Difference between revisions of "Parlor Games with Laura Bow"

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[[Image:Crazy Nick's Software Picks - Parlor Games With Laura Bow - DOS - USA.jpg|thumb|256x256px|US box art.]]
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{{Video Game
 +
| Title            = Parlor Games with Laura Bow
 +
| Image           = Crazy Nick's Software Picks - Parlor Games With Laura Bow - DOS - USA.jpg
 +
| ImageDescription = MS-DOS - USA - 1st edition.
 +
| Developer        = {{VideoGameDeveloper|Sierra On-Line}}
 +
| Publisher        = {{VideoGamePublisher|Sierra On-Line}}
 +
| PublishedYear    = 1992
 +
| PublishedMonth  = ??
 +
| PublishedDay    = ??
 +
| Platforms        = {{Platform|DOS}}
 +
| Genres          = {{VideoGameGenre|Video board game|Board game}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Video card game|Cards}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Strategy video game|Strategy}}
 +
| Series          = ''[[Crazy Nick's Software Picks (universe)|Crazy Nick's Software Picks]]'', ''[[Laura Box (universe)|Laura Bow]]''
 +
| Distributions    = {{VideoGameDistribution|Commercial}}
 +
}}
  
'''''Crazy Nick's Software Picks: Laura Bow's Parlor Games''''' is a [[puzzle video game]] developed and published by [[Sierra On-Line]] in 1992 for [[MS-DOS]]. It was part of the [[Crazy Nick's Software Picks (universe)|''Crazy Nick's Software Picks'' series]] of budget computer games, as well as the [[Laura Box (universe)|''Laura Bow'' series]]. This particular title includes a rendition of 28-tile [[dominoes]] and [[yacht]] (essentially ''Yahtzee''). Each features a few game play variants.
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'''''Parlor Games with Laura Bow''''' is a [[strategy video game]] developed and published by [[Sierra On-Line]] in 1992 for [[MS-DOS]]. It was part of the [[Crazy Nick's Software Picks (universe)|''Crazy Nick's Software Picks'' series]] of budget computer games, as well as the [[Laura Box (universe)|''Laura Bow'' series]]. This particular title includes a rendition of 28-tile [[dominoes]] and [[yacht]] (essentially ''Yahtzee''). Each features a few game play variants. It was created using the [[Sierra Creative Interpreter]] engine.
  
 
==Personal==
 
==Personal==
I wasn't aware of this game when it came out, but I was familiar with ''[[Crazy Nick's Software Picks: King Graham's Board Game Challenge]]'' because it was included with the ''[[King's Quest: Collector's Edition]]'' my cousin got in 1994. Years later, while looking through old DOS game collections, I learned there was a series of games like this, but I wasn't very interested in them since they seemed to just be renditions of games I was already familiar with. In May of 2020, after downloading a collection of SCUMMVM games, I decided to try out some of the titles I never had a chance to play just to see what they were like. I started playing this one first since I hadn't played dominoes in a long time, and I wanted to learn more about the Laura Bow series. I first played dominoes on beginner difficulty and beat the AI on my first try. I jumped directly to expert and beat it on my first try as well! Then, I tried yacht, which I assumed was going to be a card game, but it turned out to just be a rendition of ''Yahtzee''. I started at expert difficulty and, due to the random nature of the rolls, and the fact that I'm not as familiar with the game, it took me about five tries before I beat the AI on 2020-05-29.
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{{VideoGameStatus
 +
| Own      =
 +
| CantOwn  =
 +
| Won      = Yes. Both games, expert difficulty.
 +
| CantWin  =
 +
| Finished = 2020-05-29.
 +
}}
  
==Status==
+
I wasn't aware of this game when it came out, but I was familiar with ''[[King Graham's Board Game Challenge]]'' because it was included with the ''[[King's Quest: Collector's Edition]]'' my cousin got in 1994. Years later, while looking through old DOS game collections, I learned there was a series of games like this, but I wasn't very interested in them since they seemed to just be renditions of games I was already familiar with. In May of 2020, after downloading a collection of SCUMMVM games, I decided to try out some of the titles I never had a chance to play just to see what they were like. I started playing this one first since I hadn't played dominoes in a long time, and I wanted to learn more about the ''Laura Bow'' series. I first played dominoes on beginner difficulty and beat the AI on my first try. I jumped directly to expert and beat it on my first try as well! Then, I tried yacht, which I assumed was going to be a card game, but it turned out to just be a rendition of ''Yahtzee''. I started at expert difficulty and, due to the random nature of the rolls, and the fact that I'm not as familiar with the game, it took me about five tries before I beat the AI.
I don't own this game, but I have beaten it.
 
  
 
==Review==
 
==Review==
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===Bad===
 
===Bad===
* The AI isn't particularly bright. I'm not a very good domino or yacht player, but I was able to beat the expert difficulty AI in both games without much trouble.
+
* The AI isn't particularly bright. I'm not a very good domino or ''Yahtzee'' player, but I was able to beat the expert difficulty AI in both games without much trouble.
 
* Although the games have a couple tunes and sound effects, it would have been nicer if there were proper background music.
 
* Although the games have a couple tunes and sound effects, it would have been nicer if there were proper background music.
 
* I would have appreciated a little customization to the game play. Perhaps different types of dominoes and dice as well as alternate backgrounds.
 
* I would have appreciated a little customization to the game play. Perhaps different types of dominoes and dice as well as alternate backgrounds.
Line 41: Line 59:
  
 
===Videos===
 
===Videos===
{{#ev:youtube|s-16nwewNsQ|256|inline|Longplay - Expert difficulty.|frame}}
+
{{YouTube|s-16nwewNsQ|Longplay - Expert difficulty.}}
 +
 
 +
==Representation==
 +
{{Representation
 +
| Media                      = Video games
 +
| StrongFemaleCharacterStatus = Fail
 +
| StrongFemaleCharacterNotes  = Laura Bow is your AI opponent. She emotes a bit and has some dialogue, but isn't strong.
 +
| BechdelTestStatus          = Fail
 +
| BechdelTestNotes            = There is only one woman.
 +
| StrongPOCCharacterStatus    = Fail
 +
| StrongPOCCharacterNotes    = The sole character is white.
 +
| QueerCharacterStatus        = Fail
 +
| QueerCharacterNotes        = There are no queer characters.
 +
}}
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
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[[Category: Games]]
 
[[Category: Video Games]]
 
[[Category: 1992 Video Games]]
 
 
[[Category: Video Game Prime Order - Strategy, Adventure, Action]]
 
[[Category: Video Game Prime Order - Strategy, Adventure, Action]]
[[Category: Video Game Genre - Puzzle]]
 
[[Category: DOS Games]]
 
 
[[Category: Board Games]]
 
[[Category: Board Games]]
[[Category: Games I've Beaten]]
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[[Category: Card Games]]
[[Category: Video Games That Fail the Bechdel Test]]
 

Latest revision as of 09:53, 15 March 2024

Parlor Games with Laura Bow

Crazy Nick's Software Picks - Parlor Games With Laura Bow - DOS - USA.jpg

MS-DOS - USA - 1st edition.

Developer Sierra On-Line
Publisher Sierra On-Line
Published 1992-??-??
Platforms DOS
Genres Board game, Cards, Strategy
Series Crazy Nick's Software Picks, Laura Bow
Distribution Commercial

Parlor Games with Laura Bow is a strategy video game developed and published by Sierra On-Line in 1992 for MS-DOS. It was part of the Crazy Nick's Software Picks series of budget computer games, as well as the Laura Bow series. This particular title includes a rendition of 28-tile dominoes and yacht (essentially Yahtzee). Each features a few game play variants. It was created using the Sierra Creative Interpreter engine.

Personal

Own?No.
Won?Yes. Both games, expert difficulty.
Finished2020-05-29.

I wasn't aware of this game when it came out, but I was familiar with King Graham's Board Game Challenge because it was included with the King's Quest: Collector's Edition my cousin got in 1994. Years later, while looking through old DOS game collections, I learned there was a series of games like this, but I wasn't very interested in them since they seemed to just be renditions of games I was already familiar with. In May of 2020, after downloading a collection of SCUMMVM games, I decided to try out some of the titles I never had a chance to play just to see what they were like. I started playing this one first since I hadn't played dominoes in a long time, and I wanted to learn more about the Laura Bow series. I first played dominoes on beginner difficulty and beat the AI on my first try. I jumped directly to expert and beat it on my first try as well! Then, I tried yacht, which I assumed was going to be a card game, but it turned out to just be a rendition of Yahtzee. I started at expert difficulty and, due to the random nature of the rolls, and the fact that I'm not as familiar with the game, it took me about five tries before I beat the AI.

Review

Video Game Review Icon - Enjoyment.png Video Game Review Icon - Control.png Video Game Review Icon - Appearance.png Video Game Review Icon - Sound.png Video Game Review Icon - Replayability.png
4 5 5 4 4

Best Version: DOS

— This section contains spoilers! —

Good

  • The game competently enforces the rules for the games, and also includes variants which you can adjust in the settings.
  • I like how Laura Bow emotes how she's feeling during particularly good or bad moves.

Bad

  • The AI isn't particularly bright. I'm not a very good domino or Yahtzee player, but I was able to beat the expert difficulty AI in both games without much trouble.
  • Although the games have a couple tunes and sound effects, it would have been nicer if there were proper background music.
  • I would have appreciated a little customization to the game play. Perhaps different types of dominoes and dice as well as alternate backgrounds.
  • The yacht background is pretty hideous.

Ugly

  • Although it would have been trivial to implement, the game doesn't support two-player mode.

Media

Box Art

The box art is about what you would expect from a budget release: garish. It has some basic drawings of dice and dominoes, a couple screenshots, and bright eye-catching text.

Documentation

Videos

Longplay - Expert difficulty.

Representation

Strong female character?FailLaura Bow is your AI opponent. She emotes a bit and has some dialogue, but isn't strong.
Bechdel test?FailThere is only one woman.
Strong person of color character?FailThe sole character is white.
Queer character?FailThere are no queer characters.

Links

Link-MobyGames.png