Every Game is Awesome: Ponzi Scheme

[@Kolvorok]

I love how Tom is honestly saying how he feels and does manage to convey a really balanced and relatable criticism of the theme. He's just a good egg that loves games and has become an authority on them, not a salesperson like tons of other reviewers.

[@deliablitz1243]

It's funny he's complaining about the theme while he has no problem killing people in games.

[@wroot_lt]

You are no killing people in your every day life, yet paying bills is a usual chore, so it is gets under your skin easier. I would feel the same about a game doing your laundry.

[@SM-pc2uy]

This game looks amazing. Tom's description of trying to keep your head above water and Jason's enthusiasm sold me.

[@akmalfikri]

That's the whole point of this game, where it teaches you that loans to pay other loans is bad.

[@jeremyscott6296]

This wasn't on my radar but Jason sold me on it. Seems simple enough to play and teach and the blind sale mechanic is cool.

[@Heelms]

Great review. I need to own this game! Jason sold it very well!

[@Blackwarrior2003]

Ponzi Scheme, also known as Banking.

[@filipkevely]

The best description of this game I've heard: "Economical Survival Horror" :))

[@123blalala]

Great review =] Not sure why everyone is so triggered by this?

[@shanelaporte]

Tom seems to be in the minority on this one, since every other reviewer I've come across so far seems to love the game. It obviously hits a nerve for him and I can understand that. There are also games I won't play because of the theming (games involving guns and shooting other players are a big turn off for me).

[@inuinuinuinuinu]

i don't feel like jason was very receptive to tom's concerns about the game (stressful theme & difficult calculations). i would like to hear him address those concerns (and even refute them). just sweeping them under the rug doesn't help me understand his opinion or the game any better.

[@hugesinker]

"Bear market", not "Bull market"-- hence the picture of a bear on those cards.

[@DanieleMazzoni]

Nice to have the two different point of views about the game theme, I like it this way. Tom makes a good point about the people being schemed today as well from these Ponzi schemes, they are illegal but flourishing (check Pyramid Scheme on youtube by Last Week Tonight) and lots of people lost the few bucks they had on this... Jason however represents the players who always played Monopoly without thinking of people who went bankrupt for real or people who lost their mortgages and so on... it's just a game, I feel like this too.

[@philz6164]

Needs to be in the next live playthrough, imagine all the negative comments relating to them making light of going brankrupt. I'd like to try this game but I agree with Tom about the difficulty in determining the value of those trades and many in my group wouldn't know how to value them, so it's a pass for me.

[@michaelhastriter3299]

so im confused why didnt this game get a dice tower seal of excellence? Jason gave it a 9. excellence is 8+... is it only Tom who decides?

[@gooberweevil]

Yeah, I've been watching these and the seals are Tom's. You make a good point though i'd like to eventually see different seals for each reviewer since everyone's taste varies.

[@boardgameknight2791]

Zee's recent review uses the seal of excellence. I understand why this game doesn't get one, though. Jason's opinion is totally valid, but he tends to be excited about a lot of games. I love hearing Jason's thoughts, this is a great series, but I also appreciate Tom's discretion.

[@winnie666]

Jason is not reivewer, he's just a guy who is sharing his opinion. He doesn't make reviews. And he's not an employee.

[@squ3lch956]

If you share an opinion about games frequently in a public forum, that is the definition of a reviewer. Also the majority of reviewers on the Dice Tower network are unpaid. I think this has more to do with a balancing of Jason's tendency to get really excited about games he likes giving them fairly high ratings. As much as a I appreciate Jason's insights, he does need a moderator. This isn't a bad thing. It is just how it is for now. As time goes by he may grow in his reviewing skills to where he doesn't need this.

[@dru288]

(9+6) / 2 = 7.5

[@pgaboury]

I want Jason in my gaming group. I can never play these kinds of games...

[@lystic9392]

Thanks for the review. The two points that Mr. Tom raised are actually of importance to my family. They wouldn't like this game for those exact reasons. But it's good to hear different opinions.

[@z0mb13k1ll3r]

I wish I had a friend like Jason to play economic games like this one (and also he seems like a really nice guy to hang up with) Too bad it is way too heavy and "dry" for my regular players :/

[@blingmobile]

i know this video is 4 years old, but holy fuck i have never been more mad at anyone than tom in this review. why is he being so difficult and obtuse?

[@kennygoodenow6505]

My local game group played this on Saturday and everyone loved it. Tom's points are valid concerns, but the four of us playing all embraced the absurdity of the bad deals and choices, as well as the stress of the impending economic doom and how many turns we could each hold on. We all ham'd it up on evaluating the offers and, again, just had a blast. Like all games, it will depend on your mindset going into it and who you play with it. Our experience was like Jason's and we all had a good experience with a good amount of laughs. Like Jason, we thought it was pretty awesome.

[@ArnieHorta]

I really don't get Tom's concerns. The lack of understanding of the values of the tiles is common to many games. He likes Stockpile and it has the same issues..except that , in Stockpile one person does know the value of each stock. As for the comparison to credit card debt and the fact that people won't like the theme because of it...I think he is stretching here. I normally side with Tom over Jason, but this time Jason is on the money...

[@philz6164]

Arnie Horta for stockpile the bidding is not completely open because there are fixed values to bid and even if you don't know the coming market changes, you can still do the math on current value to know if you are paying a reasonable amount. I noticed that Jason likes this type of system probably because he's very good at it compared to others and thus has an advantage. I have no problem with this either, but I understand some might or some won't even know they are losing because they are over paying.

[@winnie666]

What's the problem? In some games this is an issue for him. In some this is not an issue. There always exceptions.

[@d.b.4910]

I just got Ponzi Scheme and 1846 in the mail. I bought them because of Jason's recommendation and look forward to trying them out!

[@Traumtheater0]

Can't wait for the comment-banhammer. Thx for review!

[@TorIverWilhelmsen]

There is perhaps a reason Tom insists on not talking about politics in Dice Tower videos - not sure why he made an exception for Jason.

[@gamera2351]

What was political? His comment about Social Security? I don't know if I'd label that political commentary.

[@Warriorking.1963]

I own this game, and Jason's 100% right! I'm absolutely awful when it comes to playing it, but sang it, it's FUN!!!

[@brucegrossman3531]

I've read a book about Ponzi years ago and can't wait to get this game.

[@Urpichachacha]

It is a stressful game!!!!

[@lindap2401]

Jason doesn't really understand social security :P He thinks he does but I feel he might be getting his information from misinformation websites/"news".

[@addisonshinedown]

Tristram Delvaux yeah... he has no understanding of how it works and why it works... which is fine. His cluelessness doesn't hurt anyone

[@Creshex8]

Peter Schiff has relentlessly challenged people as to how social security is different from a Ponzi scheme. The best answer given is : social security is legal. Jason was dead on, the SS scheme is nothing but a government run Ponzi scheme... tell me, is the current SS fund up to date? No, it is bankrupt... wanna know why? BECAUSE ITS A PONZI SCHEME!!!!

[@alexchambers1911]

Sell off jason's boardgame collection and give the proceeds to those exploited by the unjust employment system

[@frostieflakes97]

The wallet mechanic reminds me a lot about the game "You're Bluffing!". boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1117/youre-bluffing

[@derwoodbowen5954]

I really like the contrast between the 2. Even aside from the issue with the gaming equivalent of kiting checks and other financial chicanery, the idea that some people will have a real problem judging how much the different items should be worth. All bidding games have this issue. If your crowd can deal with valuing the deals and can divorce what the game from reality (Madoff and Ponzi and others of their ilk). I personally like the idea of a game with none of the real world consequences.

[@lainiwakura44]

This is basically how shady finance and most of MMT economy works today. Great economics and finance lesson.

[@Marccp]

This is a fascinating game. Not really for me (as I'm not good at trading especially with no set value). Good for people who like mathy trading / negotiation.

[@edmundbloxam2714]

'Every game is awesome'? Most of this review is negative and the video is a downer on the game. That's fine. Negative reviews are fun. But my impression of the show theme is positivity.

[@ThatGuyFromMaastricht]

hahah excellent review. gonna buy this horrible "educational" game!

[@minteecakes]

does anyone know when this will hit AUS? i'm super interested in this game!

[@johnwellman4847]

Best Economic Game? What about 18XX, Jason?

[@augustjologs1]

I think it's more of a financial than economic game.

[@KristoVaher]

Best economic game? How about Stockpile or Chinatown?

[@winnie666]

Obviously they are worse. Duh.

[@KristoVaher]

:D

[@meenki347]

CBGB's !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@brianlong9100]

Tom @13:24 ... LOL

[@Accounting_Fundamentals]

how much time does the game take?

[@Seraphim121212]

Androner Lcoyn It says 60-90 minutes in the breakdown after the game piece drop