Ever feel like playing board games, but don't have the company? Or just don't have the time to invite a bunch of people, wait them to show up? Do your friends diss that game you particularly like?

No worries, there are tons of free computer board game applications with AI players that you can game with. Sebastian Sohn has compiled a GeekList of them on BoardGameGeek called SoftBoard Games: Free, Commercial, and Abandoned Computer Version of Board and Card Games with Computer AI (Artificial Intelligence) Opponents with Screen Shots . Many other BGG dudes have contirubuted on the list as well. There's over 180 games listed so you are bound to find something you like there.

Of the games listed, I've played at least Space Hulk, Can't Stop, Wizard's Quest and Ra. Other notable mentions include Modern Art, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Blue Moon, Street Soccer, Samurai ... ok, there's too many to mention. Just check it out yourself!

When Gregor Hutton of the indie rpg publisher BoxNinja announced the publishing of 3:16 Carnage Amongst the Stars rpg on Story Games forum a couple of weeks ago , I was only mildly interested at first. Upon closer investigation, the theme of the game seemed similar to Starship Troopers and GW's Space Hulk, which seemed cool. I've also planned on running a soldier rpg of some kind for some time and 3:16 seemed to produce a different twist on that so I thought it might give my own ideas a boost too. When people started to lay hype on 3:16 in the Story Games thread, I had already kind of made up my mind. I ordered the pdf from Indie Press Revolution . The price was 10 bucks, not a lot for an european these days.

To quote the author: This high-octane Science-Fiction role-playing game for 2 or more players has your Space Troopers killing bugs all across the Cosmos. You’ll advance in rank, improve your weapons, slay civilization after civilization and find out who you are through an innovative “Flashback” mechanic.

Terra’s plan is to kill every living thing in the Universe to protect the home world. See where your tour of duty in the 3:16th Expeditionary Force takes you and your friends. Revel in the kill-happy machismo and enjoy a campaign of Carnage Amongst The Stars.

I've written a more thorughout feature of the game in Finnish. It seems like a cool and promising game. The lack of need for too much preparation combined with the promising flashback and intra-squad relationship mechanics makes it very interesting. I'll write more about 3:16 after we've had a chance to try it out next week.

In English you can find more information on the game through the following links:

• The Games's Official Pages on BoxNinja (With links to Actual Play reports and material)
• The Press Release of the publication on Story Games
• The game's page on Indie Press Revolution