, and settled back into their nerdy game chairs, feet propped up on the boxes of all of the different versions of iPhones they've bought in the last three years. Screw you, android users--you're not trendy enough to waste our time on.  Humph!

Well, I think that's a fair vision of what's happened, don't you?

Consider Days of Wonder in particular. This is a game maker (Ticket to Ride, Small World, Memoir '44, Shadows Over Camelot) that has developed its brand with the specific goal of integrating board games and technology. Of all the game publishers, I would have bet good coin that this publisher wanted to attract as wide of a technological audience as possible. But as of this posting time, there is no word that android apps are even in development. Their Ticket to Ride Pocket iOS app, however, is a widely praised award-winning success. It's a shame that so much of their fan base will never see it and never enjoy it.

Ravensburger (Puerto Rico, San Juan, Glen More, Tikal) is guilty of the same charges--ignoring android users while faithfully developing iOS games. But at least their website has a hopeful message posted as of this post date that reads:
"Dear Android fans,
 We are currently working on various Android apps which we shall present here soon. 

The Ravensburger Digital team"

Based on this tease, I have subscribed to receive updates on these advances by email, and will keep you posted if I hear anything.

There is no information that I could get my paws on about Queen Games's (Alhambra, Fresco, Wallenstein) or Rio Grande's (Dominion, Carcassonne, Race for the Galaxy) plans, or lack thereof, for any official app games, but I did have a bit of limited success in contact Mayfair Games (Settlers of Catan, Nuns on the Run, Witch of Salem, Atlantis). A customer service rep let me know that they have no plans or interest in developing their games electronically--aside from the separate Catan license, which is a different entity altogether. Harumph. At least they're fair across the board--ain't nobody gettin' no games no how on no phones. (Ow, my brain just pinged and hurt from even the mockingly bad grammar.) 

I am not at all upset with publishers like Mayfair, since I think it's very valid, fair, and even somewhat pure to sidestep electronic possibilities. After all, just as I loathe e-readers for removing the romance of paper pages and bent spines, I respect board games for the tactile satisfaction of rolling dice and holding cards. Electronic versions and apps will never be on par with my favorite boxed games, and I'd buy a boxed game ten times over before buying an electronic version (especially for $4.99--that's a lot, isn't it?). Nope, the only grudge I'll ever hold over electronic versions is inequality among devices. Geeks use androids, too. Geeks use androids, too.